Klerf Formation

The Klerf Formation is an Early Devonian (Emsian) formation that includes a Lagerstätte in the Northern Eifel hills, at Willwerath near Prüm, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. In it Jaekelopterus rhenaniae, a giant eurypterid was discovered. The Klerf Formation, comprising greenish and reddish shales, siltstones and sandstones, was first described in 1919 by Rudolf Richter (1881-1957) and reaches a maximum thickness of about 1,300 metres (4,300 ft).[1]

Klerf Formation Stratigraphic range: Emsian ~409–392 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Sub-units	Reifferscheid Mb. Altenberg Mb. Unterpreth Mb.
Underlies	Heisdorf Formation
Overlies	Schleiden Formation
Thickness	1,300 m (4,300 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Siltstone, shale
Other	Sandstone
Location
Location	Eifel
Coordinates	50°14′48″N 06°27′21″W
Region	Rhineland-Palatinate
Country	Germany
Type section
Named by	Richter
Location	Willwerath near Prüm
Year defined	1919
Coordinates	50°14′48″N 06°27′21″W
Approximate paleocoordinates	27.1°S 09.7°E / -27.1; 09.7
Region	Eifel
Country	Germany
Avalonia with the Proto-Tethys Ocean (3)

Depositional environment

The siltstone and sandstone formation was deposited in an estuarine to deltaic environment.[2] This was located on the edge of Avalonia bordering the Proto-Tethys Ocean.

Fossil content

Apart from the largest arthropod, Jaekelopterus (shown on the left), found in the formation, it also preserved the fish, bryozoa, brachiopod and ostracod remains,[1] the arachnids Devonotarbus hombachensis, Xenarachne willwerathensis,[2] and Mutationella indet. and flora.[3]

See also

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Europe
• Geology of Germany
• Floresta Formation
• Old Port Formation

References

1. Lithostratigraphische Einheiten Deutschlands: Klerf Formation
2. Willwerath at Fossilworks.org
3. Klerf Formation at Fossilworks.org