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Abstract


Devonian of the World: Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on the Devonian System — Memoir 14, Volume III: Paleontology, Paleoecology and Biostratigraphy, 1988
Pages 141-145
Global Events and Boundaries

Middle/Upper Devonian Boundary Rugose Coral Stratigraphy in the Rhenish Mountains of W. Germany

R. Birenheide

Abstract

Since investigations of Frech (1885, 1886), Paeckelmann (1913) and Walther (1928), only sporadic work has been done on the coral faunas of the Middle/Upper Devonian boundary beds of the Rhenish Mountains. Recent studies based on new material mainly collected by the author yielded the following results:

Whereas rugose corals of the upper Givetian time-equivalent Kerpen, Buechel and Schwelm Formations are relatively abundant and well known also at comparable stratigraphic levels all over the world, they become rare in uppermost Givetian and lowermost Frasnian beds. Such units are represented in W. Germany by the Wallersheim Formation (Eifel hills), the “Grenzschiefer” (Walheim, near Aachen), the “Plattenkalk” (Upper Bergisch Land), and the “Flinz” and Dorp Limestones (Lower Bergisch Land, Sauerland). These transitional units with thickness of more than one hundred metres at some localities contain rugose corals which proved to be Middle/Upper Devonian mixed faunas; moreover there is some difference between the coral faunas of the lower and upper parts of the transitional successions. In the lower parts corals of the Middle Devonian genera Acanthophyllum, Grypophyllum and Battersbyia (or Fasciphyllum) are still present, whereas stringophyllids are entirely lacking. Temnophyllum and allied forms as well as different “caespitosans” also occur, but seem to be of little stratigraphic value for a boundary discrimination. In the Lower “Plattenkalk” we also meet the last (?) representatives of Disphyllia and the first specimens of probably Wapitiphyllum. At other outcrops which apparently represent the middle part of the transitional succession, a more or less mixed fauna is present; the previously mentioned genera are still recorded, but now more Upper Devonian elements appear for the first time, with rare specimens of Tabulophyllum sensu stricto (broad tabularium, no fossula) and of Pexiphyllum. Finally, in outcrops of the upper parts of the transitional beds the first representatives of the massive coral species Hexagonaria hexagona (= sedgwicki of Paeckelmann), Phillipsastrea hennahi and Frechastraea sanctacrucensis occur, accompanied by small as well as large specimens of Pexiphyllum. These upper parts often contain brachiopods and sometimes also trilobites of Upper Devonian character. But we also found in them the very last representatives (one specimen respectively) of the Middle Devonian genera Acanthophyllum (probably n. sp.) and Cystiphylloides.


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