Gun River Formation

Last updated
Gun River Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Silurian (Llandovery)
Type Geological formation
Sub-units
  • Lachute Member
  • Innomée Member
  • Sandtop Member
  • Macgilvray Member
Underlies Menier Formation [1]
Overlies Merrimack Formation [1]
Thickness85 to 100 meters [1]
Location
RegionFlag of Quebec.svg  Quebec
CountryFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Type section
Named bySchuchert and Twenhofel [1]
Year defined1910 [1]

The Gun River Formation is a geologic formation in Quebec. It preserves fossils dating back to the early Silurian period.

Contents

Description

The formation is divided into 4 members (from the base up): the Lachute, Innommée, Sandtop and Macgilvray members. The formation was deposited some 40–80 km offshore from the stable Laurentian craton, underwater at depths of 30 to 60 meters. [1]

Fossil content

Vertebrates

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.
Conodonts
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Anticostiodus A. fahraeusi Anticosti Island. [2]
A. boltoni Anticosti Island. [2]
Icriodella I. deflectaProbably instead belongs to the Jupiter Formation. [1]

Invertebrates

Brachiopods
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Brachyprion Sandtop and Macgilvray Members. [1] A strophomenid.
Coolinia Sandtop and Macgilvray Members. [1]
Fenestrirostra F. glacialisLowermost part of the formation. [3] A rhynchonellid also found in the Merrimack Formation.
F. pyrrhaLachute Member. [1] A rhynchonellid.
'Gotatrypa''G.' sp.Innommée Member. [1]
Hyattidina Sandtop to Macgilvray Members. [1] An athyrid.
Joviatrypa Uppermost Macgilvray Member. [1]
Kulumbella K. xactaUpper Macgilvray Member. [4] [5] A pentamerid.
Mendacella Innommée Member. [1] A dalmanellid.
Meristina Innommée Member. [1]
Pentamerus P. palaformisTop of the formation (uppermost Macgilvray Member). [1] [4] Also found in the Jupiter Formation.
Stegerhynchus [1]
Stricklandia S. gwelaniTop of the formation (Macgilvray Member). [1] [4] Also found in the Jupiter Formation.
S. sp.Innommée Member. [4] A509 (7 broken valves on a slab). [4] Also found in the uppermost Merrimack Formation.
Sypharatrypa S. sp.Innommée Member. [1]
Bryozoans
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Phaenopora P. superbaAlso found in the Becscie Formation. [6]
Ptilodictya P. canadensisUSNM 143039. [6]
P. sulcataUSNM 143039, 143050; YPM 3063/98, 3063/104. [6]
Corals
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Acidolites A. arctatus [7] A heliolitid.
Brachyelasma [1]
Crassilasma [1]
Helicelasma [1]
Palaearaea Cap aux Goélands (Uppermost Macgilvray Member). [1] Small colonies. [1] The only rugosan coral known from the formation, also found in the Menier formation.
Paleofavosites P. capaxMultiple colonies. [8] A tabulate coral.
Crinoids
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Dendrocrinus [1]
Eumyelodactylus Macgilvray Member. [1]
Laurocrinus Macgilvray Member. [1]
Stupatocrinus Macgilvray Member. [1]
Graptolites
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Paraclimacograptus P. cf. innuitusDeeper water facies of the Sandtop Member. [1]
Sponges
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Camptodictyon [1] A stromatoporoid.
Clathrodictyon [1] A stromatoporoid.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silurian</span> Third period of the Paleozoic Era, 443–419 million years ago

The Silurian is a geologic period and system spanning 24.6 million years from the end of the Ordovician Period, at 443.8 million years ago (Mya), to the beginning of the Devonian Period, 419.2 Mya. The Silurian is the shortest period of the Paleozoic Era. As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the exact dates are uncertain by a few million years. The base of the Silurian is set at a series of major Ordovician–Silurian extinction events when up to 60% of marine genera were wiped out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nektaspida</span> Extinct order of arthropods

Nektaspida is an extinct order of non-mineralised artiopodan arthropods. They are known from the mid-Cambrian to the upper Silurian. Originally classified as trilobites, which they superficially resemble, they are now placed as close relatives as members of the Trilobitomorpha within Artiopoda. The order is divided into three major families; Emucarididae, Liwiidae, and Naraoiidae.

