Late Jurassic

The Upper Jurassic (also Upper Jurassic ) is the uppermost stratigraphic series of the Jura in the Earth's history. In the older literature, sometimes even in the popular scientific literature, this section is often referred to as Malm or White Jura ( Jurassic ). Both terms should no longer be used but for the chronostratigraphic unit. However, you will find within the lithostratigraphic subdivision of the South German and North German law (in the sense of a group of formations ) continue to use. The Upper Jurassic is on the series of Middle Jurassic and is overlaid by the Berriasian of the Lower Cretaceous series. It corresponds to the geochronological outline the period of about 163.5 to 145 million years ago.

Older names

In earlier work, but especially in the popular scientific literature of this period is also known as White Jura ( Jurassic ) or Malm called. This is not correct, since two different stratigraphic subdivisions ( chronostratigraphy and lithostratigraphy ) are mixed. The lithostratigraphic unit of the White Jura in southern Germany is primarily dominated by limestones and calcareous clay bright, hence the name White Jura (or Jurassic ). Since the deposits of the White Jura use well after the beginning of the Upper Jurassic and already well stop in many areas of the South German law before the Jurassic / Cretaceous boundary, the lithostratigraphic term White Jura is not exactly equivalent to the chronostratigraphic Upper Jurassic series. Malm is another historical term which is still often used for the series of the Upper Jurassic. The name comes from rocks that crop out in the vicinity of Oxford in England. He is now provisionally for a lithostratigraphic group in the Upper Jurassic of northern Germany reserved ( North German Malm ). One problem for the scientific dating of the recent sediments. The so-called mouths formation has been found to be highest ( most recent) lithostratigraphic formation in the Malm, according to the biostratigraphic correlation ( comparative fossil content ), the Jura - Cretaceous boundary lies already within the mouths lineup. About the final border demarcation and use of the stratigraphic unit North German Malm in central and northern Germany not yet been finally decided.

Chronostratigraphic subdivision of the Upper Jurassic series

The chronostratigraphic Upper Jurassic series is further divided into the following stages:

• System: Jurassic ( 201.3 to 145 mya ) Series: Upper Jurassic ( 163.5 to 145 mya ) Level: Tithonian ( 152.1 to 145 mya ), ( roughly equivalent to the regional stage of the Portlandium )
• Level: Kimmeridgian ( 157.3 to 152.1 mya )
• Level: Oxfordian ( 163.5 to 157.3 mya )

Dissemination

The Upper Jurassic is a large area in southern Germany ( Swabian Alb and Franconian Alb), the French Jura and open-minded in Switzerland. In addition, the Upper Jurassic in Northern Germany in the Weser mountain country and Leinebergland but comes to light.

Fossil deposits and economic importance

These are limestones with intercalated fossiliferous horizons. Famous limestones of the White Jura, the very fine-grained limestones of Solnhofen and the surrounding area that were of Senefelder in 1798, discovered the stone printing, lithography. For the Paleontology is the discovery of the first such additional copies of Archaeopteryx in the Solnhofen limestones of paramount importance. Apart from the Solnhofen limestones is the Treuchtlinger marble, a limestone, rich in fossils such as ammonites, belemnites, brachiopods, sea urchins and shells, known nationwide. It is used for wall and floor panels for architectural purposes.