Fermeuse Formation
Geological formation in Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Fermeuse Formation is a geologic formation in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It contains fossils dating back to the Ediacaran period, which are found on outcrops within the Avalon and Bonavista Peninsulas.
| Fermeuse Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Ediacaran | |
Beds of the Fermeuse Formation near Ferryland, NL; note Aspidella discs | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | St John's Group[1] |
| Sub-units | Inner Meadow Lagerstätte |
| Underlies | Renews Head Formation[2] |
| Overlies | Trepassey Formation |
| Thickness | 1400 m (4,593 ft)[3] |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Gray Shale[4] |
| Other | Sandstone, Siltstone[4] |
| Location | |
| Region | Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Country | Canada |
 Occurrence of Fermeuse formation in southeast Newfoundland | |
Depositional environment
On Bonavista Peninsula the depositional environment was a slope and outer shelf–below photic zone Turbidites probably were the dominant sediment transporters.[5]
It is predominantly silts and sands, in contrast to underlying Trepassey Formation, which is mostly dark grey shales. There is a coarsening up sequence throughout the two formations, such that the top of the Fermeuse is predominantly sandstones.[5] On Avalon Peninsula there were much shallower waters, particularly than in underlying Mistaken Point Formation and Trepassey Formation.[1] It is indicated by sandy channel fills, slumping, occasional silts.[1] There is a possible delta front and shallow slope setting.[1]
The formations also contains the Inner Meadow Lagerstätte, a site which has been dated to 550.78 million years ago, placing it within the White Sea assemblage. It contains fauna primarily known from this formation and others within Newfoundland, alongside some rarer examples from other White Sea aged formations such as the Rawnsley Quartzite, although the exact location of the site is unknown, primarily due to provincial laws on significant fossil sites.[6]
Paleobiota
On Avalon Peninsula[1] there is low diversity, and includes rare agglutinating organisms, Palaeopascichnus,[7] and Aspidella discs,[8] sometimes in great concentrations.[5]
On Bonavista Peninsula there is higher diversity, including more fronds (rangeomorphs) and better preserved than on Avalon Peninsula.[1]
Petalonamae
| Genus | Species | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arborea[9] |
|
Sessile frondose organism, A. spinosa was previously described as a species of Charniodiscus. A. arborea may be considered belonging to Charniodiscus.[9] | ,_Royal_Tyrrell_Museum,_Drumheller,_Alberta,_2025-07-13.jpg) |
| Bradgatia[8] |
|
Sessile frondose organism. |  |
| Charnia[8] |
|
Sessile frondose organism. |  |
| Charniodiscus[8] |
|
Sessile frondose organism. C. arboreus may be considered belonging to Arborea.[9] |  |
| Fractofusus[8] |
|
Sessile spindle-like frondose organism. |  |
| Primocandelabrum[8] |
|
Sessile frondose organism. |  |
| Vinlandia[10] |
|
Sessile frondose organism, previously reported as a species of Charnia.[8] | |
Cnidaria
incertae sedis
| Genus | Species | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspidella[8][3] |
|
Enigmatic discoidal fossil. |  |
| Hadrynichorde[8] |
|
Sea Whip-like frondose organism. | |
| Palaeopascichnus[1][12] |
|
Palaeopascichnid organism. |  |
Ivesheadiomorphs
| Genus | Species | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ivesheadia[8] |
|
Poorly preserved organism. | |
Ichnogenera
| Genus | Species | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neonereites[12] |
|
Burrows. |  |
.svg){kind=small}
