Fossils from the Dunnage Mélange, north-central Newfoundland

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Authors: Hibbard, James P., Stouge, S., Skevington, D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1977
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e77-107; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e77-107

Arenig conodonts and Tremadocian graptolites recovered from the Dunnage Mélange supplement previous fossil discoveries from the mélange and support the recent correlation of mélange lithologies with Exploits Group strata. The new fossil finds indicate that a block within the mélange is younger than portions of the matrix of this unit. This seemingly problematic relationship is resolvable in light of previous interpretations of a slump origin for the mélange as Tremadocian shales and Arenig carbonates were probably part of a pre-slump sedimentary–volcanic pile. The wide range in ages of fossils within the mélange is compatible with the interpretation that the mélange formed on a lower Paleozoic trench slope.