Compared to the Opalinus Clay, the overlying units of the Dogger Group generally exhibit increased vertical and lateral variability in thickness and facies, reflecting locally diverse depositional environments. This is also expressed by the high number of different lithostratigraphic units at formation and member levels (Fig. 4‑34). A significant portion of these units is organised by nested facies trends or cycles, which typically start with argillaceous sedimentary rocks that become more silty and finally calcareous to iron-oolitic at the top (Fig. 4‑35). However, the thickness of the elements of the individual facies trends may vary strongly laterally depending on basin bathymetry and bottom currents.
The first interval from the Top Opalinus Clay to Top «Humphriesioolith Formation» / «Herrenwis Unit» / « Humphriesi-Schichten» of the Passwang Formation shares more similarities in JO and ZNO than in NL (Fig. 4‑33). In JO and ZNO, the «Condensed equivalents of the Sissach Member, Hauenstein Member and/or Hirnichopf Member» and the «Murchisonae-Oolith Formation» are strongly condensed. This succession is dominated by an argillaceous to silty sediment with few calcareous, iron-oolitic beds. In contrast, in western NL the «Murchisonae-Oolith Formation» starts with an up to 11 m thick more calcareous interval that thins out towards the east. The overlying Wedelsandstein Formation and equivalent parts of the Passwang Formation (Fig. 4‑37, Fig. 4‑38, Fig. 4‑39) are very similar in JO and ZNO, whereas in NL this unit is more similar to the Opalinus Clay and is dominated by claystone and silty claystone, with less calcareous, sandy beds. In eastern NL, this interval terminates partly with the thin «Humphriesioolith Formation» and is then overlain by the 40-metre thick «Herrenwis Unit», an isolated coral reef carbonate platform embedded in argillaceous sedimentary rocks.
The second interval, which extends to the Top Dogger Group above Opalinus Clay, has, in terms of facies, more similarities in NL and ZNO compared to JO. It is dominated by relatively homogeneous claystone and silty marl of the «Parkinsoni-Württembergica-Schichten» (Fig. 4‑33). The thickness varies strongly; thickness is minimal over the «Herrenwis Unit» and is much greater outside of the isolated carbonate platform of the «Herrenwis Unit» (Fig. 4‑41). In JO, the second interval has different characteristics; generally, the strata have an increased carbonate content, and oolitic and bioclastic limestone related to the extended Hauptrogenstein platform appear.