The GSSP for the base of the Carnian Stage is defined on the north face of the Cordevole Valley, on the southern slopes of the crest separating the Badia/Abtei and the Cordevole valleys, (46° 31' 37"N, 11° 55' 49"E) at an elevation of 1980 m, approximately 4.7 km south of San Cassiano/St. Kassian in the Dolomites (Southern Alps). The GSSP boundary is located at the base of bed SW4, 45 m above the base of the San Cassiano Fm.
On the north face of the Cordevole Valley, on the southern slopes of the crest separating the Badia/Abtei and the Cordevole valleys, (46° 31' 37"N, 11° 55' 49"E) at an elevation of 1980 m, approximately 4.7 km south of San Cassiano/St. Kassian in the Dolomites (Southern Alps).
The section consists of hemipelagites and thin turbidite beds (both siliciclastic and carbonate intraclastic), deposited below storm wave-base with a high but variable sediment accumulation rate (San Cassiano Fm.).
FAD of the ammonoids Daxatina canadensis (Whiteaves).
FAD of the conodont Paragondolella polygnathiformis (Budurov and Stefanov), appearing 70 cm above the first occurrence of Daxatina canadensis and at the base of a long normal-polarity magnetic zone (S2n) in close proximity to the boundary.
Radiometric Dating:
Stable Carbon Isotopes:FAD of the ammonoid Daxatina canadensis; just below FO of conodont Paragondolella polygnathiformis and base of normal-polarity magnetic zone S2n
The GSSP is one ammonite subzone just above a level dated at 237.77 ± 0.14 Ma.