| Title | Early Permian crinoids from Strathcona Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia - loss of a globally significant fauna? |
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| Author | Webster, G D; Haggart, J W; Saxifrage, C; Saxifrage, B; Gronau, C; Douglas, A |
| Source | Carboniferous type sections in Russia and potential global stratotypes; Proceedings of the International field meeting of the I.U.G.S subcommission on Carboniferous stratigraphy; 2009, 1 pages |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2009 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20090017 |
| Meeting | I.U.G.S. Subcommission on Carboniferous Stratigraphy, International Field Meeting; Ufa; RU; August 11-19, 2009 |
| Document | book |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper |
| Province | British Columbia |
| NTS | 92F/12 |
| Area | Vancouver Island; Strathcona Provincial Park |
| Lat/Long WENS | -126.0000 -125.5000 49.7500 49.5000 |
| Subjects | paleontology; fossils; fossil assemblages; fossil distribution; faunas; faunal distribution; faunal assemblages; faunal studies; sedimentary rocks; limestones; Mount Mark Formation; Crinoids; Paleozoic;
Permian |
| Program | GEM: Geo-mapping for Energy and
Minerals |
| Abstract | Limestones of the Mount Mark Formation exposed along the east side of Morrison Spire in Strathcona Provincial Park, central Vancouver Island, contain a diverse Early Permian crinoid fauna. This is the
first Permian fauna containing crowns and cups from Wrangellia terrane. Specimens were observed and photographed in the field and no specimens were collected, adhering to park regulations. The fauna contains representatives of each of the major
Paleozoic crinoid subclasses: Camerata, Disparida, and Cladida.
Preliminary identifications recognize several new genera and species within the fauna, but they are not named or described lacking specimens for repository. A minimum of 24
species are judged to be present making it the second most diverse Permian fauna known from North America. Identified genera reflect a closer relationship with North American faunas than with Paleotethyan faunas, suggesting that Wrangellia was
closer to North America than to the Paleotethyan realm during Early Permian time.
Limestones of the Mount Mark Formation in the vicinity of Morrison Spire are undergoing karstification and specimens are being lost under the harsh weathering
conditions. Observations of individual specimens over a five-year interval found that morphologic details critical for identification are being lost at a rapid rate. It is recommended that sufficient specimens in the fauna be collected as soon as
possible for identification and analysis. These specimens should be preserved for future reference and could form a display in the park headquarters. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 226740 |
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