Main Dolomite

Main Dolomite (German: Hauptdolomit, Hungarian: Fődolomit, Italian: Dolomia Principale) is a lithostratigraphic unit in the Alps of Europe. Formation was defined by K.W. Gümbel in 1857.

Main Dolomite
Hauptdolomit
Fődolomit
Dolomia Principale
Stratigraphic range: Carnian-Norian
Typical grey Main dolomite (Hauptdolomit) from rock quarry near Hradište pod Vrátnom, Slovakia
TypeGeological formation
Thickness0–2,200 m (0–7,218 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryDolomite
OtherLimestone
Location
RegionLimestone Alps & Apennines
Central Europe
Country Austria
 Germany
 Hungary
 Italy
 Slovakia
Type section
Named for"Main Dolomite"
Named byGümbel
Year defined1857
Main dolomite of the Langbathscholle, Kaltenbachwildnis, Austria

Middle to Late Triassic sedimentary record in the Alpine realm is characterized by presence of various masses of dolomitic rock formations. In the Northern Calcareous Alps the dolomitic mass of Ladinian - Norian age is divided by the Carnian sandstones and shales of Lunz Formation to the Ladinian - Carnian Wetterstein Dolomite and Norian Main Dolomite.[1] The Main Dolomite reaches higher thickness than underlying dolomites in Alps, therefore it is considered as more important "Main".

Extent

The formation is found in:

Description

It is primarily made of dolomite, ranging from 0 to 2,200 metres (0 to 7,218 ft) in thickness. Main Dolomite is represented by the medium bedded dolomitic layers often with characteristic stromatolitic lamination. The formation was deposited in shallow lagoons during the Late Carnian and Early Norian ages of the Late Triassic Epoch in the Triassic Period, during the Mesozoic Era.

Fossil content

Fossil prosauropod tracks have been reported from the formation.[2]

gollark: The gusties are so blue. I like them already.
gollark: ... how do you know that they're dimorphic already?
gollark: It's pre-sick.
gollark: Minifloofs?
gollark: ... Softies?

See also

References
  1. Tollmann, A., 1976: Analyse des klassischen nordalpinen Mesozoikums, Wien, Franz Deuticke, 580 pp.
  2. Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 517-607 ISBN 0-520-24209-2
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