Depositional architecture and sedimentology of the Tuppa Niedda conglomerates (Late Carboniferous, Arburese, SW Sardinia, Italy)

ABSTRACTThe Late Carboniferous conglomerates of Tuppa Niedda (Arbu-rese, SW Sardinia, Italy) (B ARCA et alii , 1995a) have been analyzedin detail using facies analysis and depositional architecture proce-dures (M IALL , 1985, 1988, 1996). So, the splendid coastal outcrophas been minutely resolved into several architectural elements andsub-elements, each featured by precise lithofacies associations andlinked to well-defined depositional processes. Its depositional envi-ronment was interpreted as to be a debris-flow dominated alluvialfan, in the following buried by stream flows produced by the distalpart of a major alluvial fan.A comparison with similar, coeval sedimentological context hasbeen attempted. K EY WORDS : Sedimentology, Depositional Architecture, LateCarboniferous, Molassic basins, SW Sardinia. RIASSUNTO Architettura deposizionale e sedimentologia dei conglomeratitardo-carboniferi di Tuppa Niedda (Arburese, SW Sardegna. Italia). I conglomerati tardo-carboniferi di Tuppa Niedda (Arburese,Sardegna sud-occidentale) (B