The Muschelkalk group in the Stratigraphical Scale of Germany 2002

In the Stratigraphic Table of Germany 2002 (STG 2002), the Muschelkalk Group is lithostratigraphically subdivided in the Lower Muschelkalk, the Middle Muschelkalk and the Upper Muschelkalk Subgroups, each comprising several formations. Marginal facies with different lithologies are ranked as Formations. Due to the paleogeographic position, most of them are restricted to Southern Germany. Additionally, an allostratigraphic subdivision is established comprising the nine 'Folgen' m1-m9, some of them with 'Subfolgen'. The Folgen represent time intervals bounded by nearly isochronous marker beds. The lower and upper boundaries of the Muschelkalk Group are both defined in terms of lithostratigraphy and allostratigraphy by marker beds. Due to the east-west transgression of the Muschelkalk sea, the lower boundary of the Muschelkalk in Poland is older than that in Germany. Major intervals of non-deposition or erosion have not been identified in the Muschelkalk of Germany; however, short-time gaps comprising not more than one parasequence (100 ka) have been found. Biozonal schemes of different groups of index fossils are used as controlling tools for the lithostratigraphic subdivision, the correlation with the Middle Triassic of the Tethyan realm, and the chronostratigraphic calibration of the Muschelkalk Group.