Fur Formation

Moler ( ancient also: Moe ) is a arisen in the transition from the Upper Paleocene to the Lower Eocene, about 55 million years ago, sedimentary rock (similar to the diatomaceous earth), which in the Limfjord area in Denmark, especially on the islands of Fur and Mors and south of Thisted ( Silstrup Hoved ) comes to light. The official name for the lithostratigraphical Moler is fur- formation, in the sections Knudeklit Members (lower portion, negative series) and Silstrup Members (upper portion, positive series) is divided. The upper part of the Fur Formation Moler consists of about 65% from fossil skeletons of diatoms ( diatoms ) and to about 35 % by weight of ball clay (montmorillonite ). Moler occurs both finely layered (laminated) and in the form of kalkangereicherten concretions or unstratified related documents, the cement stone called on.

In the layer sequence 179 layers of volcanic ash are incorporated. The layers are numbered from -39 to 140. The negative range with its 39 layers of ash is relatively low in ash and about 30 m thick. The positive series, however, comes to 140 layers of ash and a height of about 27 m. This ash layers can be found in many places in North Western Europe. The most striking layers (-17 and 19) were found even in Germany in research drill holes in the Wursterheide.

Moler is relatively rich in fossil plant and animal residues ( insects, fish and other vertebrates). Of particular scientific interest are the documents to be found in some land plants and insects, as well as the few pieces of amber found in the same layers.

The raw material is used industrially for the production of both light and insulating materials and absorbent granules (cat litter / oil binder).