Review of Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary sections in the Rhenish Slate Mountains (Germany)

Abstract Thirty Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary sections of the Rhenish Slate Mountains and adjacent subsurface areas are reviewed with respect to litho-, event, conodont, ammonoid, sequence, chemostratigraphy. In interval from base uppermost Famennian (Wocklum Beds, Wocklumian) middle Tournaisian (base Lower Alum Shale), 11 conodont 16 ammonoid (sub)zones distinguished. The terminology Hangenberg Crisis Interval is refined, an overall regressive Prelude below main Extinction, which defines transgressive (Hangenberg Black Shale). glacigenic Middle Shale/Sandstone) followed by Upper that can be subdivided into three parts (I III) help stratigraphy (upper costatus-kockeli Interregnum = upper ck I, Protognathodus kockeli Zone, lower part Siphonodella ( Eosiphonodella ) sulcata s.l./ Pr. kuehni Zone). includes currently a wide range forms, variabilities precise ranges need established before GSSP level should selected. Returning its original definition, former duplicata Zone re-named as S. mehli Zone. It replaces jii hampered taxonomic complications. quadruplicata Ji (1985) hardly supported data. entry typical lobata (M1) characterises subdivision (subzone) sandbergi Zone; new M2 enters much earlier within S .) ammonoid-defined Wocklum-Stufe (Upper Devonian UD VI) begins Linguaclymenia similis (UD VI-A 1 ). oldest enter Muessenbiaergia bisulcata 2 traditional Parawocklumeria paradoxa Schindewolf (1937) divided successive P. paprothae (VI-C ), Mayneoceras nucleus 3 Subzones. (Lower Carboniferous LC I), Gattendorfia subinvoluta G. (LC I-A “ Eocanites ” nodosus Paprothites dorsoplanus I-B) Pap. I-B Paragattendorfia sphaeroides Potential subdivisions Pseudarietites westfalicus I-C) Parag. patens Zones I-D) less distinctive. unfossiliferous or argillaceous Limestone overlying Shale Event remain regionally unzoned for ammonoids.