1. Introduction

In the Eastern Swabian Alb (Fig. 1) and adjacent Franconian Alb large “Minette type” iron ore lenses occur as seams and are typical of the Upper Aalenian of this area (Quenstedt 1843; Quenstedt 1856–1857; Freyberg 1951; Wild 1951; Weber 1967; Dietl & Etzold 1977; Etzold 1980; Franz & Nitsch 2009). They are located within the Middle Jurassic Eisensandstein Formation (GÜmbel 1864), whose type locality is at Aalen-Wasseralfingen (Franz & Nitsch 2009). The lithostratigraphy of the Eisensandstein Formation was recently revised by Franz & Nitsch (2009). The latest biostratigraphical subdivisions of the Eisensandstein Formation of the Upper Aalenian of the area around Aalen are by Weber (1964) and Dietl & Etzold (1977).

Since iron mining in the Aalen area has ended, the ore seams are no longer worked and collecting underground in the galleries is no longer possible. Practically, it is now extremely difficult to collect ammonites there and certainly not in quantity by bed-by-bed. Ammonites originating from the Unteres Flöz of the Aalen mines located in old collections can be identified in nearly all cases by their characteristic preservation. This is more difficult with the ammonites from the iron ore seams lying higher in the section.

With the exception of the two thickest iron ore seams in the Aalen-Wasseralfingen area (Unteres Flöz and Aalener Flöz), which are relatively evenly formed, the other ore seams are considerably thinner and are reported to wedge out over short distances (Schuler 1865, fig. 1). This increases the difficulty in assigning historical ammonite specimens to specific layers, although it is the case that the bulk of the ammonites have their origins from either the Unteres Flöz or in the case of most examples from the Aalener Flöz. Some ammonites likely originate from the Geislinger Flöz (Figs. 2, 3). Fortunately, a small collection of ammonites collected from the Aalener Flöz (formerly: Oberes Flöz) from Aalen-Wasseralfingen is preserved. The specimens were sampled by the fossil collector Hans Schöne (see Mayer 2010), who donated his collection to the Tübingen University. The ammonites have been determined by Hans Rieber (Esslingen, Switzerland) as part of his PhD thesis (Rieber 1963) as “Ludwigia bradfordensis (Buckman)” and “Ludwigia murchisonae falcifera (Althoff)”; this is confirmed by a label written by himself that survived along with the specimens (pers. communication H.R. to V.D., May 2022). These ammonites had been the basis of the determinations of ammonites from the Aalener Flöz (= Oberes Flöz) in Dietl & Etzold (1977; Fig. 3), since it was H. Rieber, who determined the ammonites of the Braunjura β in this publication (Dietl & Etzold 1977: 10).

The Schöne collection consists of twelve ammonites from the Aalener Flöz (= Oberes Flöz) of Aalen-Wasseralfingen. Since the collector H. Schöne had moved to the nearby town of Schwäbisch Gmünd at the beginning of the 1930s, the examples almost certainly come from the gallery “Süßes Löchle”, which was first opened in 1924, and finished in the same year in the “Oberes Flöz”. This confirms the location of the specimens as from the northern part of the Braunenberg hill in Aalen-Wasseralfingen. Mining resumed there in 1932–1933, but stopped again in 1939 after the opening of the “Faber-du-Faur Stollen” in Aalen (Bauer 1982). With the help of the ammonites of the Schöne collection it was possible to identify and assign additional ammonites in the collection of the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart (SMNS) to the Aalener Flöz since they show exactly the same preservation and matrix.

Fig. 1.

Location map. The outcrops of the Middle Jurassic are marked in gray.

The ammonites of the Schöne collection are kept in the Palaeontological Collection of Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen (GPIT). The further ammonites under investigation are stored in the collection of the SMNS.

Abbreviations: [M] = macroconch; [m] = micro-conch.

