macrofossils

MACROFOSSILS Their localities in Alberta, Canada (with notes on adjacent areas of British Columbia)

Edition 2000

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta

Example of a Sedimentary Basin and the fossils encountered.

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Website: http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome


Stratigraphic Section of formations in Alberta

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jacques LeBlanc graduated as a geologist in 1986 from the University of Chicoutimi in Quebec, Canada. He has worked for various public and private entities in the mining industry in Niger (Africa) and Colombia (South America) and in the Oil & Gas industry in Calgary (Canada), Niger (Africa), Libya (Africa), Chad (Africa) and now in Qatar (2007 and on-going). Over the years, he has diversified his experience into Oil & Gas Data Management; the reason that really brought him to work with Qatar Petroleum as a Senior Geologist and Data Management specialist for their Dukhan Oil Field Division. Fossil Hunting, on the other hand, has always been for him a passion that he wants to share as much as possible with the public at large. In 1992 he investigated the fossil (Ammonites) occurences on an Aboriginal Land in Canada for a private company involved in jewelry making. A confidential report was written to that effect. From 1993 to 1995, he investigated several fossil sites in South America for a company who provided minerals & fossils to museum and collectors around the world. Several reports were written to that effect. In 1996 (and update in 2000) he wrote “Macrofossils: their localities in Alberta, Canada”; a 180 page document (downloadable from his website) In 2000 he also wrote “A Guide to Macrofossil localities of Libya, Africa”; a 79 page document (downloadable from his website). In 2003 he created his own fossil website to reach as many people with the same interest. In 2007 he wrote “A Fossil Guide to the Tertiary Localities of Qatar, Middle-East”

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR I first came to Alberta in 1984. With my background in geology and my previous experience at rockhunting in the Eastern Provinces of Canada, it was only common sense that drove me towards fossil hunting. Over the several years I spent gathering fossil specimens from Alberta, I also collected a fair amount of literature pertaining to fossil localities. Therefore, I must confess that it is this wealth of information piling up on my bookshelves that forced me at writing the present report. I do not imply that I visited all the localities mentioned here, nor that my house looks like the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (I became very selective over the years); however, I did go to many of the sites and I did stand in ecstasy before many wonderful specimens. Fossil hunting has a lot of rewards. It involves walking, hiking, climbing and going places you would not get to know otherwise. These are certainly some of the reasons why some groups have formed to promote this interesting hobby. One of them is "The Alberta Palaeontological Society". This group meets every third Friday of the month from September to May at 7:30 P.M. in room B108 at Mount Royal College. During these meetings palaeontologists and other guest speakers are invited to elaborate on their work (or hobby). Every summer the Society organizes three field trips in Alberta, Saskatchewan or B.C. They also organize a one-week field trip to a foreign country. More information on this Society can be gathered from their website at: http://www.albertapaleo.org/ The only purpose of this report is to share my joy for this hobby with all those who have the same interest. I do not want to take credit for any of the localities, maps and figures outlined here since all of them come from various sources given in reference. 3


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta I am still not satisfied with my fossil collection. So far, I have not found nice enough shark teeth, dinosaur teeth, turtle shell, and plant remains I can be proud of. Therefore it is very likely that we meet one day in the Badlands, the Rockies or along an eroded shore of a meandering river cutting through a fossil bearing formation. In the mean time, I wish you the best of luck in your hunting season.

How to use this report First, decide what type of fossil you would like to go hunt for. Then, find a locality that suits you in the appropriate section of this report. If you do not want to limit yourself to the localities mentioned in here, then again, first decide what type of fossil you would like to go hunt for. Secondly, go see in the section "Fossils and Formations" which formations bear the fossil type of your choice. Thirdly, using a geological map of Alberta (not included) locate where these formations outcrop. For geological maps, we recommend "Geological Highway Map of Alberta" published by The Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, located in the downtown Calgary at 160, 540 - 5th avenue S.W., (403) 264-5610. This map will help you a lot, however, if your locality is within the foothills or The Rockies, we recommend you use the more detailed government maps. It is also useful to use topographic maps jointly with any geological maps. After locating the outcropping formation(s), look for rivers, coulees, and valleys cutting through. These are the best spots to look for fossils since the rock was recently exposed (geologically speaking). After collecting your new found fossils, do not keep the locality for yourself; some feedback from you would be greatly appreciated. You can get this (and others) document free of charge on my website and you can also make as many copies of it as you wish, as long as you do not intend to sell it, or part of it, for a profit. I only require that you keep in touch with me, through the email address posted onmy website in order to provide me with 1) information on your own personal fossil finds and, 2) your knowledge of articles for which I may not be aware of. This information will be useful when time comes to publish the next edition. Enjoy yourself, Jacques LeBlanc Fossil Hunter

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SPECIMEN SHEET RECORD ID: TYPE STATUS: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ KINGDOM: SUPER FAMILY: PHYLUM: FAMILY: SUBPHYLUM: GENUS: CLASS: SPECIES: SUBSPECIES: SUBCLASS: COMMON: ORDER: SUBORDER: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ LOCALITY: LOC #: QUARRY #: ____________________________________________________ BONE BED #: LDS MGS LAT.LONG LOCATION REMARKS BONE BED CLASS

____________________________________________________ GROUP: ROCK SAMPLE #: FORMATION: THIN SECTION #: MEMBER: ROCK TYPE:

ALT: ____________________________________________________ MAP #: MAP NAME:

____________________________________________________ PERIOD: HORIZON: EPOCH: AGE: ____________________________________________________ BIOZONE: ORIG. NO.: ____________________________________________________ ORIENT. & ASSOCIATION: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COLLECTOR: COLLECTION DATE: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ COLLECTION REMARKS: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ELEMENT / SIZE: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SPECIMEN REMARKS:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ACQUISITION MODE: PURCHASE PRICE: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PHOTO ACCESS NO. / ILLUSTRATIONS: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PREPARATOR(S): ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PREP. DATE: CAST: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PREP. REMARKS: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ PUBLICATIONS: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ GENERAL REMARKS:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ STORAGE LOC.: STORAGE STATUS

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SPECIMEN SHEET

(Page 2) Photo/Sketch for Record ID: ___________ Date: ____________ Taken by:_______________ Hazard Traffic Loose Rock River Cliffs Wildlife Other Landowner Crown Provincial Park National Park Municipal Park Private Unknown Comments

PHOTO OR SKETCH

___________________ ___________________ ___________________ _______________

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Trace Fossil Description Form (Pemberton and Frey 1983)

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta CONTENTS Laws pertaining to fossils in Alberta ...................................................................................................... 9 Preservation potential ............................................................................................................................... 9 Fossils and Formations ............................................................................................................................ 11 Cambrian ................................................................................................................................................ 11 Devonian ................................................................................................................................................. 11 Mississipian .............................................................................................................................................13 Pennsylvanian-Permian ...........................................................................................................................14 Triassic .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Jurassic .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Cretaceous ...............................................................................................................................................14 Upper Cretaceous & Tertiary ................................................................................................................ 18 Tertiary ................................................................................................................................................... 18 Quaternary .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Fossil Localities ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Ammonites .............................................................................................................................................. 19 Brachiopods ............................................................................................................................................ 24 Corals ...................................................................................................................................................... 30 Dinosaur remains ................................................................................................................................... 32 Fish ......................................................................................................................................................... 35 Gastropods .............................................................................................................................................. 44 Mammals ................................................................................................................................................ 45 Quaternary mammal fossils ............................................................................................................ 45 Recent mammal fossils ................................................................................................................... 47 Pelecypods ............................................................................................................................................... Plants ...................................................................................................................................................... 52 (Tetrapods) …………………………………………………………………………………….. 60 (Insects)..............................................................................................................................................62 (Fishes) …………………………………………………………………………………………. 63 Tetrapods ………………………………………………………………………………………. 63 Trilobites ................................................................................................................................................. 65 References ..................................................................................................................................................66 Suggested literature ................................................................................................................................... 72 APPENDIX A: Self-guided geological and Palaeontological walking-tour of building stones in the downtown area of Calgary……………………………………. 75 APPENDIX B: Tour of Geological and Palaeontological displays in the Calgary Area………………. 85 APPENDIX C: Maps…………………………………………………………………………………. .88 APPENDIX D: Mountain Profiles……………………………………………………………………..114 APPENDIX E: Fossil Sketches……………………………………………………………………….. 134 APPENDIX F: Primitive life in Canada stamps………………………………………………………. 151 APPENDIX G: Miscellaneous subjects……………………………………………………………….. 152 APPENDIX H: Old News…………………………………………………………………………… 163 APPENDIX I: Wapiti Lake, British Columbia, Canada……………………………………………… 167 APPENDIX J: The Burgess Shale, British Columbia, Canada………………………………………..175 8


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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta LAWS PERTAINING TO FOSSILS IN ALBERTA Fossils in Alberta are protected under the Historic Resources Act. Under this act, a permit is required to dig up any fossil in Alberta, so if you find a bone embedded in the rock, you must leave it. Even museum staff must have permits for the fossils they excavate. However fossils tend to break into pieces when they are exposed to the environment. Collecting loose fossil fragments is allowed if: • you are not in a national or provincial park. • you live in Alberta, and will not be taking the fossils out of the province. • you have land-owner's permission. • you will not be selling or altering the fossils. • you understand that these fossils belong to the province, and if the province wants them back, you must surrender them (a rare occurrence). So yes, you may collect fossils that are loose on the ground if the above restrictions do not apply. Collectors who find important material in place in the rock should contact the Tyrrell Museum right away (the best person to talk to is Andy Newman and can be reached from Calgary at 294-1992). However, respect for the fossil resource will certainly limit the amount of material you take. For even though broken dinosaur bone fragments do not appear to have scientific value, palaeontologists depend on these rubble trails to lead them to more significant finds. In addition, the excitement of discovering an undisturbed coulee with a thick scatter of dinosaur rubble is an unforgettable experience. With careful stewardship, explorers who come after you will have the same exciting experience that awaited you.

How about stores that sell fossils?

When the laws about selling fossils were created, vendors were allowed to register their existing stock with the government. Most Albertan fossil shops you see are what remains of this registered stock and are legal for sale. Eventually, this stock will be depleted. Some fossils such as oyster shells and ammonites have been approved for collection and sale under special permit. You will also notice that many of the fossils in their shops are from other places, where laws allow the collection and sale of fossils (Digby, 1991). For mor Information see the Royal Tyrrell Museum’s Website at: www.tyrrellmuseum.com PRESERVATION POTENTIAL Preservation of a particular organism requires a great deal of luck, and a very specific set of events. The chances of any one animal or plant being preserved are extremely slim. It is even less likely that you will see the animal on display in a museum. Only the very best specimens are shown, "many are picked, but few are chosen". Most of the following sequence is required before you will see a specimen on display: 1. An animal with body parts suitable to preservation: not a problem for vertebrates, bones and teeth. 2. Death of the animal, something we know will happen. 3. Transport of the carcass, unmolested by scavengers, to a suitable environment for preservation. 4. Burial of the body in the environment before it is destroyed by bacteria, desiccation, solar radiation, abrasion, etc... 5. Successful fossilization of the preservable portions of the carcass, usually the bones and teeth, in the case of vertebrates, shell material for 9


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta many invertebrates. This usually involves the lithification of the enclosing sediments. 6. Uplift of the sedimentary rocks containing the fossils, without excessive damage to the fossils. 7. Erosion of the fossiliferous rocks to expose the fossils. 8. Exposure of the fossils within the last 100 years in Alberta (the last 250 in Europe). 9. Discovery of the exposed fossils before they are destroyed by erosion. This is a highly variable amount of time, but is probably less than 30 years in the very destructive environments of southern Alberta. 10. Successful removal of the fossils bones from the rock by skilled excavators. 11. Successful transport of packaged fossils to a public institution. 12. Preparation of the fossils into a display condition. 13. Finally, display of the specimens.

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FOSSILS AND FORMATIONS (Fox, 1953) CAMBRIAN MOUNT WHYTE FORMATION TYPE LOCALITY: Mount Whyte and southwest of Lake Louise CHARACTER: Greenish, silty shales, siltstones, and fine-grained sandstone with dark grey limestone interbeds. FAUNA: Extensively fossiliferous, principally lower and middle Cambrian Trilobites.

STEPHEN FORMATION (Appendix J) TYPE LOCALITY: Mount Stephen, near Field in B.C (Appendix J) CHARACTER: Greenish to grey, siliceous shales, thin-bedded limestone, and minor calcareous siltstones; includes the Burgess Shale. FAUNA: In the Burgess Shale, which is equivalent to most of the type Stephen Formation, one can find echinoderms, trilobites, brachiopods, primitive molluscs, sponges, and, of tremendous importance, some organisms which did not have hard parts - worms, arthropods, and algae. FLORA: algae

DEVONIAN GHOST RIVER FORMATION TYPE LOCALITY: Ghost River canyon, north of Lake Minnewanka CHARACTER: siltstone, varicoloured, dolomitic and shaly, and dolomite. The formation forms a conspicuous buff to ochre weathering band. Intraformational conglomerates, mud

cracks, casts of salt crystals, and ripple marks occur locally. FAUNA: None FLORA: Essentially unfossiliferous, but some very poorly preserved stromatoporoids have been found.

FAIRHOLME FORMATION TYPE LOCALITY: Fairholme Range, southern end. CHARACTER: Dull black, fine grained, dolomitic limestone predominates, but toward the top is interbedded with increasingly thicker beds of coarse grained, light grey dolomite. A particularly striking feature of the dark beds is the abundance of the fossils they contain. Bulbous stromatoporoids and fragments of branching, structureless corals and bryozoans are the most common. The stromatoporoids form reefs as much as 60 metres thick. Individual stromatoporoid bulbs occur locally in such numbers as to form more than 50 per cent of the rock. They range from less than 3 cm or more in diameter. The stromatoporoids zones weather a rich dark brown. On fresh surfaces the cores of the bulbs are commonly filled with white calcite, but on weathered surfaces the calcite is absent and the rock has a deeply pitted surface, giving a false impression of a high degree of porosity for the rock as a whole. The stromatoporoids and the coral and bryozoan fragments are white and stand out in sharp contrast to the black, fine grained rock matrix surrounding them. FAUNA: Amphipora, corals (tabulate and rugose), brachiopods, bryozoan. FLORA: stromatoporoids (algae)

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta CHARACTER: Interbedded limestones and FLUME (CAIRN) FORMATION shales. The limestones are grey, fine-grained to dense, commonly occurring as nodules or nodular TYPE LOCALITY: Cline River and Mount beds from 25 - 150 mm thick, separated by greyStelfox, David Thompson highway. buff shale beds 25 - 76 mm thick. CHARACTER: The Flume is a dark grey, dark FAUNA: Brachiopods, corals (especially in upper brownish grey weathering, thin to medium 6 m), crinoids, shell fragments. bedded, finely crystalline limestone. Dark bluegrey chert nodules and lenses occur in places and stand out in relief against the softer limestone. SOUTHESK FORMATION FAUNA: Brachiopods, Amphipora, Gastropods, Tentaculites, Lingula, Buchiola. TYPE LOCALITY: Nigel Peak (Jasper National Park). FLORA: Stromatoporoids CHARACTER: The Southesk Formation includes three members: the lowest member, the Grotto, is a dark brown, fine-grained, crystalline, PERDRIX FORMATION fetid dolomite, 56.5 m thick. It contains abundant corals including some large disphyllid colonies. TYPE LOCALITY: Nigel Peak (Jasper national The second, the Arcs Member, is, in contrast, a park). light to medium grey, finely crystalline dolomite, CHARACTER: The interbedded, dark grey 19 m thick. Amphipora may be noted in some limestones and shales overlying the Flume make zones. Abundant vugs are filled with coarse white up the Perdrix Formation. The limestones are dolomite. The third, the Ronde Member, is 49.5 medium to dark grey, grey weathering, m thick and is light grey dolomite weathering sublithographic to microcrystalline and locally grey-brown to buff, most of it silty or containing argillaceous, in beds up to 0.6 m thick. They are silty bands up to 203 mm thick. separated by thin beds of calcareous, medium to FAUNA: corals, amphipora, brachiopods, dark grey, fissile shale. Brachiopods are common stromatoporoids, gastropods. in some beds. The formation varies somewhat, lithologically, from place to place. On Roche Miette and Roche a Perdrix, the formation is ALEXO FORMATION composed of black, fissile, calcareous shale, with many thin beds dense, fine grained, silty limestone. In the gorge of Deception Creek, the TYPE LOCALITY: Saskatchewan River Gap, formation is composed of grey, rather than black Brazeau Range. shale, and at the confluence of the Cline and CHARACTER: Limestone, bedded and North Saskatchewan rivers, the upper part of the brecciated; some fine sandstone; dolomite; all formation is greenish-grey, and the lower part containing or interbedded with silt. Near black. mountain Park and further northwest the lower FAUNA: Brachiopods, Tentaculites. part is argillaceous or shaly and locally fossiliferous. Near Mountain Park and Morro Peak the base of the formation consists of a band of black shale, which is underlain by a MOUNT HAWK FORMATION conspicuously ochre weathering black mudstone. FAUNA: Cyrtiopsis, Athyris, Camarotoechia (all TYPE LOCALITY: Nigel Peak (Jasper National brachiopods). Park). 12


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta PALLISER FORMATION

BANFF FORMATION

TYPE LOCALITY: Nigel Creek (Jasper National park) and Moose Mountain - Morley. CHARACTER: Massive-bedded, light grey limestone, dolomitic limestone and dolomite. Mottling of the limestone by dolomite is notable and toward the base, small, lithographic, dark grey limestone blebs are surrounded by finely crystalline, brown dolomite. The remainder of the formation is limestone, medium grey, massivebedded, sublithographic to microcrystalline, rarely dolomitic. On Sulphur Mountain, the limestones are, in place, completely dolomitized. FAUNA: Extensive brachiopod fauna (Crytospirifer, Labechia, Leiorhynchus, Choristites). COMMENT: The cement factory, which is so obvious, at Exshaw just before Canmore, mines the limestone from the Palliser Formation.

TYPE LOCALITY: Moose Mountain. CHARACTER: The Upper Banff formation exposures are argillaceous mudstones, wackestones, and packstones, locally rich in brachiopods. The lowest beds are silty, very brownish weathering dolomites and dolomitic limestones, with brachiopods common in places. FAUNA: Extensive brachiopod fauna, conodonts. In general, the Banff Formation is not very fossiliferous. The so-called "lower" member is virtually barren except for conodonts and rare, inarticulate brachiopods. Some beds in the "middle" and "upper" members of the Banff contain reasonably numerous megafossils, particularly in the "eastern" facies, but continuously fossiliferous sequences are not known at any single stratigraphic section for any group of megafossils. Where the Banff is fossiliferous, brachiopods usually make up the bulk of the megafauna both in numbers and in diversity.

MISSISSIPIAN EXSHAW FORMATION

RUNDLE FORMATION TYPE LOCALITY: Jura Creek, 1.6 km east of the town of Exshaw, and 3.2 km north of the Calgary-Banff highway. CHARACTER: Black shale, with high silica content. The contact with the Palliser Formation is marked by a few centimetres of hard pyritic sandstone which contains bone fragments derived from primitive Arthrodirid fishes. The Exshaw Formation has been extended upward to include the fossiliferous silty limestone and calcareous siltstone, which was formerly considered basal Banff. The age of the Exshaw Formation (Devonian or Mississipian) and its sedimentary origin (deep or shallow marine) are still matters of debate. FAUNA: Some bone fragments of fish, brachiopods (Spirifer, Aganides ...).

TYPE LOCALITY: North end of Mount Rundle, at Banff. CHARACTER: Thick bedded to massive, light to dark grey, coarse grained limestone alternating with beds of dark grey to black, fine grained limestone with or without chert nodules. The chert nodules are more characteristically developed in the fine grained beds and are common in the lower part of the formation .... some of the lighter coloured beds are very coarse grained, containing many fragments of crinoid columns and brachiopods; they probably represent shallow water conditions of deposition. FAUNA: Sparsely fossiliferous. COMMENT: The rock from the Rundle Formation was used as building stone for the Banff Spring Hotel. 13


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta part is characterized by an increased thickness and PENNSYLVANIAN- PERMIAN number of turbidites, many of which display excellent sole marks (grooves,prods, scratches, The Pennsylvanian and Permian formations in fluted burrows and current crescents) on their Alberta (Rocky Mountain, Kananaskis, Johnston sharp bases. In the upper part, thicker beds of the canyon and Ranger Canyon) have not yet yielded hummocky, cross-stratified sandstone facies first interesting macrofossils and therefore will not be appear interspersed among turbidites. They have discussed here. However it should not stop you to sharp bases with sole marks, small basal scours, investigate them on your own. some rip-up clasts, and some evidence of vertical settling of sand into the underlying silty beds. FAUNA: Sparse, but apparently indicative of TRIASSIC lower and middle Jurassic age. Burrows are frequent. In the ribbon Creek location (Map C42), SPRAY RIVER GROUP ammonites and belemnites can be seen. TYPE LOCALITY: Whitehorse Creek, FLORA: Some fossilized wood. Cadomin. CHARACTER: The Spray River Group includes the Sulphur Mountain and the Whitehorse KOOTENAY FORMATION Formations. The Sulphur Mountain Formation consists of dark grey to brown weathering TYPE LOCALITY: Grassy Mountain in siltstone, shale, silty dolostone, and calcareous Blairmore and Mount Allan (Nakiska). dolostone. The Whitehorse Formation consists of CHARACTER: Uppermost bed of hard cherty a shallow water assemblage of grey, buff and conglomerate in a siliceous matrix, massive, reddish brown weathering dolostones and moderately hard, dark coloured sandstones, thinlimestones, quartzose sandstones, and solution bedded dark grey sandstones, grey, black, and breccias. carbonaceous shales and a number of coal seam FAUNA: Lower and may be middle triassic (unexposed in this area). ammonites are found, but they are scarce and not FAUNA: None. well preserved. FLORA: Extensive flora (Ferns, cycads, conifers,....). (Thompson, 1953) JURASSIC CRETACEOUS FERNIE FORMATION BLAIRMORE TYPE LOCALITY: Highway no.1, on the East side of the bridge going over Cascade River, just before taking the Banff - Lake Minnewanka road. CHARACTER: The lower part consists of thoroughly bioturbated siltstone containing concretions interbedded with thin sandstones. The sandstone beds are sharp-based with burrow casts and have rather gradational tops. They are characterized by parallel lamination which may pass up into ripple cross-lamination. The middle

TYPE LOCALITY: Ma Butte, Coleman. CHARACTER: Sandstones varying greatly in colour and texture, with one thin bed of bluishgrey limestone towards the middle of the series, which, on account of its persistent nature, serves as a most useful horizon marker. FAUNA: Scattered gastropods and pelecypods occur in places and rare beds of coquinas occur in 14


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta the upper part. An ostracods zone may be traced WAPIABI FORMATION across all of Alberta. (Thompson, 1953). FLORA: The presence of dicotylendons, TYPE LOCALITY: South Branch of Burnt Sapindopsis brevifolia, Sagenopteris mantelli, Timber Creek. Nilsonia densinerve, Torreya dicksoniana,... CHARACTER: The lowest member, the (Thompson, 1953). Muskiki, consists of finely interlayered shale and siltstone, with scattered ironstone concretions, a few bentonite seams and several pebbly beds. BLACKSTONE FORMATION The overlying Marshybank Member has slightly more resistant and silty beds. The Dowling TYPE LOCALITY: Moose mountain area. Member comes next and consists of a more fissile, (Also in south branch of Burnt Timber Creek). rusty brown weathering shale sequence, with some fine layers and laminae of siltstone and CHARACTER: A lower zone of rusty scattered ironstone concretions. The Thistle weathering, a sandy shale with thin beds of member consists of a platy, calcareous shale with sandstones; a middle zone of grey to black shale common fine layers and laminae of siltstone. and sandy layers; and an upper zone of rusty Ironstone concretions recur above the Thistle, as weathering, sandy, brown to black shales; the scattered individuals or concretionary beds in a whole being about 210 - 240 metres. fairly uniform sequence of mudstones referred to FAUNA: Fish scales, pelecypods and ammonites. as the Hanson Member. The Chungo Member, (Thompson, 1951). above the Hanson , consists of fine grained, argillaceous, medium to dark grey sandstones and siltstones, with minor shale and mudstone and CARDIUM FORMATION scattered ironstone concretions. FAUNA: Pelecypods, baculites, cephalopods and TYPE LOCALITY: South branch of Burnt ammonites, commonly in ironstone concretions. Timber Creek. These ammonites are very often called CHARACTER: The basal Ram Member consists "Scaphids". (Thompson, 1953) of clean, very fine to fine grained, commonly laminated, light to medium grey, resistant, quartz sandstone, with minor dark grey, argillaceous BRAZEAU FORMATION sandstone, siltstone and shale. Another interval consisting of dark grey shales, with some pebble TYPE LOCALITY: South branch of Burnt is known as the Kiska member. Above, is an Timber Creek. argillaceous,dark grey, very fine-grained CHARACTER: Fine to medium, locally coarsed sandstone, siltstone and shale belong to the grained, light-medium to medium grey, brown Cardinal member. The Leyland Member consists weathering, feldspathic sandstones, and rubbly of dark grey shale and mudstone, with common mudstones. The sandstones are locally siltstone in platy layers to very thin beds. The crossbedded, with sole markings, load casts and uppermost Sturrock Member is a resistant channelling at the base of some units. Macerated sandstone unit with some shale beds. plant fragments are common, while plant stem FAUNA: Cardium pauperculum is abundant and impressions and leaves can be found in some Scaphites ventricosus is also reported. beds. (Thompson, 1953). FAUNA: Some FLORA: Plant material (leaves...). 15


