Ganigobis Formation

The Ganigobis Formation is a Late Carboniferous (Gzhelian) to Early Permian (Artinskian) geologic formation of the Dwyka Group in the ǁKaras Region of southeastern Namibia and the Northern Cape of South Africa. The widespread formation was deposited in the Aranos and Karoo Basins of southern Africa.

Ganigobis Formation
Stratigraphic range: Gzhelian-Artinskian
302–297 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofDwyka Group
Sub-unitsGanigobis Shale Member
UnderliesEcca Group
OverliesNama Group
Thicknessup to 240 m (790 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryShale, conglomerate, sandstone
OtherTuff
Location
Coordinates25.9°S 18.0°E / -25.9; 18.0
Approximate paleocoordinates56.0°S 35.9°W / -56.0; -35.9
RegionǁKaras Region
Northern Cape
Country Namibia
 South Africa
ExtentAranos & Karoo Basins
Kalahari Craton
Type section
Named forGanigobis
LocationGanigobis, Fish River Canyon
Thickness at type section155 m (509 ft)

Geologic map of Namibia with the Ganigobis Formation partly cropping out in the southern area (orange)

Description

The Ganigobis Formation is an extensive unit with a maximum thickness of 240 metres (790 ft) evidenced in the Vreda borehole.[1] The conglomerates, sandstones, shales and tuff of the formation were deposited in a glacio-lacustrine to marine environment.[2][3] The Ganigobis Formation provides fossil fish as well as bivalves (e.g. Nuculopsis), gastropods (e.g. Peruvispira), scyphozoa (e.g. Conularia), crinoid stalks, foraminifera (Hyperammina, Ammodiscus, Glomospira, Ammobacculites and Spiroplectammina),[4] sponges and sponge spicules, radiolaria, coprolites and permineralised wood.[5]

Zircons of the Ganigobis Shale Member yield SHRIMP-ages of 302-300 Ma. This dates the uppermost part of the second deglaciation sequence in southern Namibia to the Late Carboniferous (Gzelian) and provides a minimum age for the onset of Karoo-equivalent marine deposition. The age of the uppermost argillaceous part of the third deglaciation sequence (297 Ma) was determined from zircons of a tuffaceous bed sampled in a roadcut in the Western Cape Province, South Africa.[5]

Fossil content

Among others, the following fossils are reported from the formation:[6][7][8]

Fish

See also

References

  1. Bangert et al., 2000, p.266
  2. Ganigobis Formation at Fossilworks.org
  3. Bangert, 2000, p.21
  4. Bangert, 2000, p.60
  5. Bangert, 2000, p.3
  6. Ganigobis at Fossilworks.org
  7. Wesselton Mine, Kimberley at Fossilworks.org
  8. Ganigobis, near Tses Station at Fossilworks.org

Bibliography

Further reading

  • B. G. Gardiner. 1962. Namaichthys schroederi Gürich and other Palaeozoic Fishes from South Africa. Palaeontology 5(1):9-21
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