The fossils in exposed rocks along the cliffs at Fortune Head are also of great interest, because the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary marks a fundamental change in Earth's history: the first appearance of skeletal and bioturbating (sediment eating or mixing) organisms.
Roughly 540 million years ago, marine organisms began to use food more efficiently. The subsequent dramatic increase in species richness and diversity has been termed the "Cambrian explosion." The fossils in Fortune Head Ecological Reserve represent the beginning of this explosion.
Source: (http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/parks/wer/r_fhe/)
Fortune Head Geology:
The majority of the rocks on the Burin Peninsula are sedimentary (as well as some igneous). The rocks surrounding us here in Fortune are sedimentary. (They include sandstones, limestones, siltstones, and shales) These rocks host the fossils at Fortune Head. Sedimentary rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks or pieces of once-living organisms. Weathering and erosion break down pre-existing rocks into particles called sediment. These sediments accumulate on the Earth’s surface and harden to form sedimentary rocks.
Stratigraphy explanation:
The principle of superposition states that “Sedimentary layers are deposited in a time sequence, with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top”. This is a foundational principle of sedimentary stratigraphy.
What is a GSSP?
The Fortune Head Ecological Reserve was selected in 1992 as a Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) representing the boundary between the Precambrian eon and the Cambrian period, roughly 543 million years ago
A GSSP is an internationally agreed upon reference point on a stratigraphic section which defines the lower boundary of a stage on the geologic time scale (in this case it represents the lower stage of the Cambrian period which is the start of the Paleozoic era)
The rocks found at Fortune Head have been determined to be the best site in the World over similar sites in both China and Russia for seeing the Cambrian Explosion.
What is the Cambrian Explosion?
It occurred about 543 million years ago at the Precambrian-Cambrian time boundary. It was a time of rapid evolution (rapid still meaning a very long time). Life forms in the Precambrian consisted of simple, single-celled, asexual organisms. During this explosion of life, many more organisms evolved and these were more complicated, multi-celled, sexual organisms.
*Fossils at Fortune Head cannot be easily viewed as access is dangerous*
Questions for logging:
1. What’s odd about the fossil site? (Hint: things you don’t want any more) Apparently the site has changed since I was last there as no one is getting this right. It used to be the dump for garbage but I guess its been all cleaned up!
2. Which period of geologic time contains the first hard-bodied organisms?
3. What is a GSSP and why is it important?
4. How many white posts are on the viewing platforms where the storyboards are located? (not the helipad)
Please email answers to me, don't not post in log!