Stromatoporoids from the Famennian (Devonian) Wabamun Formation, Normandville oilfield, north–central Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Stromatoporoids are the principal framebuilding organisms in the patch reef that is part of the reservoir of the Normandville field. The reef is 10 m thick and 1.5 km2 in area and demonstrates that stromatoporoids retained their ability to build reefal edifices into Famennian time despite the biotic crisis at the close of Frasnian time. The fauna is dominated by labechiids but includes three non-labechiid species. The most abundant species is Stylostroma sinense (Dong) but Labechia palliseri Stearn is also common. Both these species are highly variable and are described in terms of multiple phases that occur in a single skeleton. The other species described are Clathrostroma cf. C. jukkense Yavorsky, Gerronostroma sp. (a columnar species), and Stromatopora sp. The fauna belongs in Famennian/Strunian assemblage 2 as defined by Stearn et al. (1988).