Trilobite fauna of the Telt Bugt Formation (Cambrian Series 2–Miaolingian Series), western North Greenland (Laurentia)

John S. Peel

doi:10.37570/bgsd-2021-69-01

Abstract

Trilobites dominantly of middle Cambrian (Miaolingian Series, Wuliuan Stage) age are described from the Telt Bugt Formation of Daugaard-Jensen Land, western North Greenland (Laurentia), which is a correlative of the Cape Wood Formation of Inglefield Land and Ellesmere Island, Nunavut. Four biozones are recognised in Daugaard-Jensen Land, representing the Delamaran and Topazan regional stages of the western USA. The basal Plagiura–Poliella Biozone, with Mexicella cf. robusta, Kochiella, Fieldaspis? and Plagiura?, straddles the Cambrian Series 2–Miaolingian Series boundary. It is overlain by the Mexicella mexicana Biozone, recognised for the first time in Greenland, with rare specimens of Caborcella arrojosensis. The Glossopleura walcotti Biozone, with Glossopleura, Clavaspidella and Polypleuraspis, dominates the succession in eastern Daugaard-Jensen Land but is seemingly not represented in the type section in western outcrops, likely reflecting the drastic thinning of the formation towards the north-west. The Ehmaniella Biozone, with Ehmaniella, Clappaspsis, Blainia and Blainiopsis, is the youngest recognised biozone. The presence of Drumian Stage strata reported elsewhere in North Greenland and adjacent Ellesmere Island has not been confirmed in Daugaard-Jensen Land. Lower beds of the Cass Fjord Formation, which directly overlie the Telt Bugt Formation, are assigned to the Guzhangian Stage. New species: Fieldaspis? iubilaei, Ehmaniella tupeqarfik.

Highlights

Trilobites dominantly of middle Cambrian (Miaolingian Series, Wuliuan Stage) age are described from the Telt Bugt Formation of Daugaard-Jensen Land, western North Greenland (Laurentia), which is a correlative of the Cape Wood Formation of Inglefield Land and Ellesmere Island, Nunavut
In specimens of Kootenia cf. erromena from the Telt Bugt Formation, the maximum transverse width of the pygidial axis is greater than each pleural area whereas it is narrower in species described by Poulsen (1927) and V
Specimens of Kootenia cf. erromena from Geologiske Undersøgelse (GGU) sample 212805 are otherwise similar to K. resseri in that the pygidium usually has six pairs of spines, an axis with three rings and long tail piece, and a well-developed border; cranidia of K. resseri were not described by Poulsen (1927) nor by V

Summary

Methods

Specimens were coated with black colloidal carbon and whitened with ammonium chloride sublimate prior to photography using a Lumenera Infinity X32 digital camera and MicroNikkor 55 mm lens. GGU sample 206303 was collected by J.S. Peel on 15th July 1976 from 30 m above the base of the Telt Bugt Formation, which is about 100 m thick . GGU samples 206307–206309 were collected from the Romer Søer area (80°03’N, 60°41’W; Fig. 2) by J.S. Peel on 16th July 1976 from 2 m, 10 m and 40 m, respectively, above the base of the Telt Bugt Formation, of which about 70 m are exposed (Fig. 5). GGU samples 212805–212814 and GGU 212873 were collected by J.S. Peel on 6th–18th July 1975 from the type section of the Telt Bugt Formation (Fig. 1a, locality 5; Figs 2, 5), north-east of Telt Bugt, Daugaard-Jensen Land (79°56.3’N, 60°15’W).

Discussion

Findings