| Marjum Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Middle Cambrian | |
| Notch Peak Sill intruding into the layers of white marble and grey argillite of the Marjum Formation | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Overlies | Wheeler Shale |
| Thickness | Up to 430 meters [1] |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | limestone |
| Other | shale, metasedimentary rocks |
| Location | |
| Region | Utah |
| Country | United States |
| Extent | House Range |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Marjum Pass [2] |
| Named by | Charles D. Walcott |
| Year defined | 1908 [2] |
The Marjum Formation is a Cambrian geological formation that overlies the Wheeler Shale in the House Range, Utah. [1] [3] It is named after its type locality, Marjum Pass, and was defined in 1908. [2] The formation is known for its occasional preservation of soft-bodied tissue, and is slightly younger than the Burgess Shale, [4] falling in the Ptychagnostus praecurrens trilobite zone. [5]
Color key
| Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; |
| Ambulacrarians reported from the Marjum Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Castericystis | C. vali | Numerous specimens. [6] | A solutan. | ||
| Eldonia | E. ludwigi | Marjum Pass (Ptychagnostus punctuosus Zone). [7] | SM X.50204.1 (part) & SM X.50204.2 (counterpart). [7] | A cambroernid. | |
| Marjumicystis | M. mettae | 7 specimens. [6] | An eocrinoid. | ||
| Mastigograptus | M. sp. | A single specimen. [8] | A mastigograptid graptolite. | ||
| Totiglobus | T.? lloydi | Locality 811. [9] | 1 specimen (USNM 172047). [9] | An edrioasteroid. | |
| Arthropods reported from the Marjum Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Anomalocaris | A. nathorsti | Sponge Gully. [10] | Partial body (USNM 374593). [10] | Species moved to the genus Peytoia . | |
| Asaphiscus | A. wheeleri | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus Subzone. [11] | A ptychopariid trilobite. | ||
| Baltagnostus | B. eurypyx | All subzones of the Bolaspidella Zone. [11] | Multiple specimens. [11] | A diplagnostid trilobite. | |
| Bathyuriscidella | B. aff. B. amplicauda | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | 3 pygidia. [11] | A dolichometopid trilobite. | |
| Bathyuriscus | B. elegans | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A dolichometopid trilobite. | |
| B. fimbriatus | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus & lower Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A dolichometopid trilobite. | ||
| Bolaspidella | B. contracta | Bolaspidella contracta & lower Lepojyge calva Subzones. [11] | A menomoniid trilobite. | ||
| B. housensis | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus Subzone. [11] | A menomoniid trilobite. | |||
| B. jarrardi | Localities 347, 391, and 716 (mid-Bolaspidella Zone). [12] | Multiple specimens. [12] | A menomoniid trilobite. | ||
| Branchiocaris | B. pretiosa | Sponge Gully. [10] [13] | 3 specimens. [10] | A hymenocarine. | |
| Buccaspinea | B. cooperi | Kells Knolls locality. [14] | An almost complete specimen (BPM 1108). [14] | A hurdiid, originally reported as Hurdia sp. | |
| Burlingia | B. halgedahlae | Localities 347 and 716 (mid-Bolaspidella Zone). [12] | Multiple specimens. [12] | A burlingiid trilobite. | |
| Caryosyntrips | C. camurus | 'Red Wash' locality. [14] | 2 isolated frontal appendages. [14] | A panarthropod of uncertain classification. | |
| Cotalagnostus | C. laevus | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | Over 50 specimens. [11] | A diplagnostid trilobite. | |
| C. sp. | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | A pygidium. | A diplagnostid trilobite. | ||
| Dicranocaris | D. guntherorum | Red Wash, Modocia Flats & Sponge Gully. [13] | 4 specimens. [13] | An arthropod of uncertain classification. | |
