Systematic ichnology of the Mabou and Cumberland groups (Carboniferous) of western Cape Breton Island, eastern Canada, 1: burrows, pits, trails, and coprolites

Authors

  • Dave G. Keighley Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada
  • Ron K. Pickerill Department of Geology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4138/2068

Abstract

Strata of the Mabou and Cumberland groups (Namurian-Westphalian A) outcrop extensively in western Cape Breton Island. Trace fossils were encountered at various localities, and include: Circulichnus montanus (nom. correct.), Cochlichnus anguineus, Cochlichnus isp., Conichnus isp., Cruziana problematica, Didymaulichnus cf. lyelli, Diplopodichnus biformis, Gordia marina, Helminthopsis abeli, Helminthopsis hieroglyphic a, Palaeophycus striatus, cf. Palaeophycus, Phycodes pedum, Planolites beverleyensis, Planolites terraenovae, cf. Planolites, Rusophycus carbonarius, cf. Rusophycus, Selenichnites isp., Taenidium barrette, cf. iaenidium, Thalassinoides suevicus, Undichnus binus (nom. correct.), Undichnus consulcus (nom. correct.), cf. Undichnus, coprolites, interface trails (types A, B, and C), plug-shaped burrows, small ovate pits (types A, B, and C), and vertical 'escape' structures. In total (including tracks and trackways not described herein), twenty-two ichnogenera have been identified that comprise a total of eighteen named ichnospecies, eight ichnospecies retained in open nomenclature, and thirteen unnamed ichnospecies. A further ten trace-fossil morphologies (comprising twenty different types) are retained in the vernacular. RÉSUMÉ On trouve de vastes affleurements de strates des groupes de Mabou et de Cumberland (Namurien - Westphalien A) dans l'ouest de l’ile du Cap-Breton. On y a relevé des ichnofossiles en divers endroits, notamment: le Circulichnus montanus (nom corrigi), le Cochlichnus anguineus, le Cochlichnus isp., le Conichnus isp., le Cruziana problematica, le Didymaulichnus cf. lyelli, le Diplopodichnus biformis, le Gordia marina, le Helminthopsis abeli, le Helminthopsis hieroglyphica, le Palaeophycus striatus, cf. le Palaeophycus, le Phycodes pedum, le Planolites beverleyensis, le Planolites terraenovae, cf. le Planolites, le Rusophycus carbonarius, cf. le Rusophycus, le Selenichnites isp., le Taenidium barrette, cf. le Taenidium, le Thalassinoides suevicus, VUndichnus binus (nom corrigi), l'Undichnus consulcus (nom corrige), cf. V Undichnus, des coprolites, des pistes de reptation de jonction (types A, B et C), des trous de forme cylindrique, de petites fossettes ovies (types A, B et C) et des structures de " fuite " verticales. On a relevé au total (et ce, y compris des traces et des traces non dècrits aux presentes) 22 ichnogenres comprenant 18 ichnoespéces nommiées, huit ichnoespèces retenues dans une nomenclature ouverte et 13 ichnoespèces sans nom. On retient en plus les noms vulgaires de dix autres formes d'ichnofossiles (qui comprennent 20 types différents) [Traduit par la rédaction]

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Published

1997-10-01

How to Cite

Keighley, D. G., & Pickerill, R. K. (1997). Systematic ichnology of the Mabou and Cumberland groups (Carboniferous) of western Cape Breton Island, eastern Canada, 1: burrows, pits, trails, and coprolites. Atlantic Geoscience, 33(3). https://doi.org/10.4138/2068

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