Grünbach Formation

Grünbach Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Campanian
Vertebrate fauna of the Grünbach Formation
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Gosau Group (Grünbach Syncline)
Sub-units	Dreistetten conglomerate
Underlies	Piesting Formation
Overlies	Maiersdorf Formation
Area	Lower Austria
Thickness	over 150 m (490 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Siltstone, sandstone, clay & marl
Other	Conglomerate & coal
Location
Region	Central Europe
Country	Austria
Extent	Grünbach Syncline
Type section
Named for	Grünbach am Schneeberg

The Grünbach Formation is an Austrian geological formation that dates to the early Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous. it forms part of the Gosau Group, and represents a marine regression event, representing a coastal/brackish environment, being underlain by the marine carbonate Maiersdorf Formation and overlain by the deep marine siliciclastic Piesting Formation. The main lithology is clay, marl, siltstone and sandstone, with a minor conglomerate component. Coal seams have also been noted.^[1][2] It is notable for its fossils including those of dinosaurs and plants.

All remains have been found at a single locality, which is a thin marl seam in the Konstantin mining tunnel, within the Felbering Mine in the Neue Welt area north west of Muthmannsdorf in Lower Austria.^[3] The initial remains were discovered in 1859 after an ornithopod tooth was found in a piece of coal in a dump outside the mine by Professor Ferdinand Stoliczka, and the productive seam discovered thereafter. The first material was described by Emanuel Bunzel in 1871^[4] and then additional material was described by Harry Seeley in 1881.^[5] Due to mining activity in the area ceasing at the end of the 19th century, no additional remains have been recovered since.

Most of these specimens were recovered from mining dumps near Grünbach am Schneeberg in lower Austria. The flora of the formation is considered to represent that of a high humidity subtropical climate, typical of the Euro-Sinian phytogeographical region.^[11][12][13]