The Carboniferous in the Stratigraphic Table of Germany 2016

The Carboniferous timescale in the Stratigraphic Table of Germany 2016 (STD 2016) relies on slightly modified composite ages already used in the Stratigraphic Table of Germany 2002 (STD 2002). They differ from the Geological Time Scale 2012 (GTS 2012). Besides the international stages, the western European Mississippian regional stages are shown. The traditional German subdivision of the Kulm was discarded. Mississippian (lower Carboniferous) sedimentary successions are widespread in the mountainous regions and hills in the central part of Germany (Rhenish Mountains, Harz, Thuringian Forest, Franconian Forest and adjoining regions of Saxony). They are also widespread in the subsurface of Northern Germany. Paralic Pennsylvanian (upper Carboniferous) successions crop out in the Subvariscan Basin between Aachen and Osnabruck, and continue into the subsurface of Northern Germany. Intramontane successions, with few exceptions starting in the Pennsylvanian, occur in several, in part extended basins in southwestern and central Germany. They are known from outcrop and subsurface. The diversified facies of the Carboniferous in Germany is controlled by the northwestern progradation of the Variscan Orogeny and its finalisation during the late Westphalian. During the Mississippian, megafacies realms include deeper water basinal sediments and flysch deposits, and laterally adjoining shallow-water platform carbonates (Kulm facies and Carboniferous Limestone facies, respectively). Locally starting in the later Mississippian (upper Visean), paralic and purely continental intramontane molasse deposits prevail during the Pennsylvanian. The traditional lithostratigraphic terms of the Mississippian regional standard profiles of Aachen and the western and northern Rhenish Mountains (Velbert, Sauerland) were completely substituted by new formations. Lithostratigraphic terms of the northeastern and eastern Rhenish Mountains (Kellerwald, Lahn-Dill area) were completely revised, as provenance analyses of detrital zircons enabled the differentiation of Rhenohercynian and Armorican nappes. Also the Mississippian of the Thuringisch-Frankisches Schiefergebirge and the Frankenwald (Franconian Forest) are better differentiated; formations were introduced for most lithostratigraphic units. Minor modifications concern the Namurian of the Subvariscan Basin at the northwestern border of the Rhenish Mountains and the intramontane Pennsylvanian successions of several basins in central Germany