Lunz Formation

The Lunz Formation is a geologic formation in Austria and other Tethyan regions. It is composed of quartz sandstone, shales and claystones, locally with coal interbeds. Basal part of the formation may contain marine fossils. It preserves fossils dating back to the Carnian stage of the Triassic period and represents significant siliciclastic input into the European carbonate shalef due to the Carnian Pluvial Event.
Formation is traditionally divided into 3 members (Lunz Sandstone, Coal-bearing shales and Upper Sandstone), this concept was later modified and Trachyceras Beds and Reingraben shales were included into the basal part of the formation:
The Lunz Formation overlies the Ladinian-Carnian Wetterstein Formation and is covered by the Norian Main Dolomite.
Formation was originally defined by M.V. Lipold as "Lunzer Schichten", according to Austrian town Lunz am See. It occurs in the Northern Calcareous Alps, Western Carpathians. The Lunz Formation of the Northern Calcareous Alps is well known for well preserved Carnian flora - the so-called Lunz Flora.