Paleobiota of the Solnhofen Formation
The Solnhofen Plattenkalk, a collective term of multiple Late Jurassic lithographic limestones in southeastern Germany, is famous for its well preserved fossil flora and fauna dating to the late Jurassic.
Solnhofen Limestone Stratigraphic range: Kimmeridgian-Tithonian[1][2] | |
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A brittle star fossil from the Solnhofen Formation. | |
Type | Geological formation |
Underlies | Usseltal Formation |
Overlies | Torleite Formation |
Lithology | |
Primary | Lithographic limestone[1] |
Location | |
Region | Bavaria |
Country | Germany |
Type section | |
Named for | Solnhofen |
Chondrostei
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
C. bucklandi[3] |
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Halecostomi
Semionotidae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
L. decoratus[4] |
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L. intermedius[4] |
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L. maximus[4] |
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L. notopterus[4] |
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L. oblongus[4] |
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L. pustulosus[4] |
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L. subovatus[4] |
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L. unguiculatus[4] |
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Macrosemiidae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
H. oberndorferi[5] |
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M. rostratus[5] |
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N. decoratus[5] |
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N. denticulatus |
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P. elongatus[5] |
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P. microstomus[5] |
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E. beatae[5] |
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Pycnodontiformes
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
E. gibbosus[6] |
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G. circularis[6] |
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G. hexagonus[6] |
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M. verrucosus[6] |
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Macromesodon[6] |
M. heckeli[6] |
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M. macropterus[6] |
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P. elegans[6] |
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P. formosus[6] |
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Pachycormidae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
A. titanius[7] |
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H. insignis[7] |
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H. macrodon[7] |
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O. cornutus[7] |
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Pseudoasthenocormus[8] |
P. retrodorsalis[8] |
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S. depressus[7] |
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S. longimanus[7] |
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Others
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
H. latus[9] |
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Halecomorphi
Caturidae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
Amblysemius[10] |
A. bellicianus[10] |
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A. pachyurus[10] |
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C. furcatus[10] |
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C. giganteus[10] |
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L. gracilis[10] |
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L. sprattiformis[10] |
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Ionoscopidae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
I. cyprinoides[11] |
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I. esocinus[11] |
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I. münsteri[11] |
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I. striatissimus[11] |
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Furidae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
F. angustus[12] |
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F. latimanus[12] |
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F. longiserratus[12] |
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F. microlepidotes[12] |
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Teleostei
Aspidorhynchidae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
A. acutirostris[16] |
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B. münsteri[16] |
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B. tenuirostris[16] |
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Pholidophoridae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
Indeterminate.[17] |
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E. speciosus[17] |
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P. micronyx[17] |
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P. ovatus[17] |
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P. armatus[17] |
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P. diagonalis[17] |
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P. falcifer[17] |
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P. macrocephalus[17] |
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P. microps[17] |
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P. sculptus[17] |
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Allothrissopidae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
A. mesogaster[18] |
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A. salmoneus[18] |
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P. propterus[18] |
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T. formosus[18] |
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T. subovatus[18] |
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Orthogonikleithridae
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
L. haerteisi[19] |
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L. sprattiformis[19] |
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O. hoelli[19] |
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O. leichi[19] |
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Reptiles
Lizards
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
A. brevipes |
Small Lepidosaur thought to be close to the base of Geckota[22] |
| ||
A. digitalellus |
Solnhofen, Eichstätt |
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B. macrodactylus |