| Dytikosicula | D. desmatae | West of Delta, House Range. [7] | 1 specimen (SM X.50203). [7] | A putative megacheiran. | |
| Elrathia | E. alapyge | Bolaspidella contracta & Lejopyge calva Subzones. [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A ptychopariid trilobite. | |
| E. marjumi | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus & Bolaspidella contracta Subzones. [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A ptychopariid trilobite. | ||
| Emeraldella | E.? sp. | Red Wash. [10] | Part & counterpart (KUMIP 204791). [10] | An artiopod. | |
| Hemirhodon | H. amplipyge | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | 14 incomplete specimens. [11] | A dolichometopid trilobite. | |
| Holteria | H. problematica | Marjum Pass (Lejopyge calva Subzone). [11] | A pygidium. [11] | A corynexochid trilobite. | |
| Homagnostus | H. incertus | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | Multiple specimens. [11] | An agnostid trilobite. | |
| Hypagnostus | H. parvifrons | All subzones of the Bolaspidella Assemblage Zone. [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A diplagnostid trilobite. | |
| Itagnostus | I. interstrictus | House Range. [15] | A peronopsid trilobite originally reported as Peronopsis interstricta . | ||
| Leanchoilia | L.? cf. protogonia | Sponge Gully. [13] | Part & counterpart of a complete specimen (UU 06011.01). [13] | A megacheiran. | |
| Lejopyge | L. calva | Marjum Pass (Lejopyge calva Subzone). [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A ptychagnostid trilobite. | |
| Linguagnostus | L. perplexus | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | Over 20 specimens. [11] | A diplagnostid trilobite. | |
| Marjumia | M. callas | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | A marjumiid trilobite. | ||
| M. typa | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | A marjumiid trilobite. | |||
| Modocia | M. laevinucha | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus & Bolaspidella contracta Subzones. [11] | Many specimens. [11] | A marjumiid trilobite. | |
| M. nuchaspina | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | A marjumiid trilobite. | |||
| M. typicalis | 50 or more specimens. [11] | A marjumiid trilobite. | |||
| Naraoia | N. compacta | Sponge Gully. [16] | 4 specimens. [16] | A naraoiid. | |
| Neolenus | N. inflatus | East of Antelope Springs. [17] | Multiple specimens & fragments. [17] | A trilobite. | |
| N. intermedius | East of Antelope Springs. [17] | A trilobite. | |||
| N. intermedius pugio | East of Antelope Springs. [17] | 4 specimens of a pygidium. [17] | A trilobite. | ||
| N. superbus | East of Antelope Springs. [17] | Multiple specimens & fragments. [17] | A trilobite. | ||
| Nettapezoura | N. basilika | Sponge Gully. [13] | An arachnomorph. | ||
| Olenoides | O. decorus | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | 7 specimens. [11] | A dorypygid trilobite. | |
| O. inflatus | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | A dorypygid trilobite. | |||
| O. marjumensis | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | A dorypygid trilobite. | |||
| O. pugio | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A dorypygid trilobite. | ||
| O. superbus | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | 7 specimens. [11] | A dorypygid trilobite. | ||
| Pahvantia | P. hastata | Precise localities unknown. [14] | 3 specimens. [14] | A hurdiid. | |
| Peronopsis | P. interstricta | House Range. [15] | Numerous specimens. [11] | Reassigned to the genus Itagnostus . | |
| P. segmenta | House Range. [15] | Multiple specimens. [11] | A peronopsid trilobite. | ||
| Perspicaris | P.? ellipsopelta | Ptychagnostus punctuosus Zone. [18] | Valves & carapaces. [18] | A bivalved arthropod. | |
| Peytoia | P. nathorsti | Sponge Gully. [10] | Partial body (USNM 374593) & partial mouthpart (KUMIP 314095). [19] | A hurdiid, formerly named Anomalocaris nathorsti. | |
