Gauja Formation

Gauja Formation
Stratigraphic range: Givetian
~388–384 Ma
↓
The Ergelu Cliffs along Gauja River, Latvia belong to the Gauja Formation
TypeGeological formation
Sub-unitsSietin & Lode Members
UnderliesAmata Formation
OverliesPlavinas Formation
Thickness80 m (260 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherSiltstone
Location
Coordinates57°18′N 25°07′E / 57.30°N 25.12°E / 57.30; 25.12
Approximate paleocoordinates10°54′S 10°42′E / 10.9°S 10.7°E / -10.9; 10.7
Country Estonia
 Latvia
Type section
Named forGauja River
Gauja Formation is located in Latvia
Gauja Formation
Gauja Formation (Latvia)

The Gauja Formation is a Middle Devonian fossil locality in Estonia and Latvia.[1] It is named after the Gauja River, where it is exposed along the banks.[2]

Description

The Gauja Formation has a maximum thickness of 80 m (260 ft). It is composed of weakly to moderately cemented layers of fine-grained to very fine-grained sandstone. The layer is predominantly light to yellowish-gray in color, but can be pinkish brown or variegated. It is mostly composed of quartzose arenites. It is overlain by the 30 m (98 ft) thick Amata Formation and the Plavinas Formation.[3]

The Gauja Formation contains two cyclic members. The lower layers are known as the Sietiņi Member and are composed mostly of sandstone with a thin layer of siltstone at the top. [3]

The upper layers are thicker, and the lower part of it is known as the Lode Member. The Lode Member dates from the Middle Devonian and is composed of light colored sandstone. The area is indicative of a near-shore environment of retreating sea.[3]

Paleontology

The Sietiņi and Lode members have yielded numerous fossils of fishes. Among them are Asterolepis, Bothriolepis, Psammolepis, Cheirolepis, Glyptolepis baltica, Laccognathus panderi, Livoniana multidentata, Strunius, Panderichthys and Megadonichthys kurikae[1][4][5][6] The first fossils of young placoderms ever discovered were found in the Gauja formation. Ranging in size from as small as 10.4 mm to as big as 38 mm (0.4 to 1.4 in) long, these fossils are important for our understanding of ontogeny in extinct fish.[4]

Asterolepis ornata

Only large plant remains and miospores are known from this member. Examples of which include Hostinella, Archaeopteris, Retusotriletes rugulatus, and Ancyrospora. Palynological studies indicate that the Middle to Upper Devonian boundary may exist in this member.[7]

Archaeopteris sp.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Gauja Stage". Geological collections of Estonia, Institute of Geology at TUT, University of Tartu, Estonian Museum of Natural History.
  2. ^ "Gauja River". Tūrisma informācija īpaši aizsargājamā dabas teritorijā – Gaujas nacionālajā parkā. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26.
  3. ^ a b c Anne Kleesment; Väino Puura; Toivo Kallaste (2002). "Clastic dikes in Middle Devonian sandstones of the Gauja Formation, southeastern Estonia". Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Geology. 52 (3). Estonian Academy Publishers: 155–177.
  4. ^ a b Upeniece, I. (2001-01-01). "The unique fossil assemblage from the Lode Quarry (Upper Devonian, Latvia)". Fossil Record. 4 (1): 101–119. Bibcode:2001FossR...4..101U. doi:10.5194/fr-4-101-2001. ISSN 2193-0074.
  5. ^ Ahlberg et al., 2000
  6. ^ Upeniece, Ieva (1995). "A new species of Strunius(Sarcopterygii; Onychodontida) from Latvia; Lode quarry (Upper Devonian)". Geobios. 28: 281–284. Bibcode:1995Geobi..28..281U. doi:10.1016/S0016-6995(95)80127-8.
  7. ^ Elga Mark-Kurik; Alain Blieck; Stanislas Loboziak; Anne-Marie Candlier (1999). "Miospore Assemblage from the Lode Member (Gauja Formation) in Estonia and the Middle-Upper Devonian Boundary Problem". Proceedings of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Geology. 48 (2). Estonian Academy Publishers: 86–97. doi:10.3176/geol.1999.2.02.

Bibliography