Luning Formation

The Luning Formation is a geologic formation in Nevada. It preserves fossils dating back to the Triassic period. The lowermost strata dates to the late Carnian-early Norian boundary.

Fossil content The Luning Formation contains significant fossils of invertebrate fauna such as ammonites, bivalves and brachiopods. The site is known for its ichthyosaur fossils.

Vertebrates Vertebrates reported from the Luning Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic positionMaterial Notes ImagesActinopterygiiWest Union Canyon.S. kerri ammonoid zone.Small fish bones.An indeterminate bony fish.ChondrichthyesWest Union CanyonK. macrolobatus ammonoid zone.An elasmobranch fin spine.An indeterminate cartilaginous fish.MetapolygnathusM. primitiusPilot & Cedar Mountains.Conodont elements.A conodont.ShonisaurusS. popularisWest Union Canyon, Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park.Remains of approximately 40 individuals.A large ichthyosaur.Vertebrata indet.West Union Canyon.S. kerri ammonoid zone or above.Indeterminate bone fragments.

Invertebrates

Sagenites minaensis Spiriferina gregaria S. peneckei Terebratula debilis Terebratula suborbicularis Tibetothyris julica Arthropods Arthropods reported from the Luning Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic positionMaterial Notes ImagesPlatypleonP. nevadensisA fragmentary specimen containing two pleonal segments and the proximal portion of the left uropods.A decapod.PseudoglypheaP. mulleriCarapace.A litogastrid decapod.RosagammarusR. minichiellusShoshone Mountains.Right half of a tail.A lobster-like decapod, originally misidentified as a giant amphipod.

Brachiopods Brachiopods reported from the Luning Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic positionMaterial Notes ImagesBalatonospira?B.? cf. B. lipoldiDunlap Canyon & Cinnabar Canyon.Lower Member.Numerous specimens.A spiriferidan.PlectoconchaP. aequiplicataBerlin-Ichthyosaur state park & Pilot Mountains.Limestone and secondary dolomite member, & Lower Member.Numerous specimens.A terebratulid.P. newbyiDunlap Canyon & Cinnabar Canyon.Lower Member.Numerous specimens.A terebratulid.RhaetinaR. gregariaCinnabar & Dunlap Canyons, & Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park.Lower Member & limestone and secondary dolomite member.Around 10 specimens.A terebratulidan.SpondylospiraS. lewesensisDunlap Canyon & Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park.Lower Member.3 complete specimens, 1 brachial & 2 pedicle valves.A spiniferidan.ZeilleriaZ. cf. Z. ellipticaDunlap & Cinnabar Canyons.Lower Member.Over 12 specimens.A zeilleriid.ZugmayerellaZ. uncinataDunlap Canyon & Cinnabar Canyon.Lower Member. Numerous specimens.A spiniferidan.?Z. sp.14.5 km east of Mina, Nevada.Probably Lower Member.A pedicle valve (UMIP 6952).A spiniferidan.

Cephalopods Cephalopods reported from the Luning Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic positionMaterial Notes ImagesGuembelitesG. clavatusPilot Mountains & Shoshone Mountains.An ammonite. G. jandianusPilot Mountains & Shoshone Mountains.An ammonite. G. philostratiPilot Mountains & Shoshone Mountains.An ammonite. PararcestesP. sp.Mustang Canyon locality & Dunlap Canyon.An ammonite.StikinocerasS. kerriPilot Mountains & Shoshone Mountains.An ammonite.ThisbitesT. sp.Pilot Mountains & Shoshone Mountains.An ammonite.

Cnidarians Cnidarians reported from the Luning Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic positionMaterial Notes ImagesAmpakabastreaA. cowichanensisDunlap Canyon, Mina vicinity & Mineral County, Nevada.6 specimens.A stony coral also found in the Osobb Formation.AreaserisA. nevadaensisDunlap Canyon.Multiple specimens.A stony coral also found in California.AstraeomorphaA. confusaDunlap Canyon.2 specimens.A stony coral.CeriostellaC. martiniPilot Mountains & east of Mina.6 specimens.A stony coral also found in the Osobb Formation.C. parvaPilot Mountains.3 specimens.A stony coral also found in Alaska.CurtoserisC. dunlapcanyonaeDunlap Canyon.UMIP 17010.A stony coral also found in Alaska & Peru.DistichomeandraD. cf. minorCedar Mountains (Dicalite Summit).UMIP 26869.A stony coral.FlexastreaF. serialisMineral County, Nevada.4 specimens.A stony coral.KhytrastreaK. cuifiamorphaDunlap Canyon.UMIP 7465 & 7480.A stony coral.K. silberlingiDunlap Canyon.UMIP 17002-1.A stony coral also found in the Osobb Formation.MargarogyraM. silberlingiMineral County, Nevada.A stony coral also found in the Osobb Formation.Margarophyllidae undetermined genusEast of Mina, Pilot Mountains.Fragmentary, recrystallized specimen (UMIP 6676).A stony coral.MeandrovolzeiaM. sp.Pilot Mountains.A colony fragment UMIP 6720.A stony coral.MinasteriaM. shastensisPilot Mountains & Mina vicinity.7 specimens.A stony coral also found in California.NevadoserisN. punctataDunlap & Cinnabar Canyons.Multiple specimens.A stony coral also found in the Osobb Formation. PlectodiscusP. berlinensis West Union Canyon, Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park.UCMP 38211. A chondrophore.RetiophylliaR. nevadaeMineral County, Nevada.UCMP 153092.A stony coral.R. sp.Dunlap Canyon.Fragments of corallites.A stony coral.ThamnasteriaT. cf. smithiDunlap & Cinnabar canyons.2 specimens.A thamnasteriid coral.

Sponges Sponges reported from the Luning Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic positionMaterial Notes Images PolycystocoeliaP. silberlingiGarfield Hills. Lower Member.Oe specimen (UMIP 6653). A demosponge.

Luning Formation

Bron en licentie