Original paper
Revised Cambrian stratigraphy in the Franconian Forest (Frankenwald), Germany, reveals typical West Gondwanan succession in the Saxothuringian Belt
Geyer, Gerd; Landing, Ed; Höhn, Stefan; Linnemann, Ulf; Meier, Stefan; Servais, Thomas; Wotte, Thomas; Herbig, Hans-Georg
Newsletters on Stratigraphy Volume 52 Number 4 (2019), p. 377 - 433
published: Sep 12, 2019
published online: Jan 30, 2019
manuscript accepted: Oct 29, 2018
manuscript revision received: Oct 27, 2018
manuscript revision requested: Sep 10, 2018
manuscript received: Jul 10, 2018
ArtNo. ESP026005204000, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
New investigations of the Cambrian in the Franconian Forest region lead to a revision of the lithostratigraphic succession into seven units: Rauschbach Unit, Tiefenbach Formation, Tannenknock Formation (with Galgenberg and Wildenstein members), Triebenreuth Formation, Lippertsgrün Formation and Bergleshof Formation, with partly revised stratigraphical ranges and lithological characteristics. The succession indicates a fairly complete succession from Cambrian Series 2 (late early Cambrian) through the end of the Miaolingian, with gaps being a result of incomplete exposure and structural complexity rather than distinct hiatuses. New finds expand the known fossil record and provide additional data for reconstructing biogeographical relationships and depositional environments. These features indicate shallow marine conditions throughout the Cambrian with characteristics typical for West Gondwanan shelf areas. In particular, strong similarities to the Moroccan Atlas regions are indicated. Additional information on volcanic activity from middle Cambrian through Tremadocian times provides clues for crustal extension that affected the depositional setting in this region. Stratigraphy, depositional environments and facies distribution all suggest reinterpretation of earlier geotectonical models used to interpret the history of the Franconian Forest area in the Saxothuringian Belt.
Keywords
Cambrian • lithostratigraphy • chronostratigraphy • depositional environments • volcanism • West Gondwana