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Bearpaw. The majority are Foraminifera and BELLY RIVER GROUP (Milk River, molluscs; pelecypods, ammonoids, cephalopods Pakowki, Foremost, and Oldman Formations). and gastropods. (Thompson, 1953). The upper two-thirds of the formation is highly fossiliferous. TYPE LOCALITY: Southern plains, no specific Two readily distinguishable fossil zones have type section designated. been identified. At the base of the Magrath CHARACTER: Dominantly composed of fine sandstone, the "Arctica ovata" zone is observable grained, light grey sandstones, interstratified with with an abundance of "Arctica ovata" and a considerable amount of irregularly bedded shale. The second zone is "Arctica ovata alta". Fine grained conglomerates are found at few comprised of calcareous concretions filled with places. Coal seams occur at several horizons but "Baculites compressus". It is located above the in most cases only locally. Conglomerates are Rye Grass member. small in amount, grade into sandstones, and are mostly a thin sprinkling of small black chert A broad zone, from just below the Magrath pebbles on a sandstone. The shales are in general sandstone, to above the Kipp sandstone contains arenaceous and darker in colour than the the best assemblages. "Placenticeras meeki", often sandstones. having a diameter of greater than 50 centimetres is FAUNA: Milk River___ Baculites, Pelecypods, common in this interval. They are often found in Gastropods, Fish, Reptiles. Pakowki___ large calcareous concretions. Other ammonoids Baculites, Brachiopods, Pelecypods, Gastropods, such as "Baculites compressus" and "Placenticeras Scaphopods, Cephalopods. Foremost___ intercalare" occur, but are not as prolific as Pelecypods, Gastropods. Oldman___ Fresh and Zonation within the "Placenticeras meeki". brackish water invertebrates (Pelecypods, Bearpaw is not practical as most species tend to Gastropods). In general, in the Belly River have a broad range. Also present are the Group we can encounter Unios (fresh water pelecypods "Protocardia borealis" and shells), Ostrea, Corbula (brackish water shells), "Protocardia subquadrata", "Liopistha undata", fresh water gastropods, Fish, amphibians, and "Corbicula "Pteria linguiformis", dinosaurs, mammals. (Thompson, 1953). cytheriformis". FLORA: Plant fragments, pieces of coal, fossilized wood. Some perforations found on the Placenticeras meeki have been identified as being teeth impressions from a member of a large marine BEARPAW FORMATION reptile family, the "mosasaurs". These were literally sea-lizards as they were specialized TYPE LOCALITY: Drumheller. members of the diapsid reptiles. They appeared in CHARACTER: The Bearpaw formation the early Cretaceous, sharing the seas with the consists of grey, thin, bedded to fissile marine plesiosaurs until their extinction at the end of the shales interbedded (in part) with several Cretaceous. The mosasaurs were sizeable, up to 9 distinguishable coarse grained sandstones which metres in length and attained the bulk of many weather reddish brown. Thickness of the dinosaurs. They had large, well spaced, conical Bearpaw formation ranges from less than 30.5 m teeth used for feeding on hard-shelled molluscs. near the Rocky Mountains foothills to as much as Irregular, deep scours have been found on some 365.8 m in southeastern Alberta and ammonites suggesting fierce struggles. (Ward, Saskatchewan. 1982) FAUNA: A total of 54 species of marine invertebrates have been described from the 16


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta EDMONTON GROUP (Horseshoe Canyon, COMMENT: A second unique feature of "Placenticeras meeki", is in the preservation of the Whitemud and Battle Formations) nacreous shell. TYPE LOCALITY: East Coulee, Willow Creek "Korite" is the latest of three names which have and Horseshoe Canyon, all close to Drumheller. been given to the iridescent shell ammonites CHARACTER: Soft whitish sandstones and found in southern Alberta. This type of fossil white or grey, often arenaceous clays, with bands shell on matrix was first advertised as and nodules of clay ironstone and numerous seams of lignite. The top of the formation is "Ammolite" in 1969 as a lapidary material, marked by an extensive coal deposit. Most of the although ammonites have been known from beds are soft and weather into typical badlands Alberta since the beginning of the century. forms. There are thin ,pure beds of bentonite and "Calcentine" was sold during Calgary's many of the sands contain an admixture of fine Centennial year, 1975, as quartz-topped colloidal clay which renders them very greasy and composite cabochons mounted in gold jewellery. slippery when wet. Now we have "Korite" from Korite Limited, of FAUNA: Extensive vertebrate and invertebrate Calgary, Alberta. Their original rough material was obtained from Kormos farm on the St. Mary fauna (Pelecypods, Gastropods, Bryozoan, Fish, River, south of Lethbridge. They now hold claims Mammals, Reptiles). (Allan, 1945) on several other farms as well (Wight, 1981). FLORA: Extensive flora. (Allan, 1945). Ammonoid shells consist predominantly of aragonite and proteinaceous organic matrix (conchiolin) arranged into three layers: a thin outer prismatic layer, a nacreous layer, and an inner lining of prismatic habit (Wight, 1981). The gem material is actually the nacreous layer of the ammonite shell. It presents a brilliant iridescence, predominantly red and green, but some pieces show all the spectral colours. Most pieces show a red and orange iridescence when the incident white light is perpendicular to the shell surface, and green when it is almost parallel. Blue and purple are rarely seen. The composition of the iridescent nacreous shell layer is chiefly calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite. The crack-filling material of the fossil shell is also aragonite, but it fluoresces differently under ultraviolet light (Wight, 1981). The specific gravity of gem "Korite" is between 2.67 and 2.85 (Wight, 1981).

BLOOD RESERVE FORMATION (correlative to basal sandstone of Edmonton Group) TYPE LOCALITY: St. Mary River (6-23w4) CHARACTER: Massive, rather medium grained sandstone, light grey in colour. It commonly weathers to a buff, yellow, or greenish tinge. The cement is in places calcareous, in others argillaceous. Crossbedding and irregular concretions are developed, and the sandstone varies from hard to rather soft. FAUNA: Sparse pelecypod, Gastropods and Cephalopod fauna. (Thompson, 1953). ST. MARY RIVER FORMATION (correlative to the middle and part of the Edmonton Group) TYPE LOCALITY: St. Mary River valley, west of Magrath. CHARACTER: Rapid alternations of sandstones and shaly or clayey beds, the stratifications, as a rule, being regular. Greyish or greenish or bluishgrey tints characterize the beds, though some of the sandstones weather to yellowish colours and 17


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta ironstone nodules are of frequent occurrence. At CHARACTER: Massive and often currentthe base, these rocks show estuarine and marine bedded sandstones, with occasional shaly layers. conditions and yellowish colours prevail. This formation is the youngest bedrock unit FAUNA: Fresh and brackish water molluscs present, overlain by much more recent (Pelecypods, Gastropods, rare reptile bones, worm unconsolidated deposits from the last glaciation. trails, Ostrea and Corbula). (Thompson, 1953). However, gravels are present on Nose Hill and Broadcast Hill that could, in part, be of tertiary age. The best exposure of these poorly understood deposits were found in gravel pits on the east end of Nose Hill. UPPER CRETACEOUS AND TERTIARY (Palaeocene) FAUNA: The Porcupine Hill Formation is a sandstone that has yielded a diverse fossil assemblage including pelecypods (clams), WILLOW CREEK FORMATION gastropods (snails), fishes, turtles, crocodiles, champsosaurs (crocodile-like aquatic reptiles), TYPE LOCALITY: Porcupine Hills lizards, and early mammals. Most of the CHARACTER: A series of reddish and purplish vertebrate material is fragmentary, and widely clay beds with grey and yellow sandstones. scattered (Wilson, 1987). FAUNA: Freshwater gastropods, pelecypods and FLORA: Numerous leaf impressions. fish-scales are common. (Thompson, 1951). FLORA: Palaeocene plant remains are found in the upper part. QUATERNARY (Pleistocene) TERTIARY (Palaeocene)

BIG HILL FORMATION

PASKAPOO FORMATION

TYPE LOCALITY: Cochrane to Calgary. A Late pleistocene gravel CHARACTER: deposit some 20 m or more thick extends along the Bow valley from west of Cochrane to areas well downstream from Calgary, and has been named the Bighill Creek Formation. Several radiocarbon dates place it during the period from about 11,500 to 10,000 years ago. FAUNA: The Bighill Formation has yielded a diverse fauna of large hoofed mammals. Gravel pits near Cochrane have yielded bones of a wild ass, caribou, mountain sheep, and a large extinct bison. Pits of equivalent age in Calgary and downstream have yielded ass and bison bones as well as bones of mammoth and camel. Human colonization of the area by this time is demonstrated by early artifact styles and radiocarbon dates for an occupation site near Banff in excess of 10,000 years (Wilson, 1987)

TYPE LOCALITY: On the west side of Calgary, along the Bow River on the south shore of the Bearspaw reservoir. Also at Edworthy Park (Calgary), Glenmore reservoir (Calgary), and Beddington Creek (5 km north of Calgary). CHARACTER: Grey and greenish grey sandstones and interbedded yellow, red, brown and dark grey clays and shales. The beds are lenticular in nature. FAUNA: Freshwater molluscs (Unio clams), water and terrestrial gastropods, mammals (buffalo bones...), crocodile teeth... FLORA: Plants (especially Laurel leaf imprints).

PORCUPINE HILLS FORMATION TYPE LOCALITY: Porcupine Hills

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta FOSSIL LOCALITIES

AMMONITES (Figure E3)

Jurassic ammonites (Frebold, 1963) Arnioceras - Lower Sinemurian stage, West slope of Cascade Mountain, Banff Park. Peronoceras subarmatum - Fernie group, Toarcian stage, Upper Red Deer River. Peronoceras subarmatum - Fernie group, Toarcian stage, Opposite George Creek Valley. Harpoceras exaratum - Fernie group, Toarcian stage, Canyon Creek, Moose Mountain area. Sonninia gracilis - Fernie Group, Middle Bajocian stage, 4.8 km north of devils Point, Lake Minnewanka. Stemmatoceras palliseri - Fernie Group, Rock Creek Member, Middle Bajocian stage, Upper Whitehorse River, Mountain Park area. Chondroceras allani - Fernie group, Rock Creek Member, Middle Bajocian, Ribbon Creek on highway 40 (Map C42), Kananaskis Park. Teloceras dowlingi - Fernie Group, Rock Creek Member, Middle Bajocian stage, Kananaskis River. Chondroceras marshalli - Fernie Group, Rock Creek Member, Middle Bajocian, Ribbon Creek on highway 40 (Map C42), Kananaskis Park. Oppelia - Fenie group, bathonian stage, Headwaters of Smoky River, On Sulphur River. Paracephalites hashimotoi - Fernie Group, Upper Corbula munda beds, Upper Bathonian or lower Callovian, Grassy Mountain, near Blairmore. Paracephalites glabrescens - Fernie Group, upper part of Corbula munda beds, Upper Bathonian or lower Callovian, Grassy Mountain, near Blairmore. Paracephalites metastatus - Fernie group, grey beds, Upper Bathonian or lower Callovian, Cairn Pass. 19


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Warrenoceras henryi - Fernie Group, Gryphaea bed, Lower Callovian stage, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore, also found in Cairn Pass and Ram Pass in Rock lake area. Warrenoceras rierdonense - Fernie Group, grey beds, Lower Callovian, Cairn Pass. Warrenoceras imlayi - Fernie Group, grey beds, Lower callovian stage, Rock Lake area and also in Grypaea bed on grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Warrenoceras crassicostatum - Fernie Group, grey beds, Lower Callovian, Cairn Pass. Warrenoceras loveanum - Fernie Group, grey beds, Lower Callovian, Cairn Pass. Torricellites spinosum - Fernie group, grey beds, lower Callovian stage, Cairn Pass. Torricellites spinosum - Fernie group, grey beds, lower Callovian stage, Cairn Pass. Gobbanites engleri - Fernie Group, Gryphaea bed , Lower Callovian stage, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Kepplerites - Fernie Group, Gryphaea bed, Lower Callovian, Adanac strip mine road, Carbondale area. Kepplerites mcevoyi - Fernie Group, Lower Callovian, Ribbon Creek on highway 40 (Map C42) in Kananaskis Park. Imlayoceras miettense - Fernie Group, Upper Grey beds, zone with large concretions, Lower Callovian, Rocky River, Miette area. Also north end of De Smet Range. Kepplerites tychonis - Fernie Group, 6 metres above Gryphaea bed, Lower Callovian, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Undetermined genus and species - Fernie Group, 6 metres above Gryphaea bed, Lower Callovian, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Cardioceras mountjoyi - Fernie Group, Green beds, Oxfordian stage, Miette area, Rocky River. Cardioceras (Scarburgiceras) alphacordatum - Fernie Group, Green beds, Oxfordian stage, Miette area, Rocky River. Cardioceras - Fernie Group, Oxfordian stage, Cuthead Creek, Banff Park. Goliathiceras crassum - Fernie Group, Green beds, Oxfordian stage, Miettearea, Rocky River.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Cretaceous ammonites - About 90 and 150 metres above base of Bearpaw Formation, 30-5-4w4. - Berry Creek 11-27-12w4 and 20-29-11w4 (Map C37) - S/W 1/4, 20-21-11w4. - Medicine Lodge Coulee, SE 1/4, 7-8-3w4. - Travers reservoir, near Vulcan, at opposite end of lake from Little Bow Park. - Near base of Blood River sandstone, Pothole Creek, SW 1/4, 34-2-22w4. - North Side of Milk River, near Groton, 3-10w4. - "Foxhill sst.", 33-1-22w4. - Upper beds of Pale Beds, Lost River, 1-4-w4, 3.2 km north of 49th Parallel, Silver Smoliak.

AMMONITES BY LOCALITIES Locality 1: Map C2. Turn south from Highway No. 3 on Lee's Lake turnoff, drive past the lake to a steel bridge crossing Castle River. Walk just upstream along cliffs. Large clam (Inoceramus) occur in black shale. Just above them are some small ammonites called Prionotropis. Small black chert pebbles also occur here. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 2: Map C7. Turn south from highway 11 at Alexo turnoff (Alexo and Saunders are now vanishing ghost towns from coal mining days), go to Saunders station down the hill to the southwest. Drive about 13.5 km to Dutch Creek. A number of Jurassic fossils are found in the banks, including Trigonia, Pleuromya, Homomya, Cyprina, Cardioceras and cigar-shaped belemnites. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 3: Map C7. 4.8 km east of Nordegg (Highway 11), a number of Jurassic fossils occur in the banks of a small branch of shunda Creek, right beside the highway. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 4: Map C15. Turn south from Wanham on Highway 733 to the crossroads leading to Peoria, but continue south about 1.6 kms to Kakut Creek. For about 3.2 kms downstream from this point, you may collect in the stream bed and banks any amount of fine penshells, ammonites, Inoceramus, baculites and Desmoscaphites (Nielsen, 1977 and Lacasse et al.1978). It is not uncommon to find fossil shells up to 20-30 pounds in excellent condition of the Inoceramus Clan (Currie, ????). Locality 5: Map C15. About 4.8 km downstream from locality 4, the same fossils can be found, plus shark teeth. This site may require walking for some distance. (Nielsen, 1977) 21


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Locality 6: Map C16. Several large ammonites, Watinoceras and Scaphites, occur in outcrops on the south bank of the smoky River, about 4 km from highway 49. Turn south on the first road west of the highway bridge. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 7: No map. Fossil ammonites are abundant in the creek valleys of the Coronation area. Locality 8: No map. Fossil ammonites are common in the major coulees about 32 and 50 km south of Elkwater, along Highway 48. Many more are present in these same areas but along side roads. Locality 9: Map C43. Ammonites (scaphites), brachiopods and pelecypods occur within many of the ironstone nodules of the black shale slopes just upstream of the Ram River falls along the Forestry Trunk Road. Each spring a new crop weathers out. The first hunters get the best specimen. Locality 10: Map C21. Adanac Mine/Carbondale River. Jurassic and Cretaceous localities. Numerous excellent exposures can be found along the river and in the mine. This area is a classic Foothills locality, and the stratigraphy and sedimentology of several units can be observed. The structural geology of the area is also well exposed. The most common fossils are bivalves, ammonites and belemnites. There are also well preserved logs in the mine. (Alberta Palaeontological Society field trip, June 1991) Locality 11: Map C29. Bassano is located at one hour and a half drive east of Calgary. Start from the railroad on the south side of the town: 0.4 km. and turn left, 4.5 km to the bridge, 5 km until the road makes a sharp 90 degree turn to the left, open the gate that is in front of you, 2 km on this private road. Park your car. Walk 20 minutes west until you reach the river. The Bow River cuts the Bearpaw Formation. THE GUSHER found in 1985 a 50 pound Placenticeras meeki at this location. Later on, he found another one but due to weathering, it fell apart immediately. Belemnites and pelecypods are also very common in the river bed. (THE GUSHER, 1991) Locality 12: Map C32. Open mine at Seebe cutting through the Upper Cretaceous Wapiaby Formation on the west side of the road between highway 1 and highway 1A. Scaphite molds can be found in the black shale. THE GUSHER was told the mine recently closed. The last time we went to this locality (early May 1991), no fossil could be found due to the extreme grinding of the rock which was caused by the heavy machineries working in the mine prior to its closing. Locality 13: Map C31. Locations marked with an X (in the Bearpaw formation) are excellent for ammonites, baculites and clams. Drive to Magrath, 40 kms south of Lethbridge. Turn west after the Shell station south of town, and reach the St. Mary River. Many samples are in excellent condition still in location in the riverbank. All along the river from the irrigation dam downstream to past lethbridge, there are locations of fossils, not every one of them is easily accessible. Locality 14: Map C37. East of Hanna, take Highway 36. Fourty kilometres south, turn east on road #570 and go to the Carrolside dam on Berry Creek. When the water is low, from early august to late september, look along the water's edge. Ammonites, Baculites and clams occur here. Locality 15: Map C41. East and Southeast of Manyberries is an extensive badlands exposure of the Upper Cretaceous Bearpaw Formation which extends well into Saskatchewan. From Manyberries, 22


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta proceed East and then 4 kms South. Turn East on a field road that goes along the creek shown on Map 41. You can start collecting along the creek about half a kilometre upstream from the main road, or keep going for about 17 kms on this field road (not shown on map). While driving this road, you will pass by a lot of Oil/Gas wells, go down a valley and up again. Leave your car immediately after you you back up the valley and start looking for fossils (on an accurate map, this locality is 19.5 kms East North-East from Manyberries. All along this creek and the southern creek shown on the map, you will find Ammonites, Pelecypods, Scaphopods, Shark teeth, Shrimp (rare), Crayfish (rare) and dinosaur (mosasaur) bones. Locality 16: Map C42. Walk through old slate quarry on path along Ribbon Creek. The site is about 400 metres past slate quarry where creek makes a sharp turn to the north. There you can find Jurassic ammonites, clams and belemnites. You are within a park, therefore, you can not remove the fossils.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta BRACHIOPODS (Figure E5)

Ordovician brachiopods (Norford, 1962) Dinorthis rockymontana - Beaverfoot - Brisco Formation. 5 to 12 mountain, Banff Park.

metres above base. Cirrus

Thaerodonta saxea - Beaverfoot - Brisco Formation, 5 to 12 metres above base, Cirrus Mountain, Banff park. Dinorthis columbia - Beaverfoot - Brisco Formation, 5 to 12 metres above base, Cirrus Mountain, Banff park. Rhynchotrema windermeris - from lower beds of Beaverfoot - Brisco formation, Mount Coleman, Banff Park. Petroria rugosa - Beaverfoot - Brisco formation, 5 to 12 metres above base, Cirrus Mountain, Banff park. Palaeophyllum - Beaverfoot - Brisco Formation, 5 to 12 metres above base, Cirrus Mountain, Banff Park.

Upper Silurian and Lower Devonian brachiopods (Norford, 1962 and McLaren et al, 1962) Tentaculites - Numerous specimens embedded in limestone matrix. La Butte Formation of the Elk Point Group, 2 metres above base of the Formation, west bank of Slave river close to mouth of Murdock Creek, opposite La Butte. Ladogioides pax - Peace Point member of the Waterways Formation, near base of green shale overlying the Slave point Formation, Gypsum Cliffs, north bank of Peace river, opposite mid-point of island just below Boyer Rapids. Leiorhynchus - Peace point member of the Waterways Formation, Gypsum Cliffs, north bank of Peace river, 1.8 km east-northeast of the east end of the island just below Boyer Rapids. Eleutherokomma impennis - Peace Point member of the waterways Formation, Gypsum Cliffs, north bank of Peace River, 8 km east of the east end of the island just below Boyer Rapids. Cyrtina billingsi - Firebag member of the Waterways Formation, east bank of the Athabaska River at km 101.6 about 4 metres above river level. 24


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Pugnoides - Calumet member of the Waterways Formation, west bank of the Athabaska River at km 91.5 about 1.5 metres above river level. Spinocyrtia euryteines - Calumet member of the Waterways Formation, north bank of Clearwater River 11.8 km (air distance) above junction with Christina River. Stropheodonta - Moberly Member of the Waterways Formation, east Bank of Athabaska River at km 43, northeastern Alberta. Athyris vittata randalia - Moberly member of the Waterways Formation, west bank of Athabaska River opposite Tar island and km 35.6, northeastern Alberta. Allanaria allani - Moberly member of the Waterways Formation, north bank of the Athabaska River opposite Moberly Rapids. Eleutherokomma hamiltoni - Moberly member of the Waterways Formation, west bank of the Athabaska River about km 57.5, just above river level.

Upper Devonian brachiopods (McLaren et al, 1962) Ladogioides kakwaensis - Cairn formation, 14 to 20 metres above base, southeast end of Ancient Wall, Jasper Park. (The genus Ladogioides is a zone fossil for the base of the Upper devonian). Calvinaria variabilis athabascensis - Maligne Formation, upper few metres, near highway, Morro Peak, Jasper Park. (The subspecies is a zone fossil for rocks of equivalent age over much of western Canada). Atrypa multicostellata - Maligne Formation, 10 metres below top, Morro Peak, Jasper Park. Allanaria allani - Flume Formation, lowest beds, ridge between Beaver and Medicine Lakes, Jasper Park. Allanaria minutilla - Maligne Formation, east of Esplanade Mountain, Jasper Park. Emanuella - Maligne Formation, highest bed, ridge between Beaver and Medicine Lakes, Jasper Park. (This genus is rare in Upper devonian rocks). Athyris - Cairn Formation, 35 metres above base, southeast end of Ancient Wall, Jasper Park. Grunewaldtia americana - Argillaceous limestone member, Mount Hawk Formation, northeast shoulder of Roche Miette, Jasper Park. Cyrtospirifer - Argillaceous limestone member, Mount Hawk Formation, Job Creek, eastern fault block.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Indospirifer orestes - Grey calcareous mudstone and limestone member, Mount Hawk Formation, Job Creek, eastern fault block. Tenticospirifer cyrtinaformis - Lower part of Mount Hawk Formation, south branch of north fork of Hummingbird Creek. Thomasaria rockymontana - Argillaceous limestone member, Mount Hawk Formation, North Saskatchewan River Gap, north side, Brazeau Range. Cyrtina inulta - Mount Hawk Formation, 55 metres above base, North ram River Gap, north side, Front Range. Leiorhynchus carya - Perdrix Formation, 55 metres above base of outcrop section, Winnifred Pass. Calvinaria variabilis insculpta - Perdrix Formation, 8 metres above base of outcrop section, Winnifred Pass. Eleutherokomma reidfordi - Perdrix Formation, 30 metres above base of outcrop section, North Saskatchewan River Gap, north side, Brazeau Range. Warrenella nevadensis - Perdrix Formation, 55 metres above base of outcrop section, Winnifred Pass. Schizophoria - Mount Hawk Formation, 55 metres above base, North Ram River Gap, north side, Front Range. Douvillinaria - Mount Hawk Formation, 55 metres above base, North Ram River Gap, north side, Front Range. Productella - Grey calcareous mudstone and limestone member, Mount Hawk Formation, Job Creek, eastern fault block. Devonoproductus vulgaris - Grey calcareous mudstone and limestone member, Mount Hawk Formation, Job Creek, eastern fault block. Hypothyridina - Mount Hawk Formation, about 190 metres above base, Winnifred Pass. H. emmonsi about 50 metres above base. The genus Hypothyridina ranges from latest Middle devonian throughout the early Upper devonian, in Western Canada. Calvinaria albertensis albertensis - Argillaceous limestone member of Mount Hawk Formation, about 190 metres above base, northeast flank of Roche Miette, Jasper Park. This subspecies is a zone fossil for rocks of equivalent age over much of the Alberta Sedimentary basin. Atrypa - Mount Hawk Formation, 62 metres above base of exposed section, south end of Idlewilde Mountain, Clearwater River. 26


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Atrypa - Southesk Formation, grey mudstone and limestone member, headwaters of Job Creek. Atrypa - Mount Hawk Formation, upper 12 metres, north side of road, Shunda Creek Gap, near Nordegg. The genus Atrypa does not occur in Western Canada higher than the early Upper Devonian. Paurorhyncha utahensis - Upper 5 metres of the Costigan Member of the Palliser Formation, Mount Coleman, Banff Park. Nudirostra seversoni - Palliser Formation, 68 metres down, Mount Coleman, Banff Park. Cyrtiopsis normandvillana - Palliser Formation, 147 metres below top, Winnifred pass. The genus Cyrtiopsis is confined to the late upper Devonian. Athyris - Palliser Formation, 150 metres below top, Winnifred Pass. Camarotoechia banffensis - Upper part of Palliser Formation, Lower Maligne Canyon, Jasper Park.

Sinotectiractrum medicinale - Alexo formation, member B, Proposal Mountain, south end of Medicine Lake, Jasper Park. Productella - Alexo Formation, top of member B, ridge between Beaver and Medicine Lakes, Jasper Park. Cyrtiopsis prepta - Alexo Formation, upper part of member A, ridge between Beaver and Medicine Lakes, Jasper park. Leiorhynchus walcotti - Lowest beds of Alexo Formation, near top of Prospect Mountain, near Mountain Peak. Gypidula cornuta - Mount Hawk Formation, 180 metres above base, Winnifred Pass. Schuchertella prava - Grey mudstone and limestone member of Southesk formation, headwaters of Job Creek.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta BRACHIOPODS BY LOCALITIES See Map C24 for a general view of brachiopod fossil localities from the Banff formation. (Carter, 1987) Locality 1: Map C3. Go west on highwood forestry road from Longview about 32 km to the narrow gap just 0.8 km east of the ranger station. Spirifer brachiopods occur in limestone in the cliff some distance above the road, along with irregular chert nodules. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 2: Map C4. Turn east off Highway 36, 18.5 km to Pollockville, go 8 km north, then 4 km west to a creek. Various brachiopod fossils are found in the banks. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 3: Map C4. About 32 km north of the red deer River bridge on highway 36, turn 3.2 km west to Bullpound Creek. Various Cretaceous brachiopods are found in the banks of the creek. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 4: Map C6. Turn North off Highway 14 at the Edgerton turnoff, 29 km east of Wainwright. Travel 16 km north to the Battle river. Brachiopods are found in outcrops along the banks. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 5: No map. The vertical shale and sandstone cliffs just beside the Highway northeast of Dunvegan Bridge contain abundant oysters and some brachiopods. They are very fragile, however, and must be handled carefully. Locality 6: No map. Turn east off the Mackenzie Highway at Enterprise Creek, N.W.T. and park beside the road. Follow the creek down to its junction with Hay River. In this area, you will find an amazing variety of corals, crinoids, brachiopods, etc... Locality 7: Map C23. Moose Mountain area. The fossils encountered on this hike are of Mississipian age and in the Banff and Rundle formations. Take Highway 66 to Canyon Creek and turn right (north) just after you cross the creek. The turnoff is approximately 5 - 6 km past Paddy's Flat campground. Although there is a warning sign about winter travel the road is well maintained year round as it is used by Shell to access their facilities at Moose Mountain. Follow the road to the parking lot. Just as you come to the parking lot you will see to your right (north) a gravel road heading along the east side of the mountain. There is a gate across the road which is not opened to the public. Walk up this gravel road approximately 15 minutes. You will see a grassy area leading, steeply, up a little (12 metres) hill (some wires cross the road above your head at this point). It looks like it was a road at one time. Go up the grassy road and then go straight up the hill. There is no trail but the trees are widely spaced and the going is not tough. About 1/3 of the way up the mountain begin looking closely at the float (rock chute) and anywhere where there is finer (3 - 6 mm) gravels. You will find well preserved blastoid (Figure E6) heads and brachiopods. The brachiopods are mainly rhynchonellids and atrypids which have weathered out fully. There are some small horn corals. Farther up the slope you may find some very well preserved crinoids (Figure E6). A hammer is not necessary. Actually, all the rock chutes in this valley are of fossil potential since the main formations are Banff and Rundle. (Map and text are a courtesy of Lisa Freeman, Geologist for Alberta & Southern Gas Co. Ltd.)

