Argiles Ostréennes (French for "clay with fossil oysters") is a geological formation in northern central France whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous period. It is a lithostratigraphic unit within the Paris Basin.
Location and Age
The formation is located in northern central France, primarily in the Paris Basin region. Its strata date to the Early Cretaceous, with more precise studies placing it around the Barremian stage (Lower to Upper Barremian boundary). A sedimentary discontinuity has been identified between the underlying Argiles à Plicatules (lower Aptian) and the Argiles Ostréennes.
Lithology
As the name suggests, the formation consists predominantly of clays (argiles) that contain abundant fossil oyster shells, giving the unit its characteristic paleontological signature.
Fossil Content
The formation is known for its fossil remains, including:
- Oysters – abundant fossil oyster shells, for which the formation is named.
- Dinosaur remains – indeterminate iguanodontian (Iguanodontia indet.) fossils have been recovered from the formation.
- Dinoflagellate cysts and acritarchs – palynological studies have been conducted on the formation's microfloral assemblages.
See also
- List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
- Paris Basin
- Early Cretaceous
References
- Weishampel, David B.; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Europe)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd ed., Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 556–563. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
- "The Polyglot Paleontologist". Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
