Werfen Formation
Geologic formation in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Italy
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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]
TypeFormation
Unit ofCostabella Group
Sub-unitsCampil, Cencenighe, Gastropod Oolite, Tesero Oolite, Mazzin, Siusi, Val Badia Members
| Werfen Formation | |
|---|---|
| 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 | 46.8°N 12.1°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 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 |
  Werfen Formation (Mediterranean) | |
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)[2]
- Orbicoelia sp. (a brachiopod)[2]
- Teserina nerii (a brachiopod)[2]
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]