Abstract
Several hundred samples from outcrops and drilling cores in the Eocene Messel Fossil Site (near Darmstadt, Germany) were analyzed to study the geographic and stratigraphic distribution of spongillid spicules and spiculite layers. We attempted to correlate the various spiculite occurrences and marker horizon M. The core of the scientific drilling project “FB 2001” is used as a reference, because it reaches the oldest limnic sediments of the fossil lake in a depth of about 140 m below the topographic surface. Only two spiculites are present in this core and they are restricted to the youngest lake sediments. Each spiculite is dominated by one of the two spongillid species known from Messel. In all older sediments, only a few scattered spicules of unknown origin occur. All other outcrops and drill cores show more or less similar distribution patterns. Abundance and distribution of fossil sponge species in Eocene Lake Messel and their value for the correlation of strata are discussed.
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