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The Gravel Point Formation is a geologic formation in western Michigan . It preserves fossils dating back to the middle Devonian period and correlates with the Long Lake Limestone and Alpena Limestone .[ 1]
Description
The Michigan Basin was a shallow marine shelf during the middle Devonian , located between 30º South and 20º North latitude in central Laurasia . According to stratigraphic and paleontological examination, the sediments of the Gravel Point Formation were deposited in a shallow lagoonal reef environment.[ 1]
Fossil content
Vertebrates
Acanthodians
Bony fish
Placoderms
Invertebrates
Several species of ostracods , an unidentified arthropod 'hook', crinoid columnals and several species of polychaetes and scolecodonts are known from the formation.[ 1]
Brachiopods
Brachiopods of the Gravel Point Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Atrypa
A. corrugata
[ 1]
Douvillina
D. sp.
Lower part of the formation.[ 3]
2 specimens.[ 3]
Heteralosia
H. sp. B
2 pedicle valves.[ 3]
Leptalosia
L. radicans
[ 3]
Also found in the Norway Point , Alpena , Four Mile Dam , Genshaw , Arkona and Hungry Hollow formations.
Longispina
L. emmetensis
[ 3]
Also found in the Alpena Limestone and Four Mile Dam Formation .
Mucrospirifer
M. latus
[ 1]
A spiriferid .
M. sp.
[ 1]
A spiriferid .
Oligorhachis
O. oligorhachis
[ 3]
Also found in the Four Mile Dam Formation .
Orthopleura
O. sp. A
"Large Atrypa zone".[ 3]
One specimen (U.S.N.M. no. 124258).[ 3]
O. sp. B
"Upper Blue shale".[ 3]
One specimen (U.S.N.M. no. 124280).[ 3]
Pentamerella
P. aftonensis
Gorbut Member.[ 3]
P. alpenensis
[ 3]
Also found in the Alpena Limestone and Four Mile Dam Formation .
P. sp. D
A small collection of large shells (the largest being 38 millimeters).[ 3]
Pholidostrophia
P. geniculata
[ 3]
Also found in the Alpena , Widder and Hungry Hollow formations.
Pseudoatrypa
P. keslingi
[ 1]
Schuchertella
S. anomala
[ 3]
Possibly also found in the Four Mile Dam Formation .
Strophodonta
S. costata
[ 1]
A strophomenid .
S. cf. S. erotica
[ 1]
A strophomenid .
S. erratica
[ 3]
Also found in the Alpena Limestone and Four Mile Dam Formation .
S. fissicosta
Upper part of the formation.[ 3]
Also found in the Four Mile Dam Formation .
S. nanus
[ 3]
Also found in the Alpena Limestone and Four Mile Dam Formation .
S. titan titan
[ 3]
Also known from the Alpena Limestone .
Truncalosia
T. gibbosa
[ 3]
Also found in the Alpena , Genshaw , Norway Point , Petoskey and Potter Farm formations, the Arkona Shale and the Hamilton Group .
Tylothyris
T. subvaricosa
[ 4]
Also found in the Cedar Valley , Milwaukee , Mineola , Bell , Rockport Quarry , Ferron Point , Genshaw , Alpena , Norway Point and Potter Farm formations.
Bryozoans
Cnidarians
Sponges
Tentaculitans
Trilobites
Color key
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text ; crossed out taxa are discredited.
Flora
Algal colonies are known from the formation.[ 1]
Acritarchs
Plants
See also
References
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Mohan, Joseph (November 2013). "A Paleoenvironmental Analysis of the Middle Devonian Gravel Point Formation, Western Michigan" . The Professional Geologist . 50 (6): 12–16.
^ a b c d e f Stack, Jack; Sallan, Lauren (2018-09-20). "An examination of the Devonian fishes of Michigan" . PeerJ . 6 (2): e5636. doi :10.7717/peerj.5636 . PMID 30258725 . S2CID 52843222 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Imbrie, John (1959). "Brachiopods of the Traverse group (Devonian) of Michigan. Part 1, Dalmanellacea, Pentameracea, Strophomenacea, Orthotetacea, Chonetacea, and Productacea. Bulletin of the AMNH ; v. 116, article 4" . hdl :2246/1258 .
^ Rogers, Frederick S.; Pitrat, Charles W. (May 1987). "Distribution of Tylothyris (Brachiopoda) and its occurrence in the Traverse Group (Middle Devonian) of Michigan" . Journal of Paleontology . 61 (3): 494–507. doi :10.1017/S0022336000028651 . ISSN 0022-3360 . S2CID 130922140 .
^ a b c d e f Watkins, J. Lloyd (1959). "Middle Devonian Auloporid Corals from the Traverse Group of Michigan" . Journal of Paleontology . 33 (5): 793–808. ISSN 0022-3360 . JSTOR 1300915 .
^ a b c d e f g Stumm, Erwin (1953). "Trilobites of the Devonian Traverse Group of Michigan" (PDF) . University of Michigan Press - Museum of Paleontology .