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E. schroederi |
Eichstätt |
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Schoenesmahl[22] | S. dyspepsia | Kelheim | Bavariasaurid lizard that was found in the stomach of the Compsognathus Holotype[22] | |
Rhynchocephalians
Name | Species | Locality | Formation | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
H. maximillioni |
Eichstätt, Painten, Schamhaupten, Kelheim |
Altmühltal Formation, Painten Formation | |||
Sapheosaurus | S. laticeps | Eichstätt, Painten | Altmühltal Formation, Painten Formation | Large sapheosaurid reaching 70 cm in length, it may be semi-aquatic | |
Kallimodon | K. pulchellus | Eichstätt | Altmühltal Formation | Sapheosauridae | |
Oenosaurus | O. muehlheimensis | Mühlheim | Mörnsheim Formation | Rhynchocephalian with dentition unique among Tetrapoda[23] | |
Vadasaurus | V. herzogi | Painten? | Painten Formation | Rhynchocephalian close to the base of Pleurosauridae[24] | |
P. goldfussi |
Eichstätt, Langenaltheim, Painten, Mörnsheim |
Altmühltal Formation, Painten Formation, Mörnsheim Formation |
Acrosaurus fischmanni is a synonym.[25] | ||
Ichthyosaurs
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
A. leptospondylus |
Eichstätt, Solnhofen[26] |
| ||
"Ichthyosaurus" |
Eichstätt, Kelheim, Solnhofen |
Nomen dubium. Known only from isolated teeth. | ||
Turtles
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
E. wagleri |
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C. temnospondyla |
Solnhofen |
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I. fitzingeri |
Eichstätt |
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P. testa |
Kelheim, Eichstätt, Solnhofen |
Eurysternum crassipes and Thalassemys marina are synonyms. | ||
Platychelys |
P. oberndorferi |
Kelheim |
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S. parsonsi |
Eichstätt |
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Crocodylomorphs
Name | Species | Presence | Specimens | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A. beaumonti |
Kelheim |
|
An atoposaurid |
| |
C. elegans |
Eichstätt, Solnhofen |
A metriorhynchid | |||
D. maximus |
Schernfeld |
A metriorhynchid | |||
G. giganteus |
Solnhofen |
A metriorhynchid | |||
R. gracilis |
Eichstätt, Zankt |
A metriorhynchid | |||
Dinosaurs
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
A. siemensii[33] |
Wellnhoferia and Jurapteryx are synonyms. |
| ||
A. lithographica[32] |
Langenaltheim, Eichstätt | |||
C. longipes[32] |
Kelheim (Goldberg) |
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Pterosaurs
Name | Species | Presence | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|
A. scolopaciceps |
Formerly classified as a species of Pterodactylus, closely related to Ardeadactylus, Aurorazhdarcho, and Cycnorhamphus.[34] |
| ||
A. ammoni |
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A. longicollum |
Formerly considered a species of Pterodactylus, it is more closely related to Gnathosaurus and Germanodactylus.[35] | |||
A. micronyx |
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C. elegans |
Originally classified as Pterodactylus elegans | |||
C. suevicus |
Originally classified as Pterodactylus suevicus | |||
G. cristatus |
Originally classified as Pterodactylus cristatus | |||
G. rhamphastinus |
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G. subulatus |
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P. antiquus |
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R. muensteri |
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S. crassirostris[38] |
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Invertebrate paleofauna
Crinoids
Crinoids of the Solnhofen Formation | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
|
Saccocoma remains are the most common macroscopic fossils in the Solnhofen limestone.[39] |
| ||
Cephalopods
Cephalopods of the Solnhofen Formation | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
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Xiphosura
Horseshoe crabs of the Solnhofen Formation | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
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Thylacocephalans
Thylacocephalans of the Solnhofen Formation | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
Clausocaris | C. lithographica | |||
Dollocaris | D. michelorum | |||
Mayrocaris | M. bucculata | |||
Falcatacaris | F. bastelbergeri |
Insects
Dragonflies of the Solnhofen Formation | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Taxa | Presence | Notes | Images | |
|
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References
- Rauhut, O. W., Heyng, A. M., López-Arbarello, A., & Hecker, A. (2012). A new rhynchocephalian from the Late Jurassic of Germany with a dentition that is unique amongst tetrapods. PLoS ONE, 7(10): e46839.
- Schweigert, G. 2007. Ammonite biostratigraphy as a tool for dating Upper Jurassic lithographic limestones from South Germany – first results and open questions." Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen, 245(1): 117-125. doi:10.1127/0077-7749/2007/0245-0117
- "Table 1; Chondrostei; Coccolepidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecostomi; Semionotidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecostomi; Macrosemiidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecostomi; Pycnodontiformes" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecostomi; Pachycormidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- Note: Lambers abbreviated Pseudoasthenocormus as "Pseudoasth.," "Table 1; Halecostomi; Pachycormidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecostomi; 'Halecostomi inc. sed.'" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecomorphi; Caturidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecomorphi; Ionoscopidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecomorphi; Furidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecomorphi; 'Amiidae' and 'Ophiopsidae'" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Halecomorphi; Halecomorphi incertae cedis" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Teleostei; Pleuropholidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Teleostei; Aspidorhynchidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Teleostei; Pholidophoridae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Teleostei; Allothrissopidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Teleostei; Orthogonikleithridae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Teleostei; Anaethalionidae" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- "Table 1; Teleostei; 'Elopidae,' 'Ostariophysi,' 'Clupeocephala inc. sed.,' 'Elopocephala inc. sed.,' and 'Teleostei inc. sed'" in Lambers (1999) pg. 216.
