Gypsum - the mass extermination!

Bellerophon

Gradually the upper Gröden strata give way to the dark grey Bellerophon strata, rich in gypsum. These sediments, named after a sea snail found in them, reach a thickness of about 40 metres.
In the lower part of the formation there is still clear evidence of the influence of the nearby dry land, but in the upper section there are sediments rich in gypsum, which were built up by a strong evaporation of sea water. The border between the Bellerophon strata and the Werfener strata above, coincides with the Permian-Triassic border, and thus the border between the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic eras. At this border there was an unimaginable mass extinction of the marine animal life throughout the world. About 80% of all the animal species living in the sea died out in a relatively short time, for reasons that are still not entirely clear.

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