| Ptychagnostus | P. akanthodes | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A ptychagnostid trilobite. | |
| P. atavus | House Range. [15] | A ptychagnostid trilobite. | |||
| P. hybridus | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | About 10 specimens. [11] | A ptychagnostid trilobite. | ||
| P. richmondensis | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus Subzone. [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A ptychagnostid trilobite. | ||
| P. sp. | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | At least 5 pygidia. | A ptychagnostid trilobite. | ||
| Trymataspis | T. depressa | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | Over 30 specimens. [11] | A lonchocephalid trilobite. | |
| T. lomaleie | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | 10 cranidia. [11] | A lonchocephalid trilobite. | ||
| T. pristina | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | Over 20 cranidia. [11] | A lonchocephalid trilobite. | ||
| Tuzoia | T. guntheri | Ptychagnostus punctuosus Zone. [18] | Multiple valves & carapaces. [18] [20] | A hymenocarine. | |
| Utagnostus | U. trispinulus | Bolaspidellacontracta & Lejopyge calva Subzones. [11] | Multiple specimens. [11] | An agnostid trilobite. | |
| Utaspis | U. marjumensis | House Range & Wheeler Amphitheater. [11] | A ptychopariid trilobite. | ||
| Zacanthoides | Z. sp. | Wheeler Amphitheater (Bolaspidella contracta Subzone). [11] | A cranidium. [11] | A zacanthoidid trilobite. | |
| Chancelloriids reported from the Marjum Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Chancelloria | C. sp. | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus & Bolaspidella contracta Subzones. [11] | About 20 spicules. [11] | A chancelloriid. | |
| Chordates reported from the Marjum Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Megasiphon | M. thylakos | House Range. [21] | One specimen (UMNH.IP.6079). [21] | A tunicate. | |
| Nuucichthys | N. rhynchocephalus | House range. [22] | One specimen (UMNH.IP.6084) [22] | A basal chordate related to Metaspriggina . | |
| Skeemella | S. clavula | North of Red Wash (Ptychagnostus punctuosus Biozone). [23] | 2 specimens (KUMIP 314102 & KUMIP 314103). [23] | A vetulicolian. | |
Moon, Caron & Moysiuk (2023) considered these fossils would be ctenophores instead. [24]
| Cnidarians reported from the Marjum Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Coronatae? | Indeterminate | Sponge Gully. [25] | 1 specimen (UU07021.05). [25] | A scyphozoan jellyfish, may be referrable to the crown jellyfish family. | |
| Cubozoa? | Indeterminate | Sponge Gully. [25] | 2 specimens (UU07021.01 & UU07021.02). [25] | Specimens possibly referrable to box jellyfish. | |
| Narcomedusae? | Indeterminate | Sponge Gully. [25] | 5 specimens (UU07021.03, UU07021.04, UU07021.06, UU07021.07 & UU07021.08). [25] | A hydrozoan tentatively assigned to this family. | |
| Semaeostomeae? | Indeterminate | Sponge Gully. [25] | 2 specimens (UU07021.09 & UU07021.10). [25] | A scyphozoan jellyfish tentatively assigned to this family. | |
| Ctenophores reported from the Marjum Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Ctenorhabdotus | C. campanelliformis | House Range (likely from the lower Ptychagnostus punctuosus Zone). [26] | 1 specimen (UMNH.IP.6125). [26] | A ctenophore. | |
| Thalassostaphylos | T. elegans | House Range (lower Ptychagnostus punctuosus Zone). [26] | 1 specimen (UMNH.IP.6086). [26] | A ctenophore. | |
| Lophotrochozoans reported from the Marjum Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Acrothele | A. subsidua | Bathyuriscus-Elrathina & Bolaspidella Zones. [11] | A brachiopod. | ||
| Helcionella | "H." arguta | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus & Bolaspidella contracta Subzones. [11] | More than 100 specimens. [11] | A helcionellid. | |