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Locality 8: Maps C23, C25. Nihahi Ridge area. The fossils encountered on this hike are of Mississipian age and in the Banff and Rundle formations. Take Highway 66 to Little Elbow Campground. You will have to park in their day parking area or just outside the campground entrance. It's preferable to park inside as it is a long walk to the trail head from the entrance. Walk west along the main campground road to the end of the camping area. Go through 2 gates and continue west along the dirt road for approximately 1/10 km where a trail can be seen to your right. Watch for a trail sign at the beginning of the dirt road. The Nihahi Ridge trail is popular and well marked. Follow the ridge trail until you are at * (look at the map). Here look for sharks teeth. They are small (few mm) but unmistakeably as they are a phosphatic, shiny, dark grey blue. Crinoids and bryozoans (Figure E5) can be seen on most bedding planes. Keep going on the trail, up through the tree to ¥. This is open ridge above the trees. You may be lucky and find some well preserved crinoids (brachioles have been found up here). Continue along the trail at the base of the cliff until you come to a break in the cliff. Scramble up a little rock face (5 - 6 metres) and you are on a scree slope. This is laced with crinoids, well preserved bryozoans, syringoporoid corals and some brachiopods. Continue up to the base of 2 metre "cliffs". Check the base of these for productid brachiopods (in black shale) and watch for spiriferids which have weathered out of the limestones. Note: you are not in a provincial or national park. (Map and text are a courtesy of Lisa Freeman, Geologist for Alberta & Southern Gas Co. Ltd.)

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta CORALS (Figure E1)

Ordovician corals (Norford, 1962) Catenipora robustus - Beaverfoot - Brisco Formation,5 to 12 metres above base, Cirrus Mountain, Banff Park. Streptelasma prolongatum - Beaverfoot - Brisco Formation, 5 to 12 metres above base, Cirrus Mountain, Banff Park.

Devonian corals (McLaren et al, 1962) Ptychophyllum kindlei - Southesk Formation, 150 metres below top, Bosche Range, 1.6 km south of Moosehorn Lakes. Syringopora - Southesk Formation, 30 metres below top, southeast side of mountain, 3.2 km northwest of Mount Kephala, Boule range. (Syringopora is a widespread marker for the upper part of the Southesk Formation in the Jasper Region. Phillipsastraea nevadensis - Argillaceous Limestone Member, Mount Hawk Formation, Job Creek, eastern fault Block. Phillipsastraea woodmani - From 250 metres above base of outcrop section, Mount Hawk Formation, Winnifred Pass. Acinophyllum camselli - Mount Hawk Formation, 62 metres above base, North Ram River Gap, north side, Front Range. Coenites Thamnopora - Mount Hawk Formation, 50 metres above base, North Ram River gap, north side, Front Range. Amphipora - Southesk Formation, 180 metres below top, south end of the Ancient Wall, Jasper National Park. (Amphipora is widespread in Middle and Upper Devonian limestones throughout Western Canada). Phillipsastraea exigua - widespread in the Kakisa Formation, and occurs high in the Southesk formation. Thamnophyllum tructense - The species is widespread in the middle and Upper parts of the Mount Hawk and Southesk Formation.

30


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Phillipsastraea cincta - Mount Hawk Formation, 17 metres down from top, northeastern spur of Cardinal Mountain.

CORALS BY LOCALITIES Locality 1: No map. Turn east off the Mackenzie Highway at Enterprise Creek, N.W.T. and park beside the road. Follow the creek down to its junction with Hay River. In this area, you will find an amazing variety of corals, crinoids, brachiopods, etc... Locality 2: Map C34 & C35. Jura Creek. Park along side road to Lime Plant. Walk 600m up the flat alluvial fan which begins at a small canyon. With a few exceptions, Mississipian outcrops occur on the west (left hand) side of Jura Creek valley, and Devonian rocks are seen on the opposite side. Beginning from the small canyon, in the Palliser limestone, walk 1550 double paces (one dp = 5 feet or 1.5m). At this location, the Exshaw black shale (Devonian-Mississipian) overlies the Costigan Member of the Palliser Formation. The bedded Palliser limestone is cherty and fossiliferous with brachiopods, nautiloids, and the coral Chaetetes. 600 double paces further, the base of the Palliser Formation, which is a brown-grey dolomitic limestone, contains abundant recrystallized bryozoa. (De Wit, 1988). Locality 3: Map C44. Marine life such as corals (very abundant), foraminifera, sponges and brachiopods can be found in the limestone quarry closed to the campground and picnic area north of Crowsnest Lake in the Crowsnest Pass. There is a sign on Highway 3 directing to the picnic area North of the highway. Locality 4: Profile D7. Travelling south on 8th Avenue in Canmore, cross the Bow River and take the Spray Lakes road past the Nordic Centre. Park your cat at the Grassi Lake Trail parking lot and walk up the trail (1.5 km) to Grassi Lake (you can not imagine how beautiful and colourful this pond is when you go there during a sunny summer day). There are spectacular exposures of stromatoporoid bioherms and banks within the Cairn Formation to be seen as well as corals (Tabulate & Rugose), ichnofossil, brachiopods, gastropod, and crinoid ossicles (GAC, 1991).

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta DINOSAUR REMAINS (Figures E14 & E15) Material includes bones and teeth, occasionally skulls with many elements associated, and (rarely) complete skeletons or major portions of a skeleton. Isolated bones usually include disarticulated skull elements, longbones or vertebrae, scutes or carapace fragments (turtles), and isolated shed teeth in groups that replace teeth (crocodilians). Egg-shell fragments, gizzard stones (gastroliths), burrows or nests, tooth marks, or footprints record past reptilian activity. Reptilian remains may occur in aggregations deposited in eddies of small streams and in assemblages of articulated or partially articulated elements from winter hibernacula, usually cavities in coarse rubble or fractured bedrock.

You can find dinosaur bones in the Badlands, all along the Red Deer River. Sternberg (1947) describes some good localities, especially around 16-33-22w4, 24-34-22w4 and 30-3421w4. Fragmented Triceratop bones are "very common", and Tyranosaurus bones are also found. DINOSAUR REMAINS BY LOCALITIES Locality 1: Map C14. 6.4 km beyond Fort Assiniboine, turn west off Highway 13, cross Freeman River, and drive 7.2 km west and south then 2.4 km south. Then walk 500 m east to the river bank. A thin bed of cretaceous vertebrate bones (probably dinosaurs) occurs there in an ironstone band. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 2: Map C14. Outcrops on the north side of the Athabaska River at Whitecourt, and a short distance east, have yielded vertebrate bones (probably dinosaur). These were collected some years ago, but it may still be possible to find some. Drive about 2.4 km north of the second bridge, take the trail to the right, back along the river for about 3.8 km. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 3: No map. In the Medicine Hat area, dinosaur bones are abundant in many outcrop areas, such as along the river south of Redcliff. Locality 4: Map C18. The vicinity of Onefour has badlands areas containing dinosaur bones. (Nielsen 1977) Locality 5: Map C17. Deadhorse Coulee, about 4 km east and 6.4 km south of Lucky Strike post office, or 38.4 km south of Foremost, contains dinosaur and other bones, including some teeth. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 6: Map C18. Several Dinosaur skulls have been collected from the valley of Sage Creek, about 17.6 km north of Wildhorse and upstream. No doubt many bone fragments are still present. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 7: Map C38. Scabby Butte is 1.6 km north of Nobleford, then 3.2 km east, then north again. The butte extends for several kilometres in a roughly east-west direction, and dinosaur bone fragments are abundant along its base. The location, an isolated badland exposure of the Upper Cretaceous St. 32


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Mary River Formation, was the site of one of the earliest (1881) dinosaur discoveries in Western Canada. Two Pachyrhinosaurus shulls were excavated in 1955, and a mosasaur skeleton has also been recovered. Also found are: teeth of the ray Myledaphus bipartitus Cope, tiny, button-like teeth of Paralbula casei Estes (a herring-like, mollusc-eating fish), crocodile teeth (usually lumped into the genus Leidyosuchus), ganoid scales of the garpike Lepisosteus, and occasional small fish vertebrae. Locality 8: Map C40. The badlands south of Irvine, east of Medicine Hat on Highway 1, contain large amounts of dinosaur bones, turtle shells, Garfish scales, Chamsosaurus vertebrae. Locality 9: Map C19. The entire badlands area around Drumheller is word-famous for the large number of complete or near-complete dinosaur skeletons it has yielded. While the most accessible scientific specimens have likely been removed by now, erosion of river cliffs continually exposes new material. Bone and wood fragments are therefore quite abundant. Take this opportunity to visit the Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 10: No map. Rosebud Creek valley is about 10 km south of Drumheller. Take the road to Wayne, then search the valley foot, as roads are scarce. The main valley, as well as the coulee south of town, have yielded dinosaur bones, molluscs, dinosaur teeth, and shark teeth. It is frequently necessary to climb some distance up the hills to look for material. When the creek bed is dry, the lower portion is also worth checking. Locality 11: Map C19 & C36. Northwest of Drumheller, and just west of Munson, is a ferry crossing the Red Deer River. Stop at the campsite just east of the bridge. Petrified wood and dinosaur bones are found at the base of the cliffs in this area. A duck-billed dinosaur, Edmontosaurus, was found just east of here in 1923. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 12: Map C19. From the Munson ferry, go west about 4.8 km, take the first road straight north for 6.4 km, then go east to the main river valley. Dinosaur bones occur here. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 13: No map. (See locality 19 in plant section) Joffre bridge (Paskapoo Formation) is located 14 km east of downtown Red Deer. It is an extremely good locality for vertebrate, plant, amphibian, mammal, insect, fish and tetrapod fossils. (Taylor & Stockey, 1984 for scientific names of fossils.). Locality 14: Map C26. Dinosaur Provincial Park. A list of more than 177 quarries is given on map C26. Various Dinosaur species were found. Collecting is forbidden. (Danis, 1986 and Koster et al, 1986) Locality 15: Map C30. Kneehill creek area. Follow the dinosaur trail from Drumheller along the south bank until the first stream. Follow this stream upstream until you get to a large bed of oysters. Dinosaur bones can also be found higher up the creek. Locality 16: Map C30. Ghost Pine Creek area: Follow the dinosaur trail from Drumheller along the south bank until you come to the third bridge. At the third bridge there is a deep valley of scrubs and grasslands fenced off. A creek is running through it. Follow the cow path across the creek. Cross the creek four times. To your right there is a recess in the hills. Petrified bone and wood can be found. (Source unknown) 33


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Locality 17: Map C30. Air strip area: From Drumheller, take the road to Stettler, turn off to Drumheller airstrip. Go past airstrip till road turns along the edge of the coulee. At bottom of coulee is a railroad track. Numerous dinosaur locations in coulee from old mine shaft to river. Distance of 9.6 km from mine to river. Dinosaur bones, Dinosaur teeth, oysters, clams, pine cones, snails. This valley has not been visited very much. Locations are fairly high up hillside. (Source unknown) Locality 18: Map C45. Horseshoe Canyon: From the parking lot area, look at the extreme northern part of the canyon. You will see a coulee with lots of spruce and pine trees. That is where you want to go. Go down the Canyon and walk one hour until you reach a very obvious oyster bed in the creek itself (probably the same oyster bed described at locality 15). The hills surrounding this location are full of dinosaur remains. THE GUSHER went there in July 1991 and brought back 14 well preserved but broken bone samples and 2 very well preserved and complete slabs full of oysters. Bring a hammer and lots of water since temperatures can reach 35 to 40 celcius very easily in the canyon. Locality 19: No map. Park your car at the campground on highway 585 east of Trochu, on the Red Deer River. Explore the badlands upstream. To cover more ground, bring along a mountain bike. (see appendix B under THE GUSHER). Locality 20: No map. Three or four years ago, there was a discovery of Dinosaur eggs in Southern Alberta. Even though the exact location is not known to us, we were told it is located in Devil's Couleee south of the town of Milk River. This locality is kept secret by the palaeontologists because of the rarity of similar fossil occurrences. Similar sites have also been found in Northern Montana. The eggs belonged to the Hadrosaurus (Duck-Billed dinosaur).

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta FISH (Figure E13) Typical material can include complete skeletons, whether articulated or disturbed but having all part associated, as flattened whole animals on bedding planes of fine-grained sediments. Burrows or nests may be preserved. A desiccating pond or mass kills associated with volcanic ashfalls or anoxic conditions may give rise to the preservation of remains of many individuals. Isolated bones or clusters of bones such as heavy spines, vertebrae or disarticulated head or gill arch elements, scales and teeth may accumulate in small current eddies, either in freshwater streams or lakes, or beaches, or in backwaters and swales.

FISH LOCALITIES (Gardiner 68)

***** SUPER-CLASS ELASMOBRANCHIOMORPHI ********* *********** CLASS ARTHRODIRA ******************* _____________________________________________ Sub-class Antiarchi Order Asterolepiformes Family Asterolepidae Genus Bothriolepis Localities: 1) Northeast spur of End Mountain (T.26,R.9W5). From the middle of the Ghost River formation and in the upper most breccio-conglomerate. Devonian. 2) From the North Saskatchewan River gap in the Brazeau Range. Perdrix Formation. Devonian. _____________________________________________ Sub-class Arthrodiri Order Coccosteiformes Sub-order Brachythoraci Family Coccosteidae Genus Coccosteus Localities: 1) End Mountain, in the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Ghost River Formation. Middle Devonian. 2) Northeast spur of End Mountain (T.26,R.9W5). In the uppermost breccio conglomerate from the middle of the Ghost River Formation. Middle Devonian. _____________________________________________ Genus Dinichthys 35


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Locality: 1) 1.6 kilometres east of the cement plant at Exshaw (83-C-6). From the highest bed of the Minnewanka limestone. Upper Devonian. ############################################################ ********** CLASS HOLOCEPHALI *********************** _____________________________________________ Order Edestiformes Family Helicoprionidae Genus Lissoprion Locality: 1) Sundance Canyon, Banff. Rocky Mountain quartzite (phosphate horizon). Upper Carboniferous.

_____________________________________________ Genus Scoliorhiza Locality: 1) Upper Rocky River (82-O-4). From the lower part of the Upper Banff (Rundle) limestone, a short distance above the contact with the Banff shale (watch for teeth). Lower Carboniferous. _____________________________________________ Order Heterodontiformes Family Helodontidae Genus Helodus Agassiz Localities: 1) Roche Miette, near Jasper Lake, 48 km northeast of the Yellowhead Pass, (83-F-4). Upper Devonian. 2) North Side of the Athabaska River, at Brule Lake, on the eastern slope of Bullrush Mountain, (83-F-4). Upper Devonian. ______________________________________________ Order Elopiformes Family Elopidae Romer, 1966 Genus Paratarpon apogerontus Locality 1) Upper Cretaceous Oldman Formation, SE1/4, Sec. 31, Twp 3N, Rg3w4. In a shale bank about 5 metres below sandy shale and clay-sand band which apparently marks the top of the PaleBeds (Oldman Fm). The site is in exposures developed along a tributary stream on the south side of Sage Creek. (Bardack, 1970) ______________________________________________ Order Chimaeriformes Family Cochliodontidae 36


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Genus

Deltodus

Locality: 1) The Gap, Livingstone Range, north of Lundbreck (Watch for teeth). _____________________________________________ Family Chimaeridae Genus Chimaerotheca Localities: 1) From 312 metres (1023') above the base of the Nikanassin formation on the Sulphur and Sheep Rivers (tributaries of the Smoky River) in the foothills of the Peace River district. Upper Jurassic. 2) Steveville. Upper Cretaceous ############################################################ *********** CLASS ELASMOBRANCHII ******************* _____________________________________________ Sub-class Euselachii Order Hybodontiformes Family Ptychodontidae Genus Ptychodus Agassiz Locality: 1) Peace River, 32 km above the mouth of the Battle River, Athabaska district. Peace River sandstone. Cretaceous _____________________________________________ Order Heterodontiformes Family Heterodontidae Genus Palaeospinax Locality: 1) 4.8 km north of Tolman on the east side of the Red Deer River, 107 metres above water mark. Upper Edmonton member. Upper Cretaceous. _____________________________________________ Order Galeiformes Sub-order Isuroidii Family Isuridae Genus Lamna Locality: 1) Red Deer River. From the Edmonton beds (Lower Edmonton member) and from the Oldman formation. Upper Cretaceous. _____________________________________________ Genus Isurus 37


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Locality: 1) Etzikom Coulee, Foremost. Foremost beds. Upper Cretaceous. _____________________________________________ Order Rajiformes Family Dasyatidae Genus Myledaphus Localities: 1) Red Deer River (below Berry Creek, Map C37). Belly River series (particularly Oldman Formation). Upper Cretaceous. 2) Red Deer River (82-P-10, 15). Edmonton series. Upper Cretaceous. 3) Jordans Local, northwest of Rumsey (SE 1/4 S.31,T.34,R.21W4). From about 50 metres below the top of the Edmonton beds and 6 metres above the uppermost of the two coal seams. Upper Cretaceous. 4) Milk River Formation in southern Alberta. Upper Cretaceous. 5) Southeast of Deadhorse Coulee (L.sd.8, S.32, T.1, R.11W4). From about 15 metres above the Lower Milk River sandstone. Upper Cretaceous. 6) Little Sandhill Creek, badlands of Alberta. Oldman formation. Upper Cretaceous. 7) Also from the Oldman Formation at Manyberries (Map C41). About 9 metres below the top of the PaleBeds (Oldman Fm), in a sandstone with clay and lignitic bands, near the Base of a sandstone butte, on the west side of a coulee tributary to South Manyberries Creek, in SW1/4, Sec. 35, Twp 4, Rge 5w4 (Langston, 1970). *********** CLASS ACTINOPTERYGII *************** ______________________________________________ Sub-class Chondrostei Order Palaeonisciformes Sub-order Palaeoniscoidei Family Palaeoniscidae Genus Pteronisculus Locality: 1) 3.2 km east of Castle Mountain Railway station on the trail to Johnson Creek, 3.2 km north of Rangers cabin (82-O-4). Lower Triassic Spray River formation. ______________________________________________ Order Saurichthyiformes Family Saurichthyidae Genus Saurichthys 38


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Locality: 1) Just west of the railway siding at Massive, 19,2 km west of Banff (82-O-4). Lower Triassic Spray River Formation. ______________________________________________ Order Perleidiformes Family Perleididae Genus Albertonia Locality: 1) Railway cutting a few hundred metres west of massive (82-O-4) Lower Triassic ______________________________________________ Order Bobasatraniiformes Family Bobasatraniidae Genus Bobasatrania Localities: 1) Near Johnson Creek, 3.2 km east of Castle Mountain Railway station (82-O-4). In the set of beds outcropping at Massive and on the Johnson creek trail. Lower Triassic Spray River. 2) Near Poboktan Pass, northwest of Brazeau Lake, 80 km southeast of Jasper (82-O-3). Spray River Formation. Lower Triassic. ______________________________________________ Order Acipenseriformes Family Acipenseridae Genus Acipenser Localities: 1) Belly River series, west side of Red Deer River, Upper Cretaceous. 2) Edmonton beds (Lower, Middle & Upper Edmonton), Red Deer River (82-P-10, 15). Cretaceous.

Upper

3) Oldman Formation. Red Deer River ______________________________________________ Sub-class Holostei Division Holosteans Order Semionotiformes Family Lepisosteidae Genus Lepisosteus Localities: 1) Red Deer River (below mouth of Berry Creek, Map C37). Belly River series. Upper Cretaceous. 2) Ross Coulee, near Irvine (Map C40). Upper Cretaceous. 39


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta 3) Oldman Formation. Upper Cretaceous. 4) Southeast side of Deadhorse Coulee (Lsd 8,S.32,T.1,R.11w4) about 15 metres above the Lower Milk River sandstone and (Lsd12, S.33,T.1,R.11w4) about 12 metres above the Lower Milk River sandstone, in a tributary valley on the southeast side of Deadhorse Coulee. Upper Cretaceous. 5) Willow Creek. Willow Creek Formation. Palaeocene. ______________________________________________ Order Amiiformes Family Amiidae Genus Kindleia (genus very similar to Amia) Localities: 1) 45 metres below the top of the Edmonton Formation, northwest of Rumsey (SE 1/4 S.31,T.34,R.21w4). From 6 metres above the uppermost of the two coal seams (82-P-15). Upper Cretaceous. 2) 1.6 km west of Red Deer. From the Paskapoo beds on the right bank of the red Deer River (Lsd 1,2,S.18,T.38,R.27w4). Palaeocene 3) From sandstone and shale outcrops of the left bank of the Bow River, southwest of the village of Cochrane (Lsd.7,S.4,T.26,R.4w4). Upper Cretaceous. 4) On a large railway cutting about 1.6 km east of Cochrane (Lsd.4,S.1,T.26,R.4w5). Vertebrae (fish) occur in a bed of fresh water shells about 17 metres above the railway track (83-A). Upper Cretaceous. 5) Erickson's landing. From a large outcrop of sandstone and shale on the left bank of Red Deer River. Vertebrae occur at the west end, uppermost part of this outcrop, 30 metres above the river, associated with a shell band and a thin coal seam (S.23,T.38,R.26,w4). Upper Cretaceous. 6) Willow Creek. Willow Creek Formation. Palaeocene. 7) On a rock cutting of the C.P.R., 1,6 km east of Milford Siding. Bow River Formation. Upper Cretaceous. 8) Saunders Formation. Upper Cretaceous. _____________________________________________ Genus Protamia Localities: 1) McLeod River, near mouth of the Embarras River. Upper Edmonton, Upper Cretaceous. 2) Also recorded from the Saunders Formation, Paskapoo Formation and Oldman Formation. Upper Cretaceous. 40


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta ______________________________________________ Division Haleocostomes Order Aspidorhynchiformes Family Aspidorhynchidae Genus Belonostomus Localities: 1) Red Deer River. Oldman Formation. Upper Cretaceous. 2) 45 metres below the top of the Edmonton beds and 6 metres above uppermost of two coal seams (SE 1/4 S.31,T.34,R.21w4). Northwest of Rumsey. Upper Cretaceous. ______________________________________________ Sub-class Teleostei Order Clupeiformes Sub-order Elopoidei Family Albulidae Genus Albulid Locality: 1) Red Deer River. Belly River series. Upper Cretaceous. ______________________________________________ Sub-order Clupeoidei Family Ichthyodectidae Genus Portheus Locality: Badheart Creek. Wapiabi Formation. Upper Cretaceous. _____________________________________________ Order Beryciformes Sub-order ???????? Family ???????? Genus Berycoid Locality: 1) Lille, Crowsnest Pass. Dakota Formation. Cretaceous. ______________________________________________ Order Perciformes Sub-order Percoidei Family Priscarcaridae Genus ???????? Locality: Edmonton Formation. Upper Cretaceous *************** CLASS SARCOPTERYGII ********** ______________________________________________ Sub-class Crossopterygii 41


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Order Coelacanthiformes Family Coelacanthidae Genus Coelacanthus Localities: 1) Railway cutting a few hundred metres west of Massive (82-O-4). Spray River Formation. Lower Triassic. 2) From 3.2 km east of Castle Mountain Railway Station, on the trail to Johnson Creek, 3.2 km north of forest Rangers Cabin. 3) Sanwapta Pass, Mount Athabaska. Upper Devonian. _____________________________________________ Sub-class Dipteri Order Phaneropleuriformes Family Scaumenacidae Genus Various type of fish remains Localities: 1) Edmonton Formation (82-P-10, 15). Upper Cretaceous. 2) From Muskeg Creek along the Athabaska River (Lsd.2,S.1,T.66,R.23w4). La Biche Formation 3) Alexo map area. Banff Formation. 4) (SE 1/4,S.19,T.80,R.17w4) on the Athabaska River. In sand-shaly nodules of the Pelican Formation. Cretaceous. 5) 172 metres from the base of the Rocky Mountain Formation, in southwestern Alberta. 6) Ram River, 1067 metres up from the mouth of Fall Creek. Fernie Group. Lower Cretaceous. 7) Along Dizzy Creek, elevation 1204 metres. Blackstone Group. Upper Cretaceous. 8) North Saskatchewan River Gap, east of Dutch Creek and at 1250 metres of elevation. Formation. Mississipian.

Banff

9) Along the Peace River, on the west bank, 4 km upstream from Peace River town (SW 1/4,S.19,T.83,R.21w5). Shaftesbury Formation. Lower Cretaceous. 10) Along the northeast side of the Peace River (NW 1/4,S.26,and NE 1/4,S.27,T.87,R.20w5). Cadotte member of the Peace River Formation. Lower Cretaceous. 11) Along the Peace River, 1.6 km upstream from the mouth of Cadotte River. Shaftesbury formation. Lower Cretaceous. 42


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta 12) Pearl Creek which is a tributary of the Sulphur River. From 66 metres above the lower contact of the shales of the Fort St-John group. Lower Cretaceous. 13) The north bank of the Clearwater River, 21.5 km downstream from the mouth of High Hill River. From argillaceous limestones of the Calumet member. Upper Devonian. 14) In the vicinity of Vermilion Falls, Vermilion chutes area, Peace River. Mikkwa Formation. Upper Devonian. 15) Vimy, Sturrock, Muskiki, Dowling and Haven Members in the Rocky Mountain foothills. Cretaceous 16) Grave Flats Map area, Thistle Creek. Wapiabi Formation. Cretaceous. FISH BY LOCALITIES Locality 1: Map C17. Drive 6.4 km north and 1.6 km east of Aden to Halfbreed Creek (labelled "Breed Creek" on recent topographic maps) a tributary of the Milk River in southern Alberta. A thin conglomerate band (the "Halfbreed Creek sandstone"?) in the east bank contains shark's teeth and turtle shell fragments (Nielsen, 1977). The "Halfbreed Creek sandstone" is one of two major sandstone members in the Upper Cretaceous Pakowki Formation. The fragments are recovered from a friable, reddish brown iron-stained, fine grained sandstone. Locality 2: No map. Joffre bridge (See locality 19 in plant section).

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta GASTROPODS (Figure E2)

Ordovician gastropods (Norford, 1962) Palliseria robusta - from 17 metres thick dolostone sequence, 250 meters below Mount Wilson Quartzite, west slope of Nigel Peak, Jasper Park. "Turbo" ferniensis - Fernie Group, Oxfordian stage, Cascade River, near Bankhead, Banff Park. "Turbo" ferniensis - Fernie Group, Green beds, Oxfordian stage, shale quarry in Blairmore.

