Melbourne Formation
Geologic formation in Australia
Melbourne Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Ludlow epoch ~423–419 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ | |
Type | Formation |
Unit of | Murrindindi Supergroup |
Underlies | Humevale Formation |
Overlies | Yan Yean & Anderson Creek Formations |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone, siltstone |
Other | Shale, mudstone |
Location | |
Coordinates | ![]() ![]() Melbourne Formation (Australia) Show map of Australia![]() ![]() Melbourne Formation (Victoria) Show map of Victoria |
The Melbourne Formation is a geologic formation in Victoria, Australia. It preserves fossils dating back to the Ludlow epoch of the Silurian period.[1][2]
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Silurian_plate_tectonics.png/250px-Silurian_plate_tectonics.png)
The Melbourne Formation, part of the Murrindindi Supergroup, is conformably overlain by the Humevale Formation and overlies the Yan Yean and Anderson Creek Formations. The formation comprises mainly thin-bedded siltstone and sandstones. Most beds show undisturbed Bouma sequences.[1]
Fossil content
The following fossils were reported from the formation:[2]
Eurypterids
Trilobites
Brachiopods
- Aegiria thomasi[4]
- ?Leptostrophia sp.[4]
- cf. Phoenicitoechia sp.[4]
Gastropods
Bivalves
- Ctenodontella sp.[4]
- cf. Ctenodonta spp.[4]
Scyphozoa
- Conulariidae indet.[4]
Corals
- Cladopora spp.[4]
- cf. Alveolites sp.[4]
Ophiuroidea
- Mausoleaster sugarloafensis[5]
- Protaster sp.[5]
Crinoids
- Dendrocrinus saundersi[5]
- Kooptoonocrinus nutti[5]
- Dimerocrinitidae indet.[5]
See also
- Tumblagooda Sandstone, Silurian geologic formation in Western Australia
- Yea Flora Fossil Site, Silurian fossil site in Victoria
References
- ^ a b Melbourne Formation at the Australian Stratigraphic Units Database
- ^ a b Melbourne Formation at Fossilworks.org
- ^ Plotnick, 1999
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Talent, 1965
- ^ a b c d e Jell & Holloway, 1983
Bibliography
- Plotnick, R. E (1999), Habitat of Llandoverian-Lochkovian eurypterids, in A. J. Boucot, J. D. Lawson (eds.), Paleocommunities - a case study from the Silurian and Lower Devonian, pp. 106–136
- Jell, P. A.; Holloway, D. J. (1983), "Devonian and ?Late Silurian Palaeontology of the Winneke Reservoir Site, Christmas Hills, Victoria", Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, 95: 1–21
- Talent, J. A (1965), "The Silurian and Early Devonian Faunas of the Heathcote District, Victoria", Geological Survey of Victoria Memoir, 26: 1–55
Further reading
- Schleiger, N.W., 1974, Statistical methods for analysis and mapping of flysch-type sediments., Sedimentology, 21(2), p223-249