2. Origin of the Aalener Flöz (= Oberes Flöz) and description of the section

Based on measurements by the mining inspector Schuler (Schuler 1865; Fraas 1871; Schleh 1927), the Aalener (= Oberes) Flöz at the Braunenberg Hill in Wasseralfingen is approx. 1.1 m thick. Schleh (1927) measured 1.3 m. The Aalener Flöz is an ore lens of several kilometres in extent, its greatest thickness (approx. 1.5 m) and Fe-content maxima lie in a central zone (Weber 1964). The axis of this enrichment zone at Aalen is apparently located in the area of Heuchelbachtal, Zochental and Osterbucher Steige southwest of Aalen and has a strike from there in a northeasterly direction across Aalen via the village of Röthardt to the Braunenberg hill near Aalen-Wasseralfingen. In the directions deviating from the longitudinal axis of the enrichment zone, thickness and ore content decrease considerably (Wild 1951; Weber 1964; Franz & Nitsch 2009). In the area of Attenhofen and Oberalfingen, which directly adjoins the Braunenberg hill in northeastern direction, the thickness of the Aalener Flöz decreases to 0.6–0.85 m (Weber 1964). The rocks of the Eisensandstein Formation are fully marine subtidal neritic arenaceous deposits with signs of directional sediment flow by current activity. The sandstones and iron oolites form several kilometers wide flat rock bodies, whose longitudinal axis is oriented approximately NE - SW, parallel to the ancient coastline which was located some 150–200 km away (Wild 1951; Franz & Nitsch 2009).

The best descriptions of the Eisensandstein Formation of Aalen-Wasseralfingen and the adjoining area are by Schuler (1865) and Schleh (1927). Due to the intensive mining in numerous pits and galleries in the Aalen - Wasseralfingen - Attenhofen - Oberalfingen area, Schuler was able to record the strata sequence closely and thus gain a detailed picture of the horizontal and vertical distribution of the individual beds (Fig. 2; Schuler 1865, fig. 1). Today it would be impossible to obtain even a comparably good picture of the stratigraphic sequence. We therefore re-illustrate here in simplified form and restricted to the aims of this publication Schuler's (1865) description of the “Braunjura β” of the area around Aalen-Wasseralfingen with ammonites found in the region of Aalen. In his time, 1′ (= 1 Württembergischer Fuß) measured 28.6490 cm. We make some additions to his observations by Schleh (1927).

Fig. 2.

Section of the Eisensandstein Formation (with the exception of the top of the Oberer-Donzdorf-Sandstein Member) at Aalen Wasseralfingen (modified from Schuler 1865), to show the wedging out of the smaller iron ore seams over short distances. The iron ore seams are shaded in grey, the Aalener Flöz (= Oberes Flöz) in brown and the area of Wasseralfingen in olive. Abbreviations: F. = Formation; Mu. = Murchisonae; Bradf. = Bradfordensis; Sbz. = Subzone.

Weber (1964, pl. 3, right column) presented a section from the Wasserfallbank up to the Sowerbyi-Oolith of Wasseralfingen, which we refigure here in modern biostratigraphical terms (Fig. 3).

The areas of the Aalener Flöz in the Braunenberg above Aalen-Wasseralfingen (see profile Fig. 2), which were mined in Schuler's time and the “Süßes Löchle”, which enabled the mining of the iron ore of the Aalener Flöz somewhat further north in the Braunenberg near Aalen-Wasseralfingen adjoin each other. Thus, despite the lenticular character of most of the individual seams (with the exception of the Unteres Flöz and the Aalener Flöz), the profile description by Schuler (1865), with some additions by Schleh (1927) is likely to agree with the stratigraphic sequence in the area of the “Süßes Löchle”, except for marginal deviations.

The Eisensandstein Formation is overlain by the Bajocian Wedelsandstein Formation, which starts with the Sowerbyi-Oolith Member.

