Wynniatt Formation


The Wynniatt Formation is a geologic formation in Nunavut. It preserves enigmatic fossils dating back to the Middle to Late Tonian period, around 850 Ma - 760 Ma.

Paleoenviroments

Due to the large thickness of the Wynniatt Formation, it is broken up into 4 Members, simply named "Member" 1 - 4, and from the rocks contained within these 4 members, a rough idea of what the paleoenvironments may have looked across the formation are as follows:
- Member 1 :
Periodically exposed inter-tidal mudflat.
- Member 2 :
Shallow sub-tidal to inter-tidal with layers of microbial mat, and is also the fossil bearing member.
- Member 3 :
Extensive shelf-marginal reef complex, which itself is overlain by deposits of lagoons and a back-reef agal flat.
- Member 4 :
Cycles of shallow sub-tidal to inter-tidal.

Paleobiota

After Butterfield, 2005.
GenusSpeciesNotesImages
Cheilofilum
  • C. hysteriopsis
Enigmatic 1.2mm long filamentous organism.
Chuaria
  • Chuaria sp.
    		• Enigmatic fossil, possibly synonymous with Tawuia.
    Clavitrichoides
  • Clavitrichoides sp.
    		• Enigmatic filamentous organism, most material from this formation are possibly less well preserved Cheilofilum.
    Osculosphaera
  • Osculosphaera sp.
    		• Enigmatic filamentous organism.
    Plicatosphaeridium
  • P. impostor
    		• Enigmatic filamentous organism.
    Tappania
  • Tappania sp.
    		• Acanthomorph acritarch.
    Tawuia
  • Tawuia sp.
    		• Enigmatic fossil, possibly an alga.