- Conrad, Jack L. (2018-06-28). "A new lizard (Squamata) was the last meal of Compsognathus (Theropoda: Dinosauria) and is a holotype in a holotype". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 183 (3): 584–634. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx055. ISSN 0024-4082.
- "ResearchGate". ResearchGate. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0046839. PMC 3485277. PMID 23118861. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- Bever, Gabriel S.; Norell, Mark A. "A new rhynchocephalian (Reptilia: Lepidosauria) from the Late Jurassic of Solnhofen (Germany) and the origin of the marine Pleurosauridae". Royal Society Open Science. 4 (11): 170570. doi:10.1098/rsos.170570. PMC 5717629. PMID 29291055.
- Dupret, V. (2004). The pleurosaurs: anatomy and phylogeny. Revue de Paléobiologie, Vol spéc, 9, 61-80.
- Bardet, N., & Fernández, M. (2000). A new ichthyosaur from the Upper Jurassic lithographic limestones of Bavaria. Journal Information, 74(3).
- JOYCE, W. G. (2003). A new Late Jurassic turtle specimen and the taxonomy of Palaeomedusa testa and edusa testa Eurysternum wagleri.
- Schwarz‐Wings, D., Klein, N., Neumann, C., & Resch, U. (2011). A new partial skeleton of Alligatorellus (Crocodyliformes) associated with echinoids from the Late Jurassic (Tithonian) lithographic limestone of Kelheim, S‐Germany. Fossil Record, 14(2), 195-205.
- De Andrade, M. B., Young, M. T., Desojo, J. B., & Brusatte, S. L. (2010). The evolution of extreme hypercarnivory in Metriorhynchidae (Mesoeucrocodylia: Thalattosuchia) based on evidence from microscopic denticle morphology. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 30(5), 1451-1465.
- Young MT, Brusatte SL, de Andrade MB, Desojo JB, Beatty BL, et al. (2012) The Cranial Osteology and Feeding Ecology of the Metriorhynchid Crocodylomorph Genera Dakosaurus and Plesiosuchus from the Late Jurassic of Europe. PLoS ONE 7(9): e44985. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044985
- Young, Mark T., and Marco Brandalise de Andrade, 2009. "What is Geosaurus? Redescription of Geosaurus giganteus (Thalattosuchia: Metriorhynchidae) from the Upper Jurassic of Bayern, Germany." Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 157: 551-585.
- Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Jurassic, Europe)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 545–549. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
- Mayr, G.; Phol, B.; Hartman, S.; Peters, D. S. (2007). "The tenth skeletal specimen of Archaeopteryx". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 149: 97–116. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2006.00245.x.
- Vidovic SU, Martill DM (2014) Pterodactylus scolopaciceps Meyer, 1860 (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Upper Jurassic of Bavaria, Germany: The Problem of Cryptic Pterosaur Taxa in Early Ontogeny. PLoS ONE 9(10): e110646. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0110646
- Bennett, S.C. (2002). "Soft tissue preservation of the cranial crest of the pterosaur Germanodactylus from Solnhofen." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 22(1): 43-48.
- Jouve, S. (2004). "Description of the skull of a Ctenochasma (Pterosauria) from the latest Jurassic of eastern France, with a taxonomic revision of European Tithonian Pterodactyloidea." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 24(3): 542-554.
- Bennett, S. C. (1995). "A statistical study of Rhamphorhynchus from the Solnhofen Limestone of Germany: Year-classes of a single large species." Journal of Paleontology, 69: 569-580.
- "Scaphognathus." In: Cranfield, Ingrid (ed.). The Illustrated Directory of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures. London: Salamander Books, Ltd. Pp. 308-309.
- Clare V. Milsom. (1994) Saccacoma, a benthic crinoid from the Jurassic Solnhofen Limestone, Germany Archived 2011-07-16 at the Wayback Machine. Palaeontology 37 (1) 121-129.
- Lomax, Dean R. (2010). "Am Ichthyosaurus (Reptilia, Ichthyosauria) with gastric contents from Charmouth, England: First report of the genus from the Pliensbachian" (PDF). Paludicola. Rochester Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology. 8 (1): 22–36. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
General
- Lambers, P. H. (1999). The actinopterygian fish fauna of the Late Kimmeridgian and Early Tithonian 'Plattenkalke' near Solnhofen (Bavaria, Germany): state of the art. Geologie en Mijnbouw 78:215-229.