CRINOID COLUMNS PRESERVED IN LIFE POSITION IN THE SILURIAN ARISAIG GROUP OF NOVA-SCOTIA, CANADA

Unusually, crinoid columns are preserved perpendicular to sub-perpendi cular to bedding (=life orientation)in the Upper Silurian Moydart Form ation, Arisaig Group, of Nova Scotia. Such preservation has only rarel y been reported previously. These columns invariably lack the crown an d any obvious mode of attachment. Loss of the crown presumably occurre d after the distal column was buried; the stalk may even have continue d to live after loss of the crown. Absence of any obviously boot struc ture may be due to cut effect or could be indicative that at least som e Paleozoic crinoids lacked in identifiable attachment. Burial was rap id, but not enough to topple the crinoids, and occurred as a series of sediment influxes.