New insights on the phosphatic layers of the Oligo-Miocene succession of the Maltese Archipelago

The Maltese Archipelago sedimentary succession is very well studied and known, mostly due to the excellent exposures of the outcrops, the well-preserved calcareous microfossil content, and the cyclic lithological pattern of most of the stratigraphic intervals. Therefore, the Maltese sediments have been studied to establish updated calcareous plankton biostratigraphic schemes, and the Ras il Pellegrin section, along the western coast of Malta Island, has been chosen to host the Global Stratigraphic Section and Point of the Serravallian Stage.