Fur Formation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Fur Formation is a marine deposit approximately 60 meters thick consisting of diatoms and clay minerals (Mo-clay). It is known for its abundant fossil fish, insects, reptiles, birds[1] and plants. The Fur Formation was deposited just above the Palaeocene-Eocene boundary, about 54-55 million years ago, and its tropical or sub-tropical flora indicate that the climate after the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum was moderately warm (approximately 4-8 degrees warmer then today).
The Fur Formation is divided into two members: The lower Knudeklint Member was named for a location on the island of Fur. The upper Silstrup Member was named for a location on Thy.
[edit] Ash layers
More than 200 layers of volcanic ash of predominantly basaltic composition have been found within the Mo-clay of the Fur Formation. 179 of the most prominent ash layers have been numbered. Comparison with volcanic ash layers in oil wells in the North Sea indicates that the Mo-clay is coeval with the Sele Formation and Balder Formation in the North Sea.[citation needed] The ash layers have also been found at other sites in Denmark, England, and the Bay of Biscay.
[edit] References
- ^ Dyke, G.J., Waterhouse, D.M. and Kristofferson, A.V. (2004). "Three new fossil landbirds from the early Paleogene of Denmark". Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark 51: 47–56.
