Late Middle Cambrian fossils from Beaconsfield, Tasmania

Abstract

The only known Cambrian fauna of the Beaconsfield Trough has a late Middle Cambrian (PtychQgnostus nathorsti or Lejopyge laevigata Zone) age; it occurs 4.5 km south-west of Beaconsfield, northern Tasmania. The poorly preserved fauna includes an orthid brachiopod, plus the trilobites Nepea sp., cf. Erediaspis sp., a probable member of the Damesellidae, a possible solenopleurid, agnostoids and some fragmentary material. The fauna occurs about 140m below the contact with the overlying Tremadocian or Arenigian Cabbage Tree Formation, which suggests that most, if not all, of the Late Cambrian is not represented in the Beaconsfield area.