| Sheepbed Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Ediacaran | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Rackla Group [1] |
| Sub-units | Lower and Upper Member |
| Underlies | Nadaleen Formation [1] |
| Overlies | Cliff Creek Formation [1] |
| Thickness | 400 metres (1,300 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Shale [1] |
| Other | Dolostone [1] |
| Location | |
| Region | Northwest Territories |
| Country | Canada |
The Sheepbed Formation is a geologic formation in Northwest Territories, which is dominated by shale despoits, and capped by a layer of dolostone. [1]
In 1989, a paper by Aitken was published describing the discovery of the fossil genus Kullingia in the then 'Upper-most Sheepbed Formation'. [2] Further discoveries were made a year later in 1990 by Narbonne & Aitken, ranging from Charniodiscus to Sekwia . [3]
Although in 2013 and 2014, studies found that this fossiliferous unit was in fact not a part of the Sheepbed Formation, due to the coarser nature of the shales, and is separated from the Sheepbed Formation by major regional sequence boundary, marked by large channel fills. As such, it is noted this strata, previously referred to as the "June Beds" and now formally known as the Nadaleen Formation, [1] is younger in age than the Sheepbed Formation. As such, there are currently no known fossils from within Sheepbed. [4] [5]
