Early Jurassic (201.3 +/-0.2 Ma)

Representation and status

Color CMYK
75 / 5 / 0 / 0
Color RGB
R: 66 G: 174 B: 208
Rank
chronostratigraphic Epoch
Validity
Unit is in Use
Status
valid formal name
Status discussion

Nomenclature

Deutsch
Früher Jura
Français
Jurassique précoce
Italiano
Giurassico primo
English
Early Jurassic (201.3 +/-0.2 Ma)
Historical Variants

Eojurassique (Lugeon 1910: incl. Rhétien et Aalénien), Série paléojurassique (Revil 1911), Lias [sic]

Age

Age at top
  • Toarcian
Age at base
  • Hettangian
  • Toarcian (182.7 +/-0.7 Ma)

    Name Origin

    Named after the town of Thouars (Deux-Sèvres, France), S Saumur. The protected stratotype lies in an old quarry.

    Rank
    chronostratigraphic Stage
    Status
    valid formal name
    Nomenclatorial Remarks
    <p>Latin: Toarcium</p>
    In short

    The Pliensbachian/Toarcian boundary is marked by a major faunal turnover and regional stratigraphic gaps, followed by a global Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) recorded as black shales (such as the well-known «Posidonienschiefer» of Southern Germany, equivalent to the French «schistes-carton»).

    Age
    Toarcian
    • Late Toarcian

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Substage
      Status
      valid formal name
      Age
      late Toarcian
    • Middle Toarcian

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Substage
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short
      The Middle Toarcian is defined biostratigraphically by the ammonite genera Hildoceras and Haugia.
      Age
      middle Toarcian
    • Early Toarcian

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Substage
      Status
      valid formal name
      In short

      The Early Toarcian is characterized almost worldwide by black shales (among which the well-known «Posidonienschiefer» of Southern Germany, and the French «schistes-carton») with an ammonite fauna composed mainly of dactylioceratids, harpoceratids and early hildoceratids.

      Age
      early Toarcian
      • Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event

        Rank
        Oceanic Anoxic Event
        Status
        informal term
        In short

        Major oceanic anoxic event of the Early Toarcian (around 183 Ma ago), documented by black shale deposits found on all major continents (no oceanic drilling cores have recovered black shales of this age as there is little or no Toarcian ocean crust remaining in the world ocean). This event correlates with a marine extinction event.

  • Pliensbachian (190.8 +/-1.0 Ma)

    Name Origin

    Named after the village of Pliensbach (Baden-Württemberg, S Germany), 30 km E Stuttgart.

    Rank
    chronostratigraphic Stage
    Status
    valid formal name
    Age
    Pliensbachian
    • Domerian

      Name Origin

      Named after Monte Domaro (Italia), Val Trompia / Lombardia.

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Substage
      Status
      informal term
      In short

      Informal substage corresponding to the late Pliensbachian.

      Age
      spätes Pliensbachien (= Domérien)
    • Carixian

      Name Origin

      Named after Charmouth (Dorset, UK).

      Rank
      chronostratigraphic Substage
      Status
      informal term
      Nomenclatorial Remarks
      Latin: Carixium
      In short
      First, informal substage of the Pliensbachian.
      Age
      frühes Pliensbachien (= Carixien)
  • Sinemurian (199.3 +/-0.3 Ma)

    Name Origin

    Named after the town of Sémur-en-Auxois (Côte-d'Or, France).

    Rank
    chronostratigraphic Stage
    Status
    valid formal name
    Nomenclatorial Remarks
    <p>Latin: Sinemurium</p>
    Age
    Sinemurian
    • Lotharingian

      Name Origin

      Named after the Lorraine region (Lotharingium = carolingian province), NE France.

      Rank
      chronostratigraphy
      Status
      obsolete term (disused)
      In short

      Former chronostratigraphic subdivision corresponding to the Late Sinemurian substage.

      Age
      late Sinemurian
  • Hettangian (201.3 +/-0.2 Ma)

    Name Origin

    Named after the town of Hettange (Moselle, N France), just south of the border with Luxembourg,

    Rank
    chronostratigraphic Stage
    Status
    valid formal name
    In short

    First stage of the Jurassic.

    Age
    Hettangian
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