Geology

Stratigraphy

Cretaceous

Paleontology

Crinoid

Ammonite

Context (archaeology)

Biostratigraphy

Tectonics

Acta Geologica Polonica

The upper Upper Coniacian and Santonian ammonite stratigraphy of the Munster Basin, Westphalia, NW Germany, is described in the context of regional litho-, inoceramid- and sequence stratigraphy. The null Sphenoceramus pachti null &  S. cardissoides null Zone, previously regarded as basal Santonian, is placed in the uppermost Coniacian. The Lower Santonian corresponds to the null Cladoceramus undulatoplicatus null Zone, the lower Middle Santonian to the  Cordiceramus cordiformis null Zone. The null Sphenoceramus pinniformis null Zone spans the upper Middle Santonian to the lower Upper Santonian. The succeeding null Sphenoceramus patootensiformis null Zone corresponds approximately to the  Marsupites testudinarius null crinoid zone of the upper Upper Santonian. Occurrences of the belemnite null Gonioteuthis  are discussed. The ammonite occurrences are documented in the context of inoceramid and, where possible, belemnite and crinoid stratigraphy. A null Texanites null ( Texanites ) null pseudotexanus null Zone extends from the uppermost null M. subquadratus  Zone to the Upper Coniacian/Lower Santonian boundary. The null Kitchinites emscheris null Zone comprises the Lower and Middle Santonian. The Upper Santonian corresponds to the null Boehmoceras arculus null Zone. The ammonite faunas are predominately endemic from the Upper Coniacian to the Middle Santonian. Only the Upper Santonian yields supraregional and even global ammonite taxa such as null Boehmoceras arculus null and null B. krekeleri , which co-occur with the widespread crinoids null Uintacrinus socialis null and null Marsupites testudinarius . Sequence boundaries, followed by transgressive pulses, are identified in the uppermost Coniacian, with a subordinate event in the Middle Santonian, the most significant event in the basal Upper Santonian and the last in the Lower Campanian. Ammonite occurrences are clearly related to the sequences recognized.

Santonian ammonite stratigraphy of the Münster Basin, NW Germany