Blueflower Formation

The Blueflower Formation is a geologic formation in the Northwest Territories, and is a part of the Rackla Group.^[1] It preserves fossils dating back to the Ediacaran period.^[3]

Blueflower Formation
Stratigraphic range: Ediacaran 567.3 Ma[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Formation
Unit of	Rackla Group[1]
Sub-units	Lower and Upper Member
Underlies	Risky Formation[1]
Overlies	Gametrail Formation[1]
Lithology
Primary	Siliciclastic[2]
Other	Limestone, Mudstone, Siltstone, Sandstone[2]
Location
Region	Northwest Territories
Country	Canada

Paleobiota

Unlike most other Ediacaran formations, the Blueflower Formation is unique in that is preserves shallow and deep-marine environments, and as it correlates with other Avalonian formations such as those in Newfoundland and Labrador, it allowed scientists to figure out whether the Ediacaran Biota started out in deep-marine environments before making their way into shallower waters.^[1] The forms that can be found across the formation are the familiar Petalonamae such as Charniodiscus, including juvenile petalonamids from the Lower Member, and from the Upper Member tubular forms such as Annulatubus, and the enigmatic Windermeria.^[1]

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.

Proarticulata

Genus	Species	Notes	Images
Windermeria[4][1]	W. aitkeni	Elongated motile organism.

Petalonamae

Genus	Species	Notes	Images
Charniodiscus[5][1]	Charniodiscus sp.	Frondose organism.
Juvenile Fronds[1]	Arborea ? Charniodiscus ? Trepassia ?	Juvenile frondose organisms, exact genus affinities unknown.
Pteridinium[6]	Pteridinium sp.	Frondose organism.

Cnidarian

Genus	Species	Notes	Images
Ediacaria[5][7]	E. flindersi	Discoid organism.
Kullingia[5][7]	Kullingia sp.	Discoid organism.

incertae sedis

Genus	Species	Notes	Images
Annulatubus[3]	A. flexuosus	Tubular organism.
Aspidella[1][8]	A. terrinovica	Discoid organism.
Cyclomedusa[5]	Cyclomedusa sp.	Discoid organism.
Hiemalora[4]	H. pleiomorphus	Discoid organism, possibly holdfasts of petalonamids.
Sekwia[7]	S. excentria	Discoid organism.
Sekwitubulus[3]	S. annularis	Tubular organism.

Flora

Genus	Species	Notes	Images
Beltanelliformis[5][1][8]	B. brunsae	Cyanobacterial colony.

Ichnogenera

Genus	Species	Notes	Images
Archaeonassa[3]	Archaeonassa isp.	Burrows.
Gordia[5]	G. marina	Burrows.
Helminthoidichnites[7][3]	Helminthoidichnites isp.	Burrows.
Helminthopsis[7][3]	H. abeli H. irregularis Helminthopsis isp.	Burrows.
Planolites[7][3]	P. monatanus	Burrows.
Torrowangea[3]	Torrowangea isp.	Burrows.

Undescribed

Genus	Species	Notes	Images
problematicum[1]	???	Curves and loops around, affinities unknown.

See also

• Earth sciences portal
• Canada portal
• Paleontology portal

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Northwest Territories