Palaeobiology of Early Carboniferous lacustrine biota of the Waaipoort Formation (Witteberg Group), South Africa
Date
1999
Authors
Evans, F J
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Volume Title
Publisher
Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research
Abstract
The Early Carboniferous (Visean) Waaipoort Formation (Cape Supergroup, Witteberg Group) is a heterolithic sandstone dominated formation containing apatite-rich and calcite-rich fossiliferous nodules. Exposures of the Waaipoort Formation (Lake Mentz Subgroup) are not common and are found within the Cape Fold Belt in the Eastern and Western Cape. Fossils in the formation include palaeoniscoid fishes, sharks, acanthodians, ichnofauna, thin-shelled unionid bivalves, two genera of plants, and a cyrtoctenid eurypterid. The salinity of the Waaipoort dual basin depository is interpreted as being fresh to brackish water with some minor fluctuations. The palaeoenvironment is interpreted as being lacustrine.
Description
Keywords
Waaiport Formation, Witteberg Group, Palaeoniscoidea, Acanthodii, Chondrichthyes