Eospirifer is a genus of extinct brachiopod in the class Rhynchonellata (Articulata) and the order Spiriferida. Their fossils occur most commonly in marine calcareous, microbialitic mudstones with extensive mudcracks or shelly packstones, generally mid-Silurian to early-Devonian in age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stromatoporoidea</span> Extinct clade of sponges

Stromatoporoidea is an extinct clade of sea sponges common in the fossil record from the Middle Ordovician to the Late Devonian. They can be characterized by their densely layered calcite skeletons lacking spicules. Stromatoporoids were among the most abundant and important reef-builders of their time, living close together in flat biostromes or elevated bioherms on soft tropical carbonate platforms.

<i>Petroxestes</i> Trace fossil

Petroxestes is a shallow, elongate boring originally found excavated in carbonate skeletons and hardgrounds of the Upper Ordovician of North America. These Ordovician borings were likely made by the mytilacean bivalve Corallidomus as it ground a shallow groove in the substrate to maintain its feeding position. They are thus the earliest known bivalve borings. Petroxestes was later described from the Lower Silurian of Anticosti Island (Canada) by Tapanila and Copper (2002) and the Miocene of the Caribbean by Pickerill et al. (2001).

<i>Aulacopleura</i> Extinct genus of trilobites

Aulacopleura is a genus of proetid trilobite that lived from the Middle Ordovician to the Middle Devonian. Some authors may classify this group as subgenus Otarion (Aulacopleura). The cephalon is semicircular or semielliptical, with border and preglabellar field. The glabella is short, with or without defined eye ridges connecting it with eyes of variable size. Spines at the rear outer corners of the cephalon are present, typically reaching back to the 2nd to 4th thorax segment. The 'palate' is not connected to the dorsal shield of the cephalon. The cephalon is pitted, or has small tubercles. The thorax has up to 22 segments. The pleural ends are usually rounded. The pygidium is small (micropygous), with an even margin. A. koninckii had a modern type of compound eye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marjum Formation</span>

The Marjum Formation is a Cambrian geological formation that overlies the Wheeler Shale in the House Range, Utah. It is named after its type locality, Marjum Pass, and was defined in 1908. The formation is known for its occasional preservation of soft-bodied tissue, and is slightly younger than the Burgess Shale, falling in the Ptychagnostus praecurrens trilobite zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paleontology in Oklahoma</span>

Paleontology in Oklahoma refers to paleontological research occurring within or conducted by people from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma has a rich fossil record spanning all three eras of the Phanerozoic Eon. Oklahoma is the best source of Pennsylvanian fossils in the United States due to having an exceptionally complete geologic record of the epoch. From the Cambrian to the Devonian, all of Oklahoma was covered by a sea that would come to be home to creatures like brachiopods, bryozoans, graptolites and trilobites. During the Carboniferous, an expanse of coastal deltaic swamps formed in areas of the state where early tetrapods would leave behind footprints that would later fossilize. The sea withdrew altogether during the Permian period. Oklahoma was home a variety of insects as well as early amphibians and reptiles. Oklahoma stayed dry for most of the Mesozoic. During the Late Triassic, carnivorous dinosaurs left behind footprints that would later fossilize. During the Cretaceous, however, the state was mostly covered by the Western Interior Seaway, which was home to huge ammonites and other marine invertebrates. During the Cenozoic, Oklahoma became home to creatures like bison, camels, creodonts, and horses. During the Ice Age, the state was home to mammoths and mastodons. Local Native Americans are known to have used fossils for medicinal purposes. The Jurassic dinosaur Saurophaganax maximus is the Oklahoma state fossil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gravel Point Formation</span> Geological formation

The Gravel Point Formation is a geologic formation in western Michigan. It preserves fossils dating back to the middle Devonian period and correlates with the Long Lake Limestone and Alpena Limestone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norway Point Formation</span>

The Norway Point Formation is a geologic formation in Michigan. It preserves fossils dating back to the middle Devonian period.

The Georgian Bay Formation is a geologic formation in Michigan and Ontario. It preserves fossils dating back to the Ordovician period. The type locality of the formation is on East Meaford Creek, south shore of Nottawasaga Bay, Georgian Bay.

The Luning Formation is a geologic formation in Nevada. It preserves fossils dating back to the Triassic period.