| Hyolithes | H. sp. | All subzones of the Bolaspidella Zone. [11] | More than 100 specimens. [11] | A hyolith. | |
| Lingulella | L. sp. | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus & Bolaspidella contracta Subzones. [11] | An obolid brachiopod. | ||
| Micromitra | M. modesta | Multiple specimens. [11] | A paterinide brachiopod. | ||
| Nisusia | N. sulcata | 18 specimens. [27] | A kutorginate brachiopod. | ||
| Pegmatreta | P. bellatula | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus & Bolaspidella contracta Subzones. [11] | Numerous specimens. [11] | A brachiopod. | |
| P. ophirensis | All subzones of the Bolaspidella Zone. [11] | A brachiopod. | |||
| Pelagiella | P. sp. | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | More than 50 internal molds. [11] | A pelagiellid. | |
| Prototreta | P. attenuata | Bathyuriscus-Elrathina Zone & Bolaspidella Zone. [11] | A brachiopod. | ||
| P. mimica | Bolaspidella contracta Subzone. [11] | A brachiopod. | |||
| Stenothecoides | S. elongata | Bathyuriscus fimbriatus Subzone. [11] | Over 30 valves. [11] | A stenothecoid. | |
| Scalidophorans reported from the Marjum Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Arrakiscolex | A. aasei | Grey Marjum locality (Ptychagnostus punctuosus Zone). [28] | Cuticle fragments. [28] | A palaeoscolecid also known from the Upper Weeks Formation. | |
| Ottoia | O. prolifica | Sponge Gully. [5] | A complete individual (KUMIP 204770). [5] | Referral of the specimen to this species is insecure, better classified as O.? sp. [28] [29] | |
| O.? sp. | Sponge Gully. [28] | A complete individual (KUMIP 204770). [28] | A stem-priapulid, specimen formerly referred to Ottoia prolifica or Scathascolex minor. [28] | ||
| Scathascolex | S. minor | Sponge Gully. [5] | A complete individual (KUMIP 204770). [5] [30] | Specimen reassigned to Ottoia? sp. [28] | |
| Selkirkia | S. willoughbyi | Sponge Gully. [5] | Tube with associated soft parts (KUMIP 204788). [5] | A stem-priapulid. | |
| Sponges reported from the Marjum Formation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
| Choia | C. carteri | Sponge Gulch. [31] | A demosponge. | ||
| C. hindei | Red Cliffs Wash. [31] | 2 specimens & 3 other fragments. [31] | A demosponge. | ||
| C. utahensis | Sponge Gulch. [31] | Several specimens. [31] | A demosponge. | ||
| Diagoniella | D. cyathiformis | Red Cliffs Wash & Kells Knolls Gulch. [31] | Numerous specimens. [31] | A reticulosan. | |
| D. hindei | Sponge Gulch. [31] | Approximately 40 specimens. [31] | A reticulosan. | ||
| D. magna | Kells Knolls Gulch (Bathyuriscus fimbriatus zone). [32] | A fragment (USNM 535922). [32] | A reticulosan. | ||
| D. sp. | Sponge Gulch. [31] | 2 large fragments. [31] | A reticulosan. | ||
| Hamptonia | H. bowerbanki | Red Cliffs Wash & Sponge Gulch. [31] | Multiple specimens. [31] | A demosponge. | |
| Hazelia | H. palmata | Near Marjum Pass. [33] | One specimen. [33] | A demosponge. | |
| Hintzespongia | H. bilamina | Kells Knolls Gulch (Bathyuriscus fimbriatus zone). [31] [32] | Multiple specimens. [31] [32] | A reticulosan. | |
| Hexactinellida | Indeterminate | Miscellaneous spicules. [11] | Indeterminate glass sponges, originally reported as Hyalospongiae (now a junior synonym). | ||
| Kiwetinokia | Drum Mountains. [31] | 4 large slabs. [31] | A reticulosan. | ||
| Leptomitus | L. metta | Red Cliffs Wash locality. [31] | 22 specimens. [31] | A demosponge. | |
| Polygoniella | P. turrelli | House Range [34] | Around 200 specimens [34] | A glass sponge | |
| Protospongia | P.? elongata | Sponge Gulch. [31] | 1 specimen. [31] | A reticulosan. | |
| Testiispongia | T. venula | Sponge Gulch. [31] | Several specimens. [31] | A glass sponge. | |
| Valospongia | V. gigantis | Sponge Gulch. [31] | A reticulosan. | ||
| V.? gigantus | Kells Knolls Gulch (Bathyuriscus fimbriatus zone). [32] | A fragment (USNM 535917). [32] | A reticulosan. | ||