Micropaleontology and Laboratory
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding: the students will learn how to identify the microfossils and apply them in biostratigraphic analysis and how to perform paleoenviromental and paleoceanographic recontructions using microfossils in both petroleum exploration and scientific research.
Expected learning outcomes
Applying knowledge and understanding: the knowledge acquired will allow the student to solve stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental problems through correlation and calibration of microfossils with other stratigraphic tools and fossil groups and evaluate the interactions with the ecological and paleoenvironmental factors in a successful interdisciplinary context.
Making judgements: the practical exercises at the microscope are designed to acquire the necessary knowledge on data acquisitions and data interpretation considering the type of material, and to develop the ability to evaluate the significance and the implication of the obtained results in the geological/environmental topics under examination.
Communication skills: the identification of the microfossils, and their biostratigraphic, paleoecological and paleoceanographic significances, together with the methodology of data acquisition and the integration with other geological tools, will enhance the communication skills with specialist and non specialist audience in a multidisciplinary context.
Learning skills: lectures and practical exercise at the microscope are focused on learning the theories and on directly apply them in problem solving scenarios and, therefore, help to acquire autonomy skills in learning and in improving the own knowledge on specialized professional and research topics.
Making judgements: the practical exercises at the microscope are designed to acquire the necessary knowledge on data acquisitions and data interpretation considering the type of material, and to develop the ability to evaluate the significance and the implication of the obtained results in the geological/environmental topics under examination.
Communication skills: the identification of the microfossils, and their biostratigraphic, paleoecological and paleoceanographic significances, together with the methodology of data acquisition and the integration with other geological tools, will enhance the communication skills with specialist and non specialist audience in a multidisciplinary context.
Learning skills: lectures and practical exercise at the microscope are focused on learning the theories and on directly apply them in problem solving scenarios and, therefore, help to acquire autonomy skills in learning and in improving the own knowledge on specialized professional and research topics.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Prerequisites for admission
Paleontology course
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam includes 3 practical tests in the laboratory under the microscope and an oral exam aimed at ascertaining the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding, verifying the student's autonomy of judgment through case studies discussed during the course and ascertaining the ability to use the specific language and present the topics in a clear and orderly way.
MICROPALAENTOLOGY
Course syllabus
Introduction to the most important microfossils groups used in stratigrafic researches and paleoenvironmental, paleogeographical and paleoceanographical reconstructions.
Order Foraminifera: biology, principles of classification based on wall texture and morphology. Superfamilies and Genera of Benthic Foraminifera and Larger Benthic Foraminifera from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic.
Classification at genera and species level of Cretaceous to Recent Planktonic Foraminifera.
Ecology and paleoecology of Benthic Foraminifera, Larger Benthic Foraminifera and Planktonic Foraminifera: the main controlling chemico-physical parameters on taxa latitudinal and vertical distributions, paleobathymetric and paleoceanograhic recostructions.
Stratigraphic distribution of the most important group of Benthic Foraminifera and Larger Benthic Foraminifera and their biostratigraphic resolution and correlations at regional and global scale.
Biostratigraphy of Planktonic Foraminifera, definition of biozones and stratigraphic distribution from the Cretaceous to Recent. Application for correlations and calibration with other biostratigraphic tools (magnetostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy and the other fossil groups).
Coccolitophorids: Biology. Principles of classification. Classification at Genera and Species level of Cretaceous to Recent coccoliths and nannoliths.
Coccolithophore (paleo)ecology, distribution and application in (paleo)climatic and (paleo)environmental reconstructions.
Stratigraphic distribution of the most important Families and Genera of calcareous nannofossils and their use in biostratigraphy. Applications for biostratigraphy and definition of nannofossil biozones from the Cretaceous to Recent.
Ostracods, Radiolaria, Diatoms, Silicoflagellates, Dinoflagellates, Calpionellids and Tintinnids: morphological characters and principles of classification. Ecology and paleoecology and application for paleoenviromental and paleoceanographic reconstruction. Stratigraphic distribution.
Order Foraminifera: biology, principles of classification based on wall texture and morphology. Superfamilies and Genera of Benthic Foraminifera and Larger Benthic Foraminifera from the Paleozoic to Cenozoic.
Classification at genera and species level of Cretaceous to Recent Planktonic Foraminifera.
Ecology and paleoecology of Benthic Foraminifera, Larger Benthic Foraminifera and Planktonic Foraminifera: the main controlling chemico-physical parameters on taxa latitudinal and vertical distributions, paleobathymetric and paleoceanograhic recostructions.
Stratigraphic distribution of the most important group of Benthic Foraminifera and Larger Benthic Foraminifera and their biostratigraphic resolution and correlations at regional and global scale.
