Besano Formation
The Besano Formation is a geological formation in the southern Alps of northwestern Italy and southern Switzerland. This formation, a thin but fossiliferous succession of dolomite and black shale, is famous for its preservation of Middle Triassic (Anisian–Ladinian) marine life including fish and aquatic reptiles. It is exposed on Monte San Giorgio and is among the formations responsible for the area being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Switzerland, it is also known as the Grenzbitumenzone. The Anisian-Ladinian boundary lies in the upper part of the Besano Formation.
| Besano Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Late Anisian (Illyrian)–Early Ladinian (Fassanian) ~ | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Underlies | San Giorgio Dolomite |
| Overlies | Lower San Salvatore Dolomite |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Dolomite, shale |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 45.9°N 8.9°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 7.5°N 21.0°E |
| Region | Lombardy, Piedmont, Ticino |
| Country | Italy Switzerland |
| Extent | Southwestern Limestone Alps |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Besano |
Besano Formation (Switzerland) | |
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