Swithland Formation

The Swithland Formation is a geologic formation in Leicestershire, and lies within the wider Swithland Wood and The Brand area. It preserves ichnotaxon dating back to the Cambrian period.

Swithland Formation
Stratigraphic range: Cambrian 532–520 Ma[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Swithland Wood and The Brand, which gave the first half of its name to the formation, which itself can be found here.
Type	Formation
Unit of	Brand Group
Sub-units	South Quarry Slump Breccia, Lubcloud Greywackes and Morley Lane Tuffs Members
Overlies	Brand Hills Formation[2]
Thickness	260 m (853 ft)[2]
Lithology
Primary	Pelite
Other	Shale, Greywacke, Conglomerate
Location
Region	Leicestershire
Country	United Kingdom
Type section
Named for	Swithland Wood and The Brand

Paleobiota

The Swithland Formation preserves a lot of Cambrian ichnogenera, which are usually attributed to burrowing organisms like marine annelids. The most important one from this formation is Teichichnus, which was the first one found, and the one that proved this Brand Group was Cambrian in age, which also led to the discovery and research of a diorite unconformity between the Brand and Maplewell Groups.^[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.

Ichnogenera

Genus	Species	Notes	Images
Palaeophycus[1]	Palaeophycus isp.	Burrows.
Planolites[1]	Planolites isp.	Burrows.
Skolithos[1]	Skolithos isp.	Burrows.
Teichichnus[1]	T. rectus	Burrows.

See also

• Earth sciences portal
• United Kingdom portal
• Paleontology portal

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in the United Kingdom