Fermeuse Formation

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Fermeuse Formation
Stratigraphic range: Ediacaran 560  Ma
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Fermeuse Formation photo.jpg
Beds of the Fermeuse Formation near Ferryland, NL; note Aspidella discs
Type Formation
Unit of St John's Group [1]
Underlies Renews Head Formation [2]
Overlies Trepassey Formation
Thickness1400 m (4,593 ft) [3]
Lithology
PrimaryGray Shale [4]
Other Sandstone, Siltstone [4]
Location
Region Newfoundland and Labrador
Country Canada
Fermeuse Formation map.svg
Occurrence of Fermeuse formation in southeast Newfoundland

The Fermeuse Formation is a fossil-bearing Ediacaran geologic formation in Newfoundland.

Contents

Depositional environment

On Bonavista Peninsula the depositional environment was a slope and outer shelf–below photic zone Turbidites probably were the dominant sediment transporters. [5]

It is predominantly silts and sands, in contrast to underlying Trepassey Formation, which is mostly dark grey shales. There is a coarsening up sequence throughout the two formations, such that the top of the Fermeuse is predominantly sandstones. [5]

On Avalon Peninsula there were much shallower waters, particularly than in underlying Mistaken Point Formation and Trepassey Formation. [1] It is indicated by sandy channel fills, slumping, occasional silts. [1] There is a possible delta front and shallow slope setting. [1]

Paleobiota

1-2 centimetre-wide Aspidella discs (and some smaller mm-sized individuals) on a bedding surface of the Fermeuse Formation near Ferryland, Newfoundland Aspidella specimens.jpg
1-2 centimetre-wide Aspidella discs (and some smaller mm-sized individuals) on a bedding surface of the Fermeuse Formation near Ferryland, Newfoundland

On Avalon Peninsula [1] there is low diversity, and includes rare trace fossils, Palaeopascichnus , [6] and Aspidella discs, [7] sometimes in great concentrations. [5]

On Bonavista Peninsula there is higher diversity, including more fronds (rangeomorphs) and better preserved than on Avalon Peninsula. [1]

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxonTaxon falsely reported as presentDubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Petalonamae

GenusSpeciesNotesImages
Bradgatia [7]
  • Bradgatia sp.
Sessile frondose organism.
Bradgatia.svg
Charnia [7]
  • Charnia sp.
Sessile frondose organism.
Charnia.png
Charniodiscus [7]
  • Charniodiscus sp.
Sessile frondose organism.
Charniodiscus.png

Cnidaria

GenusSpeciesNotesImages
Haootia [8]
  • H. quadriformis
Staurozoan cnidarian.
Haootia reconstruction 2024.jpg

incertae sedis

GenusSpeciesNotesImages
Aspidella [7] [3]
  • A. terranovica
Enigmatic discoidal fossil.
Aspidella surface.jpg
Hadrynichorde [7]
  • H. avlonica.
Sea Whip-like frondose organism.
Palaeopascichnus [1] [9]
  • P. delicatus
Palaeopascichnid organism.
Palaeopascichnus CU21.png

Ivesheadiomorphs

GenusSpeciesNotesImages
Ivesheadia
  • Ivesheadia sp.
Poorly preserved organism.

Ichnogenera

GenusSpeciesNotesImages
Neonereites [9]
  • Neonereites sp.
Burrows.
Neonereites uniserialis Punta San Garcia 01.JPG

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 A.G. Liu; D. McIlroy. "Horizontal Surface Traces from the Fermeuse Formation, Ferryland (Newfoundland, Canada), and their Place within the Late Ediacaran Ichnological Revolution" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Geoscience Atlas". Department of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
  3. 1 2 Gehling, James G.; Narbonne, Guy M.; Anderson, Michael M. (September 2000). "The first named Ediacaran body fossil, Aspidella Terranovica". Palaeontology. 43 (3): 427–456. doi:10.1111/j.0031-0239.2000.00134.x.
  4. 1 2 "GEOLOGY OF THE AVALON PENINSULA, NEWFOUNDLAND" (PDF).
  5. 1 2 3 LAFLAMME, MARC; SCHIFFBAUER, JAMES D.; NARBONNE, GUY M.; BRIGGS, DEREK E. G. (June 2011). "Microbial biofilms and the preservation of the Ediacara biota". Lethaia. 44 (2): 203–213. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2010.00235.x.
  6. ↑ Mikhail A. Fedonkin (2007). The Rise of Animals: Evolution and Diversification of the Kingdom Animalia. JHU Press. p. 54. ISBN   978-0-8018-8679-9.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hofmann, H. J.; O'Brien, S. J.; King, A. F. (January 2008). "Ediacaran biota on Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada". Journal of Paleontology. 82 (1): 1–36. doi:10.1666/06-087.1.
  8. ↑ Liu, Alexander G.; Matthews, Jack J.; Menon, Latha R.; McIlroy, Duncan; Brasier, Martin D. (22 October 2014). "Haootia quadriformis n. gen., n. sp., interpreted as a muscular cnidarian impression from the Late Ediacaran period (approx. 560 Ma)". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 281 (1793) 20141202. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.1202. PMC   4173675 .
  9. 1 2 Liu, Alexander G.; Kenchington, Charlotte G.; Mitchell, Emily G. (June 2015). "Remarkable insights into the paleoecology of the Avalonian Ediacaran macrobiota". Gondwana Research. 27 (4): 1355–1380. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2014.11.002. hdl: 1983/ef181134-4023-4747-8137-ed9da7a97771 .
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