PALICHNOLOGY OF THE LOWER DEVONIAN WAPSKE FORMATION, PERTH ANDOVER MOUNT-CARLETON REGION, NORTHWESTERN NEW-BRUNSWICK, EASTERN CANADA

The Lower Devonian Wapske Formation of the Tobique Group in the Perth- Andover-Mount Carleton region of northwestern New Brunswick forms part of the tectonostratigraphic Tobique Zone. In this region, the formati on is 4000 to 9000 m thick and is interpreted as deep-marine turbiditi c in origin. Seven sedimentary facies are recognized. These are: congl omerate facies (Facies 1); massive and parallel-laminated sandstone fa cies (Facies 2); thin- to thick-bedded sandstone with minor mudstone i nterbeds and/or mud-capped facies (Facies 3); thin-bedded sandstone an d mudstone facies (Facies 4); thin-bedded, graded, fine-grained sandst one facies (Facies 5); thin-bedded, fine-grained sandstone and silty m udstone facies (Facies 6); and thin- and medium-bedded siltstone and m udstone facies (Facies 7). These facies are grouped into five facies a ssociations reflecting a deep-marine fan system consisting of distribu tary channels, depositional lobes, lobe or fan fringes, and interchann el areas associated with a basin plain. A relatively diverse and well- preserved ichnofauna, consisting of 23 ichnogenera (41 ichnospecies) a nd three vernacular ichnotaxa, is systematically described, these comp rising Arthraria Billings, 1872; Bergaueria Prantl, 1945; Chondrites v on Stemberg, 1833; Cochlichnus Hitchcock, 1858; Cosmorhaphe Fuchs, 189 5; Cruziana d'Orbigny, 1842; Dendrotichnium Hantzschel, 1975; Didylmau lichnus Young, 1972; Helminthoida Schafhautl, 1851; Helminthopsis Heer , 1877; Hormosiroidea Schaffer, 1928; Monomorphichnus Crimes, 1970; Ne onereites Seilacher, 1960; Palaeophycus Hall, 1847; Paleodictyon Meneg hini in Murchison, 1850; Phycodes Richter, 1850; Protopaleodictyon Ksi azkiewicz, 1970; Protovirgularia M'Coy, 1850; Rusophycus Hall, 1852; S kolithos Haldeman, 1840; Taenidium Heer, 1877; Uchirites Macsotay, 196 7; Umfolozia Savage, 1971; two track forms and indeterminate scratch m arkings. Their palaeoenvironmental distribution within the sequence co rrelates well with the interpreted submarine fan complex and compares favourably with other previously documented ichnofaunas from deep-mari ne fans. Collectively, the ichnofauna of the Wapske Formation is chara cteristic of Seilacher's (1967) Nereites ichnofacies.