The lower Aptian ammonites of the Les Ferres Aptian Basin (Lower Cretaceous, Southeast of France) Part I: Introduction and biostratigraphy

On the southern margin of the Vocontian Basin (SE France), for taphonomic reasons (fragmentation, reworking, pyritization), lower Aptian (Lower Cretaceous) deposits of the interval between the Deshayesites deshayesi and Dufrenoyia furcata zones are usually not suitable for studying the late ontogenetic developments of ammonites (fossil cephalopods). In the vicinity of the village of Les Ferres (Department of the Alpes-Maritimes, SE France), a relatively thick sedimentary succession with well-preserved ammonites, representative of the zones mentioned above, is found in a small basin called the "Les Ferres Aptian Basin" (LFAB). The 1262 ammonites collected or studied in situ are dated from the Deshayesites forbesi Zone through the top of the Dufrenoyia furcata Zone. This study presents the lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy derived from these ammonites, and the respective range of these taxa. This is an introductory contribution to any future palaeontological study of the lower Aptian ammonites in the Les Ferres area. The lithologic unit overlying the Hauterivian-Aptian limestones is introduced herein as the Les Graous Formation. It is subdivided in three members, from bottom to top: 1) the Combe de Joinet Member, 2) the Pont de la Cerise Member, and 3) the Les Graous Member. In addition, two remarkable levels are identified: the Ammonitoceras level (outstandingly abundant) and the Toxoceratoides bed.