Kimmeridgian marl is described as which type of rock?

• A. A limestone-rich clay whose dominant fossil is Exogyra virgula from the Jurassic period.
• B. A pure limestone deposit with no fossils.
• C. A chalk that contains Belemnites.
• D. A limestone-rich clay whose dominant fossil is Exogyra virgula, from the Jurassic period, found in The Aube and great for Pinot Noir

Answer: (D)

Kimmeridgian marl is a marl—a limestone-rich clay sediment—dating from the Kimmeridgian stage of the Jurassic. Its defining feature is fossils, especially Exogyra virgula, embedded in the calcareous matrix. In The Aube region, this rock is a classic example and is particularly associated with Pinot Noir grown there. So the most accurate description combines all these aspects: limestone-rich clay with Exogyra virgula fossils from the Jurassic, found in The Aube, and noted for Pinot Noir. This ties together the rock type, the fossil signature, the age, the geographic source, and the grape connection.