Werfen Formation, Sedimentary formation in Eastern Alps, Austria.
The Werfen Formation is a rock layer in the Eastern Alps made of thin sedimentary strata ranging from 150 to 600 meters thick. You can identify it by its position above the dark limestone layer below and by yellowish bands visible in its upper sections.
This rock formation formed after the largest mass extinction in Earth's history, which occurred at the end of one major era. It documents how life gradually returned to the oceans and new species developed afterward.
The rock layers hold fossils of shells and other sea creatures that show an ancient warm ocean once covered this area. These remains tell the story of life rebuilding after a major environmental crisis.
To examine this formation, look for the clear boundary between the dark layer below and the lighter layers above. Sturdy footwear and caution on uneven ground are essential when viewing geological features in the field.
The yellowish color in the upper sections shows the sea repeatedly dried up during this time, creating islands and shallow lagoons. These shifts between ocean and dry land are clearly visible in the rocks and reveal how rapidly the coastline changed.
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