Shackleton Limestone
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The Shackleton Limestone is a Cambrian limestone formation of the Byrd Group of Antarctica. The age of the formation is established to be Cambrian Stage 3, dated at ranging from 520 to 516 Ma. This period correlates with the End-Botomian mass extinction. Fossils of trilobites and Marocella mira and Dailyatia have been found in the formation, named after Ernest Shackleton, who led a failed expedition into Antarctica. At time of deposition, the Antarctic Plate has been established to be just south of the equator as part of the supercontinent Pannotia, contrasting with its present position at 82 degrees southern latitude.[1]
Quick Facts Type, Unit of ...
Shackleton Formation | |
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Stratigraphic range: Cambrian Stage 3 ~520–516 Ma | |
Type | Geological formation |
Unit of | Byrd Group |
Underlies | Starshot Formation |
Overlies | Goldie Formation |
Lithology | |
Primary | Limestone, marble, sandstone |
Other | Quartzite, conglomerate, shale, dolomite |
Location | |
Coordinates | 82.2°S 160.3°W / -82.2; -160.3 |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 0.7°S 155.4°W / -0.7; -155.4 |
Region | Churchill Mountains of Antarctica |
Type section | |
Named for | Ernest Shackleton |
Named by | Laird |
Year defined | 1963 |
Paleogeography of the Cambrian with the supercontinent Pannotia and Antarctica south of the paleo-equator |
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