Zabriskie Quartzite

Zabriskie Quartzite
Stratigraphic range: [1]
Zabriskie Point in Death Valley, the locality after which the formation is named.
TypeGeologic formation
Sub-units
  • Resting Springs and Emigrant Pass Member
UnderliesCarrara Formation
OverliesWood Canyon Formation
Thickness0–2,000 feet (0–610 m)[1]
Lithology
PrimaryQuartzite
Location
RegionInyo County, California, Nye County, Nevada
CountryUnited States
Type section
Named forZabriskie Point

The Zabriskie Quartzite is a Cambrian Period geologic formation of the northern Mojave Desert, in Inyo County, California and Nye County, Nevada. It is named for its occurrence at Zabriskie Point, located on the eastern slopes of Death Valley in Death Valley National Park.

Geology

The Zabriskie Quartzite, as its name suggests, is predominately composed of pink quartz arenite rocks, which are massive to cross-bedded in nature. It is known to cover an area of 36,000 km2 (14,000 sq mi) around the border between California and Nevada. It is overlain by the carbonate-siliciclastic Carrara Formation, whilst it is underlain by the sandstone Wood Canyon Formation.[2][3]

Palaeoenvironment

The environment of the Zabriskie Quartzite is interpreted to have been that of a tidally influenced nearshore, inferred from the varying symmetrical and combined-wavy ripple marks, mud cracks and raindrop impressions that cover exposed surfaces, alongside the presence of ichnotaxon, such as Skolithos and Monocraterion.[4][3]

Paleobiota

The Zabriskie Quartzite contains a wealth of ichnotaxon, such as classical Skolithos burrows, as well as discoidal macrofossils which are interpreted to be medusozoan in nature, as such representing the oldest known Phanerozoic medusozoans, but also the oldest known medusozoan stranding.[5][3]

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
 Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Ichnogenera

Genus Species Notes Images
Skolithos[1][4]
  • Skolithos sp.
 Burrows.
Arenicolites[5][3]
  • Arenicolites sp.
 Burrows.
Monocraterion[4][3]
  • Monocraterion sp.
 Burrows.
Planolites[3]
  • Planolites sp.
 Burrows.

Undescribed

Genus Species Notes Images
Discoidal macrofossils[5]
  • ???
 13 Large discoidal macrofossils, which are inferred to be medusozoan in origin. Attaining sizes between 3–21 cm (1.2–8.3 in) in diameter, these may represent the oldest known Phanerozoic medusozoans, as well as the oldest known medusozoan stranding.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Stewart, J. H. "Upper Precambrian and Lower Cambrian Strata, in the Southern Great Basin California and Nevada" (PDF). U.S. Geological Survery. Geological Survey Professional.
  2. ↑ Springer.com: "Tidal Deposits in the Zabriskie Quartzite (Cambrian), Eastern California and Western Nevada"; John J. Barnes, George deVries Klein.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Westacott, Sophie; Zhao, Mingyu; Tarhan, Lidya G. (October 2024). "Extent and biogeochemical impact of Skolithos piperock in the lower Cambrian Zabriskie Quartzite (California, USA)". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 651 112381. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112381.
  4. 1 2 3 Barnes, John J.; Klein, George deVries (1975). "Tidal Deposits in the Zabriskie Quartzite (Cambrian), Eastern California and Western Nevada". Tidal Deposits: 163–169. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-88494-8_19.
  5. 1 2 3 Sappenfield, Aaron D.; Tarhan, Lidya G.; Droser, Mary L. (July 2017). "Earth's oldest jellyfish strandings: a unique taphonomic window or just another day at the beach?". Geological Magazine. 154 (4): 859–874. doi:10.1017/S0016756816000443.


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