GASTROPODS BY LOCALITIES Locality 1: Map C5 & C39. Tertiary gastropods (snails) occur along the Blindman River. Turn east off highway No. 2A, just south of Blackfalds at the oilfield salvage company (???). Go 1.6 km east, then turn south to the river. Walk (and climb) a short distance upstream, where gastropods are found near water level along the Blindman river just below a 1.3 cm coal seam. These are very fragile and should be treated with considerable care. About 1.6 km further east on the same paved road, turn south to the Red Deer River at Burbank railway station. Just downstream of the mouth of the Blindman River, fossil plant leaves occur in the river banks in sandstone. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 2: Map C32 and C33. Cochrane area: Gastropods occur in the Paskapoo formation on the Bow River shores at the locality marked with an X on map C32. The other localities on Map C32 bear various marine fossils such as ammonites (Seebe), and brachiopods. Map C33 shows some pits and quarries where fossils could be find.

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MAMMALS QUATERNARY MAMMAL FOSSILS (Stalker, 1984) About 1960, the discovery of many fossil bone sites on the southwestern Canadian Prairies put Alberta (and Saskatchewan) on the map of fossil mammals in North America. The finds reveal a succession of well adapted faunas as rich and diverse as any now found in Africa, including camels, lions, zebras and elephants. The fossil beds show how the populations changed as some species slowly evolved into succeeding ones and others became extinct. They also indicate when new species arrived either from Asia across the Bering land bridge that formed as the ocean lowered during glaciation, or from South America across the Isthmus of Panama. The bulk of the animals (55 out of 72) were found along the Saskatchewan River from 10 km above to 20 km below the city of Medicine Hat, within what is called "The Medicine Hat sites" (Stalker provides a map which we can not reproduce in this report). Here the river cuts across both its preglacial valley and several of its interglacial ones. Early glaciers blocked these valleys, which subsequently filled with debris brought by later glaciers, lakes, streams and wind. The exposures present sections 30 m to 100 m high through a broad range of quaternary deposits. The Medicine Hat sites are outstanding for the number of fossil beds found in individual sections. Several exposures contain five bone beds of different ages. In other parts of the continent sections with even three fossils levels of Quaternary age are extremely rare. It is not known why these concentrations of bones exist. Perhaps gentle river banks along with good fords across the rivers enticed migrating grazing animals into the valleys, and abundant shrubs and trees along the river provided ample food for browsers. Moreover, when these animals, breaking through winter ice, caught in floods, or prey to predators or disease, died in the valley, their bones had a good chance of preservation. They were buried in river deposits or in the muck of swampy parts of the floodplain. But the dominant factor in the preservation was a generally semiarid climate that retarded decomposition both before and after burial. In the fossil beds the type of material present partly determines the number and types of bones recovered. Coarse river deposits like gravel typically yield bones of large animals, since small animals were generally crushed during deposition or swept farther downstream by the strong currents which laid down the gravel. Fine material left by gentle streams and lakes may contain the remains of large and small animals. But other factors also influence strongly the number of bones recovered from a site: the amount of study given it, for instance, and the ease of collecting. The South Saskatchewan river continually exposes new deposits at Medicine Hat, for example, and makes it easy to pick out the many bones recovered from the basal beds near river level. The seventeen remaining animals (out of 72) were found at the "Wellsch Valley" site in Saskatchewan (no map is displayed for this site since it is outside the scoop of this study). At this location, the basal beds were laid down about 1.75 million years ago under badlands conditions. Though the climate was, as 45


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta it is today, normally dry, sudden downpours caused flash floods and sheetwash that swept silt and other debris, along with any bones lying on the surface, into the beds that are now exposed. As a result, those beds consist principally of poorly sorted silt containing gravel bands and sand lenses, and the bones are mostly from large animals. The overlying material, however, was laid down in quiet lakes or by wind and so yields, in addition, numerous bones of small animals, particularly rodents. The oldest mammoth found in Canada, as well as the first peccary and the only shrub-ox, are among the Wellsch Valley fauna. Small animals include a pocket gopher and a vole, both new species. The fauna here is vastly different from that at Medicine Hat----only the same ground sloth appears at both sites. More than a million years elapsed before the oldest Medicine Hat beds were deposited. Those basal deposits consist of coarse river gravel that changes upward into interfingering beds of gravel and clay laid down as the South Saskatchewan River periodically overflowed. The succession ends with a thick sequence of sand and silt in a lake formed when the first glacier blocked the river. This whole process probably spanned the period 600000 to 400000 years ago. The difference between the earliest deposits at the two sites, laid down a million years apart, is drastic. A new variety of mammoth and different camels appear. Rodents are rare, and a stilt-legged ass and a comparatively large horse replaced the Pacific and eastern horses seen at Wellsch Valley. The earlier species did not all become extinct; most still existed elsewhere on the continent. The animals either disappeared from the local scene, or their remains were not preserved and recovered. Remnants of stumps and trunks of large trees, smaller branches, vestiges of leaves and seeds, pollen, and then peaty bands are abundant in the deposits laid down half a million years ago. The landscape must have resembled the present one, with trees drooping over the river edge, and trees, shrubs and brush occupying damp parts of the river floodplain. In addition to the willow, aspen and cottonwood now growing along the river, the old flora included Manitoba maple, ash and spruce, types which no longer grow there. The South Saskatchewan River, periodically inundating its floodplain, preserved the plant remains in silt and clay. The next animals on the chart are 300000 years and several glaciations later. They belong to the last great interglacial stage of the Quaternary period. Once again the bones were in river deposits. We identify 31 types, more than from any other unit. This is partly the result of intensive study, but the beds nonetheless are highly prolific and yield extremely diverse creatures. Changes are again remarkable. The fauna began to assume its modern aspect, but the section still includes many exotic animals we tend to associate with Africa: camels, elephants,lions, zebra. Two completely new species of horse appear: the niobrara and the Neogene with its only Canadian occurrence here. Only the white-tailed prairie dog, large Columbian mammoth and western camel remain from earlier beds. The stilt-legged ass has evolved into the small Mexican ass, one of the most prominent equines for the remainder of the Quaternary; a close relative of it is still found in Siberia. The plains llama, a relative of the llamas of South America, has joined the camels and the first bison ---- a long-horned variety ---- appears, while ground sloths and lions are still prominent. Most of the other varieties still exist today. 46


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Less drastic changes developed during the 70000 years of the last glacial stage. Glaciers advanced and retreated; animals repopulated the region several times. The largest array of animals was found towards the middle of that stage ---- including coyote, bison, skunk, rabbit, horse, camel, ground sloth and mammoth. Then between 15000 and 10000 years ago came the "great extinction". Mammoths, horses, camels, lions, sabre-toothed cats, ground sloths and dire wolves disappeared, leaving our present relatively impoverished animal population. We are not sure what role man, a ravaging hunter of creatures that were probably already the victims of increasingly harsh climatic conditions, may have played in this great extinction. People were certainly in this area 12000 years ago when the extinction was near its height and may have been on the scene much earlier.

RECENT MAMMAL FOSSILS (Wilson & Hardy, 1987) (Map C27, C28) Archaeological sites in the Calgary area include, for example, buffalo (bison) bone beds, structural remains such as "tipi rings", and camp refuse middens. In the north part of the town, an archaeological inventory and impact assessment on Nose Hill Park land resulted in discovery of no less than 42 prehistoric sites. These included 7 stone circle sites and a stone cairn, as well as four campsites and a possible bison kill. To the west, in new divisions such as Hawkwood, equally impressive numbers of sites have been found. In the Fish Creek Park area of southeast Calgary, some 46 prehistoric sites and 5 historic sites have been discovered. The sites include a bison kill and an associated butchering area and campsite. Bison bones were encountered during excavation of a basement for an art salon at 16th Avenue and 7th Street S.W.. Excavations 3 m below street level revealed a bone bed from an ancient bison kill about 8100 years old. The site was named Mona Lisa site, after the art salon. A piton, the south side of 15th avenue between 6th and 7th Streets, revealed a similar bone bed. Other finds in the Mount Royal village area at 16th Avenue and 18th Street, revealed four bone beds, ranging in age from 8200 to 5100 years old. All of the bone beds represented bison kills, and side-notched projectile points were recovered from the upper two. Fluted projectile points, have been found at lake Minnewanka and Sibbald Creek west of the Calgary area and could be as much as 11000 years old. Others were recovered in excavations prior to the widening of Highway 22 on the east rim of the Bow valley at the southern city limits. The Sibbald creek site is located about 70 km west of Calgary just upstream from the confluence of Sibbald and Jumping ground Creeks. The site has yielded a variety of projectile point styles of Early Prehistoric and later times. It appears that the Sibbald Creek site was occupied as early as 11000 years ago. A large spear point from the Crossfield area is fashioned of obsidian, or volcanic glass. Studies of the composition indicate that the obsidian for this artifact came from Yellowstone Park area, more than 1000 km to the south. A somewhat similar projectile point, this time fashioned of locally derived silicified siltstone, has been found in the Parkdale area of northwest Calgary. Bones of mammoth, camel, horse, and giant bison have been recovered from gravels in the Calgary area and are dated 11500 to 10500 years old. A partial mammoth tusk was found in a basement at Northmount Drive and 14th Street N.W. in 1958 and another was found in a basement in Bowness. 47


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Several archaeological sites were exposed also in the Point Mackay area of northwest Calgary. On a series of low terraces a few metres above the Bow River five archaeological sites were found and excavated. A site was a 4600-year-old hearth with butchered bison bones and another was a 4000-year-old campsite with a hearth and abundant fire-cracked rocks. Excavations at the Heads's - Smashed - In Buffalo Jump and Old Women's Buffalo Jump have made these sites world famous. Closer to Calgary, the FM Buffalo Jump with its associated campsite along the Bow River east of DeWinton is of a similarly impressive scale. The campsite/butchering area reveals at least seven cultural horizons dating back as many as 1200 years ago. All the archaeological information from Calgary and anywhere in Alberta remains with the Archaeological Survey of Alberta in Edmonton, and few of these are readily available to the public because vandalism is virtually guaranteed in the city. Collectors must be reminded that Alberta's legislation places ownership of all archaeological artifacts clearly with the government, making it illegal for citizens to excavate artifacts in Alberta without a permit. Even if an artifact is picked up, it remains the property of the government. Information concerning regulations is available from the Archaeological Survey of Alberta, 8820-112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P8 [tel. (403) 427-2355]. See also Localities 17 and 19 in plant section.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta PELECYPODS (Figure E2)

Jurassic pelecypods (Frebold, 1963) Oxytoma cygnipes - Fernie Group, Oxytoma bed, top of Nordegg Member, Sinemurian stage, top of mountain immediately south of marble Mountain. Gryphaea cadominensis - Fernie Group, Rock Creek Member, Middle Bajocian, Whitehorse River, 6.5 km north of Rocky Mountain Park. Inoceramus ferniensis - Fernie Group, Rock Creek Member, Middle Bajocian, Oldman River gap, Livingstone Range. Oxytoma mclearni - Fernie Group, Rock Creek Member, Middle Bajocian stage, 0.8 km east of Burns' coal mine. Corbula munda - Fernie Group, Corbula munda beds, Upper bathonian or lower Callovian stages, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Lima albertensis - Fernie Group, Corbula munda beds, Upper Bathonian or lower Callovian stage, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Pleuromya postculminata - Fernie Group, Corbula munda beds, Upper Bathonian or lower Callovian stage, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Gryphaea impressimarginata - Fernie Group, Gryphaea bed, Lower Callovian, Near Adanac strip mine, Carbondale area. Anomia albertensis - Fernie Group, Gryphaea bed, Lower Callovian, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Oxytoma blairmorensis - Fernie Group, Gryphaea bed, Lower Callovian, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Also common in the Corbula munda beds. Ostrea dowlingi - Fernie Group, Corbula munda beds, Upper Bathonian or Lower Callovian, Grassy Mountain, north of Blairmore. Inoceramus obliquiformis - Fernie Group, Gryphaea bed, Lower Callovian, Creek north of Blairmore. Pleuromya obtusiprorata - Fernie Group, Upper Corbula munda and Gryphaea beds, Lower Callovian, Grassy Mountain, North of Blairmore. 49


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Cucullaea livingstonensis - Fernie Group, Upper Corbula munda and Gryphaea beds, Lower Callovian, Grassy Mountain, North of Blairmore. Buchia concentrica Fernie Group, uppermost part of Green beds. Kimmeridgian, Carbondale River.

Upper Oxfordian or lower

PELECYPODS BY LOCALITIES Locality 1: Map C1. Take the Hillspring turnoff west from Highway No. 5, about 1.6 km north of Cardston. Drive to the Belly River bridge and turn east on the first road beyond the bridge. About .4 km from the turnoff is a trail turning right. It leads to a large oyster bed beside the river, which has been mined commercially. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 2: Map C2. Turn north off Highway No. 3, 1.6 km east of Lundbreck and drive north to the Crowsnest River valley. Although the river bank outcrops are mainly colored shale and sandstone, several oyster beds are present here. More occur further west also. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 3: Map C2. Turn south from Highway No. 3 on Lee's Lake turnoff, drive past the lake to a steel bridge crossing Castle River. Walk just upstream along cliffs. Large clam (Inoceramus) occur in black shale. Just above them are some small ammonites called Prionotropis. Small black chert pebbles also occur here. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 4: Map C2. Take the Longview turnoff from Highway No. 3, just west of Lundbreck. Cross the bridge over the Crowsnest River, go a short distance east, and climb down into the river valley. Just above a 15 cm coal seam are ironstone concretions containing large-ribbed clams called Arctica ovata. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 4: Map C13. Go south from Cardston to 3.2 km north of the international border crossing of Carway. Turn east about 4.8 km until coming to the St. Mary's River. In its cliffs are deposits of oyster shell. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 5: No map. The vertical shale and sandstone cliffs just beside the Highway northeast of Dunvegan Bridge contain abundant oysters and some brachiopods. They are very fragile, however, and must be handled carefully. Locality 6: No map. (also locality 9 in plants) About 9.6 km north of Bow Island, the major coulees contain numerous pelecypod shells, and smaller amounts of a poor grade petrified wood. Locality 7: Map C9. Turn West on Highway 19 and pass Falun co-op store and the school, which is about 1.6 km beyond, go 9.6 km south, then 6.4 km west to Mount Red county park. The gravel banks there contain large amounts of Campeloma shell in a rock which cuts and polishes well. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 8: No Map. Drive east through downtown Ponoka on highway 53 about 2.4 km until coming to an intersection with a Calgary Power transformer station on the far side. Turn north about 30 metres just 50


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta before a grove of trees. The road ditch on both sides contains rocks bearing Campeloma shell. If you drive 9.6 kms east of Ponoka on Highway 53 to the crossroads 3.2 kms before you reach Nelson Lake, you will find a long, wide reef, about two metres in places, which contains a large amount of turitella, beautifully agatized. Unfortunately, there has been much commercial exploitation of the site since the early 1960's, but there is still a great deal left.

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PLANTS (Figures E7 to E12) Devonian plants (McLaren et al, 1962) Svalbardia - Type section of Ghost River Formation 10 metres above unconformity, creek on west side of north branch of Ghost River.

Lower Cretaceous plants (Bell, 1965) Nilssonia schaumburgensis - Kootenay Formation, Panther River, at first coal mine. Cladophlebis heterophylla - Kootenay Formation, Lyon Creek, 3.2 km south of Blairmore, Below 6.5 cm coal seam at top of formation. Also Nikanassin Formation, Kakwa River, 20-59-13w5. Ginkgo nana - Nikanassin Formation (upper part), Carson Creek, tributary to Wildhay River. Coniopteris yukonensis - Nikanassin Formation, Kakwa River, 20-59-13w5. Coniopteris brevifolia - Kootenay Formation, Canmore, roof of No. 4 coal seam, approximately 394 metres above top of basal sandstone of formation. Gleichenites giesekianus - Luscar Formation, Smoky River, 30 metres above 2.5 metre coal seam on Abbot Creek, east of Grande Cache. Cladophlebis virginiensis - Luscar Formation, Kakwa River Basin, about 4.8 km up small creek entering Mouse Cache Creek from the north, below Dead Horse Meadows. Coniopteris brevifolia - Luscar Formation, Sphinx Creek, 4.3 km from junction with Gregg River, east boundary Miette area. Sagenopteris williamsii - Luscar Formation, Ridge above creek entering Mouse cache Creek from the north below Dead Horse Meadows. Sphenopteris Gleichenites erecta - Luscar Formation, Grigsby coal claim, Solomon Creek. Acrostichopteris foliosa - Luscar Formation, Brûlé coalfield. Sphenopteris latiloba - Luscar Formation, Wildhay River.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Sphenopteris bidens - Lower part of Blairmore Group, Castle River, north bank,, east of Hell Gate canyon, and west of cable foot bridge on Carbon Hill property, approximately 240 metres above base of group. Klukia canadensis - Lower part of Blairmore group, York Creek, lower part, south of railway and west of Blairmore. Also in Luscar Formation, Wildhay River and in Blairmore Group in Mill Creek area. Cladophlebis parva - Luscar Formation, Brûlé coalfield and also in Crownest Formation, Mill Creek, 71-6w5. Sphenopteris acrodentata - Gething Formation, In a thinly bedded series with coal seams at north end Coal Ridge, 1.6 km east of British Columbia and Alberta boundary, about 54? 10'N and 23 metres below a massive conglomerate. Sphenopteris (Ruffordia) göpperti - Luscar Formation, Sphinx Creek, 4.3 km from junction with Gregg River, east boundary, Miette area. Also in Blairmore Group, in beds below base of upper Blairmore, Mill Creek area.

Sphenopteris newberryi - Luscar Formation, Kakwa River, about 20.25 km upstream from entry of Lynx Creek. Ginkgo pluripartita - Luscar Formation, About 4.8 km upstream in second major tributary from south to Kakwa River above Lynx Creek. Zamites - Luscar Formation, Folding Mt. Creek, 4 km upstream from Mystery Lake. Elatides curvifolia - Luscar Formation, Folding Mt. Creek, 4 km upstream from Mystery Lake. Nilssonia brongniarti - Luscar Formation, Kakwa River Basin, about 3.2 km up small creek entering Mouse Cache Creek from the north below Dead Horse Meadows. Ptilophyllum (Anomozamites) montanense - Luscar Formation, Kakwa River Basin, about 4.8 km up small creek entering Mouse cache Creek from the north, below Dead Horse Meadows. Pterophyllum plicatum - Luscar Formation, Kakwa River, at small creek entering from north, 19.4 km upstream from entry of Lynx Creek. Also 4 km up small tributary creek entering from north below dead Horse Meadows. Nilssonia california - Luscar Formation, Kakwa River basin, 2.4 km up small creek entering Mouse Cache Creek below Dead Horse Meadows. Pterophyllum rectangulare - Luscar Formation, Stiking Springs Creek, 34-60-13w5.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Pityophyllum nordenskiöldi - Luscar Formation, Folding Mt.Creek, 30 metres downstream from outcrop of conglomeratic sandstone, Miette area. Elatocladus acifolia - Luscar Formation, Junction of Cabin creek with Grey River, about 30 metres west of cabin and 30 metres above cadomin conglomerate. Elatocladus brevifolia - Luscar Formation, Folding Mt. Creek south bank, 4 km upstream from Mystery Lake. Also Kakwa river basin, about 19.5 upstream from entry of Lynx Creek and at Sphinx Creek, 4.8 km upstream from junction with Gregg River, Miette area. Elatides splendida - Luscar Formation, Sphinx Creek, east bank, 4 km upstream from junction with Gregg River, Miette area. Athrotaxites berryi - Luscar Formation, Folding Mt. Creek, 30 metres downstream from outcrop conglomeratic sandstone, Miette area. Also North Branch Upper Berland River on Fortyfoot Falls Creek and in Kakea river basin, about 40.5 km up small creek entering Mouse Cache Creek from the north below Dead Horse Meadows. Stenorachis striolatus - Luscar Formation, Folding Mt. Creek, Miette area, 4 km upstream from Mystery lake. Podozamites lanceolatus - Luscar Formation, Folding Mt. Creek, Miette area. Sapindopsis augusta - Crownest Formation, Mill Creek, 7-1-6w5. Also Upper part of Blairmore group, Fernie area, 3,727 metres in direction north 273? east from mouth of McEvoy creek. Sphenopteris mclearni - Upper part of Blairmore group, Mill Creek area. Cinnamomoides - Crownest Formation, Baker's Creek. Celastrophyllum acutidens - Crownest Formation, Mill Creek. Ficus ovatifolia - Crownest Formation, Mill Creek, 7-1-6-w5. Also in upper part of Blairmore group, at Ma Butte and in Commotion Formation, Bullmoose Mt. Dawson Creek area. Araliaephyllum westoni - Crownest Formation, Mill Creek, 7-1-6-w5. Desmiophyllum - Upper part of Blairmore group, Mill Creek area.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Upper Cretaceous plants (Bell, 1965) Cephalotaxopsis heterophylla - Dunvegan Formation, Torrens Creek, 2.8 km above junction with Hat Creek. Cephalotaxopsis albertensis Bell – Some fragments of sandstone with abundant remains of sterile twigs of this conifer were gathered from the Belly River Formation at Sec. 16, Twp 22, Rge 4w5 Liriodendron giganteum - Dunvegan Formation, Cripple Creek, near Alberta - British Columbia boundary. Araliaephyllum rotundiloba - Dunvegan Formation, Just below creek that enters left bank Peace River at longitude 118?16'W, from beds well down in formation and 141 metres below base of Paskapoo Formation. Palaeonuphar nordenskiöldi - Dunvegan Formation, Peace River, west bank, between Dunvegan and mouth of Montagneuse River. Sequoia - Oldman Formation, Red Deer River, 3.2 km south of Sand Creek, Steveville area. Geinitzia formosa - Milk River Formation. N.E. 1/4, 2-3-15w4. Artocarpus - Oldman Formation, 3.2 km south of mouth of Sand Creek, Steveville area. Also in St. Mary River Formation, Glenwoodville river area. Menispermites - Oldman Formation, Red Deer River, Steveville area. Dombeyopsis nebrascensis - Oldman Formation, Red Deer River, 8.1 km below Matzhiwin Creek. Also in Edmonton Formation, North Branch Burnt Timber Creek, about 4.8 km west of its confluence with south branch. Elatocladus albertaensis - Belly River Group, 16-22-4w5. Ilex? mammillata and Brachyphyllum (Athrotaxites) - Belly River Group (base), Formation immediately above wapiabi Formation and apparently equivalent to Milk River Formation. Tough Creek, Mountain View area. Platanus latiloba and affinis - Oldman Formation, Head of south branch sand Creek. Vitis stantoni - Edmonton Formation, N.E. 1/4, 10-34-22w4. Nymphaeites angulatus - St. Mary River Formation, Glenwoodville area. Nymphaeites striatus - St. Mary River Formation, Waterton River. 55


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Ginkgo adiantoides - St. Mary River Formation, Glenwoodville area. Sequoia dakotensis - Lower part of Edmonton Formation, opposite mouth of Kneehill Creek. Filicites knowltoni - St. Mary River Formation, Pincher Creek. Araucarites longifolia - St. Mary River Formation, Glenwoodville area. Metasequoia cuneata - St. Mary River Formation, Glenwoodville area, Belly River, 3-4-27w4.

Tertiary plants (Bell, 1965) Osmunda macrophylla and Cryptomerites lambii - Paskapoo Formation, Blindman River, about 300 metres upstream from confluence with Red Deer River. (Map C5 & C39) Cladophlebis groenlandica - Paskapoo formation, Burnt Timber Creek area, 8-31-8w5 Onoclea hebridica and Cryptomerites lambi - Paskapoo Formation, Burnt Timber Creek area, 5-8-318w5. Androvettia catenulata - Willow Creek Formation, SW 1/4, 1-13-28w4.

Metasequoia occidentalis - Palaeocene beds, North Saskatchewan River, 45.4 km west of Rocky Mountain House. Also in Palaeocene post Brazeau beds, Coal valley, sterling open-cut, roof of Mynheer coal seam. Cryptomerites lambii - Paskapoo Formation, Burnt Timber Creek, 0.8 km upstream from Red Deer River, (9,10)-5-31-8w5. Also at Blindman River, about 300 metres above confluence with Red Deer River (Map C5 & C39). Thuja interrupta - Post-Brazeau Palaeocene beds. Alexo area, tributary Shunga Creek, 40-13w5. Elatocladus (Cryptomerites?) nordenskiöldi - Paskapoo Formation, Burnt Timber Creek, 0.8 km upstream from Red Deer River, (9,10)-5-31-8w5. Platanus basilobata - Paskapoo Formation, Brickburn, NE 1/4, 23-24-2w5. Rhamnites ovatus - Paskapoo Formation, Red Deer River at mouth Blindman River (Map C5 & C39). Platanus raynoldsii - Paskapoo Formation, Red Deer River, north side, cut-bank 15-18 metres high, SW 1/4, 14-31-9w5. Also at Burnt Timber Creek, 0.8 km upstream from Red Deer River, (9,10)-5-31-8w5.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Populus carneosa - Paskapoo Formation, Red Deer River, north side, about 2.4 km upstream from mouth Blindman River, at 7.5 cm coal seam (Map C5 & C39). Viburnum asperum - Paskapoo Formation, Red Deer River south side, near Red Deer, SE 1/4, 18-3827w4. Celastrinites insignis - Paskapoo Formation, Burnt Timber Creek area, 5-(8,9)-31-8w5. Viburnum antiquum - Paskapoo Formation, Brickburn, NE 1/4, 23-24-2w5. Trochodendroides (Cercidiphyllum?) - Paskapoo Formation, Red Deer River, north side, 1/4, 14-319w5. Hicoria antiquorium - Paskapoo Formation, Burnt Timber Creek area, 8-31-8w5. Aralia taurinensis - Paskapoo Formation, Pedley Creek, near highway bridge.