Eisensandstein Formation : c. 30.5–31 m (according to Franz & Nitsch 2009, the Eisensandstein Formation extends from the base of the Unterer Donzdorf Sandstein Member to the base of the Sowerbyi-Oolith Member).

Oberer -Donzdorf -Sandstein Member: c. 8.5–9 m

Ammonites: Staufenia discoidea, Ludwigia sp. [c. 1.35–1.6 m above the top of the Unteres Flöz; cited from Weber 1964 and Dietl & Etzold 1977)].

Unteres Flöz Member: c. 1.9 m [6.62′ = average thickness in Wasseralfingen]. At the top iron-oolitic (1.61 m) [5.62′]. At the base c. 0.26–max. 0.71 m [0.90′–max. 2.5′] “Sohl-stein”, brown to beige/reddish, very hard calcareous sandstone, unweathered blueish-grey, at some parts increasing to c. 0.7 m and wedging out both N and S.

Ammonites (from the iron-oolitic part): Ancolioceras opalinoides, “Staufenia” sinon [type horizon], Ludwigia haugi [type horizon], L. obtusiformis [cited from Weber 1964 and Dietl & Etzold 1977], L. crassa.

Unterer - Donzdorf - Sandstein Member: c. 3.15 m [11.00‘] yellow sandstone.

Ammonites: [after Weber 1964 and Dietl & Etzold 1977]: Ancolioceras opalinoides.

The underlying beds of the Opalinuston Formation are not described here.

3. Description of the ammonite fauna of the Aalener Flöz (= Oberes Flöz)

Zieten (1830) figured a plate with ammonites from the iron ore seams of Aalen. In our view, most specimens originate from the Unteres Flöz. Subsequently, Quenstedt (1845–1849, 1886) figured many ammonites from the iron ore seams of Aalen and introduced some new species based on these ammonites. Some of these taxa, originally described by Quenstedt in trinominal nomenclature, are now available (Iczn 2005). Spiegler (1966) also figured specimens from the Upper Aalenian of Aalen.

Most ammonites under investigation belong to the family Graphoceratidae Buckman, 1905. Ammonites of the morphogenus Brasilia are typical of the Bradfordensis Zone of the Upper Aalenian (Contini 1969; Chandler 1997). Some of the specimens with a broad whorl section are still assigned to the genus Ludwigia, which is characteristic for the Murchisonae Zone, but persists into the Bradfordensis Zone.

It should be noted that most of these graphoceratid morphospecies have a considerable stratigraphical range (see e.g. Chandler 1997) and are not restricted to the biohorizon described here, but occur in younger and older strata as well. It is just the variability of the graphoceratid ammonite fauna that can be used to access its correlation to a single biohorizon.

Besides graphoceratids, two further ammonite taxa can be assigned to the ammonite fauna of the Aalener Flöz, the lytoceratid Lytoceras amplum (Oppel, 1862) (Pl. 5, Fig. 1) and the hammatoceratid Ceccaites sieboldi (Oppel, 1862) (Pl. 5, Fig. 2). Both type specimens exhibit the same rock matrix and preservation as the other ammonites of this ore seam. There are several additional large-sized specimens of L. amplum including the paralectotype in the collection of the SMNS. All of them originate from the same bed but show some variation in respect of the remarkably inflated whorl section. L. amplum was placed in Megalytoceras Buckman, 1905 (Rulleau 1998); however, a critical review showed that this assignment cannot be accepted because this species lacks the typical ornament of Megalytoceras (Hoffmann 2010). Ammonites sieboldi is the type species of Ceccaites Cresta, 1997. KovÁcs (2009) questioned the validity of this genus and considered it being a junior synonym of Planammatoceras Buckman, 1922. We here retain this taxon in Ceccaites because of its juvenile stage with prominent parabolic nodes on the flanks unknown from Planammatoceras. Since its original description, Ceccaites sieboldi has never been recorded again from the Jurassic of Swabia. Ceccaites sieboldi has been cited from a couple of Mediterranean localities (Hungary, Southern Alps, Southern Spain, southeastern France, Morocco) under various generic assignments (Cresta 1997; KovÁcs 2009). A specimen very close to the holotype has been illustrated from Iran (Seyed-Emami et al. 2006, 2020), however, without precise stratigraphical control. The same hammatoceratid morphotype occurs in the gigantea horizon at Horn Park in Dorset thus confirming a similar age of occurrence there. Lytoceras amplum and Ceccaites sieboldi indicate close connections between the Aalenian Jurassic epicontinental sea in present-day southern Germany and the Tethys Ocean.

