Muschelkalk

System Series Stage Age (Ma) European lithostratigraphy
Jurassic Lower Hettangian younger Lias
Triassic Upper Rhaetian 201.4–208.5
Keuper
Norian 208.5–227.0
Carnian 227.0–237.0
Middle Ladinian 237.0–242.0
Muschelkalk
Anisian 242.0–247.2
Bunter or Buntsandstein
Lower Olenekian 247.2–251.2
Induan 251.2–251.9
Permian Lopingian Changhsingian older
Zechstein
Major lithostratigraphic units of northwest Europe with the ICS's geologic timescale of the Triassic.[1]

The Muschelkalk (German for "shell-bearing limestone"; French: calcaire coquillier) is a sequence of sedimentary rock strata (a lithostratigraphic unit) in the geology of central and western Europe. It has a Middle Triassic (240 to 230 million years) age and forms the middle part of the three-part Germanic Trias (that gives the Triassic its name) lying above the older Buntsandstein and below the younger Keuper. The Muschelkalk ("mussel-chalk") consists of a sequence of limestone and dolomite beds.

In the past, the time span in which the Muschelkalk was deposited could also be called "Muschelkalk". In modern stratigraphy, however, the name only applies to the layers of rock.

  1. ^ Ogg, James G.; Ogg, Gabi M.; Gradstein, Felix M. (2016). "Triassic". A Concise Geologic Time Scale: 2016. Elsevier. pp. 133–149. ISBN 978-0-444-63771-0.