| Werfen Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Changhsingian-Ladinian ~254–235 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Costabella Group |
| Sub-units | Campil, Cencenighe, Gastropod Oolite, Tesero Oolite, Mazzin, Siusi, Val Badia Members |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Mudstone, lime mudstone, limestone |
| Other | Siltstone, sandstone, marl |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 46°48′N 12°06′E / 46.8°N 12.1°E / 46.8; 12.1 |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 7°24′N 22°54′E / 7.4°N 22.9°E / 7.4; 22.9 |
| Region | Upper Austria, Bolzano, South Tyrol, Trentino, Veneto |
| Country | Austria Italy Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Extent | Dinaric, Southern Limestone & Salzburg Slate Alps, Tennen Mountains |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Werfen |
  Werfen Formation (Mediterranean) | |
The Werfen Formation is a geologic formation in the Southern Limestone Alps and Dinaric Alps of Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Italy. It preserves fossils dating back to the Triassic period.
Fossil content
The formation has provided numerous fossils typical of a shallow lagoon environment, including:
- Eotiaris teseroensis (a crown-group echinoid from Changhsingian aged beds of the Tesero Member)
- Orbicoelia sp. (a brachiopod)
- Teserina nerii (a brachiopod)
Griesbachian aged layers of the formation also preserve an unexpectedly diverse ichnotaxon assemblage, including the ichnogenera Catenichnus, Helminthopsis, Lockeia, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Rhizocorallium, Spongeliomorpha, Taenidium and Thalassinoides.
See also
- List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Austria
- List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Italy
References
- Werfen Formation at Fossilworks.org
- ^ Thompson, Jeffrey R.; Posenato, Renato; Bottjer, David J.; Petsios, Elizabeth (2019). "Echinoids from the Tesero Member (Werfen Formation) of the Dolomites (Italy): implications for extinction and survival of echinoids in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction". PeerJ. 7: e7361. doi:10.7717/peerj.7361. PMC 6718154. PMID 31531267.
- Hofmann, Richard; Goudemand, Nicolas; Wasmer, Martin; Bucher, Hugo; Hautmann, Michael (2011). "New trace fossil evidence for an early recovery signal in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 310 (3–4): 216–226. Bibcode:2011PPP...310..216H. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2011.07.014.
Bibliography
- Thompson, Jeffrey R.; Posenato, Renato; Bottjer, David J.; Petsios, Elizabeth (2019), "Echinoids from the Tesero Member (Werfen Formation) of the Dolomites (Italy): implications for extinction and survival of echinoids in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction", PeerJ, 7: e7361, doi:10.7717/peerj.7361, PMC 6718154, PMID 31531267
- Foster, William J.; Danise, Silvia; Price, Gregory D.; Twitchett, Richard J. (2017), "Subsequent biotic crises delayed marine recovery following the late Permian mass extinction event in northern Italy", PLOS ONE, 12 (3): e0172321, Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1272321F, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0172321, PMC 5351997, PMID 28296886 Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1272321F
Further reading
- E. Farabegoli, M. C. Perri, and R. Posenato. 2007. Environmental and biotic changes across the Permian-Triassic boundary in western Tethys: The Bulla parastratotype, Italy. Global and Planetary Change 55:109-135
- E. Kustatscher, M. Wachtler, and J.H.A. Konijnenburg-van Cittert. 2004. A number of additional and revised taxa from the Ladinian flora of the Dolomites, Northern Italy. Geo.Alp 1:57-69
- R. Posenato. 2009. Survival patterns of macrobenthic marine assemblages during the end-Permian mass extinction in the western Tethys (Dolomites, Italy). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 280:150-167
- A. Bittner. 1890. Brachiopoden der alpinen Trias. Abhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Geologischen Reichsanstalt 14:1-325
- Geology of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Permian System of Europe
- Permian Austria
- Permian Italy
- Triassic System of Europe
- Triassic Austria
- Triassic Italy
- Changhsingian
- Induan
- Olenekian
- Ladinian
- Anisian
- Limestone formations
- Marl formations
- Mudstone formations
- Siltstone formations
- Sandstone formations
- Lagoonal deposits
- Shallow marine deposits
- Permian northern paleotropical deposits
- Paleontology in Austria
- Paleontology in Italy
- Southern Limestone Alps
- Geology of the Alps