PLANTS BY LOCALITIES Locality 1: Map C2. Turn off Highway No. 3 north at Cowley and go 1.6 km north, 1.6 km east, and 2.4 km north; crossing the Crowsnest River, then go west to the river bank. This is a locality of fossil plants. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 2: Map C5 & C39. Turn east off highway No. 2A, just south of Blackfalds at the oilfield salvage company (???). Go 1.6 km east, then turn south to the river. Walk (and climb) a short distance upstream, where gastropods are found near water level along the Blindman river just below a 1.3 cm coal seam. These are very fragile and should be treated with considerable care. About 1.6 km further east on the same paved road, turn south to the red Deer River at Burbank railway station. Just downstream of the mouth of the Blindman River, fossil plant leaves occur in the river banks in sandstone. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 3: Map C8 and C22. Go south from highway No. 16 at the Valleyview turnoff to Genesee bridge over the North Saskatchewan River. Cross the bridge to the south side and go west, and south several km to Genesee store. Drive west and north about 6.4 km to a private farm (obtaining owner's permission) and walk 0.8 km to the river bank. This is an excellent site for fossilized ferns. Detailed directions may be obtained at the store. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 4: Map C10. Cross McLeod River north of Peers and go west about 1.6 km (getting permission to cross private land). Gravel bars along the river contain large pieces and stumps of carbonized wood, as well as smaller pieces of agatized wood of gem quality. Gravel bars anywhere along this part of the river should contain the same types of material. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 5: Map C11. Carbonized wood and petrified wood occur along the McLeod River at the bridge about 4.8 km east of Edson. (Nielsen, 1977) 57


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Locality 6: Map C11. Turn north at the first road beyond the level railway crossing at the east side of Edson, past Centennial park. Follow this road 12.8 km northeast to a bridge across the Edson River. Gravel beds along the river contain carbonized wood. Note also the fossil stump sitting upright in the sandstone bank of the river about .4 km downstream. At the mouth of the stream, on the north side, such material is common for some distance along the McLeod River. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 7: Map C12. About 8 km east of Hinton, on Highway No. 16A (the old gravel road which follows the river), stop at the bridge over Pedley Creek. Go upstream about 300 m to a fossil plant locality. This outcrop includes some ferns. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 8: Map C14. Drive north from Highway No. 18, 11.2 km north of Vega, then walk slightly downstream along the bank of the Athabasca River. Outcrops here contain coal, sandstone, and concretions, with fossilized wood. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 9: No map. (also locality 6 in pelecypod) About 9.6 km north of Bow Island, the major coulees contain numerous pelecypod shells, and smaller amounts of a poor grade petrified wood. Locality 10: Map C17. Etzikom Coulee, which is south of Foremost, contains occasional dinosaur bone fragments and agatized wood. Look for them in the erosional debris at the base of bedrock slopes. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 11: Map C19. The entire badlands area around Drumheller is good to look for wood fragments. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 12: Map C19. Cross the Red Deer River to the east side, then take the road downstream along the river valley to East Coulee. 20 km from Drumheller, stop at the picnic shelter. Within .8 km walking distance, are hoodoos, petrified forest, oyster beds, fossilized sequoia cones (in river banks and road banks). Although Juniper root is not actually fossil hunting material, it is of interest to many people. It occurs along rock ledges in this area. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 13: Map C19 & 36. Northwest of Drumheller, and just west of Munson, is a ferry crossing the Red Deer River. Stop at the campsite just east of the bridge. Petrified wood and dinosaur bones are found at the base of the cliffs in this area. A duck-billed dinosaur, Edmontosaurus, was found just east of here in 1923. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 14: No map. Fragments of petrified wood are abundant along the shores of Gull Lake, except at Aspen Beach where they have long since been picked up. Locality 15: Map C20. This is actually a number of localities. Agatized wood occurs in the gravel pits along the river just northeast of Edmonton. Take highway No. 16 East, and turn north on the first road going north. Be sure to obtain permission to enter private pits, but Alberta Government pits are open to the public, except around men and machinery. The alleys and roads of the Edmonton area are gravelled from these pits. It is possible to find numerous pieces of agatized wood simply by looking in the back alleys. (Nielsen, 1977) 58


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Locality 16: Map C20, Gravel bars along the north side of the North Saskatchewan River by Edmonton near Storyland Valley Zoo contain agatized wood. Most gravel bars along the river from Devon in the west to Fort Saskatchewan in the east contain wood opal, agatized wood, and carbonized wood. The same portion of the river was dredged extensively for gold in the late 19th century. Some gold is still recovered by panning in the devon area, but quantities are very small. (Nielsen, 1977) Locality 17: Map C5 & C39. Take Hwy. 2A over Red Deer River toward the town of Blackfalds. After 1 km, continue to Hwy. 597; turn right on Hwy. 597. After 3 km, take first right on county road. After 5 more km, cross railroad tracks. After 1 last km, take first right after railroad tracks to Burbank-Blindman collecting localities. The sites lie along the north and east banks of the Blindman and Red Deer Rivers starting on the Blindman River several km above its mouth and extending approximately 1.9 km downstream. These localities are very well known for their fossil leaves. (Taylor & Stockey, 1984 and Speirs, 1988 for more information). The fossil leaves occur with other plant fossils in a layer of light gray montmorillonitic shale that varies from 3-30 cm in thickness. The level of the fossil bearing shale above the river varies from 1 metre on the Blindman River to 5 metres on the Red Deer River. The bed overlies a 10 cm coal seam and is in turn overlain by a bed of crumbly montmorillonitic claystone averaging 1 metre in thickness. In the sandstone beds above, Gingko as well as Cercidiphyllum fruits and various seeds are common. Please note that the same restrictions as for locality 19 stand true for this locality. Here is a list of the most common fossil plants: PLANTS Equisetales Equisetum arcticum Filicales Osmunda macrophylla Dennstaedtia bloomstrandii Lastria goldiana

Dicotyledoneae Cercidiphyllaceae Cercidiphyllum flexuosum Platanaceae Platanus reynoldsii Caprifoliaceae "Viburnum" cupanioides

Ophioglossales Onoclea hesperia

Juglandaceae Carya antiquorum

Coniferales Taxodiaceae Glyptostrobus europaeus

Anthophyta Monocotyledoneae Zingiberaceae Zingiberopsis attenuata Alismaceae Alismaphyllites grandifolium

Celastraceae Celastrinites insignis Salicaceae "Populus" penhallowii Vitaceae Rhamnites ovatus Lauraceae "Sassafras" thermale 59


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta unidentified genus and species Bisonalveus cf. B. browni Incertae sedis new ovate, dentate leaf with suprabasal Aphronorus sp. acrodomous venation. Insectivora Leptacodon tener TETRAPODS Nyctitherium sp. Litolestes ignotus There have been a number of tetrapods reported Litolestes notissimus from several localities along the Blindman River. McKennatherium ladae A short list follows: Pararyctes pattersoni Gelastops sp. Amphibia Anura Dermoptera unidentified genus and species Elpidophorus elegans Urodela Primates Opisthotriton sp. Plesiadapsis rex Scapherpeton sp. Elphidotarsius n. sp. Carpodaptes hazelae Reptilia Saxonella sp. Chelonia Picrodux silberlingi Palaeobaena sp. Ignacius frugivorus Trionyx sp. Eosuchia Champsosaurus sp. Lacertilia Palaeosaniwa sp. Odaxosaurus sp. Mammalia Multituberculata Ptilodus montanus Neoplagiaulax cf. N. hunteri Neoplagiaulax cf. N. hazeni Mimetodon silberlingi Microcosmodon woodi

Carnivora Protictis tenuis Micromomys n. sp. Condylarthra Chriacus cf. C. pelvidens Arctocyonidae n. gen. and sp. Ectocion wyomingensis "Diacodon" minutus Pantodonta Titanoides sp. Cyriacotherium sp.

Marsupicarnivora Peradectes elegans Proteutheria Propalaeosinopa albertensis Pantolestidae 60


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Locality 18: Map C8 & C22. The Genesee locality (Paskapoo Formation) consists of exposed beds on the south bank of the Saskatchewan River, approximately 72 km from Edmonton. Plant fossils occur in a fine grained shale interbedded by coal seams and bentonitic clay. (Taylor & Stockey, 1984). Locality 19: No map. (Speirs, 1988) Joffre Bridge area located 14 km east of downtown Red Deer. In order for you to collect at this locality it is imperative that you abide by Alberta laws as it paertains to palaeontological excavations, as well as the conditions of collecting permits. In practice, this means that rare and unique specimens including plants, insects, fish, and most mammal specimens be deposited in the collections of the University of Alberta. The majority of specimens which will be found however, will probably not be subject to those restrictions. It must be understood that collecting in this area is being actively worked by scientific purposes. The evidence of the fossil mammals at present favors a middle Tiffanian age for the Joffre Bridge fossil localities (Paskapoo Formation). They occur just upstream from the bridge on both sides of the river. On the left bank, fish and tetrapod remains occur in mollusk-rich calcareous claystone, and in coal layers about half-way up the bank. On the right bank, the fossils occur at several horizons in a large road cut. The vertebrate remains are almost all disarticulated. Shallow-water conditions are suggested by the presence of the mollusks, the numerous insects, and the presence of seedlings among the plants. The following is a list of the most common fossil taxa occuring in the Paskapoo Formation in the vicinity of Red Deer. PLANTS Shale layer Hepatophyta (liverwort) Equisetales Equisetum sp.

Araceae Porosia verrucosa (seeds) Incertae sedis unidentified monocot remains Dicotyledonae Ulmaceae Chaetoptelea microphylla (leaves)

Filicales Woodwardia sp. Osmunda sp.

Cercidiphyllaceae Cercidiphyllum sp. (leaves, twigs, fruits, seeds, flowers, seedlings)

Salviniales Azolla sp. Coniferales Taxodiaceae Glyptostrobus sp. (leaves, twigs, cones) Metasequoia sp. (leaves) Anthophyta Monocotyledonae Sparganiaceae Sparganium sp. (fruits)

Platanaceae Platanus nobilis Platanus quillaminii (seedlings, cotyledons) Aceraceae Acer sp. (winged fruits and leaves) Caprifoliaceae 61


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta "Viburnum" cupanioides (leaves) "Viburnum" cupanioides (leaves) Incertae sedis unidentified dicot leaves, cone-like fruits, striated seeds, rhizome, unidentified flowers.

Incertae sedis cone-like fruits, dicot leaves, monocot leaves,

INSECTS Mollusk Layer Ginkgoales Ginkgo sp. (leaves)

Coniferales Taxodiaceae Glyptostrobus sp. (leaves) Metasequoia sp. (cones and leaves) Anthophyta Dicotyledonae Cercidiphyllaceae Cercidiphyllum sp. (leaves) Platanaceae Platanus nobilis Caprifoliacear "viburnum" cupanioides Incertae sedis Unidentified fruits and seeds, dicot leaves, rhizome

Siliceous Layer Coniferales Taxodiaceae Glyptostrobus sp. (leaves) Metasequoia sp. (leaves) Cercidiphyllaceae Cercidiphyllum sp. (leaves)

At Joffre Bridge, most insects come from the pale shale layer. By far the most abundant insect fossils are elytra of beetles (Coleoptera).

Larvae: Trichoptera (caddisflies) unidentified cases Pupae: Diptera (flies) Tipulidae (crane flies) Adults: Odonata Anisoptera (dragonflies) Aeschnidae Unidentified Zygoptera (damselflies) Lestinoidea unidentified Orthoptera Hagloidea Prophalangopsidae Albertoilus cervirufi Coleoptera (beetles) Unidentified elytra Trichoptera (Caddisflies) Psychomyiidea Phylocentropus

Caprifoliaceae 62


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Asineopidae cf. Asineops sp. It is now known that a diverse teleostean fauna is represented in the Paskapoo Formation at a large number of sites, including Joffre Bridge. The TETRAPODS fishes are very abundant, although disarticulated, at the Joffre Bridge sites on the left bank of the At present, the Paskapoo Formation has yielded a river, and the Joffre Bridge road cut sites also fauna of tetrapods that is unique in the quality of preservation, and that includes not only fishes, but contain much the same assemblage of fishes. An extensive layer of complete fish of the salamanders, frogs, turtles, lizards, champsosaurs, Percopsidae (trout-perches) was discovered in crocodiles, birds and mammals. Most of the mammalian fossils from the Joffre Bridge locality 1987 just above the plant bearing horizon. come from a thin dark shale beneath a massive Ginglymodi sandstone approximately 12 metres below the leaf Lepisosteidae (gars) horizons. These shales are mostly lacking molluscan shells, are poorly bedded and contain unidentified relatively abundant remains of the holostean fish Amia. The mammalian fossils consist mostly of Halecomorphi Amiiformes isolated teeth; jaw fragments with teeth are Amiidae (bowfins) common, and most of the species represented are Kindleia fragosa small, approximately shrew-like in body size. FISHES

Teleostei Osteoglossomorpha (bony tongues) Osteoglossidae cf. Phareodus sp. Hiodontidae (mooneyes) cf. Eohiodon sp. Ostariophysi Gonorynchidae (sand-eels) Notogoneus sp. Cyprinoidea (minnows and suckers) unidentified Protacanthopterygii Esocidae (pikes) Esox tiemani

Multituberculata Neoplagiaulax cf. N. hunteri Neoplagiaulax cf. N. hazelae Mimetodon silberlingi Ptilodus cf. P. montanus Prochetodon n. sp. Marsupialia Peradectes elegans Insectivora cf. McKennatherium ladae "Diacodon" minutus Leptacdon tener Litolestes notissimus Propalaeosinopa albertensis Palaeoryctidae unidentified

Paracanthopterygii Percopsidae (trout-perches) cf. Amphiplaga sp.

Dermoptera Elpidophorus elegans 63


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Primates Ignacius frugivorus Unidentified Condylarthra Arctocyonidae unidentified Ectocion wyomingensis Pantodonta Titanoides sp.

Locality 20: No map: The area of the badlands from about 13 kms west of Rumsey, eastward to the Chain lakes is a veritable gold mine for the fossil colector. The most prevalent fossils found include dinosaur bones, a great deal of petrified wood, plant seeds and gingko trees, oysters and clams and snails (Lacasse et al., 1978).

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta TRILOBITES (Figure E4) Cambrian trilobites (Norford, 1962) Olenellid - about 3.2 km southwest of Mount Simla, Jasper Park. Zacanthoides cnopus - from unnamed shale, Windsor Mountain Hyolithes cecrops - from unnamed shale, Windsor Mountain Vanuxemella nortia - from Ross Lake shale, near Ross Lake, Banff Park. Glossopleura boccar - mountain between forks of south branch of Snake Indian River, Jasper Park. Araphoia elongata - Sullivan Formation, Glacier valley, Banff Park. Goosia albertensis - Sullivan Formation, Glacier valley, Banff Park. Goosia canadensis - Sullivan Formation, Glacier valley, Banff Park. Araphoia albertensis - Sullivan Formation, Glacier valley, Banff Park. Tricrepicephalus - Lynx Formation, about 275 metres above base in stratigraphic section near Snake Indian River, Jasper Park. TRILOBITE BY LOCALITIES: Locality 1: Profiles D28, D29. Mount Wilson: Hike up the cirque in the mountainside. Trilobites and other marine fossils can be found there. Locality 2: No map. Driving west from Banff on Highway 1A, at a point about 4.8 kms south of Lake Louise Station, you will pass a small lake on your right. To the left of this lake is a monument marking the only early Cambrian Intrusion into the later formation which created the Rocky Mountains. Though small in area, this bluff displays a few of the earliest known fossil types, mainly small marine trilobites, but they may not be removed. A whole range of Cambrian trilobites can be found on Stephen Mountain, Mount Wapta, Mount Field and Mount Odaray, British Columbia (Appendix J), by the town of Field, but access is possible only with special permission from the Government of Canada. You can arrange to join an organized hike into the area by contacting Yoho National Park, P.O. Box 99, Field, B.C., V0A 1G0 (604) 343-6324.

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REFERENCES Aitken, J.D. and Norford, B.S. (1978). Southern Alberta, CSPG pp.14-20

Mount Wilson, In: Field guide to rock formations of

Allan J.A. and Sanderson, J.O.G. (1945). Detailed Palaeontology of the Edmonton Formation. University of Alberta, Research council of Alberta, report 13. pp. 78-94 Anstey, Robert L., Chase Terry L. (1974). Environments through time. Minneapolis, Ninnesota. Burgess Publisher Co. 136 pages. Baird David M. (????). Banff National Park. Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton in co-operation with Parks Canada and GSC. Baird David M. (????). Jasper National Park. Hurtig Publishers, Edmonton in co-operation with Parks Canada and GSC. Bardack, David (1970). A new Teleost from the Oldman Formation (Cretaceous) of Alberta. National Museum of Natural Sciences. Publications in Palaeontology, No. 3. Bell, W.A. (1965). Upper Cretaceous and Palaeocene plants of Western Canada. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 65 - 35 pp.1-46 _________ (1965). Lower Cretaceous floras of Western Canada Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 65 - 5, pp.1 - 36 _________ (1969). Catalogue of types and figured specimens of fossil plants in the Geological Survey of Canada collections (megaplant supplement 1963-67). GSC. Belyea Helen, Dolphin Dale, Hills Len, Wegmuller Walter (Sept 13, 1980). Rocky Mountain Overview field trip guidebook: Calgary - Lake Louise - Columbia Icefields - Nordegg. CSPG Braman D.R., Sweet A.R. (May 25-27, 1990). Field guide to uppermost Cretaceous-Tertiary strata in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. CSPG annual convention, Basin perspectives. Braman D.R. (Sept 7, 1991). Field tripguide to the geology and palaeontology of Dinosaur Provincial Park. CSPG Palaeogroup field trip. Bruce C.J. (1982). Geology of the southern Rocky Mountains: Calgary - Lake Louise - Radium Fernie - Lundbreck - Calgary. AAPG - CSPG trip 3. The Calgary Field Naturalists Society (Dec 1980). Calgary's Natural areas. Harold W. Pinel, editor.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Carter, J.L. (1987). Lower Carboniferous Brachiopods from the Banff Formation of Western Alberta. In Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 378. Charlesworth, Henry (June 17-18, 1989). Geology of the Rocky Mountains along Highway 16 between Hinton and Yellowhead Pass. CSPG Field trip. Clark, Clare M. (1931). Sections of Bearpaw shale from Keho Lake to Bassano, Southern Alberta. In: Stratigraphy of Plains of Southern Alberta. ASPG (CSPG). Pages 115-122. Clow Bill, Scruggs Gordon (June 27-27, 1954). Kananaskis - Coleman field trip. Desk & Derrick Club of Calgary. Currie, Philip J. (19??). Fossil trails of Western Canada Natural History museum, Banff, Alberta Danis Jane, (2 June 1986). Quarries of Dinosaur Provincial Park. In Dinosaur Systematic Symposium, Field Trip Guidebook to Dinosaur Provincial Park, Editor Bruce G. Naylor, Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. De Wit, Rein (1988). Geological features of Jura Creek Valley, S.W. Alberta, in Alberta Palaeontological Society field trip 1988. Digby, Robin & Digby, Linda Ecklund (1991) The Drumheller Badlands Published by Groundwork Natural Science Education. 60 pages. Eberth D.A (June 23rd, 1990). Paleoecology of Upper cretaceous Judith River Formation at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. CSPG Field trip. Feldmann, R.M and McPherson, C.B (1980) Fossil Decapod Crustaceans of Canada. GSC Paper 79-16. Fenton, Carroll Lane and Fenton, Mildred Adams (1958) The Fossil Book: A Record of Prehistoric Life, Garden City, New York, BOUBLEDAY & COMPANY, INC. 482 Pages. Fox, F.G. (1953) Glossary of formation names of southwestern Alberta. Third Annual Field conference and Symposium Guidebook, edited by J.C. Sproule & J.C. Scott. Pgs. 180-212 Fox, Richard C. (May 15-18, 1976). Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene vertebrate. Paleontology in Alberta. Geological and mineralogical association of Canada. Field trip A-6 Frebold, Hans (1963). Illustrations of Canadian fossils, Jurassic of Western and arctic Canada. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 63-4 pp.1-107 Gardiner, Brian George (1966). Catalogue of Canadian fossil fishes. Life sciences, Royal Ontario Museum. pp. 1-103 67


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta GAC -- Geological Association of Canada (1991). A Field Guide to the Paleontology of southwestern Canada, Edited by Paul L. Smith, with contributions from 28 authors. Cordilleran Section. The only library that carries it in Calgary in the GSC library. You can also buy it for $32.10 (GST and shipping included) or US$28.00 (complete) from The Geological Association of Canada, Cordilleran Section, Box 398, Station A, Vancouver, B.C. V6C 2N2, or from the office at 840 West Hastings Street in Vancouver, open Monday and Wednesday 9:30 - 2:30 phone (604) 684-7254. Geldsetzer, Helmut H.J. (August 17-20, 1987). Excursion B4: Upper Devonian Reef and Basinal Sedimentation, Western Alberta. Second International Symposium on the Devonian System. CSPG. 50 pages. Gordy P.L., Frey F.R., Norris D.K. (1977). Geological guide for the CSPG 1977 Waterton - Glacier Park Field conference. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists. 93 pages. Harrison R.S., McIlreath I.A. (1977). Kicking Horse Pass field trip. CSPG Irish, E.J.W. (1970). The Edmonton Group of South - Central Alberta. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, Vol. 18, no.2 pp.125-155 Jeletzky, J.A. (1964). Illustrations of Canadian fossils: Lower Cretaceous marine index fossils of the sedimentary basins of western and arctic Canada. GSC Paper 64-11. Knipping H.D., Rudy H.R., Smith J.Y. (August 27-29, 1965). David Thompson Highway from Windy Point to the Junction with the Banff - Jasper Highway. Edmonton Geological Society, 7th annual fieldtrip. Koster Emlyn H. (May 8-11, 1983). Sedimentology of the Upper Cretaceous Judith River (Belly River) Formation, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. In: The Mesozoic of Middle North America. CSPG Field trip No. 1. Koster Emlyn H., Currie Philip J. (1986) Field trip guide to Dinosaur Provincial Park, Edited by Bruce G. Naylor, Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. Langston, Wann jr. (1959). Alberta and fossil vertebrates. 9th Annual Field conference, Alberta Society of Petroleum Geologist. pp.8-19 Langston, Wann jr. (1970). A fossil ray, possibly Myledaphus (Elasmobranchii: Batoidea) from the Late Cretaceous Oldman Formation of western Canada. Natural Museum of Natural Sciences. Publications in Palaeontology No. 6. LeBlanc Jacques (1992). Geological assessment of ammonite deposits on Blood Indian Reserve #148, Southern Alberta. 40 pages.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Lerand M.M., Wright M.E., Hamblin A.P. (May 8-13, 1983). Sedimentology of Jurassic and Upper Cretaceous Marine and nonmarine sandstones, Bow Valley. In: The mesozoic of Middle North America. CSPG field trip No. 7. Link, Theodore A. and Childerhose, A.J. (1931). Bearpaw shale and contiguous formations in Lethbridge area, Alberta. In: Stratigraphy of Plains of Southern Alberta. ASPG (CSPG). Pages 99114. Lowey Mark (May 17, 1986). Quarries part of our past. Calgary Herald, Page B10 Matthews, J.G. (1956). The non-metallic: Mineral resources of the Cochrane-Canmore area. in Alberta Society of Petroleum geologist (CSPG) Guide book, 6th annual field conference, Bow Valley, August 1956. McGugan, Alan (Sept 17, 1983). Late Paleozoic shelf deposits - the new precision in stratigraphy. CSPG field trip. McLaren, D.J. Norris, A.W. and McGregor, D.C. (1962). Illustrations of Canadian fossils, Devonian of Western Canada. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 62 - 4, pp.1 - 35 McLearn, F.H. (May 8, 1926). New species from the coloradoan of Lower Smoky and Lower Peace Rivers, Alberta. GSC, in: Contributions to Canadian Palaeontology, Bulletin No. 42, Geological series No. 45. Nicholls Elizabeth L., (1976) The oldest known North American occurrence of the Plesiosauria (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) from the Liassic (Lower Jurassic) Fernie Group, Alberta, Canada. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. V. 13, No. 1, Pgs 185-188. Nicholls Elizabeth L., Russel Anthony P. (1981) A new specimen of Struthiomimus altus from Alberta, with comments on the classifactory characters of Upper Cretaceous ornithomimids. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. V. 18, No. 3, Pgs 518 526. Nielsen, G.I. (1977). A rockhound's guide to Alberta. pp.1-47 Norford, B.S. (1962). Illustrations of Canadian Fossils, Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian of the Western Cordillera. Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 62-14 pp.1-25 Norford B.S., Slind O.L. (May 23-27, 1990). Cambrian and Ordovician geology of the southern Rocky Mountains; Bow Lake to the Columbia Icefields. CSPG annual convention, Basin Perspectives. Norman, David (1985). The illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs. Crescent Books, New York. 208p.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Pemberton S.G. & Frey R.W. (May 8-13, 1983). Biogenic Structures in Upper Cretaceous outcrops and cores. Field trip No. 8. In: The Mesozoic of Middle North America. CSPG. Potter, Charles (1887). Places of geological interest near Medicine Hat. Proceedings of the Canadian Institute. pp.150-162 Price, R., Simony, P., Cook, D., Balkwill, H., Ghent, E. (May 15-17, 1971). Guide Book for Field Trips. Geological Society of America. Price, R.A., Monger, J.W.H. and Muller, J.E. (1981). Cordilleran cross-section -- Calgary to Victoria. Field guides to geology & mineral deposits, Calgary '81 GAC, MAC, CGU 1981, pp.261-383 Rogers, J.L. (1971). Archaeological Investigations in the Calgary area. Master Thesis, University of Calgary. Russell, Loris S. (Sept 1957). Fossil vertebrates of southern Alberta. Petroleum geologists, Seventh annual field conference.

In: Alberta Society of

Sabey, Steve (1986). Self-guided geological walking tour in the downtown area of Calgary. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (convention) pp.1-11 Sanderson, J.O.G. (1931). Fox Hills formation in Southern Alberta. In: Stratigraphy of Plains of Southern Alberta. ASPG (CSPG). Pages 123-136. (Fox Hills Formation = Blood Reserve Formation). Smart, G.M. (August 1961). Jasper. Third Annual Field Trip Guide Book. Edmonton Geological Society. Speirs, Betty (June 19, 1988) Red Deer area in Field trip no. 88-1, Alberta Palaeontological Society field trips report. Mrs. Speirs can be reached at (403) 347-3280 in Red Deer. Stalker, A. (1984). Ice age bones -- a clue. In: Geos, vol. 13, no. 2 Spring, pp.11-14 Storer, Tracy I., Usinger, Robert L., Stebbins, Robert C., and Nybakken, James W. (1979). General Zoology, sixth Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 902 pages. Storer, J.E. (1978). Tertiary sands and gravels in Saskatchewan and Alberta: correlation of mammalian faunas. In: Western and Arctic Canadian Biostratigraphy. GAC, Special Paper Number 18 Taylor G.C. (June 1982). Geological guide to the central and southern Rocky Mountains of Alberta and British Columbia. CSPG - AAPG.

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Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Taylor Thomas N., Stockey Ruth A. (August 19-22, 1984) Second International Organization of Palaeobotany Conference, FIELD TRIP GUIDE Thompson, R.L. and Axford,D.W. (1953) Notes on the Cretaceous of Southwestern Alberta. Third Annual Field conference and Symposium Guidebook, Edited by J.C. Sproule & J.C. Scott. Pgs. 33-59 Tidwell, William D. (1975). Common fossil plants of western North America. Brigham Young University Press, Provo, Utah. 197 pages. Tippett Clint, Johnson Steve, Root Kevin (June 16-19, 1991). Structural and Stratigraphic overview of the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains. CSPG field trip PM-2 Tozer E.T. (1962). Illustrations of Canadian Fossils: Triassic of western and Arctic Canada. GSC Paper 62-19 Wall, John H. and Sweet, Arthur R. (1982) Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene stratigraphy, micropaleontology and palynology of the Bow Valley area, Alberta. Presented at the AAPG annual convention, June 27-30. CSPG trip no. 10 field trip guidebook. Ward, Grant; Vendervelde, Rene and Pare, Pierre (1982). Macro - palaeo, Bearpaw formation, Southern Alberta. Field trip guidebook, AAPG annual convention, CSPG trip no.11, pp. 1 - 31 Wight, Willow (1981). Korite -- Fossil ammonite shell from Alberta, Canada. The journal of gemnology and proceedings of the gemnological association of Great Britain. april Vol XVII no.6 pp.406 - 415 Wilson, M.C and Hardy K.J. (1987) The archeology of the Calgary area, Alberta. In: The Geology of the Calgary Area, Edited by L.E. Jackson & M.C. Wilson, Published by CSPG. Chapter 12, Pgs. 129 - 142. Wright Marsha E. (1982). Calgary to Eisenhower Junction, structural and startigraphic overview. AAPG Convention. CSPG field trip No. 12. Wright-Broughton C., Chamney T.P., Hennessey W.J., Eccles J.K., Brady W.B. (1970). A geological guide along the highways between Drumheller, Calgary and Lake Louise. For AAPG & Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists. Published by ASPG.

