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 | |
---|---|
Type | Geological formation |
Unit of | Section Peak Formation |
Thickness | 50 metres (160 ft) |
Lithology | |
Primary | Silicic tuffitic silt- and fine-grained sandstones |
Other | Climbing-ripple lamination, horizontal lamination, and accumulations of clay-gall rip-up clasts |
Location | |
Region | North Victoria Land |
Country | Antarctica |
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. | |
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. | |
|
Shafer Peak |
Specimens.[3] |
A member of the family Dicksoniaceae. | ||
Spiropteris[3] |
Spiropteris sp. |
Shafer Peak |
Specimens.[3] |
Incertae sedis. | |
Otozamites[3] |
|
Shafer Peak |
Specimens.[3] |
A member of the family Bennettitales. | |
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. | |
cf. Elatocladus sp. |
Shafer Peak |
Specimens.[3] |
A member of the family Coniferales. | ||
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Unnamed |
Mount Carson |
Elytron.[2] |
Non compared. | ||
Unnamed |
SW Gair Mesa |
Complete specimen.[2] |
Similar to the genus Periplaneta | ||
See also
References
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.