The middle Danian Faxe Formation – new lithostratigraphic unit and a rare taphonomic window into the Danian of Denmark

A new lithostratigraphic unit, the middle Danian Faxe Formation, has been identified at Stevns Klint, Denmark, offering a rare taphonomic window into the Danian period's marine biodiversity. This formation, exposed in the Faxe quarry, transitions from coral and bryozoan limestone to bryozoan limestones of the Stevns Klint Formation. The Baunekule facies within this unit preserves a high-diversity invertebrate fauna with both calcite and originally aragonite-shelled species, many of which are unknown elsewhere in the Faxe Formation. Unlike the lithified parts of the formation, the Baunekule facies is weakly consolidated, allowing for easier fossil preparation and providing an unusually complete picture of cold-water coral mound ecosystems. This discovery sheds light on the diversity and density of shelly invertebrate fauna during this period.

Lauridsen, B. W., Surlyk, F., & Bjerager, M. (2012). The middle Danian Faxe Formation – new lithostratigraphic unit and a rare taphonomic window into the Danian of Denmark. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark, 60, 47–60. https://doi.org/10.37570/bgsd-2012-60-04