71


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta SUGGESTED LITERATURE All articles in GEOS Vol.18, No. 3, Summer 1989, (Vegetations and climate through times in Canada). Arkell, W.J. (?????) Introduction to Mesozoic Ammonoidea, Mesozoic ammonoidea, In: Treatise on Invertebrate Palaeontology, editor: Moore, Part L: Mollusca 4, (cephalopoda, ammonoidea) pp.81-129 Broughton, Paul L. (1981). Casts of vertebrate internal organs from the upper Cretaceous of Western Canada. Journal of geology, vol.89. pp.741-749. Department of Mineral resources, Regina, Saskatchewan Canadian Rockhound at: http://www.canadianrockhound.com/ Carroll, Robert L. (1988). Vertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York. 720 p. 1538 illustrations. Crockford, M.B.B. and Clow, W.H.A. (1965). Upper Cretaceous formations of the Cypress Hills Milk River area, Southeastern Alberta and Southwestern Saskatchewan. Alberta Society of Petroleum Geologists, 15th annual field conference guidebook, Part 1, Cypress Hills Plateau. pp.184-197 Dean, W.T. (1989). Trilobites from the Survey Peak, Outram and Skoki Formations (Upper Cambrian - Lower Ordovician) at Wilcox Pass, Jasper National Pass, Alberta. In: Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 389. Dolphin, D.R. and Klovan, J.E (1978). Saskatchewan River crossing, Upper Devonian. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Field guide to Rock formations of Southern Alberta. pp.24-27 Donaldson Doug (January 26, 1990). Cosmic Lawnmower. In: Calgary Herald, Page ??? Fox, Richard C. (1970). A bibliography of Cretaceous and Tertiary Vertebrates from Western Canada. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, Vol. 18 No. 2 p. 263-281 Hamblin, A.P. (1978) Banff traffic circle. In: Field guide to rock formation of southern Alberta. CSPG pp.53-57 Harrison, R. (1978) Kicking Horse Pass/spiral tunnels area. In: Field guide to rock formations of Southern Alberta, CSPG pp.8-10 Hofman, H.J. (1971). Precambrian fossils, pseudofossils, and problematica in Canada. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 189.

In:

Johnson, Hope, and Storer, John E. (1974). A guide to Alberta Vertebrate Fossils from the Age of Dinosaurs. Provincial Museum of Alberta. Publication No. 4. 72


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Kuhn-Schnyder, Emil and Rieber, Hans (1986). Handbook of Paleozoology. Paleontological Institute and Museum of the University of Zurich. Translated by Emil Kucera. 394 pages. Lacasse L.J. and Roebuck, J. (1978) Fossils of Alberta. Hallamshire Publishers. pp.1-42 Macqueen,R.W. and Dolph, J. (1978) Moose mountain. In: Field guide to rock formations of southern Alberta CSPG pp.37-39 McLaren, D.J. (1952). Summary of the devonian stratigraphy of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. pp.89-104 Nelson S.J. (1970). The Face of Time. Published by Alberta Society of Petroleum Geologists Nelson S.J. (1984). Geological history of the Interior Plains. The Journal of the Canadian Plains Research centre. Vol.9, No.2. P.159-180. Norris, A.W. Vyeno, T.T (1981). Stratigraphy and Palaeontology of the Lowermost upper Devonian Slave point Formation on Lake Claire and the lower Upper Devonian Waterways Formation on Birch River, N.E. Alberta. In: Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 334. Norris, A.W. (1983). Brachiopods from the lower Upper Devonian Waterways Formation of N.E. Alberta. Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 350. ------------ (1983). Biostratigraphy and palaeontology of middle - upper Devonian Boundary Beds, Gypsum Cliffs area, N.E. Alberta. In: Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 313. Riccardi, A.C. (1983). Scaphitids from the Upper Campanian - Lower Maastrichtian Bearpaw Formation of the Western Interior of Canada. In: Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 354. Romer, A.S. (1966). Vertebrate Palaeontology. The University of Chicago Press. Chicago. 468p. Russel, D. (1968). A census of Dinosaur specimens collected in western Canada. National museum of Canada natural history papers. pp.1-13 Stanley Steven (aout 1984). Les extinctions massives dans les oceans. Dans: Pour la Science No.82, P. 38-47 Storer J.E. (1972). Fossils from the Tyndall Formation, Manitoba ??? Fossil invertebrates in building stone at the Provincial Museum and archives of Alberta. Taquet Philippe (septembre 1979). Le regne des dinosaures. Dans: Pour la Science, No.23, P.72-90 Tippett C.R. (1986?) The Foothills belt and its structurally - controlled gas and oil fields. In: ????? chapter 6, pp. 65 - 79 73


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Unknown (October 12, 1990) Fossil of oldest known bird that lived in trees found. Calgary Herald, Page C16 Weishampel, David B., Dodson, Peter, and Osmolska, Halszka (1990). The Dinosauria. 745 pages. (ISBN-0-520-06726-6, Cdn$104). Wellnhofer, Dr. Peter (1991). The illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs. Salamander Books, London. ???p. (600 pictures: 255 photographs, 250 skeleton drawings, 100 explanatory diagrams). $25.00 Wilson, M.C. (1987) Geological history of the Bow River valley in the Calgary region. In: ?????? chapter 10, CSPG, pp.109-120

74


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta APPENDIX A SELF GUIDED GEOLOGICAL & PALAEONTOLOGICAL WALKINGTOUR OF BUILDING STONES IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF CALGARY How often do you notice the facing and building stones you walk by each day? There is a world of rocks at eye level awaiting your attention. The following brief notes illustrate the great diversity of rock types in the downtown core and stress the fossil occurrences. These range from Tertiary Paskapoo sandstones quarried within a few blocks of where they now lie, to Precambrian granites from Finland. (This is an update of Mr. Sabey's 1986 original report).

1. THE PARISIAN Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

106 - 8th Avenue S.E. Fossiliferous Limestone Morocco Palaeozoic - pink-brown limestone - abundant stylolites - abundant brachiopod shells (spiriferid) - geopetals indicate up and down

2. CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE 101 8th Avenue S.E. A. Wainscotting Rock Type Granite Place of origin India Age ? Trade Name Carnation Red Granite Comments - True Granite - coarsed grained - red color due to abundance of potassium feldspar - milky blue quartz - zoned feldspar - euhedral feldspar crystals - slightly foliated B. Upper portion Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

Limestone Tyndall, Manitoba (20 miles N.E./Winnipeg) Upper Ordovician (Red River Formation) Tyndall Stone - Light grey-brown mottling 75


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta - Fossiliferous including: Receptaculites (Sunflower coral) Algae Grewginka - horn coral Paleophyllum - colonial coral Favistella - colonial coral Favosites - colonial coral Manipora - chain coral Catenipora - chain coral Maclurites - flat spiraled gastropods Hormotoma - gastropod Winnipegoceras - cephalopod Orthocone cephalopod and several types of brachiopods. - mottled appearance due to selective dolomitization of burrows (darker mottling) 3. ROYAL BANK Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

102 - 8th Avenue S.W. Sandstone Simons Valley Quarry N.E. Calgary Tertiary (Paskapoo) - High angle cross bedding - planed ripples resulting from quarrying - soft sediment deformation - climbing ripples

4. LOUGHEED HOME Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

130 - 8th Avenue S.W. Marble Verona, Italy Triassic Breccia Oriciato - brecciated marble - rich red on part - calcite veining - the rock has been quartered when cut and laid edge to edge to form a symmetrical diamond form patterns - stylolites

5. THE BANKE (Old Bank of Nova Scotia) 125 - 8th Avenue S.W. Rock Type Calcarenite Place of origin Germany Age Palaeozoic Trade Name ?? 76


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta - grey-brown - burrowed calcarenite - composed of crinoid ossicles, fenestrate bryozoan and shell fragments - some blocks show planar bedding

Comments

6. BANK OF MONTREAL A. Wainscotting Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

B. Upper Portion Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

7. THE BAY columns Rock Type

140 - 8th Avenue S.W. Granite Quebec Precambrian Stanstead Granite - light grey micaceous granite - axe dressed - equigranular with anhedral crystals Tyndall Stone (See #2B)

- abundant fossils, especially Recepticulites, Hormotoma and Orthocones 200 - 8th Avenue S.W. Stanstead Granite (See #6A)

8. ROYAL BANK BUILDING + BANKERS HALL A. most part of building Rock Type Granite Place of origin Sassari, Sardinia Age Palaeozoic Trade Name ?? Comments Different than # 10 B. Bottom Comments

335 8th Avenue S.W.

Same as # 12

9. BIRKS (TORONTO DOMINION SQUARE) Rock Type Travertine Place of origin Bari, Italy Age Cretaceous Trade Name Serpeggiante de trani Comments - finely laminated limestone - formed by calcareous spring deposits 77


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta - non-marine 10. TransCanada Pipeline Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

530 - 8th Avenue S.W. Granite Sassari, Sardinia Palaeozoic Granito Grigio Perlato (Luna Pearl) - True Granite - light-grey, to pink-grey in color - large k spar phenocrysts to 1 cm - abundant large dark mafic materials

11. BANK OF MONTREAL 604 - 8th Avenue S.W. A. Wainscotting Rock Type Granite (Carnation red) (See #2A) B. Upper Portion Rock Type

Tyndall Stone (See #2B)

12. BARRON BUILDING Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

610 - 8th Avenue S.W. Gabbro South Africa (Bushveld complex) PreCambrian Africa Black - chromite inclusion in feldspars lead to very dark color - no quartz - abundant Ca rich feldspars

13. WESTERN CANADIAN PLACE 707 - 8th Avenue S.W. Rock Type Granite Place of origin Sassari, Sardinia Age Palaeozoic Trade Name Rosso Nule Comments - true granite - abundant salmon colored potassium feldspars - abundant quartz 14. FIRST ALBERTA PLACE 777 - 8th Avenue S.W. Rock Type Limestone Place of origin Kasota, Minnesota Age ? Trade Name Vetterstone Comments - finely laminated reddish limestone 78


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta - numerous small vugs 15. ROYAL BANK A. Base Boarding Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

736 - 8th Avenue S.W. Marble Val d'Aosta, Italy Jurassic-Cretaceous Verdi Issoire - green marble breccia - quartered display - floating clasts - calcite veining

B. Pillars Rock Type

Carnation Red Granite (See #2A)

16. PETROCHEMICAL BUILDING 805 - 8th Avenue S.W. Rock Type Marble Place of origin Verona, Italy Age Triassic Trade Name Breccia Pernice Comments - light pink marble breccia - hughly fractured - calcite veining 17. GUINNESS HOUSE Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

706 - 7th Avenue S.W. Alkali Syenite Norway near Oslo Fjord in Larvik District PreCambrian Larvikite - euhedral feldspars. - abundant iridescent alkali feldpars. - steel blue color. - no free silica therefore no quartz. - dark color due to mafic material.

18. ENCOR BUILDING Rock Type

645 7th Avenue S.W. Same as # 30

19. NORTH CANADIAN OILS BUILDING 640 - 5th Avenue S.W Wainscotting Rock Type Gabbro (See #12) 20. LAND TITLES BUILDING 620 - 7th Avenue S.W. A. Wainscotting Rock Type Granite 79


Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

B. Upper Portion Rock Type

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Quebec Precambrian Ecorse de Bouleau (Birch White) - true granite - light grey - fine grained - equigranular

Tyndall stone (See #2B)

21. MANULIFE BUILDING 603 - 7th Avenue S.W. Rock Type Gabbro (See #12) Place of origin ? Age ? Trade Name ? Comments - a dark "Black Granite" with a more bronze tinge, possibly due to weathered pyrite 22. WESTBURNE BUILDING 535 - 7th Avenue S.W. A. Wainscotting Rock Type Granitoid Gneiss Place of origin ? Age ? Trade Name Stanstead (See #6A) Comments Similar to 6A Stanstead granite with more foliation and more mafic material B. Upper Portion Rock Type Tyndall Stone (See #2B) 23. GOVERNMENT HOUSE SOUTH Rock Type Sandstone Place of origin Big Hill Spring Quarry, North of Cochrane Age Tertiary (Paskapoo) Trade Name ? Comments - orange brown sandstone - fine to medium grained 24. COURT HOUSE 611 - 4th Street S.W. A. Inserts between windows Rock Type Granite Place of origin Sassari, Sardinia Age Palaeozoic Trade Name Greggio Sardo Comments - true granite 80


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta - coarse grained with large salmon colored orthoclase feldspar phenocrysts - abundant zoned feldspars with k spar cores and more sodic rims B. Rock Type

Tyndall Stone (See #2B)

C. Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

Serpentinite Vermont, U.S.A. ? Verde Antique - dark green to black in color - intensely altered igneous rock of basaltic or gabbroic composition. - calcite veining.

25. BENTALL BUILDING Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

444 - 7th Avenue S.W. (AMOCO BUILDING) Limestone (marble?) Venice, Italy Triassic Verde Striada - green laminated Limestone - metamorphosed to marble? - minor fracturing with calcite veining

26. EATONS (The Eaton building displays the same stones that were on the old Eaton demolished in 1988) 4th Street and 7th Avenue S.W. Rock Type Limestone Place of origin Tyndall, Manitoba Age Upper Ordovician Trade Name Tyndall Stone Comments (See #2B) 27. BANK OF MONTREAL BUILDING Rock Type Granite Place of origin Sassari, Sardinia Age Palaeozoic Trade Name Blanco Castilla Comments - another W. Sardinian granite with slight variation from those previously seen - more equigranular than greggio Sardo or Grigio Perlatto - more grey 81


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta - less potassium than Greggio Sardo 28. YMCA A. Wainscotting B. Window Trim

332 6th Avenue S.W Stanstead Gneiss (See #22A) Tyndall Stone (See #2B)

29. CANTERRA BUILDING 400 3rd Avenue S.W. Rock Type Alkali Syenite Comments Same as # 17 30. BP BUILDING In the Lobby Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

333 - 5th Avenue S.W. Rapakivi Granite Near Russo-Finnish border on Gulf of Finland - Finland PreCambrian Baltic Brown Granite - Golf ball or scotch egg texture - large orthoclase feldspar phenocrysts mottled with albite or oligoclase rims. Possibly caused by migration of sodium from unmixing of perthite - abundant pyroxene masses

31. CALGARY PETROLEUM CLUB 319 - 5th Avenue S.W. Rock Type Calcarenite Place of origin Near Ottawa , Ontario Age Palaeozoic Ordovician? Trade Name Rideau Brown Comments - fossiliferous limestone coquina - planar bedding - abundant brachiopod shells and shell fragments - brown-red color - abundant pyrite 32. ALBERTA WHEATPOOL BUILDING 505 - 2nd Street S.W. Rock Type Fossiliferous Limestone Place of origin France Age Devonian? Trade Name Rouge Royale Comments - large stromatoporoid (?) fragments in red brown marl matrix - foreslope debris - fractured with calcite veining 82


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta 33. FAMILY LIFE BUILDING 300 - 5th Avenue S.W. Rock Type Granite Place of origin Sandrio, Italy Age Oligocene Trade Name Rosso Ghiandone Comments - true granite - abundant large orthoclase feldspar Phenocrysts. - occasional zoned light grey alkali feldspars. - abundant quartz. - large mafic blebs with some weathering. - best polished surfaces are in the lobby. 34. PETRO CANADA BUILDING 117 5th Avenue S.W. A. Darker zone Rock Type Granite Place of origin Finland Age Precambrian Trade Name Tavasallo Red Comments - abundant lath shaped potassium feldspars. - occasional simple twinning in k spars. - minor quartz crystals. - some perthitic feldspars? - higher abundance of mafics and less quartz than in lighter stone. B. Lighter Stone Rock Type Place of origin Age Trade Name Comments

Granite Spain PreCambrian Spanish Red - true granite 1) note assimilation tracks where more mafic xenoliths are digested in the granitic melt and leave darker streaks. 2) same grain size as above

===================================================== NOTES: 1) Calgary was nicknamed "Sandstone city" by 1886, three years after the town site had been surveyed. 2) The city's first sandstone quarry was located on the Elbow River near today's Glencoe Club in Elbow Park. It was operated by future mayor Wesley Orr. 3) Knox Presbyterian Church, at the corner of 7th Avenue and Centre Street S.W. was built in 1887 and was the town's first large sandstone structure. 83


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta 4) Sandstone for Calgary's first library building, still standing in Memorial Park, came from the Oliver Quarry, now the substructure for the Crowchild Trail. 5) Oliver's stone, along with some from the Nose Creek Symons Valley deposits, built the City Hall that opened in 1911. 6) The Calgary Court House and the Legislature Building in Edmonton were started in 1910 with sandstone from the Glenbow Quarry, located on the rail line between Cochrane and Calgary. But the buildings were completed with stone from Ohio, a move that made pro-Albertans of the day stonyfaced with resentment. 7) The Palliser Hotel was built with sandstone from Indiana, considered by masons at the time to be among the world's finest. 8) Stone for Heritage Hall at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology was quarried in 1921, from the banks of Big Hill Creek west of Cochrane. It was one of the last projects using sandstone. By the time, the stone had been replaced by bricks and other less expensive and more easily obtainable construction materials. 9) In 1986, McDougall School, at 412-7th St. S.W., was renovated and became the provincial government's headquarters in southern Alberta. The sandstone was blasted from a quarry on the bank of the Bow River near Lethbridge. They shipped the rough, car-sized blocks by train to New Brunswick where workers there used a special saw to cut the stone to size.

84


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta APPENDIX B TOUR OF GEOLOGICAL & PALAEONTOLOGICAL DISPLAYS IN THE CALGARY AREA. Agat Laboratories

3801 - 21st Street N.E.

In its lobby, Agat displays various marine and land fossils as well as some minerals.

Cabre Exploration Limited

1400, 700 - 9th Avenue S.W

In its lobby, Cabre has on display some specimen of dinosaur bones, oyster shells (like those at localities 15 & 18 in the dinosaur section), a pyritized brachiopod, Horn corals and other varieties, bottled oil samples from numerous Cabre wells, and various crystals of minerals

Calgary Airport A specimen of Lambeosaurus is displayed on the third floor. Courtesy of The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology.

Geomania

201, 315 - 8th Avenue S.W. (Bankers Hall +15)

This is a public store in which the customer is offered a wide range of fossil and mineral specimens coming from several worldwide localities.

Green's Rock & Lapidary Ltd.

Bay 6, 3220 5th Avenue N.E.

This is a public store in which the customer is offered a wide range of fossil and mineral specimens coming from several worldwide localities.

Korite Minerals Ltd. And Canada Fossils Ltd.

532 - 38A Avenue S.E.

This is a private company which supplies stores, museum, and sometimes private collections with fossils from worldwide localities. In southern Alberta, they own mineral rights on many acreage to "mine" the ammonites, which are well known for their lapidary quality. They seldom give tours of their warehouse (which contains beautiful specimens of all sorts of fossils) to "tourists". Serious buyers are welcome to call (403)287-2026.

85


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Sproule & Associates Limited In their lobby you will see: · Mammoth tusk · Male Narwhal skull & tusk · Muskog skull · Walrus skull · Muskox Skull · Whale vertebra · Ammonite · Ammonite · Coral

900, 140 - 4 Avenue S.W.

Kugaluk River, North West Territories, east of Inuvik Canadian Arctic Canadian Arctic Canadian Arctic Canadian Arctic Canadian Arctic Deer Bay Formation (Cretaceous-Jurassic), Ellef Ringnes island Christopher Formation (Cretaceous), Ellef Ringnes island Favosites sp., Streptelasma sp., Amlexus CF. Propinquus Roulsen?, Rovringerella sp., Allen Bay Formation (Silurian), Griffith island

The mammoth tusk was found by pilot Ron Wells who was on a routine flight to J.C. Sproule and Associates Limited camp on the Anderson River on august 1959.

Stampede Oils Inc.

1700, 520 - 5th Avenue S.W

In its lobby, Stampede Oils displays a large fossilized tree trunk (1m X 0.3m) as well as various types of minerals.

University of Calgary

2500 University Drive

A pair of partial Cretaceous reptile skeletons (Plesiosaurus sp. and Struthiomimus altus) are displayed on the main floor of the Biological Sciences building, just outside of the department of Biological Sciences office. Dr. Elizabeth L. Nicholls, from the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, collected the plesiosaur in 1973. It is from the lower part of the Fernie Formation, and is Liassic (Lower Jurassic) in age. It is geologically the oldest specimen of a plesiosaur ever found in North America (most north American plesiosaurs are from the Cretaceous). It was collected in the foothills of Southern Alberta, near Livingston Falls, west of the willow creek area. The specimen consists of a partially articulated vertebral column and scattered limb elements. The skull is absent, but was reconstructed in the mounted display. Collection and preparation of the specimen was funded by the Devonian Group of Charitable Foundations. (E.L. Nicholls, 1976) Dr. Nicholls collected the Struthiomimus in 1980, from the Oldman Formation at Jenner, Alberta. It is consequently Upper Cretaceous in Age. The specimen consists of articulated limbs and girdles. The skull and vertebral column are absent. This work was financed by the University of Calgary. Dr. 86


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta Nicholls can be contacted at 294-1992. (E.L. Nicholls, A.P. Russell, 1981) A small display of Burgess shale fossils (Cambrian Period) is present just outside of the Gallagher Library of Geology in the Earth Sciences building. (Courtesy of Jim Gardner from the University).

87


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada

APPENDIX C MAPS

88 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome
















































Map C46 : Location map of traffic circle outcrop near Banff

Map C47: Distribution of plateau-capping sands and gravels in Alberta and Southwest Saskatchewan



Map C48: Geology around Lake Minnewanka, close to Banff



APPENDIX D Some mountain profiles and their geological interpretation

Profile D1: Mount Yamnuska showing the McConnell thrust as viewed from Trans Canada Highway (Price et al. 1981)

Profile 2a : View north of Grotto Mountain near Canmore



Profile D2b : Grotto mountain. Northwest view from behind rock with Indian paintings. (Sketch by S. Boehrnsen, interpretation by O.G. Burrowes and G.E. Vecsey)

Profile D3 : Sketch of Exshaw thrust in Heart Mountain from north side of Bow River (Price et al, 1981)



Profile D4 : Sketch of Lac des Arcs thrust from the south side of Lac des Arcs (Price et al, 1981)

Profile D5 : The Three Sisters from the Trans Canada Highway near Canmore (Price et al, 1981)



Profile D6 : The Rundle thrust sheet at White Man Gap from the Trans Canada Highway near Canmore (Price et al, 1981)

Profile D7 : Cairn Formation viewed from upper Grassi Lake (Sketch by S. Boehrnsen, Interpretation by O.G. Burrowes and G.E. Vecsey)



Profile D8 : Cascade Mountain from the Trans Canada Highway east of Cascade River near Banff (Price et al, 1981)

Profile D9 : South end of Sawback Range, view from the Trans Canada Highway at the Healey Creek Overflow campground (Price et al, 1981) 118 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome


Profile D10 : Castle Mountain, view northwest from Trans Canada Highway (Price et al, 1981)

Profile D11: Sketch of Mount Norquay near Banff



Profile D12 : Chinaman’s peak and Spray lakes near Canmore

Profile D13 : View south of Sulphur Mountain at Banff

Profile D14 : Looking across Bow River 100 metres downstream of Bow Falls in Banff 120 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome


Profile D15:

Loder’s Lime Kiln – Fairholme Range, Kananaskis

Profile D16 : View northwest across Barrier Lake, Kananaskis



Profile D17 : Mount Lorette, Kananaskis

Profile D18: Mount Allan to Mount Lougheed, Kananaskis



Profile D19 : Mount Kidd (or Ribbon Creek South), Kananaskis

Profile D20: Ribbon Creek North, Kananaskis

Profile D21 : Highwood Pass, Kananaskis



Profile D22 : Mount Invicible and Mount Warspite at Lower Kananaskis Lake

Profile D23 : Sketch of Turtle Mountain and the Frank Slide, Southern Alberta

Profile D24 : Sketch looking Northwest to Crowsnest Mountain from Highway West of Coleman



Profile D25 : Sketch looking North across Crowsnest Lake, Southern Alberta

Profile D26 : Banff-Exshaw contact on South Side of road at Crowsnest Lake, Southern Alberta



Profile D27: Northwest end of Tangle Ridge from highway 93



Profile D28 : Northwest slope of Mount Wilson from Highway 93

Profile D29 : Mount Wilson, view from south on Highway 93 passed highway11 (Aitken et al, 1978)



Profile D30 : Cirrus Mountain from Highway 93 at the “Big Hill” (Price et al)

Profile D31 : Northwest view of the “Big Hill”, Saskatchewan Crossing, Jasper Park



Profile D32 : View up the North Saskatchewan River from Whirlpool Point

Profile D33 : Northwest slope of Mount Murchison from Highway 93 at Mount Wilson



Profile D34 : View north along Simpson thrust from Peyto Lake Viewpoint

Profile D35: Mount Mistaya from Peyto Lake Viewpoint

Profile D36 : Chetamon Mountain, Jasper Park 130 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome


Profile D37 : Roche Miette, Jasper Park

Profile D38 : Roche Ronde, Jasper Park

Profile D39 : Roche à Bosche, Jasper Park



Profile D40 : Boule Range, Jasper Park

Profile D41 : Northwesterly plunging parallel folds in the Boule Range viewed from Pocahontas, Jasper Park

Profile D42 : Roche à Perdrix, in the Boule range, Jasper Park



Profile D43 : Roche Bonhomme, Jasper Park



APPENDIX E Fossil Sketches



















Figure E12a :Angiospermophyta (Tidwell 1970) 143 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome


Figure E12b :Angiospermophyta (Tidwell 1970)



Figure E12c :Angiospermophyta (Tidwell 1970)



Figure E12d :Angiospermophyta (Tidwell 1970)



Figure E12e :Angiospermophyta (Tidwell 1970)









APPENDIX F Primitive life in Canada stamps


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada APPENDIX G (From the Alberta Palaeontological Society) Check list of field equipment for fossil collection Personal:

Boots, Bug juice, Comfortable clothing (appropriate for weather), Belt, Hat(s), Handkerchief/Bandanna, Survival kit, Bandages, Antibiotic cream, Tensor bandage, Food, Snacks, Liquids, Canteen - plastic, Watch, Short length light rope (3mm), Bum pad, Shelter, Matches, Rain gear, Jacket and pants, Heavy leather gloves.

