Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 1, 2026

Briscal Formation

The Briscal Formation is a geologic formation in Newfoundland and Labrador. It preserves fossils dating back to the Ediacaran period.

Last revised
Aug 1, 2026
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Briscal Formation
Stratigraphic range: Ediacaran
TypeFormation
Unit ofConception Group
Underlies
OverliesGaskiers Formation1
Thickness310 m - 1200 m(1,017 ft - 3,937 ft)23
Lithology
PrimarySandstone1
OtherArgillite, Siltstone, Shale1
Location
RegionNewfoundland and Labrador
CountryCanada

Outcrop occurrence

The Briscal Formation is a geologic formation in Newfoundland and Labrador. It preserves fossils dating back to the Ediacaran period.

Paleobiota

Like the other overlying and underlying formations, the Briscal Formation represents a rare deep-marine paleoenviroment,4 and preserves a few fossils, like the large Frondophyllas, only known from incomplete material, some of which sits at over a meter in length.5

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Petalonamae

Genus Species Notes Images
Charniodiscus3
  • Charniodiscus sp.
 Sessile frondose organism.
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Culmofrons6
  • C. plumosa
 Sessile frondose organism, junior synonym of Beothukis.7
Beothukis7
  • B. plumosa
 Sessile frondose organism.
Fractofusus3
  • Fractofusus sp.
 Sessile spindle-like frondose organism.
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Frondophyllas5
  • F. grandis
 Sessile tree-like frondose organism.
Primocandelabrum3
  • Primocandelabrum sp.
 Sessile frondose organism.
Trepassia3
  • Trepassia sp.
 Sessile frondose organism.
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See also

See also

References

References

  1. "GEOLOGY OF THE AVALON PENINSULA, NEWFOUNDLAND" (PDF).
  2. Fitzgerald, Danielle M.; Narbonne, Guy M.; Pufahl, Peir K.; Dalrymple, Robert W. (June 2024). "The Mall Bay Formation (Ediacaran) and the protracted onset of the Gaskiers glaciation in Newfoundland, Canada". Precambrian Research. 405 107369. doi:10.1016/j.precamres.2024.107369. hdl:1974/32568.
  3. "2015 Fall Field Trip: The Ediacaran fossils of the Avalon Peninsula" (PDF). www.gov.nl.ca.
  4. Wood, Donald A; Dalrymple, Robert W; Narbonne, Guy M; Gehling, James G; Clapham, Matthew E (1 October 2003). "Paleoenvironmental analysis of the late Neoproterozoic Mistaken Point and Trepassey formations, southeastern Newfoundland". Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 40 (10): 1375–1391. doi:10.1139/e03-048.
  5. Bamforth, Emily L.; Narbonne, Guy M. (November 2009). "New ediacaran rangeomorphs from Mistaken Point, Newfoundland, Canada". Journal of Paleontology. 83 (6): 897–913. doi:10.1666/09-047.1.
  6. Laflamme, Marc; Flude, Lija I.; Narbonne, Guy M. (March 2012). "Ecological tiering and the evolution of a stem: the oldest stemmed frond from the Ediacaran of Newfoundland, Canada". Journal of Paleontology. 86 (2): 193–200. doi:10.1666/11-044.1.
  7. Liu, Alexander G.; Matthews, Jack J.; McIlroy, Duncan (January 2016). "The B eothukis / C ulmofrons problem and its bearing on E diacaran macrofossil taxonomy: evidence from an exceptional new fossil locality". Palaeontology. 59 (1): 45–58. doi:10.1111/pala.12206. hdl:1983/605900ac-5976-4d0a-a4a7-dfc6aefd1566.