Vörös A. szerk.: Fragmenta Mineralogica Et Palaentologica 12. 1985. (Budapest, 1985)

FRAGMENTA MINERALOGICA et PALAEONTOLOGICA 12. 1985 p. 19-26 A Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) ammonite fauniila from Monte Kumeta (Western Sicily) By A. GALÁCZ (Received November 30, 1984) Abstract: A small fauna of Bathonian ammonites is described from the condensed Middle Jurassic limestone of Monte Kumeta. Despite the limited specimen number, a relatively diverse association is represented, suggesting Lower and Middle Bathonian horizons. The preservation and the age of the faunal elements indicate condensation and faunal mixing. The systematic part gives the descriptions of 8 species representing 7 ammonite families. INTRODUCTION In 1983 field work was carried out to obtain stratigraphie data on the Jurassic of Western Sicily. Lower and Middle Jurassic faunas were collected in several localities, which in some cases made it possible to refine the former stratigraphie knowledge. One of the visited localities was Monte Kumeta, from where the Jurassic sequence is briefly mentioned in numerous general descriptions, however detailed information is lacking. Thus the results of studies on a small Bathonian fauna may possibly be of some general interest. Acknowledgements: These studies were carried out through a joint research-project established between the Universitá di Napoli and the Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem, Budapest. In ' the framework of this project field work in Sicily was organized by Prof. Bruno D' ARGENIO (University of Naples) and Prof. Raimondo CATALANO (University of Palermo). Guidance in the field was provided by R. CATALANO and Leonardo GATTO, to whom I am particularly indebted. LOCALITY Monte Kumeta is a high mount surrounded mainly by Tertiary sediments in the southern margin of the Palermo Mountains. The general geology of the site has been described briefly by CATALANO & D* ARGENIO (1981, 1982). Similarly to other isolated mounts in Western Sicily (e.g. Monte Inici, Rocca Busambra, etc.), the thick Triassic - Lower Jurassic platform carbonates are capped by thin, usually considerably condensed Middle Jurassic and pelagic Upper Jurassic limestones. The references to Middle Jurassic ammonites from M. Kumeta are given by WENDT (1963, pp. 84-85), who recorded a Lower to Middle Bajocian condensed fauna from a loose block. Subse-