The Attawapiskat Formation is a geologic formation in Ontario. It preserves fossils dating back to the Silurian period.

The Merrimack Formation is a geologic formation in Quebec. It preserves fossils dating back to the Silurian period.

The Jupiter Formation is a geologic formation in Quebec, well-exposed in the southern third of Anticosti Island and lying in the St Lawrence River Valley. It preserves fossils dating back to the Silurian period.

The Becscie Formation is a geologic formation in Quebec. It preserves fossils dating back to the early Silurian period.

The Solvik Formation is a geologic formation in the central Oslo Region of Norway. It preserves fossils dating back to the early Silurian period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthotetida</span> Extinct order of marine lamp shells

The orthotetides (Orthotetida) are an extinct order of brachiopods in the class Strophomenata. Though not particularly diverse or abundant relative to strophomenides (Strophomenida) or productides (Productida), orthotetides were nevertheless the longest-lasting order of strophomenates, surviving from the Middle Ordovician (“Llanvirn”) up until the Late Permian. Externally, many orthotetides are difficult to distinguish from strophomenides. Most fundamental differences between the two orders are internal: orthotetides have more elaborate cardinal processes and a greater diversity of shell microstructure.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waukesha Biota</span> Lagerstätte Fossil site in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, U.S.

The Waukesha Biota is an important fossil site located in Waukesha County and Franklin, Milwaukee County within the state of Wisconsin. This biota is preserved in certain strata within the Brandon Bridge Formation, which dates to the early Silurian period. It is known for the exceptional preservation of soft-bodied organisms, including many species found nowhere else in rocks of similar age. The site's discovery was announced in 1985, leading to a plethora of discoveries. This biota is one of the few well studied Lagerstätten from the Silurian, making it important in our understanding of the period's biodiversity. Some of the species are not easily classified into known animal groups, showing that much research remains to be done on this site. Other taxa that are normally common in Silurian deposits are rare here, but trilobites are quite common.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Copper, Paul; Long, Darrel G. F.; Jin, Jisuo (2012). "The Early Silurian Gun River Formation of Anticosti Island, eastern Canada: A key section for the mid-Llandovery of North America". Newsletters on Stratigraphy. 45 (3): 263. doi:10.1127/0078-0421/2012/0024. ISSN   0078-0421.
  2. 1 2 Zhang, Shunxin; Barnes, Christopher R. (July 2000). "Anticostiodus, a new multielement conodont genus from the Lower Silurian, Anticosti Island, Quebec". Journal of Paleontology. 74 (4): 662–669. doi:10.1666/0022-3360(2000)074<0662:AANMCG>2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0022-3360. S2CID   59056082.
  3. Jin, Jisuo; Caldwell, W. G. E.; Copper, Paul (March 1990). "Evolution of the Early Silurian rhynchonellid brachiopod Fenestrirostra in the Anticosti Basin of Quebec". Journal of Paleontology. 64 (2): 214–222. doi:10.1017/s0022336000018370. ISSN   0022-3360. S2CID   132248649.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Jin, Jisuo; Copper, Paul. "Late Ordovician and Early Silurian pentamerid brachiopods of Anticosti Island, Québec, Canada". Palaeontographica Canadiana.
  5. Jin, Jisuo; Copper, Paul (May 1998). "Kulumbella and Microcardinalia (Chiastodoca) new subgenus, Early Silurian divaricate stricklandiid brachiopods from Anticosti Island, eastern Canada". Journal of Paleontology. 72 (3): 441–453. doi:10.1017/s0022336000024185. ISSN   0022-3360. S2CID   132809506.
  6. 1 2 3 "Larger Cryptostome Bryozoa of the Ordovician and Silurian, Anticosti Island, Canada". www.jstor.org. SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology. JSTOR   1300852 . Retrieved 2022-09-18.
  7. Dixon, O. A. (January 1986). "The heliolitid coral Acidolites in Ordovician–Silurian rocks of eastern Canada1". Journal of Paleontology. 60 (1): 26–52. doi:10.1017/S002233600002148X. ISSN   0022-3360. S2CID   130759173.
  8. Lee, Dong-Jin; Noble, James P. A. (July 1990). "Reproduction and life strategies in the Paleozoic tabulate coral Paleofavosites capax (Billings)". Lethaia. 23 (3): 257–272. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1990.tb01452.x. ISSN   0024-1164.