Biostratigraphy of Planktonic Foraminifera, definition of biozones and stratigraphic distribution from the Cretaceous to Recent. Application for correlations and calibration with other biostratigraphic tools (magnetostratigraphy, chemostratigraphy and the other fossil groups).
Coccolitophorids: Biology. Principles of classification. Classification at Genera and Species level of Cretaceous to Recent coccoliths and nannoliths.
Coccolithophore (paleo)ecology, distribution and application in (paleo)climatic and (paleo)environmental reconstructions.
Stratigraphic distribution of the most important Families and Genera of calcareous nannofossils and their use in biostratigraphy. Applications for biostratigraphy and definition of nannofossil biozones from the Cretaceous to Recent.
Ostracods, Radiolaria, Diatoms, Silicoflagellates, Dinoflagellates, Calpionellids and Tintinnids: morphological characters and principles of classification. Ecology and paleoecology and application for paleoenviromental and paleoceanographic reconstruction. Stratigraphic distribution.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Teaching Resources
Handouts in paper and digital form with texts, explanatory figures, stratigraphic distribution maps of microfossils, biostratigraphic, paleoecological schemes, etc.
Textbooks:
Haq B.U. & A. Boersma (Eds.) 1984, Introduction to Marine Micropaleontology. Ed. Elsevier Biomedical.
Sen Gupta B. K. (Ed.) 1999, Modern Foraminifera, Kluwer Academic Publishers. Armstrong H.A. & M.D. Brasier 2005, Microfossils, Blackwell Publishing.
Murray J. 2006, Ecology and Applications of Benthic Foramnifera, Cambridge University Press. McGowran B. 2005, Biostratigraphy, microfossils and Geological Time, Cambridge University Press.
Textbooks:
Haq B.U. & A. Boersma (Eds.) 1984, Introduction to Marine Micropaleontology. Ed. Elsevier Biomedical.
Sen Gupta B. K. (Ed.) 1999, Modern Foraminifera, Kluwer Academic Publishers. Armstrong H.A. & M.D. Brasier 2005, Microfossils, Blackwell Publishing.
Murray J. 2006, Ecology and Applications of Benthic Foramnifera, Cambridge University Press. McGowran B. 2005, Biostratigraphy, microfossils and Geological Time, Cambridge University Press.
MICROPALAENTOLOGY LABORATY
Course syllabus
Methodologies for sampling in outcrops and cores. Preparation techniques in laboratory: thin sections and smear slides for studies at the optical microscope; sediment washing for obtaining residues to be studied at the stereomicroscope.
Analysis at the microscope: identification of the most important genera of Larger Benthic Foraminifera in thin sections; identification of the most important Families and Genera of Mesozoic and Cenozoic Calcareous Nannofossils.
Analysis at the stereomicroscope of washed residues: identification of organic and inorganic components and description of the washed residues; description and classification at genus and species level of Cenozoic Benthic Foraminifera and of Cretaceous to Recent Planktonic Foraminifera. Paleoenvironmental, paleoecological, paleobathymetric and paleoceanographic significance and biostratigraphy of the Benthic Foraminifera, Larger Benthic Foraminifera, Planktonic Foraminifera and Calcareous Nannofossil assemblages observed at the microscope.
Analysis at the microscope: identification of the most important genera of Larger Benthic Foraminifera in thin sections; identification of the most important Families and Genera of Mesozoic and Cenozoic Calcareous Nannofossils.
Analysis at the stereomicroscope of washed residues: identification of organic and inorganic components and description of the washed residues; description and classification at genus and species level of Cenozoic Benthic Foraminifera and of Cretaceous to Recent Planktonic Foraminifera. Paleoenvironmental, paleoecological, paleobathymetric and paleoceanographic significance and biostratigraphy of the Benthic Foraminifera, Larger Benthic Foraminifera, Planktonic Foraminifera and Calcareous Nannofossil assemblages observed at the microscope.
Teaching methods
Laboratory exercises at the polarized microscope and stereomicroscope.
Teaching Resources
Collection of Micropaleontology (washing residues, thin sections, smear slides) for the exercises under the optical microscope and stereomicroscope, taxonomic keys, taxonomic atlases in paper and electronic form of the groups of microfossils examined.
MICROPALAENTOLOGY
GEO/01 - PALEONTOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 48 hours
Professors:
Bottini Cinzia, Petrizzo Maria Rose
MICROPALAENTOLOGY LABORATY
GEO/01 - PALEONTOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY - University credits: 3
Practicals: 36 hours
Professors:
Bottini Cinzia, Petrizzo Maria Rose
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
by appointment via e-mail
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, via Mangiagalli 34