Fig. 3.

Section from the Wasserfallbank Member (Opalinuston Formation) and the Eisensandstein Formation up to the Sowerbyi-Oolith Member (Wedelsandstein Formation) of Aalen-Wasseralfingen (SW Germany) (based on Weber 1964, fig. 3, right column). The iron ore beds are recognisable by thick dots; the Aalener Flöz (= Oberes Flöz) is shaded in red. Left of the section: lithostratigraphy; right of the section: biostratigraphy (biohorizons, subzones, zones, stages). Abbreviations: WF = Wedelsandstein Formation; W = Wasserfallbank Member; Z = Zopfplatten Member; U. D.-S. = Unterer-Donzdorf-Sandstein Member; UF = Unteres Flöz; Personatensandstein = Personatensandstein Member; Ob. Flözh. = Oberer Flözhorizont Member; Ob. Donzdorf-Sds. = Oberer-Donzdorf-Sandstein Member; AF = Aalener Flöz; GF = Geislinger Flöz; SO = Sowerbyi-Oolith Member; Murch. = Murchisonae; Bradf. = Bradfordensis; Ov. = Ovale; Laev. = Laeviuscula.

4. Bio-/chronostratigraphy and correlation

4.1. Bio-/chronostratigraphy

We focus on the Aalener Flöz and thus restrict the biostratigraphical description to the beds of the Eisensandstein Formation from the Unterer-Donzdorf-Sandstein Member to the Aalener Flöz, supplemented by some short comments on the Geislinger Flöz above. The results of the biostratigraphy of the beds below the Aalener Flöz are still preliminary; an investigation of the ammonite fauna of the Unteres Flöz is in preparation.

Upper Aalenian

Murchisonae Zone

Haugi Subzone

The Unterer-Donzdorf-Sandstein Member of Aalen Wasseralfingen is assigned to the Haugi Subzone. Weber (1964) noted A. opalinoides from the Unterer Donzdorf-Sandstein of nearby Aalen-Oberalfingen. From the area of Essingen, which lies just a few km West of Aalen, Weber (1964) recorded “Staufenia” sinon, A. opalinoides and Ludwigia haugi obtusiformis from a calcareous sandstone bed 1.2 m below the Unteres Flöz of Essingen in the top of an at least 2.9 m thick sandstone bed (?Unterer Donzdorf Sandstein).

The Unteres Flöz Member lies also in the Haugi Subzone. The type specimens of Ludwigia haugi and “Staufenia” sinon originate from the Unteres Flöz of “Aalen”; probably also the type specimen of L. crassa Horn, 1909. In these levels occur various species of the genus Ludwigia and a range of morphologies between “Staufenia” sinon and Ancolioceras opalinoides from the Unteres Flöz of Aalen and Aalen-Wasseralfingen. This fauna, as well as ammonites described from the Haugi Subzone of Geisingen and the Wutach area (Horn 1909; Rieber 1963; Dietze et al. 2014) represent the opalinoides biohorizon. At present, we regard these faunas as isochronous; however, investigations for a clarification are in progress.

Murchisonae Subzone

The Personatensandstein Member (at about 1.5 m above its base) has yielded a single specimen of Staufenia discoidea (Weber 1964; Dietl & Etzold 1977), which indicates either the discoidea α or the discoidea β biohorizon (Rieber 1963; Dietze et al. 2022).

