Werfen Formation | |
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Stratigraphic range: Changhsingian-Ladinian ~ | |
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 |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 7°24′N 22°54′E / 7.4°N 22.9°E |
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 |
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.[1]
The formation has provided numerous fossils typical of a shallow lagoon environment, including:
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.[3]