Collecting:

Packsack, Topographic/Geologic/Surficial maps, Air photographs, Field notebook, Pens, Pencil, Permanent markers, eraser, Camera, Film and accessories, Hammer (geologic), Hammer (trim), Hammer (mallet), Hammer (sledge), Pry bar, Hand lens, Field microscope, Case for maps and photos, Cold chisel, Compass (Brunton or orienteering), Drawing board, Map scales (metric & imperial), Hydrochloric acid, Flagging tape, Binoculars, Liquid latex for casting, Packing for samples, Sample bags (paper, plastic or cloth), Straight edge, Protractor, Pocket knife, Belt knife, References, Tracing paper, String, Flash Light, Copies of either one of the two blank specimen sheets provided at the beginning of this report, Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta.

Maps and Map Reading for Fossil Collectors (Alberta Palaeontological Society, Wayne Braunberger, March 20, 1992, and Summarized by Howard Allen) Two types of maps can be important resources for fossil collectors, both for pinpointing the geographic position of known fossil localities, and for finding potential new sites: Topographic maps use contour lines to represent 3-dimensional surfaces on a 2-dimensional sheet of paper. These maps are available in several scales. The most useful for our purposes is the 1:50,000 scale, which is available for almost all of the Canadian land area (similar maps are available for the USA and other countries). At this scale, one mile on the map is about 1.25 inches (1 km = 2 cm). Useful information printed on these maps include: North arrows -- show the three "norths" on a map. Magnetic north is where your compass points. This varies from area to area and from year to year -- a legend on the map margin tells how to correct for these variations. Grid north is measured on a uniform, right-angle grid (usually blue) covering the entire map area. This is the "north" you use to set compass bearings, after correcting for magnetic north. True north is represented by the lines of longitude, which converge toward the poles. Surveyed lines (township and section boundaries [normally grey] and gridroads common in the prairie provinces) are generally parallel to true north, but 152 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada must make correction "jags" to compensate for the curvature of the earth. Contour interval -- marked on the bottom of the map, tells the vertical distance represented between adjacent contour lines. Later Canadian maps are printed in metric, so be careful when comparing contours on adjacent map sheets, which may have been printed in different years. Legend -- various symbols and colours representlandmarks and geographic features, both natural and manmade. Several grid systems are used to pinpoint and communicate locations on the map. Each has its own advantages for different applications: The National Topographic System (NTS) is used to index entire map sheets, whose boundaries are parallel to lines of latitude and longitude. A typical NTS reference such as 83 H/12 refers to a particular 1:50,000 map sheet, and is the number to quote when ordering maps. Map indexes are available at sales offices for this purpose. Latitude and Longitude are expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and marked as alternating black and white lines along the map's margin. Because of the large size of the units, the lack of a detailed grid on NTS maps, and the small but significant curvature of these lines, references to this system are often imprecise. The system is sometimes used in geological publications to refer to fossil sites, but a reference such as N52°13', W114°22' may be 'out of whack' by several miles in any direction. The Township and Range system is used in surveying and legal land descriptions. It is used in surveyed areas of the Canadian prairie provinces and in the western U.S. An advantage of this system is that the grid lines are often represented byphysical features -- grid roads, fence lines, survey stakes -- thus sites mayoften be relocated quicklyon the ground. Unfortunately, wilderness areas and regions outside of the prairie provinces, where the system is not used, cannot be referenced. As well, the grid system is coarse enough that pinpointing localities is relatively imprecise -- a legal subdivision (Lsd), the smallest grid unit of this system, is a quarter-mile on a side. The Universal Transverse Mercator grid (UTM) system is the most precise method of locating sites on a map. The system uses a uniform square grid (see grid north, above) of light blue lines, which covers the entire map area (over all of Canada). Each square is one kilometre (1000m) on a side, and can be subdivided ten times, for a precision of 100 metres. A legend on the map margin shows the proper method of pinpointing localities with the UTM system. (To learn more about the UTM system read more in "The Gusher Newsletter" No. 8, September 1991).


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada Topographic maps are available at commercial map dealers and Provincial Government sales offices (the GSC sales office in Calgary no longer sells topo maps -- you now have to go to "Maps Alberta, division of Forestry, Land and Wildlife, 703 - 6th Avenue S.W. Calgary T2P OT9 (403) 297-7389" -- and the same may be true for other GSC offices). A related map series, the provincial government resource base maps, are updated more frequently, showing all roads, logging areas, etc... but do not show elevation contours. Geological maps show the bedrock geology of an area. Different formations are represented either by colours or by code numbers, and are projected onto a topographic base map, with contour lines and other topographic symbols. A few different map series may be encountered: The Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) "old" A-series maps (identified by a letter A after the map's index number) were printed in colour, often using odd scales, such as 1:253,440 which translates to 1 inch = 4 miles. These older maps were produced by geologists working on foot or horseback, and often show many more data points than newer maps. Fossil localities are marked on these maps by a circled capital F. GSC "new" A-series maps are also in colour, but use more conventional scales such as 1:250,000 or 1:50,000. Since much of the data is derived from air-photos, fewer data points are plotted, and few if any fossil localities are marked. GSC "Preliminary series" maps are in black and white, with formations identified by code numbers. Most of these maps were produced prior to the 1970s, especially during waryears, when rapid exploration for resources was a priority. As a result of the often hasty work, errors sometimes show up on these maps. Fossils sites, as in the "old A-series", are marked with a circled F. Other map series are produced by provincial and state geological surveys and resource ministries. Geological maps are notorious for going outof print, without being replaced by newer editions. Coloured maps are almost never reprinted, due to the high cost. The best place to find these out-of print maps is in map libraries, such as those in universities. Formation boundaries and fossil localities can be traced from these library maps onto conventional topographic maps for personal use. Geological maps are often included in Geological Survey reports, which occasionally appear in used book sales. If you see an old geological map for sale, grab it -- you are unlikely to see another one for a long time.

Preparation of Fossils from Shales and Limestones (Alberta Palaeontological Society, April 24, 1992, Wayne Haglund and summarized by Howard Allen) Preparation of fossil specimens has evolved over the years from basic picking and chipping techniques, thanks to technology. Patience, however, remains the key tosuccessful fossil preparation, regardless of the technique used. Before work is started, it is important to know some of the properties of the rocks and fossils you are dealing with. Clastic sedimentary rocks 154 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada (sandstones, siltstones, shales) consist of three components: Mineral grains -- quartz, feldspar, rock fragments, fossil fragments, other minerals. Matrix material -- very fine sedimentary material filling the spaces between grains; usually clay minerals. Cementing materials -- chemical precipitates that fill additional pore space, and hold the grains together; generally silica, calcite, dolomite or iron-based minerals. Rock texture is also an important property; porosity of the rock -- thatis, void spaces left between grains that were not filled by matrix or cement -- mayindicate how easily preparatory chemicals (including water) will penetrate the rock. As well, bedding planes may allow the rock tosplit or chip more easily in a particular direction. Preparatory techniques may be divided into two general categories -- physical and chemical. Physical techniques include the use of such tools as: Hand-held pressure point tools -- dental picks, needles, knives Vibrating tools: -- electric engravers with pick or chisel points, preferably interchangeable. Grinding discs -- electric drill attachments, hobby grinding tools with flexible shafts, etc... Sandblasting -- small, hand-held sandblasting tools are available, with abrasive grits of different hardnesses. Freezing and heating -- water expands when frozen: water in the pore spaces of a rock may cause the rock to crumble if subjected to repeated freezing in a home deep-freeze. This technique works especially well with coarse-grained rocks; applying a wetting agent (detergent) to the water will allow it to penetrate the rock more deeply. Heating may also be tried, although with caution, as some rocks may explode. Ultrasonic units -- for cleaning jewellry and dentures work well at removing fine clays and silts from pores and crevices. Brushes -- including toothbrushes, with the addition of lapidary grit or even toothpaste. Chemical techniques involve the use of acids, bases and various solvents: Hydrochloric (Muriatic) acid -- dissolves calcite and, when heated, dolomite (good for removing siliceous fossils from limestone. Oxalic acid -- good for removal of iron minerals, such as limestone. Acetic acid (Glacial acetic acid) -- also dissolves calcite, but more slowly and gently; vinegar is weak acetic acid, and works well, especially when warm. Household lye (potassium hydroxide) -- is good for decomposing clays. 155 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada Organic solvents -- such as Varsol TM or kerosene remove oily or tarry residues. Water (distilled) -- is called the "universal solvent". Soaking may soften poorly consolidated rocks; rainwater is a mild acid. Wetting agents such as detergent improve the penetrating and cleaning power of water. Industrial detergents -- Quaternary O TM is an excellent agent for breaking down shales and cleaning clayfrom specimens; unfortunately, this product mayno longer be available, but substitutes probably exist. Some of the chemicals used in fossil preparation are potentially dangerous if handled improperly. Follow common-sense safety rules: wear gloves and goggles where appropriate, keep organic solvents away from open flames and sparks, and Always Add Acid to water when mixing (and not water to acid). Fossil preparation need not be expensive. Many of the tools and chemicals described can be obtained locally from hardware stores and tool suppliers. Given enough TIME any fossil can be cleaned/prepared to perfection.

Types of Glue (Alberta Palaeontological Society) The following glues are recommended to stick broken fossil specimens back together: Epoxy glues (5 minute, 2 ton, 24 hour, Bridge epoxies), "Butvar" (Polyvynil Butyral, B58) soluble in methanol, Glyptal G-1276 Cement, Vinac (B-15 grade, also called Gelva), Cyanoacrylates with accelerator (common name "Crazy Glue"), White glue "Presto-set glue", Lepage's bond fast white glue (non-toxic) can be bought locally, Epoxy Putty (A & B Epoxy Putty), Body fillers, White Shellac mixed with Methyl Hydrate (can be bought locally), Hair spray (Emergency only please!), To give a nice shiny lustre to your fossils spray some liquid plastic (Super urethane) on each one of your clean samples (you can get it at Canadian Tire in the paint department) and can also use as temporary glue.

Libraries and Palaeontology/Geology The following is a list of libraries which one should attempt to visit in order to research a subject that pertains to the sciences of palaeontology or geology (they are listed in no specific order): 1) Main branch of the Calgary and Edmonton Public Libraries, 2) Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller (by appointment on weekdays only: phone 294-1992 from Calgary), 3) University of Calgary (MacKimmie & Gallagher libraries), 4) University of Lethbridge, 5) University of Alberta in Edmonton, 6) University of Athabaska in Fort McMurray, 7) Energy Mines & Resources in Calgary (also in Ottawa) 8) Institute of Sedimentology and Petroleum Geology in Calgary 9) Geological Survey of Canada (EMR, ISPG or GSC, 3303, 33 St N.W. 292-7000), 10) Alberta Research Council in Edmonton (For Geology Journals: 7th floor Terrace Plaza, 156 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada 4445 Calgary Trail South 403-438-7628; For Geology Books: Millwood facility, 250 Cardclarck Road, 403-450-5055), 11) Energy Resources Conservation Board in Calgary (ERCB, 640-5th Avenue S.W. 2978311), 12) Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists in Calgary (CSPG: #160, 540 – 5th Avenue SW Calgary T2P 0W7 403-264-5610, Fax=403-264-5898). 13) The Alberta Palaeontological Society also has a small library; their publications, however, are received on donations only. 14) Mount Royal College library 15) SAIT library. Except for Public Libraries, you cannot take out books from the above institutions. However, if you belong to a Public Library, they can arrange for free interlibrary loan service (if you are not in a hurry).

Identification of Vertebrate Fossils from Published Sources (Alberta Palaeontological Society) First, check the most obvious, and handiest (but not all recent) sources, including: Johnson, Hope, and Storer, John E. 1974. A guide to Alberta Vertebrate Fossils from the Age of Dinosaurs. Provincial Museum of Alberta. Publication No. 4. Romer, A.S. 1966. Vertebrate Palaeontology. The University of Chicago Press. Chicago. 468p. Norman, David 1985. The illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs. Books, New York. 208p.

Crescent

Carroll, Robert L. 1988. Vertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution. W.H. Freeman and Company, New York. 720 p. 1538 illustrations. The latter publication includes new list of all fossil vertebrate genera. Secondly, If your specimen is not illustrated in one of the above publications, it may be necessary to search the literature for a more detailed paper. The best papers are those which describe the species and genera in detail. Older papers and texts on Alberta vertebrate fossils are fairly easy to find, by using: Fox, Richard C. 1970. A bibliography of Cretaceous and Tertiary Vertebrates from Western Canada. Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, Vol. 18 No. 2 p. 263-281 However, this paper lists only by author, not by subject. Let's take a specific example: You have a bone which is probably from an ornithonimid; but which one? 157 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome


To find a relatively recent paper on ornithonimid dinosaurs, begin with the "Index and Bibliography of Geology", published by the American Geological Institute. It lists all papers in the earth sciences by date of publication, author, and subject. It is available to the public at the MacKimmie library of the University of Calgary, call number: QE 1 G44. In the past it was published annually, now it is updated monthly. Recent volumes are split into 4 parts, 2 for author entries, and 2 for subject. You will probably want to search by subject, or by KEYWORD. The keyword in this case is REPTILIA. In this key word use many subcategories, including: biogeography, Chelonia, Cotylosauria, Crocodilia, dinosaurs, Eosuchia, Euryapsida. etc... and eventually Saurischia under which is the entry: Cretaceous: A new specimen of Struthiomimus altus from Alberta, with comments on the classificatory character of Upper Cretaceous ornithonimids. (Nicholls, Elizabeth L., et al.) To find where this paper was published, you check the author index of the same year, to find: Nicholls, Elizabeth L., and Russell, Anthony P. Cretaceous: A new specimen of Struthiomimus altus from Alberta, with comments on the classificatory character of Upper Cretaceous ornithonimids. (Nicholls, Elizabeth L., et al.). Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 18, No. 3, p.518-526. At the University, back issues, usually bound, have call numbers in the QE series. Once you have tracked down the volume, it will contain the desired paper. In this example, the paper gives detailed information on the skeletal differences between Struthiomimus, Ornithomimus, Dromicieomimus, and Gallimimus. It also has a reference list at the end, which includes most of the significant papers on ortnithonimid morphology. There is, therefore, not real need to search through the Index and Bibliography any further someone else has done it for you! You also have two other options in order to look for geological/palaeontological references: 1) GEOSCAN is a data base which provides bibliographic, geographic and subject access to publicly available geoscience literature concerning the Canadian landmass and offshore regions. This bibliographic data system is cooperatively produced from the indexing contributions of fifteen federal, provincial, academic and professional organizations located throughout Canada, and it is available only through these fifteen professional organizations. The Geological Survey of Canada coordinates these indexing activities and provides computer resources in support of this project. Created in 1969, GEOSCAN presently contains over 120,000 bibliographic records and approximately 7,500 new records are added to the data base each year. GEOSCAN covers both published and unpublished geoscience documents ranging from 1845 to date. The 158 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada breakdown between published and unpublished documents is 57% published items and 43% unpublished items. Document types covered in GEOSCAN include published serials, periodicals, theses, published and unpublished maps, open files and mineral assessment reports. You can use GEOSCAN at the following libraries: any Geological Survey of Canada library, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists (in Calgary) and the Alberta Research Council (in Edmonton). There might be a charge to retrieve information from this database. It would also be wise from the user to bring his own diskette to save files, if he intends to retrieve a lot of data. Just ask the librarian for more information. 2) GEOREF is also a data base which provides bibliographic and index to publicly available geoscience literature, but is concerned with the world as opposed to only Canada, as it is the case with GEOSCAN. It is produced by the American Geological Institute and any library or individual can purchase it. We are aware that the Gallagher Geology library carries it. There is normally no cost to use this database but the user is asked to bring his own diskette to save files if he intends to retrieve a lot of data. If your search deals only with Canada and if you can afford the charges, our recommendation is to use only GEOSCAN, since this data base is more comprehensive on Canadian literature than is GEOREF. Other journals which publish papers on fossil vertebrates include: Journal of Palaeontology, Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology, Lethania, Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology, Palynology, Brevoria, Palaeontographica Africana, Acta Palaeontologica Polinica, Palaeogeography - Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, Nature, Science, Palaeobios, Copeia, Evolutionary Theory, Scientific American. And also papers from the: Alberta Research Council, University of Alberta, Geological Survey of Canada, Royal Ontario Museum, National Museums of Canada.

Cataloguing systems used by various museums (Alberta Palaeontological Society) ACRONYMS - All institutions that we are aware of use an acronym somewhere within the specimen catalogue number; usually at the beginning. The acronym is usually based on the institution's name, some examples are: ROM TMP USNM NMC APS

(Royal Ontario Museum) (Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology) (United States National Museum) (National Museum of Canada) (Alberta Palaeontological Society), etc... 159 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome


SPECIMEN NUMBER - Unlike the use of acronyms which has fairly widespread use worldwide, many museums have set up their own specimen numbering systems to fit their own requirements. Many older institutions simply number each individual specimen in chronological order (ie. AMNH 12976, 12977, etc...). Every specimen (fossils, artifacts, animal skins, etc...) are numbered this way so the entire number series is made up of a mixture of specimens. The Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History has a different numbering system where every specimen in the museum gets two numbers-one for the department which curates that specimen and another number for the entire museum collections. For example: SMNH P.10246 11754

Where: P. = 10246 = 11754 =

Palaeontology Department Specimen Number Eleven thousand, seven hundred and fifty-fourth specimen in SMNH collections

The Tyrrell Museum has a numbering system which is both unique and logical as the specimen number can yield much information about the specimen without going to the file for additional data. TMP specimen numbers consist of three parts. For example: TMP81.18.234 TMP of course stands for the Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. The 81 shows that the specimen was collected in 1981. As we are now in 1993 all specimens being catalogued now at TMP receive an 93 number. If we acquire a specimen collected, say 1967, it will still get an 93 number with the proper date of collection noted on the accession file. The next number in our example is the site/locality number, in this case 18 or the Centrosaurus bonebed (Quarry 143) in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta (Map C26). At TMP, the material collected from the Centrosaurus bonebed always gets the site number 18, so, if I came across a horned dinosaur tooth with the number 84.18.33 I would automatically know it came from the Centrosaurus bonebed in Dinosaur Provincial Park. The last number in the series is the individual specimen number which separates it from all others in the same number series. So, using our example, TMP81.18.234 we can interpret this specimen as such: "The 234th specimen collected from the Centrosaurus bonebed (Quarry 143) in 1981". A quick and easy way to number your fossil specimens is to type them out, cut out each number and glue it onto your specimen. Another way is to use LIQUID PAPER (correction fluid) and a proper thick black ink pen. ____________________ The "SPECIMEN SHEET" provided at the beginning of this report is a sample form used by the Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. The Gusher modified it by adding one page to allow a sketch or a photo of the specimen or location to be attached.


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada Information regarding the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (GAC, 1991) In Canada, The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a unique institution entirely devoted to palaeontology. The name of the museum commemorates the great canadian geologist. Joseph Burr Tyrrell, who discovered the first dinosaur skeleton, Albertosaurus sarcophagus, in the Drumheller area in 1884. The title "Royal" was granted to the museum by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Alberta in June, 1990. The museum was officially opened on September 25, 1985. Situated in Midland Provincial Park, the building occupies 11,200 m 2 and includes 4,400 m 2 of display area, a 200-seat auditorium, a research library, preparation laboratories, and specimen collections. There are seven curators (four vertebrate palaeontologists, an invertebrate palaeontologist, a palynologist, and a sedimentologist), a postdoctoral fellow, a research associate, and several graduate students, working in the research section. Affiliated to the museum is the Fiels Station situated in Dinosaur Provincial Park (about 190 km southeast of Drumheller, near Patricia, in the Red Deer River valley). In recognition of its rich treasury of dinosaur fossils, Dinosaur Provincial Park has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over 100,000 fossil specimen are catalogued in the collections, which includes approximately 40,000 vertebrates (17,500 dinosaurs), 10,700 invertebrates, and 17,500 plants. Taxonomic and locality data of these specimens can be obtained conveniently through a computerized database.

Information regarding the Alberta Palaeontological Society (Alberta Palaeontological Society) The Society is a non-profit organization formed: A) B)

to promote the science of palaeontology through study and education to make contributions to the science by: 1) discovery 2) collection 3) description, curation, and display 4) education of the general public 5) preserve material for study and the future

C)

to provide information and expertise to other collectors

D)

to work with professionals at museums and universities to add to the palaeontological collections of the province (preserve Alberta's heritage)

Any person with a sincere interest in palaeontology is eligible to present their application for membership in the Society. There are three classes of membership: 1)

Active:

any person or institution taking an active part in the Society's 161 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome


2)

Life:

3)

Friends of the Society:

program. Any person who is recognized as providing exceptional or meritorious service to the Society. person or persons who have rendered an outstanding service to the benefit of the Society.

Officers of the Society (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, etc...) are elected for a period of one year. Everybody can submit their application. The Society meets every third Friday of the month from September to May at 7:30 P.M. in room B108 at Mount Royal College. During these meetings palaeontologists and other guest speakers are invited to elaborate on their work (or hobby). Every summer the Society organizes three field trips in Alberta, Saskatchewan or B.C. They also organize a one week field trip to the United States. The following equipment is available for members of the Society, during their regular laboratory evenings: Rock saws (with diamond blades, 2), Trim saws (with diamond blades, 2), Lap wheels (220 and 600 grit), Crusher, Foredom drills (with non-percussion hand pieces, 5), Microscopes, Camera (35mm SLR, with 50mm and 80mm macro lenses, and microscope accessories - binocular & petrographic), Photographic lights (150 watt photoflood, 2), ultrasonic cleaner, Ultraviolet lamp, Sieve sets (and sieve shakers), Manual rock splitting equipment, Electronic balance, Hot plates, Assorted glassware, Table top furnace (to 100°C), Overhead projector. By prior arrangement, during business hours: 35mm slide projector, 16mm film projector, VHS, Beta or 3/4" VCR and monitor, Video camera and monitor, Video camera and monitor for microscopes. More information on this Society can be gathered from their website through: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/9094/aps.html



APPENDIX H OLD NEWS 1) On March 1990, the japanese government sent a team to the Soviet Union to investigate the import of mammoth tusks. Rather than risk further embarrassment as a despoiler of nature, the Japanese government recently bowed to international pressure by imposing a complete ban on importing ivory, raw or worked, to save the endangered African elephant. With some 10 million mammoths still said to be preserved under the Siberian permafrost, the business could certainly prove lucrative to Moscow. 2) Mammoth flesh, once unfrozen, is still quite tasty after 10,000 years. Mammoths are still being eaten by modern man from time to time in Alaska and Siberia. 3) The building materials in the construction of the earliest human graves were the shoulder blades of prehistoric mammoths. 4) The first four-legged amphibians were also the first animals to have voices. 5) The human nervous system is the product of millions of years of evolution. comprised of over 10,000,000,000 nerve cells.

It is

6) It takes the energy from one ton of coal to make one ton of paper. 7) In the Ordovician period, about 450,000,000 years ago, the South Pole was situated in what is now the Sahara desert. 8) Four fossil forest sites have been identified at widely separated localities on Ellesmere Island and one on Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian Arctic. They all seem to be of Eocene or Palaeocene age (Tertiary). The predominant trees are dawn redwoods (Metasequoia), whose modern representatives are native only to an isolated valley in China. The trees look fresh but slightly darkened. They have retained so much of their original woody tissue that they will burn like fresh firewood. 9) The largest ammonite (imprint in rock) ever found in Canada is a Titanites occidentalis Frebold and was found in the Lower Kootenay sandstone (Portlandian) at the Ammonite Gully, Coal Creek, near Fernie, British Columbia. It measures 2.2 metres in height and can still be found laying in the creek since it is imprinted in the rock (Frebold, 1964) 10) On February 27, 1991 a discovery was announced regarding the proof that a giant meteorite wiped out the dinosaurs and every land animal over 20 kilograms, changing the course of evolution. The Chicxulub Meteorite crater located in Yucatan was first thought to have been a crater caused by volcanoes. But planetary scientists who investigated now believe the crater was blasted by a meteorite which smashed into Earth 65 million years ago during the Cretaceous-Tertiary period. And they believe the meteorite - an estimated 163 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada 10 kilometres in diameter - triggered worldwide extinctions. The meteorite has punched a hole 30 kilometres into Earth's crust and the impact created a huge 200 kilometre bull'seye on the planet. The impact vaporized calcium carbonate rock into carbon dioxide gas and produced a super-greenhouse effect that lasted thousands of years. 11) In a remote corner of Colorado, paleontologists have unearthed a fossil of a giant allosaurus (meat-eating dinosaur) with a cauliflower-like growth at its tip. It could turn out to be the oldest (140 million years) cancer ever found. The tumour looks like chondrosarcoma, a type of bone cancer (January 4, 1992 Globe and Mail). 12) A bit of bone from a fractured skull thousand of years old suggests that Neanderthal man was not as primitive and savage as some believe. The bone shows evidence of the ancient, severe injury that healed, suggesting the cave-dwelling Neanderthal nursed and cared for their injured. (Calgary Herald, Feb 9, 1992). 13) On september 19, 1991, in the melting Similaun glacier high in the Alps in Italy, a German tourist spotted the remains of what is now known as the most ancient human being ever found virtually intact. His age, established by radio-carbon dating as approximately 5,300 years places him in the "Stone-Age". The Iceman, as he is called, was 1.6m tall and displayed some tattoos on his back and knees. He carried with him a squadron of stone age missiles, a sophisticated chopping tool, the world's oldest woodhandled dagger, a bag made out of plants with berries inside, and warm clothes to protect him against the harsh weather. (TIME October 26, 1992) 14) Diamonds measured in billionths of a metre found at a geological boundary between the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, were of extraterrestrial origin. This adds more glitter to the asteroid theory of dinosaur extinction. (Calgary Herald, May 14, 1992) 15) Fossil hunters in British Columbia, have uncovered the remains of a 440 million year old sea creature that looks like a cross between a weathered fence post and an English cucumber. It's the first known discovery in Western Canada and one of the best-preserved finds world-wide of the extinct animal, belonging to a group called stromatoporoids. Several varieties are definitely new to science. The fossilized, pillar-like creatures lie embedded in limestone about 2,100 metres up in Top-of-the-World Provincial Park, about 50 kilometres northeast of Cranbrook, B.C. (Calgary Herald, October 30, 1992) 16) Alberta has two known meteorite impact sites. The first one, near Steen River in the northern part of the province, shows no visible geological features. But puzzling results from geophysical surveys led geologists to carry out seismic soundings. Buried beneath 200 metres of sediment is a 25 kilometre diameter crater with central uplift, the remnant of a gigantic collision. Radioactive dating has set its age at almost 100 million years. The feature was gouged out by a body about one kilometre across. The second site is at Eagle Butte, in the south. Drill cores taken at the site contained "shatter cones", rocks that had experienced a catastrophic explosion. The 10 kilometre diameter buried crater is believed to be less than 65 million years old. Evidence have been seen for other craters in seismic surveys. There may be two dozens buried craters in Alberta alone. Of about 164 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada 130 craters confirmed worldwide, 25 are in Canada. (Calgary Herald, January 11, 1992) 17) In 1979 the oldest footprints in Canadian records were discovered. They come from a large prehistoric animal which flourished 200 million years before the dinosaurs. The location of the footprints is in 350-million-year-old Carboniferous sedimentary rocks on the shore of Minas Basin, at Horton Bluff about 3.2 kilometres due east of Grand Pre, Nova Scotia. They record the journey out of the water of a large, highly evolved creature (an amphibian) at a remarkably early time in Earth's history. The creature was fourfooted, and had four toes on his hind feet. Some of the toe impressions show distinct claw marks. No bones of an amphibian large enough to make such tracks have yet been found in Canada (Canadian Geographic, Mossman & Sarjeant, 19??). 18) Workers at the University of California at Berkeley and California Polytechnic State University have managed to extract "the oldest-known DNA" from a 25 million year-old bee preserved in amber. Scientists hope to use the reconstructed genetic codes in the DNA to work out evolutionary timetables for different species. (Calgary Herald Sept 5, 1992) 19) The second documented find of mammoth remains from British Columbia was reported in September 1991. The specimen, a fragment of pelvic bone, was discovered in gravel near the Fraser River north of Prince George. It is estimated that the mammoth would have stood about three metres tall at the shoulder, "...about the size of a large bull elephant". (Calgary Herald, March 14, 1992) 20) The skeleton of a 113 million-year-old ichthyosaur was discovered in early April 1992 at the Syncrude Canada Ltd. oil sands plant at Fort McMurray, Alberta. It is the second ichthyosaur recovered in Alberta. (Calgary Sun April 21, 1992) 21) The "living fossil" fish, the coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae), may soon be a real fossil. A scientist claims that the remaining population (about 200) which live in the Indian Ocean off Africa, is threatened by an Asian myth that the coelacanth's spinal fluid is an "elixir of life". (Vancouver Sun, October 11, 1991) 22) A complete mastodon skeleton has been found in a Nova Scotia gypsum mine. Besides the mastodon, geologists from the Nova Scotia Museum have recorded freshwater clams, extinct snails, a tree limb gnawed by a prehistoric beaver, and "a nice little flat frog". (Edmonton Journal, January 13, 1992) 23) A fossil mushroom has been found in a lump of 20 million year old amber. It had several modern features, including "gills" on the underside. This indicates that mushrooms evolved much earlier than previously thought. (Science year 1992, and National Geographic, August 1991, pg 138) 24) An underwater "forest" about 8,000 years old, was found in Lake Michigan off Chicago (Earth Science, Fall 1990, pg 6)


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada 25) The skull of what is believed to be the oldest mammal remain, was discovered in Texas. It probably belonged to a five inch long, rodent-like animal, and is believed to be 220 million years old, 10 million years older than the next oldest mammal fossil. (MAPS Digest, February 1991, from Insight, Sept 24, 1990) 26) A diver found a worked copper deposit beneath Lake Superior. It may mean that man was in North America 10 or 15 thousand years earlier than 4000 to 5000 BP (the current accepted dates), because the deposit would have to have been worked prior to the last glacial advance.


