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Mabou Mines Section: biostratigraphy and correlation (Pennsylvanian Pictou Group, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2016

Erwin L. Zodrow  and
Gary M. Vasey
Erwin L. Zodrow
Affiliation:
University College of Cape Breton, Department of Geology, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6L2, Canada
Gary M. Vasey
Affiliation:
The University of Strathclyde, Department of Applied Geology, Glasgow G1 1XJ, Scotland
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Abstract

The floras and the faunas encountered in the Mabou Mines Section of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, are not greatly diversified. The floras are composed mainly of medullosean (seed) ferns referable to neuropterids and reticulopterids. Infrequently encountered are lycopod, pecopterid, mariopterid, alethopterid, fortopterid, sphenopterid, sphenophylls and cordaitean fossils. The fauna is characterized by Anthraconauta phillipsii, Carbonita spp., Leaia spp. and rare Gutschickia bretonensis representing a fresh-water, lacustrine paleoenvironment in a fluviatite regime. Shells possibly referable to Anthraconauta tenuis s.l. are rare.

In European chronostratigraphy (i.e., Heerlen), the age of the Mabou Mines Section encompasses middle to late Westphalian C to early Westphalian D. Correlation of the fauna with British chronozones is not without difficulty and a phillipsii Chronozone assignment is proposed which is somewhat lower (Westphalian C) than the floral correlation, an expected result.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 60 , Issue 2 , March 1986 , pp. 208 - 232
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

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