Earth:Wood Canyon Formation

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Short description: Geologic formation in the northern Mojave Desert
Wood Canyon Formation
Stratigraphic range: Ediacaran-Cambrian
TypeGeologic formation
UnderliesZabriskie Quartzite Formation
OverliesSterling Quartzite Formation
Thickness0–2,500 feet (0–762 m)
Location
RegionMojave Desert, California and Nevada
CountryUnited States

The Wood Canyon Formation is a geologic formation in the northern Mojave Desert of Inyo County, California and Nye County and Clark County, Nevada.[1][2]

It can be seen in the Panamint Range and Funeral Mountains adjoining Death Valley, within Death Valley National Park; and in the Spring Mountains in Clark County.[1]

Geology

The 570+ million years old formation underlies the Zabriskie Quartzite Formation, and overlies the Stirling Quartzite Formation.[1][3]

It has members of quartzite, shale, sandstone, and dolomite.[1]

Fossils

It preserves scattered olenellid trilobite and archaeocyathid fossils in upper part of formation, dating back to the Ediacaran period of the Neoproterozoic Era and Lower Cambrian Period of the Paleozoic Era.[1][2][4]

See also

  • List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in California
  • List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Nevada
  • Paleontology in California
  • Paleontology in Nevada

References