Petrographic and sedimentological features of sandstones from Manciano, southern Tuscany

Several Miocene sandstone slabs, outcropping in S Tuscany between the Albegna and Fiora rivers, have been studied. They are mostly coarse to medium-grained and well to moderately well sorted. The coarse to medium-grained sandstones are characterized by trough cross-bedding, generally with a dip of about 20-25o; burrows are rare. Fine grained sandstones, highly bioturbated, are interbedded with the coarser layers. The sedimentary structures, marine fossils, coarse grainsize and good sorting of these sandstones, show that they were deposited in high-energy conditions, probably in a barred shallow water environment.