Solnhofen

Plattenkalk are stacks of laterally continuous layers that cleave into flat blocks or thin sheets. A much more general term for this type of lithology is platy, but this term implies beds ranging from 1 to 30 cm, and the Solnhofen Limestone can contain layers much thinner than that. This limestone which is strictly the plattenkalk, was deposited in the Jurassic, more specifically in the Early Tithonian .

	As mentioned in the previous page, the Romans used this limestone for carvings and drawings. This is a carving by Doman Herring titled 'The judgement of Paris', in 1508. Because of the exceptional sorting (95 - 98% calcium carbonate) and size of the limestone grains as well as its continuity it makes the limestone excellent for carving (modified from Barthel et. al., 1990).
	An ideal picture of the Solnhofen lagoon during the Jurassic (modified from Page et. al., 1989).