Shafer Peak Formation

The Shafer Peak Formation is a geological formation in Antarctica, dating to roughly between 185 million years ago and covering the Pliensbachian stages of the Jurassic Period in the Mesozoic Era. Plant remains are know from the formation.The Shafer Peak Formation is interpreted as a succession of fluvially reworked, silicic volcanic ashes, and presumably is a regional equivalent of the Hanson Formation in the central Transantarctic Mountains.[1]

Shafer Peak Formation
Stratigraphic range: 185 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofSection Peak Formation
Thickness50 metres (160 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySilicic tuffitic silt- and fine-grained sandstones
OtherClimbing-ripple lamination, horizontal lamination, and accumulations of clay-gall rip-up clasts
Location
RegionNorth Victoria Land
CountryAntarctica

Fossils

Flora

Plant remains occur at the base of the lacustrine beds directly underlying the initial pillow lavas at the top of the sedimentary profile.[2]

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes

Isoetites[3]

I. crociformis

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Isoetaceae.

Equisetites[3]

E. muensteri

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Equisetaceae.

Clathropteris[3]

C. meniscoides

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Dipteridaceae.

Matonidium[3]

M. goeppertii

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Matoniaceae.

Coniopteris[3]

  • C. murrayana
  • C. hymenophylloides

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Dicksoniaceae.

Spiropteris[3]

Spiropteris sp.

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

Incertae sedis.

Otozamites[3]

  • O. linearis
  • O. sanctae-crucis

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Bennettitales.

Zamites[3]

Z. gigas

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Bennettitales.

Cycadolepis[3]

Cycadolepis sp.

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Bennettitales.

Schizolepis[3]

Schizolepis sp.

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Voltziales.

Allocladus[3]

cf. Allocladus sp

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Coniferales.

Elatocladus[3]

cf. Elatocladus sp.

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Coniferales.

Pagiophyllum[3]

cf. Pagiophyllum sp

Shafer Peak

Specimens.[3]

A member of the family Coniferales.

Insecta

The basal layers of the overlying lacustrine series have yielded highly fragmented and thus unidentifiable arthropod cuticles.[2]

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes

Coleoptera[2]

Unnamed

Mount Carson

Elytron.[2]

Non compared.

Blattidae[2]

Unnamed

SW Gair Mesa

Complete specimen.[2]

Similar to the genus Periplaneta

See also

References

  1. Schöner, R., Viereck-Goette, L., Schneider, J., Bomfleur, B., Cooper, A. K., & Raymond, C. R. (2007, August). Triassic-Jurassic sediments and multiple volcanic events in north Victoria Land, Antarctica: a revised stratigraphic model. In Antarctica: A Keystone in a Changing World–Online Proceedings of the 10th ISAES, edited by AK Cooper and CR Raymond et al., USGS Open-File Report (Vol. 1047).
  2. Bomfleur, B., Schneider, J. W., Schöner, R., Viereck-Götte, L., & Kerp, H. (2011). Fossil sites in the continental Victoria and Ferrar groups (Triassic-Jurassic) of north Victoria Land, Antarctica. Polarforschung, 80(2), 88-99.
  3. Bomfleur, B., Pott, C., & Kerp, H. (2011). Plant assemblages from the Shafer Peak Formation (Lower Jurassic), north Victoria Land, Transantarctic Mountains. Antarctic Science, 23(2), 188-208.
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