Martinsmad-Formation

Representation and status

Color CMYK

(0%,6%,53%,8%)

Color RGB

R: 235 G: 220 B: 110

Rank

lithostratigraphic Formation

Validity

Unit is in Use

Status

informal term

Nomenclature

Deutsch

Martinsmad-Formation

Français

Formation du Martinsmad

Italiano

Formazione del Martinsmad

English

Martinsmad Formation

Origin of the Name

Martinsmaad (GL), Glarus Süd

Historical Variants

Exponensgrünsand, Flysch von Martinsmad (Leupold 1943, Wegmann 1961), Martinsmad Formation (Menkveld et al. 2016), Martinsmad-Formation (Löpfe et al. 2018)

Nomenclatorial Remarks

im Martinsmaad ; Maad = Matt (cf. Zer-Matt)

Hierarchy and sequence

Subordinate units

• «Supraquarzitischer Flysch»
• Sardona-Member
• «Infraquarzitischer Flysch»

Upper boundary

Tektonische Grenze.

Lower boundary

Wang-Fm. (tektonisches Kontakt).

Age

Age at top

• Ypresian

Age at base

• Maastrichtian

Dating Method

Foraminiferen.

Geography

Geographical extent

Ostschweiz (Sernftal, Weisstannental).

Type locality

• Sardonaalp (SG)
  Site particularities
  • typische Fazies
  Site accessibility
  • Grat
  Coordinates
  • (2739500 / 1197500)
  Note
  • Zwischen Piz Sardona und Sardona-Hütte SAC (Menkveld-Gfeller et al. 2016).

Type profile

• Chli Chamm (SG)
  Site particularities
  • typische Fazies
  Site accessibility
  • Grat
  Coordinates
  • (2736875 / 1201650)
  Note
  • Wegmann 1961: unterer Teil
• Weralpgrat (GL)/(SG)
  Site particularities
  • typische Fazies
  Site accessibility
  • Grat
  Coordinates
  • (2737080 / 1200465)
  Note
  • Wegmann 1961: oberer Teil

References

Definition

Menkveld-Gfeller Ursula, Kempf Oliver, Funk Hanspeter (2016) : Lithostratigraphic units of the Helvetic Palaeogene: review, new definition, new classification. Swiss J. Geosc. 109/2, 171-199

p.193: Leupold (1942) first described the ‘‘Sardona-Flysch’’ (i.e., the sediment succession of the Sardona nappe) in detail and subdivided it into Seewen Formation, Amden Marl, Wang Formation, and ‘‘Wildflysch’’. For further descriptions see Arn. Heim (1911), Boussac (1912) for Seewen Formation, Amden-Mergel, and Wang formation, Oberholzer (1933; Glarner «Wildflysch»), Bisig (1957; «Sardonaflysch»); Lihou (1995). Like the Blattengrat Sandstone and the Lavtina Sandstone, the flysch deposits of the Sardona nappe are part of the so called ‘‘wrapped’’ flysch (‘‘eingewickelter Flysch’’, Arn. Heim 1911). The strongly schistous sediment succession is intensely deformed, and Leupold (1942) subdivided the succession into an ‘‘infraquartzitic’’ and ‘‘supraquartzitic’’ flysch. Yet, this subdivision includes non-flysch deposits as well. Thus, we combine all true flysch deposits in the here defined Martinsmad Formation. ‘‘Globotruncanenkalk’’ (=Seewen Formation), ‘‘Globotruncanenmergel’’ (=Amden Marl), ‘‘Freudenbergschiefer’’ and ‘‘Unterer Siderolitheskomplex’’ (=Wang Formation) of Leupold (1942)—all belonging to the older part of the ‘‘infraquartzitic flysch’’— are not further considered. The Martinsmad Formation as defined here comprises the entire succession of true flysch deposits of the Sardona nappe. These are, sensu Wegmann (1961), the ‘‘infraquartzitic flysch’’ pro parte (including ‘‘Kristallinkonglomerate’’ and ‘‘Unterer Ölquarzithorizont’’), the ‘‘Sardonaquarzit’’, and the ‘‘supraquartzitic flysch’’ (comprising ‘‘oberer O¨ lquarzitkomplex’’, ‘‘Fukoidenschiefer’’, ‘‘Siderolitesplatten’’, and ‘‘oberster sandsteinreicher Flysch’’). Based on this classification, Lihou and Allen (1996) introduced a ‘‘Sardona Quartzite Formation’’ composed of four facies associations. Based thereon, we here define the Martinsmad Formation subdivided by the Sardona Quarzite (formal member) informally into a ‘‘lower’’ and ‘‘upper flysch unit’’. The type locality (Leupold 1942) is east of Piz Sardona/Sardona-Hütte SAC (ca. 2739.500/ 1197.500), a type section may be taken from Lihou and Allen (1996). For further descriptions see Arn. Heim (1911), Oberholzer (1933), Leupold (1942), and Wegmann (1961). Lithology: See individual members. Overlying strata: tectonic boundary; underlying strata: Wang Formation, tectonic boundary. Biostratigraphy: Maastrichtian to Ypresian (?earliest Lutetian), foraminifera. Current geographical extent: Eastern Switzerland: Sernf and Weisstannen valley. Tectonic units: Eastern Switzerland: Sardona nappe.