Melbourne Formation

Geologic formation in Australia

Melbourne Formation
Stratigraphic range: Ludlow epoch
~423–419 Ma
PreꞒ
Ꞓ
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
↓
TypeFormation
Unit ofMurrindindi Supergroup
UnderliesHumevale Formation
OverliesYan Yean & Anderson Creek Formations
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, siltstone
OtherShale, mudstone
Location
Coordinates
Melbourne Formation is located in Australia
Melbourne Formation
Melbourne Formation (Australia)
Show map of Australia
Melbourne Formation is located in Victoria
Melbourne Formation
Melbourne Formation (Victoria)
Show map of Victoria

The Melbourne Formation is a geologic formation in Victoria, Australia. It preserves fossils dating back to the Ludlow epoch of the Silurian period.[1][2]

Description

Paleogeography of the Early Silurian, 435 Ma

The Melbourne Formation, part of the Murrindindi Supergroup, is conformably overlain by the Humevale Formation and overlies the Yan Yean and Anderson Creek Formations. The formation comprises mainly thin-bedded siltstone and sandstones. Most beds show undisturbed Bouma sequences.[1]

Fossil content

The following fossils were reported from the formation:[2]

Eurypterids

Trilobites

Brachiopods

  • Aegiria thomasi[4]
  • ?Leptostrophia sp.[4]
  • cf. Phoenicitoechia sp.[4]

Gastropods

Bivalves

  • Ctenodontella sp.[4]
  • cf. Ctenodonta spp.[4]

Scyphozoa

  • Conulariidae indet.[4]

Corals

  • Cladopora spp.[4]
  • cf. Alveolites sp.[4]

Ophiuroidea

  • Mausoleaster sugarloafensis[5]
  • Protaster sp.[5]

Crinoids

  • Dendrocrinus saundersi[5]
  • Kooptoonocrinus nutti[5]
  • Dimerocrinitidae indet.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Melbourne Formation at the Australian Stratigraphic Units Database
  2. ^ a b Melbourne Formation at Fossilworks.org
  3. ^ Plotnick, 1999
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Talent, 1965
  5. ^ a b c d e Jell & Holloway, 1983

Bibliography

  • Plotnick, R. E (1999), Habitat of Llandoverian-Lochkovian eurypterids, in A. J. Boucot, J. D. Lawson (eds.), Paleocommunities - a case study from the Silurian and Lower Devonian, pp. 106–136
  • Jell, P. A.; Holloway, D. J. (1983), "Devonian and ?Late Silurian Palaeontology of the Winneke Reservoir Site, Christmas Hills, Victoria", Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, 95: 1–21
  • Talent, J. A (1965), "The Silurian and Early Devonian Faunas of the Heathcote District, Victoria", Geological Survey of Victoria Memoir, 26: 1–55

Further reading

  • Schleiger, N.W., 1974, Statistical methods for analysis and mapping of flysch-type sediments., Sedimentology, 21(2), p223-249