Bradfordensis Zone

Bradfordensis Subzone

Weber (1964) and Dietl & Etzold (1977) stated that Staufenia staufensis occurs in the area of Aalen in the Unterer Zwischenflözhorizont. This bed thus belongs to the staufensis biohorizon (Rieber 1963; Dietze et al. 2017). A small specimen of St. staufensis from Aalen was already figured by Quenstedt (1887, pl. 57, fig. 5).

Three specimens of Brasilia spp. from an unknown iron seam in the collection of the SMNS show a typical preservation with a brownish to golden opalescent shell. These specimens probably originate from a younger level than the staufensis biohorizon; however, the exact stratigraphic position is unknown.

Gigantea Subzone

The Aalener Flöz (= Oberes Flöz) at Aalen-Wasseralfingen yields ammonites of the here newly introduced falcifera biohorizon of the Gigantea Subzone (Bradfordensis Zone). Until now there was a consensus in the literature that the Aalener Flöz (= Oberes Flöz) in the area of Aalen and Aalen-Wasseralfingen can be assigned to the Bradfordensis Subzone of the Bradfordensis Zone (Rieber 1963; Weber 1964; Dietl & Etzold 1977; Franz & Nitsch 2009). This must be corrected here.

The ammonite fauna of the falcifera biohorizon is morphologically intermediate between the ammonite faunas of the geisingensis and the decipiformis biohorizons of the Gigantea Subzone (Fig. 4; Dietze et al. 2014). In the geisingensis and in the falcifera biohorizons ammonites with a Graphoceras-like morphology are still missing. On the other hand, ammonites morphologically close to B. decipiformis such as the morphospecies B. falcifera (Pl. 1, Fig. 1), B. aff. platychora (Pl. 3, Fig. 1) and B. decipiens (Pl. 2, Fig. 1) do not occur in the geisingensis biohorizon. In the geisingensis biohorizon all graphoceratids exhibit a ribbing stage on the inner whorls. Some ammonites of the falcifera biohorizon show a reduced ribbing on the inner whorls as well as many B. decipiformis from the decipiformis biohorizon (Dietze et al. 2014). Large-sized specimens of B. falcifera similar to the type specimen of this species occur only in the Gigantea Subzone. The specimens previously determined as L. falcifera from the Bradfordensis Subzone of the Bradfordensis Zone (Dietze et al. 2014, 2017) are smaller and are now revised as B. aff. falcifera.

Fig. 4.

Biohorizons of the Aalenian in SW Germany. The falcifera biohorizon described herein is marked in grey. ¹The discoidea α and discoidea β biohorizons cannot be discriminated at Aalen.

From an iron ore seam showing a shell-rich matrix in Wasseralfingen near the inn “Erzgrube” following above the Aalener Flöz, probably from the Geislinger Flöz, U. SAUERBORN collected a Brasilia sp. with a slim whorl section, nearly parallel flanks and smooth, high whorls. Ammonites sharing this morphology (diameter up to 25 cm), preservation and matrix are housed in the collection of the SMNS. Quenstedt (1887, pl. 59, fig. 16 [photographically refigured by Schlegelmilch 1985, pl. 12, fig. 1], fig. 17) figured such ammonites from the Geislinger Flöz of Kuchen as Ammonites murchisonae planatus. A description of these ammonites and their biostratigraphical interpretation is beyond the scope of this work.

Concavum Zone

To date no ammonites characteristic for the Concavum Zone have been recorded from the Aalen area (Weber 1964; Dietl & Etzold 1977). The biostratigraphical subdivision of the strata following above the Aalener Flöz up to the top of the Eisensandstein Formation at Aalen is unclear due to the lack of biostratigraphically diagnostic ammonites. There must exist at least one further ammonite biohorizon (see above), however, its position in the section is still unknown.