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada APPENDIX I Wapiti Lake, British Columbia, Canada INTRODUCTION Lower Triassic fishes have been known from western Canada since first reported in 1914 from the Banff area of Alberta. Additional sites have been discovered since then that produce fossil fish material, some bearing articulated specimens. The best known of these Lower Triassic fish localities occur in the Ganoid Range near Wapiti Lake, B.C., 150 km southwest of Grande Prairie, Alberta (54 30.5'N, 120 43'W). The sites occur on Ganoid Ridge in the vicinity of a small lake appropriately named Fossil Fish lake approximately 5 km from Wapiti Lake and about 40 km from the nearest road. Fossils were first discovered in this area by L.R. Laudon and a group of students from the University of Wisconsin in 1947. Extensive research programs have been going on at the Wapiti Lake sites during the 1980's by the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology and the University of Alberta.

GEOLOGY The fossil-bearing sites at Wapiti Lake occur on a ridge (Ganoid Ridge) approximately 8 km long, located near the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains. The ridge is made up of an overturned fold, the west side of which is formed by strata that are right side up with Lower Triassic rocks overlying late Paleozoic rocks. The eastern side is formed by the overturned east arm of the fold so that late Paleozoic rocks overlie the Triassic rocks in some regions. Locally high intensity deformation has resulted in additional folding and faulting causing discontinuity, displacement and repetition of beds. This repetition of beds is partly responsible for the high concentration of fossils in the talus of some areas. The highest concentration of specimens discovered to date has come from a cirque labeled C. In this area, the strata dip at approximately 80 degrees to the cliff face, and run approximately parallel to the wall of the ridge so that large plates of fossil bearing strata are exposed. Additional concentrations of fossils have been found in X, R, F, A, D and T cirques. The Triassic section at Wapiti Lake consists of the Sulphur Mountain Formation and the lower part of the Whitehorse Formation. The Sulphur Mountain Formation is divided into three members; Vega-Phroso Siltstone, Whistler and Llama Members. The fossil bearing horizons belong to the Vega-Phroso Siltstone Member although the Llama Member has also produced significant collections. Invertebrates collected from the sites suggest a Smithian (Lower Triassic) age for these rocks. The Vega-Phroso Siltstone Member is made up of dark brownish grey to orange brown calcareous siltstones, limestones, silty shales, and minor amounts of very fine grained sandstones. It ranges in thickness from 225 to 250 m and overlies porous, calcareous sandstones of the Upper Permian Mowitch Formation and dark grey to white cherts of the Permian Ranger Canyon Formation. Immediately below these two formations is the conspicuous chert breccio167 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada conglomerate of the Lower Permian Belcourt Formation which acts as a useful marker bed for helping to locate the boundary between Triassic and older beds. Below this lie the grey to white limestones of the Mississipian Rundle Group. The Vesa-Phroso Siltstone Member is overlain by the Middle Triassic Whistler Member which forms one of the most distinctive and easily recognized units of the Sulphur Mountain Formation. It is difficult to determine exactly where the fish fossils occur stratigraphically as the sites that have been collected most extensively are highly deformed and most specimens have been collected from talus. Some in situ collections have been made, however, and these appear to indicate that there are concentrations of fossil material at more than one level.

PALEOGEOGRAPHY AND PALEOECOLOGY One important aspect of the study of the Wapiti Lake fauna is that it contributes to our knowledge of the paleobiogeography during the Lower Triassic. Quite a number of marine Triassic assemblages of approximately the same age are known from various parts of the world. When these sites are plotted on a map of the world as it is believed to have appeared during the Lower Triassic, they are seen to have a circumpangael distribution (i.e., they occur all around the supercontinent of pangae). Sites that include faunas of this age are found in: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8, 9, 10, 11) 12, 13, 14) 15) 16) 17, 18) 19)

Southeastern Idaho Southern Alberta and British Columbia (11 genera of fishes) In the Wapiti Lake area (16 genera of fishes) Killik-Itkillik region, Alaska Ellesmere Island in northern Canada East Greenland (19 genera of fishes) West Spitzbergen (18 genera of fishes) Tunguska, Olenek, Verkhouyansk, Madagan regions, Siberia N. Shenshi, W. Kwangsi-Kweichow Basins, Mt. Bogdo-Sinkiang, China Salt Range, Pakistan Djulfa, Iran North & South Madagascar (26 & 11 genera of fishes) Nepal

The overall taxonomic resemblances that occur at these sites suggest that common ecological and geographical factors occurred in the relatively shallow seas around Pangaea during the Lower Triassic and that these shallow seas supported similar assemblages of animals. The shelf sediments at the Wapiti Lake sites indicate that they were deposited in a marginal basin or platform of moderate depth between the continent on the east and possibly a chain of volcanic arcs on the west. The sediments present also suggest that the Vega-Phroso Siltstone Member was deposited in an easterly to southeasterly transgressing sea along the western margin of a 168 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada relatively deep water, open shelf, marine environment, similar in some respects to that now existing off the east coast of the United States. All organisms in the fauna can be associated with a pelagic way of life and there is little evidence for shallow water. Sediments higher in the section show that a shallowing trend occurred later during the deposition of the Vega-Phroso Siltstone Member.

DISTRIBUTION OF FOSSIL VERTEBRATES The fossil fish material from the Vega-Phroso Siltstone Member on Ganoid Ridge occurs at about 40-45 m above the Paleozoic-Triassic contact. The fish remains extend through a vertical range of about 10 m but nearly 90% of the specimens in situ were found in the lower 1.5 m of the section. Fish remains were reported at 50 to 65 m above the Triassic-permian contact on Mount Becker. A rich fish layer was found in R cirque in a thin platy, silty shale about 30 to 40 m above the contact. A more concretionary layer, containing three dimensional fish and ammonite remains, occurs about 30 m further up section at site X. A layer of resistant siltstone and silty limestone containing coprolites, fish bones and spines of the chondrichthyan, cf. listracanthus , also occurs further up section from the rich fish bed in R cirque. The exact stratigraphic level of the rich fossil concentration in F cirque is uncertain but the fossils occur mainly in a massive, blocky siltstone layer. There are at least three faunas present in the lower part of the Sulphur Mountain Formation. The quarry in C cirque and the main fish zone in R and D cirques contain the lowermost fauna which is characterized by small Bobasatrania , large Saurichthys , abundant coelacanths and the presence of parasemionotids. The second fauna, which is represented in F cirque, occurs higher in the section and is characterized by large Bobasatrania , small Saurichthys and the absence of parasemionotids. The third fauna, still further up-section, is composed mainly of ichthyosaur and other reptile material. This fauna comes from within the Llama Member but the exact level has not yet been established. These three faunas apparently occurred in varying water depths, with the depth decreasing up-section.

HABITS AND FEEDING Studies on the anatomy of the fishes from Wapiti Lake suggest some things about the habits and feeding mechanisms of these fishes. Several of the kind of fishes from the Sulphur Mountain Formation, including the small parasemionotids, perleidids and other smalller fishes are small and fusiform with weak dentitions and small to moderate gapes. These fishes may have had a diet of plankton, detritus, larval fishes or algae and may be classified as small food feeders or grazers. Albertonia, one of the largest fishes in the assemblages has elongated pectoral fins, a deep body, and a well developed caudal fin which suggest that it was a slow, strong swimmer. It has a weak marginal dentition and apparently lacked pharyngeal teeth so it may have been a nibbler or 169 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada grazer as well. It is difficult to speculate about the function of the extremely long pectorial fins in this genus. There are several theories about these fins based on several recent groups of fishes that have elongated pectoral fins. It was originally suggested that these elongated fins were similar to those found in recent groups of fishes that are said to fly or glide such as Pantodon, the hatchetfish or the flying fishes. The body shape of Albertonia is quite different from the shape in these fishes, however, and the pectoral fins are placed too low on the body for this type of locomotion. Flying fishes often have a hypocaudal lobe on the tail, which is not present in Albertonia. It is more likely that these fins were used for more typical modes of swimming, and the body form of Albertonia is more similar to that of fishes that are found in moderate depths or coral reef areas where the pectorals are used to aid in maneuvering and for short bursts of speed. The enlarged pectoral fins may also be associated with tactile function as in some fishes that bear taste buds and touch receptors on them. The Polynemidae and Dactylopteridae use elongated pectoral fins as tactile organs, and when extended and fanned out, these fins can stir up edible morsels when the fish is foraging. An additional possibility for the possession of these enlarged fins is for sexual dimorphic display and there may be some evidence for this group being sexually dimorphic. Recent groups of fishes that display sexual dimorphism in the paired fins include the dragonets, topminnows, snappers and suckers. Another kind of feeding mechanism is shown by Bobasatrania which has a weak marginal dentition but a strong pharyngeal dentition. This suggests that these fishes were feeding on something with a moderately hard shell such as shrimps, and crushing them before swallowing. Several kind of Lower Triassic fishes, including Saurichthys and Birgeria have long shallow bodies on which the fins are placed far posteriorly and elongated jaws with well developed pointed teeth. These features imply a predatory habit and one specimen of Saurichthys actually died with a small specimen of Boreosomus in its mouth. These animals may have fed much like the Recent long-nosed gar which is a "sit-and-wait" predator that strikes quickly and uses its long pointed jaws to grasp and hold prey then swallowing it whole. One very interesting fish is the genus Australosomus . These fishes combine the added protection of having rows of elongated, interlocking body scales with the slender, elongate body, posteriorly positioned dorsal and anal fins, and well developed caudal fin borne on the end of a slender caudal peduncle that indicates the ability for rapid bursts of speed. The almost vertical orientation of the enlarged lateral body scales allows for a good compromise between protection and flexibility. The jaws are long but the teeth are small, indicating the prey would be relatively small size.


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada FAUNAL LIST: WAPITI LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Lower Triassic (VegaPhroso Siltstone member) Invertebrates Brachiopoda Terebratulidae Mollusca Ammonoidea Arctoceras sp. (Gibson, 1972) Xenoceltites sp. (Gibson, 1972) Xenoceltites cf. X. hannai (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Xenoceltites subevolutus (Tozer pers. com. 1987) Juvenites sp. (Schaeffer and mangus, 1976) Euflemingites sp. Bivalvia Posidonia mimer (Gibson, 1972) Gervillia sp. (Gibson, 1972) Pseudomonotis occidentalis (Gibson, 1972) Claraia stachei (Gibson, personal comm.) Trigonodus sp. (Schaeffer and mangus, 1976) Arthropoda phyllocarids cf. Concavicaris (Richards, personal comm.) Arthropoda incertae sedis Conodonta Gondolella sp. or Neogondolella sp. Vertebrates Fishes Condrichthyes Hybodontidae incertae sedis cf. Palaeobates (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Edestodus sp. (Lund, personal comm.) cf. Listracanthus (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Osteichthyes Pteronisculus sp. (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Birgeria sp. (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Boreosomus sp. (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Paleoniscoidea incertae sedis Bobasatrania canadensis (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Bobasatrania sp. (possibly new species; Brinkman and Neuman, 1987?) Perleididae n.gen. et sp. (Neuman 1986) 171 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada cf. Perleidus sp. (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976; Neuman, 1986) Australosomus sp. (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Saurichthys spp. (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Watsonulus cf. W. eugnathoides (Neuman, 1986) Parasemionotidae n.gen. et sp. (Neuman, 1986) Albertonia cupidinia (Schaeffer and mangus, 1976; Neuman, 1986) Albertonia n.sp. (Neuman, 1986) Actinopterygii incertae sedis Whiteia sp. (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) Coelacanthidae incertae sedis Reptiles Ichthyosauria Mixosaurus cf. M. nordenskioeldii (Callaway and Brinkman 1989) Grippia cf. G. longirostris (Calloway and Brinkman, 1989)

FISH FAUNAL LIST: WAPITI LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Middle Triassic (Whistler and Llama members) Vertebrates Fishes Condrichthyes Incertae sedis Osteichthyes Boreosomus sp. (Schaeffer and Mangus, 1976) cf. Bobasatrania sp. cf. Perleidid sp. cf. Saurichthys sp.

References Neuman A.G. (June 1987). Lower Triassic fossil fish assemblage from Western Canada. In: Bulletin of the Alberta Palaeontological Society, Volume 2, Number 2. Pages 6-14. Neuman A.G. (1992). Lower and Middle Triassic Sulphur Mountain Formation, Wapiti Lake, British Columbia: Summary of Geology and Fauna. Contributions to Natural Science, published by the Royal British Columbia Museum, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria, B.C., Canada, V8V 1X4. No. 16, March 1992. Neuman A.G. (1996). Fishes of the Triassic: Trawling off Pangaea. In: Life in Stone, A natural history of British Columbia’s fossils. UBC Press, University of British Columbia. Pages 104115


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada Figures

Location Map for Fossil Fish Lake and the Ganoid Ridge. Stippled area represents extent of Ganoid Ridge.



Fossil fish diversity in the Lower Triassic Sulphur Mountain Formation, Wapiti Lake A: Albertonia B: Perleididae C: Pteronisculus D: Australosomus E : Boreosomus F : Hybodontidae G: Bobasatrania H: Parasemionotidae I: Birgeria J: Saurichthys K: Coelacanthida

The coelacanth Whitea. This specimen is 50cm long


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada APPENDIX J The Burgess Shale, British Columbia, Canada On a dull day in November 1885, a dream became tangible. At the small station of Craigellachie, high in the Rogers Pass area of the Canadian Rockies, the last spike of the Canadian Pacific railway buckled the country together. The completed railroad, a condition of British Columbia's entry into confederation, capped years of engineering challenge, national vision, and political scandal. As the steel extended segment by arthropodlike segment across the landscape, raucous camps arose. The Pass bristled with activity. But even as that last spike was driven, men were laid off. Mountain camps emptied. Silence settled like rain upon the valleys. Abandoned buildings and equipment took on a ghostly air. Not far away brooded ghosts of a deeper past. They haunted the very rocks of the mountains. In 1885, no one knew they were there. But they were the remnants of a community every bit as rich and dynamic as anything since. Their shapes would strain the imagination of those who came across them and would challenge views of how we came to be. These ghosts - these thin, insubstantial films on rocks - are the fossils in Burgess Shale, a black sedimentary rock formed from the muds of the Middle Cambrian. The fossils are carbon-film remains of marine animals, and most are relatively small. For size, they cannot compete with dinosaurs or even with mammals. Few are longer than your finger. But they are incomparably strange. They have nozzles and filaments, spikes and flaps. Many defy classification. Yet among them is the first known animal with a spinal cord, a precursor of all later vertebrates, including us. Few other fossils engage the mind as fully as these strange creatures. Burgess Shale fossils are some 530 million years old. When they were living animals, British Columbia was not only unattached to Canada, it wasn't even part of the continent. The sleds of rock that would later make up Canada's third-largest province were being tugged through oceans to the south and west, sliding on molten runners of continental drift. The continental mass that would later become known as North America lay lengthwise across the equator. The land was barren. No soil, no plants, no animals graced the inhospitable rocks. Wind and rain scoured the terrain, steadily washing sediments into the sea. Although there were no polar icecaps and the climate was probably warmer than today's, the land was an unsurpassable challenge to living things. Life ashore was still a contradiction in terms. The seas, however, teemed with organisms. Cambrian fossils from around the world testify to an unprecedented expansion of life forms. Trilobites and brachiopods, sponges, worms, and mollusks are only a few of the creatures that show up increasingly in the fossil record of the time. Scientists call it the "Cambrian breakthrough" or the "Cambrian explosion." Although they disagree about its causes and extent, they concur that around 550 million years ago something different happened. Life danced. The Burgess Shale fossils are an incomplete but still unmatched guide to this provocative waltz.


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada The Burgess Shale lies on a saddle between Mt. Field and Mt. Wapta, high in the Canadian Rockies. Only a few kilometers north of the Trans-Canada Highway, the site is surrounded by towering glacier- laden peaks. Mountain goats patrol the slopes. Below lies the enticing shimmer of Emerald Lake. The shale itself is an unprepossessing slug of rock. Part of the Stephen Formation, it has been quarried repeatedly over the years. Researchers have discovered at least six different fossilbearing bands, but most of their work has focused on the original quarry. There, from a band of rock little more than two meters thick (six feet), they have recovered some of the world's most intriguing fossils. The shale's dusty black layers break apart easily. Dark slabs, many chipped and split by geologists' picks, are scattered down the slope beneath the quarries. A trail winding between Takakkaw Falls and the mountain town of Field passes beneath the site, but without signs provided by Parks Canada, a casual visitor wouldn't notice the ledge little more than halfway up the slope. Charles Doolittle Walcott noticed the ledge, though. Not that he was a casual visitor. Head of the Smithsonian Institution, a well- respected paleontologist and one of the most influential scientists of his time, Walcott went there to study the geology and look for fossils. He first came to the Canadian Rockies in 1907, riding the new transcontinental railroad to the station at Laggan, now Lake Louise. In 1909 he and his wife, on horseback along a trail flanking Mt. Wapta, came across a loose slab of rock. Walcott split it open. Inside lay the graceful outlines of a tiny arthropod. It was the first in a series of remarkable finds. Five times between 1910 and 1917, Walcott returned to the outcrop he was to name Burgess Shale after the mountain pass from the town of Field. With him were assistants and family members. Together they collected more than 65,000 fossils; the specimens showed exquisitely preserved limbs and traces of soft internal organs. Indeed, many of the animals were soft-bodied creatures, rari- ties in the fossil record of any age. These "ghosts" provide the most detailed glimpse available of an early and crucial period in life's history. For some animal groups, the Burgess Shale provides the earliest or only known representatives. Many are unusual, pushing the edges of the taxonomic envelope. Burgess Shale fossils rank among the most valued collections ever found. Early Observations What are some of these creatures, so tiny, yet so compelling? What kind of a world did they inhabit? And what does their existence tell us about the evolution of life? The rock record indicates that Burgess Shale fauna lived near the edge of an extensive continental shelf that skirted the old rocks of Laurentia, the Canadian Shield and its surroundings. The sea was warm, and a massive algal reef gradually took shape in its waters. Remains of the reef, known as the Cathedral Escarpment, are strikingly visible in the mountains near the Burgess Shale. According to some estimates, the reef stood 200 meters high (650 feet). It has been mapped for more than 50 kilometers (30 miles). Muds and silts built up in terraces and slopes against the flank of the reef, and a varied invertebrate fauna soon settled in. Sponges sieved the water for food particles. Algal blooms 176 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome

Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada welled upward on the currents. Barnacles fastened themselves to solid surfaces. A variety of mud- eaters plowed through the soft muds. Predatory worms hunkered in their burrows, waiting for unsuspecting mollusks to pass within range. One noteworthy worm is Ottoia. Named by Walcott after Otto Creek, thumb-sized Ottoia is one of the largest worms in the local sediments. At its tail grew a cluster of hooks, helpful in anchoring the animal solidly in its burrow. At its head was an extendable snout, or proboscis. It too was covered with hooks and spines. The proboscis could project to capture prey, which the worm then swallowed whole. It fed on small brachiopods and mollusks, and one specimen has been found with bits of another Ottoia in its belly. Trilobites, the signature Cambrian fossils, abound in the Burgess Shale. But even the trilobites aren't standard issue. One, Naroia, has an unusual two- piece exoskeleton. (Most trilobites wear a three-piece suit.) Soft-bodied forms, such as Tegopelte, are also present. They hint that softbodied trilobites may have been more common than other fossil evidence leads us to believe. In fact, soft-bodied organisms are far more prevalent here than hard-shelled creatures are, suggesting that soft-bodied animals were probably the most numerous creatures in the seas but simply weren't preserved very often, one of the biases of the fossil record. Marrella is one such soft-bodied animal. Walcott discovered it on the trail beneath the quarry in 1909; researchers now have more than 15,000 specimens. Rarely longer than a fingernail, elegant Marrella has a wedge-shaped head crowned by prominent flaring spines and long antennae. A profusion of legs - up to 26 pairs, each with lacelike gills attached - inspired Walcott to call it "lace-crab." Many specimens of Marrella have dark stains nearby - likely from body contents' being squeezed out after the animal's death, since one specimen clearly shows a strand of intestine. Apparently the largest predator in the Cambrian seas was Anomalocaris. It rippled through the water with the undulations of a stingray. Large, overlap- ping lobes along the bottom of its body helped propel it. Its spine-studded limbs grasped trilobites and other animals, and its circular mouth engulfed them. Determining exactly what kind of an animal Anomalocaris was has long been a problem for scientists. Detached limbs were described in 1892 by Canadian paleontologist J. Whiteaves. Mouth parts were first thought to belong to a jellyfish. And a spiny arm, first discovered apart from the rest of the animal, was simply called "appendage F." It was not until 1981 that researcher Harry Whittington discovered that the limbs belonged to the same kind of animal that had the -unusual mouth. Even today, no one knows what Anomalocaris was most closely related to. Another unusual predator was Opabinia. Opabinia was about as long as a hitchhiker's thumb. The tail end carried a steering system comprised of three pairs of thin blades pointing upward. The head was a rounded knob bearing five compound eyes. Four of the eyes grew on stalks surrounding the fifth central eye. From the bottom of the head grew a nozzlelike appendage that was non-retractable, wrinkled like an elephant's trunk, and ended in a claw. Its size suggests that it was probably used for clutching food and bringing it around to the mouth.


Macrofossils: Their localities in Alberta, Canada Among these animals slipped the tiny ribbon Pikaia. Its flattened body, tapered at each end, probed among grains of coarse sediments. Its seemingly two-lobed head had a pair of slender tentacles and may have borne eyes. Pikaia's gut is visible as a shiny strand running most of its fossilized length. Parallel to the gut is the strip that so intrigues researchers. It is the first known occurrence of the tough sheath that later developed into a backbone. Feel your lower spine: Pikaia is directly related to us. The reef may have been a prosperous settlement, but it was an unstable one. Water-logged muds periodically slumped down the slope. Storms pounded the edge, stirring clouds of silt into suspension. Small creatures were swirled into the disorienting clouds and carried away or buried by the settling sediments. Perhaps a massive slab of the reef structure itself collapsed in what geologists call a megatruncation, sliding downslope into cold, oxygen-poor water. There, in the darkness, the future Burgess Shale fossils were entombed. With little available oxygen, scavengers were uncommon, and even bacteria could not break down the tiny carcasses. Decay slowed down, and as more and more sediment accumulated on the site, organic remains gradually compacted into thin films preserved on bedding planes of what became, over the millennia, rock. Taking a Closer Look If new finds and new interpretations are the basic stuff of paleontology, then the Burgess Shale is rich in the basics. Walcott's specimens continue to be studied, and even in 1991, Royal Ontario Museum paleontologist Des Collins identified more strange creatures, including a tentaclefringed "sea-apple.”

References Monty Reid (Sept. 1992). Ghosts of the Burgess Shale. In: Earth. Pages 39-45 See Also Fossils of the Burgess shale at:

http://www.geo.ucalgary.ca/~macrae/Burgess_Shale/



Location map of the Fossil bearing Burgess Shale, British Columbia A: Mount Wapta B: Mount Stephen C: Mount Burgess D: Mount Field Access to hike to any of the fossil locations shown here is possible only with special permission from the Government of Canada. You can arrange to join an organized hike into the area by contacting Yoho National Park, P.O. Box 99, Field, B.C., V0A 1G0 (604) 3436324.



Fossil List of the Burgess Shale



Mount Stephen

Mount Stephen to Mount Dennis



The Cathedral Escarpment on Mount Stephen, as seen from the Escarpment locality on Mount Field.



Mount Field

The Cathedral Escarpment on Mount Field as viewed from Fossil Gully on Mount Stephen 183 http://leblanc.jacques.googlepages.com/fossilhome


The Cathedral Escarpment on the West side of Fossil Ridge between Wapta Mountain and Mount Field


macrofossils

macrofossils

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