Exter Formation
Geological formation in Germany
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Exter Formation is the only formation of the Upper Keuper or Rhätsandstein, and is a geologic formation in Germany. It preserves fossils dating back to the Rhaetian of the Triassic period (specifically around 205 Ma).[1][2]
TypeFormation
Unit ofKeuper
Sub-unitsRinteln, Oeynhausen & Vahlbruch Subformations
UnderliesBlack Jurassic
| Exter Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Rhaetian ~ | |
Exter Formation at Krauthausen | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Keuper |
| Sub-units | Rinteln, Oeynhausen & Vahlbruch Subformations |
| Underlies | Black Jurassic |
| Overlies | Arnstadt & Trossingen Formations |
| Thickness | Typically between 100 and 150 m (330 and 490 ft) Locally 250 m (820 ft) in northern Germany Up to 45 m (148 ft) in southern Germany |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Claystone, siltstone, sandstone |
| Other | Coal |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 48.6°N 9.1°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 36.1°N 10.8°E |
| Region | Niedersachsen, Baden-Württemberg, Westphalia, Bavaria |
| Country |  Germany |
| Extent | Widespread |
  Exter Formation (Germany) | |
Fossil content
The formation has provided fossils of:[1][2]
Mammals
Therapsids
Reptiles
- "Ichthyosaurus" rhaeticus
- Megalosaurus cloacinus
- Nothosaurus cloacinus
- Phytosaurus cubicodon?
- Phytosaurus cylindricodon?
- Plateosaurus ornatus
- Rhaeticosaurus mertensi[3]
- Termatosaurus albertii
- Termatosaurus crocodilinus
- Plateosaurus sp.[4]
- Plesiosauria indet.
- Saurophodomorpha indet.[5]
- Pterosauria indet.[5]
Fish
Insects
- Triassothemis gartzii[6]
Flora
- Becklesia franconica[7]