The Stull shale member of the Kanwaka formation crops out extensively in Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas. The Stull is often a medium gray, silty shale that has a diverse fauna that includes corals, bryozoans, brachiopods, mollusks, arthropods and echinoderms. Many of these fossils are large and have robust, ornamented shells that suggest they lived in fairly well oxygenated, shallow water near an ancient shore.
Diphuicrinus
- Date Entered: 03/14/02
- Description: "Diphuicrinus" sp., dorsal cup, summit view.
- Database ID: 150
Echinoderms from the Stull Shale
In Heckel's cyclothemic model, the Stull Shale is a near shore shale that was deposited in fairly shallow, fairly warm water. Crinoids that lived in this kind of environment where food supplies were abundant tended to develop fairly large crowns with thick, often ornamented plates. Pabian and Strimple (1970, 1985) used the crinoids from the Stull Shale as a basis for what they first called a "Type I" and later a shallow water or near shore crinoid assemblage. Holterhoff (1988) further refined the near shore crinoid assemblages by showing that they often had complex, multi-branching, heavily pinnulated arms. The Stull shale also contains a diverse fauna of marine invertebrate fossils that includes corals, bryozoans, brachiopods, mollusks, arthropods, and other echinoderms.
More in the Collection
Diphuicrinus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Diphuicrinus" sp., dorsal cup, summit view.
- Database ID: 150
Delocrinus vulgatus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Delocrinus vulgatus" Moore and Plummer, dorsal cups, summit and basal views.
- Database ID: 151
Delocrinus vulgatus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Delocrinus vulgatus" Moore and Plummer, crown, anterior view, height is approximately 65 mm.
- Database ID: 152
Delocrinus vulgatus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: Delocrinus vulgatus Moore and Plummer, partial crown, posterior view, cup diameter is approximately 30 mm.
- Database ID: 153
Delocrinus vulgatus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Delocrinus vulgatus" Moore and Plummer, immature partial crown, anterior view.
- Database ID: 154
Graffhamicrinus magnificus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Graffhamicrinus magnificus" (Strimple), dorsal caps, basal and summit views, approximate diameter is 28 mm.
- Database ID: 155
Graffhamicrinus magnificus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: Graffhamicrinus magnificus (Strimple), partial crown, basal view, cup diameter is approximately 28 mm.
- Database ID: 156
Graffhamicrinus magnificus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: Graffhamicrinus magnificus (Strimple), partial crown, posterior view, cup diameter is approximately 28 mm.
- Database ID: 157
Graffhamicrinus magnificus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: Graffhamicrinus magnificus (Strimple), partial crown, basal v iew, cup diameter is approximately 35 mm.
- Database ID: 158
Graffhamicrinus magnificus
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: Graffhamicrinus magnificus (Strimple), partial crown, summit view, cup diameter is approximately 35 mm.
- Database ID: 159
Graffhamicrinus stullensis
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Graffhamicrinus stullensis" (Strimple), dorsal cup with primibrachials attached, basal view, cup diameter is approximately 30 mm.
- Database ID: 160
Parulocrinus blairi
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Parulocrinus blairi" Miller and Gurley, dorsal cup, summit view, approximate diameter is 38 mm.
- Database ID: 161
Bivalves from the Stull Shale
Aviculopinna sp.
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Aviculopinna" sp. (Razor Clam).
- Database ID: 142
Myalina subquadrata
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: Myalina subquadrata (Shumard)
- Database ID: 143
Schizodus sp.
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Schizodus" sp.
- Database ID: 144
Schizodus wheeleri
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Schizodus wheeleri" (Swallow), steinkern showing the internal surfaces of right and left valves.
- Database ID: 145
Schizodus wheeleri
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Schizodus wheeleri" (Swallow), steinkern showing the internal surfaces of right and left valves.
- Database ID: 146
Septimyalina perattenuata
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Septimyalina perattenuata" (Meek and Hayden)
- Database ID: 147
Wilkingia terminale
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Wilkingia terminale", Burrowing Clam (Hall)
- Database ID: 148
Gastropod (Snails) from the Stull Shale
Naticopsis sp.
- Date Posted: 03/14/02
- Description: "Naticopsis" sp.
- Database ID: 149
Acknowledgments
Most of the brachiopod specimens were provided by Bill Rushlau of the Nebraska Mineral and Gem club, Omaha. Digital camera images were made by Ed Schafer, Ralston Public Schools.
References
- Dunbar, C. O., and Condra, G. E., 1932. Brachiopoda of the Pennsylvanian System in Nebraska: Nebraska Geological Survey, 2nd Series, Bulletin 5, 377 p.
- Mudge, M. R., and Yochelson, E. L., 1962. Stratigraphy and paleontology of the uppermost Pennsylvanian and lowermost Permian in Kansas: U. S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 323, 207 p.
- Muir-Wood, H. M., and Cooper, G. A., 1960. Morphology, classification and life habits of the Productoidea (Brachiopoda): Geological Society of America memoirs 81, 447 p.
- Moore, R. C., (Editor), 1966. Treatise on invertebrate paleontology: Part H, Brachiopoda: University of Kansas Press and Geological Society of America, 1145 p.
- Schrott, R. O., 1966. Paleoecology and stratigraphy of the Lecompton Megacyclothem in the northern midcontinent region. University of Nebraska, Lincoln, unpublished PhD dissertation.
- Sturgeon, M. T., and Hoare, R. D., 1968. Pennsylvanian Brachiopods of Ohio. Ohio department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey, Bulletin 63. 95 p.
