APTIAN (Fr. Aptien, from

See also:

• APT

Apt in

See also:

• VAUCLUSE

Vaucluse,

See also:

• FRANCE
• FRANCE, ANATOLE (1844– )

France)  , in geology, the term introduced in 1843 by A. d'Orbigny (Pal . France Cret. ii.) for the upper stage of the Lower Cretaceous rocks . In England it comprises the Lower Greensand and part of the Speeton beds; in France it is divided into two sub-stages, the lower, " Bedoulian," of Bedoule in Provence, with Hoplites deshayesei and Ancyloceras Matheroni; and an upper, " Gargasian," from Gargas near Apt, with Hoplites furcatus (Dufrenoyi) and Phylloceras Guettardi . To this stage belong the Toucasia limestone and Orbitolina marls of Spain; the Schrattenkalk (part) of the Alpine and Carpathian regions; and the Terebrirostra limestone of the same area . Parts of the Flysch of the eastern Alps, the Biancone of Lombardy, and argile scagliose of Emilia, are of Aptian age; so also are the " Trinity Beds " of North America . Deposits of bauxite occur in the Aptian hippurite lime-stone at Les Baux near Arles, and in the Pyrenees . The Aptian rocks are generally clays, marls and green glauconitic sands with occasional limestones .