Fluvial and eolian strata at Lower Economy contain abundant fragmentary remains of a diverse suite of reptiles, synapsids and amphibians that indicate an age older than typical middle Wolfville assemblages (i.e. early Tuvalian [earliest Late Carnian]). Olsen (1997) placed these so-called "Lower Economy beds" in Tectonostratigraphic Sequence I based on superficial facies similarity to the Honeycomb Point Formation of New Brunswick and an inferred age of Anisian (early Middle Triassic). However, the basal Timezgadiwine Formation of the Argana basin of Morocco (T4 of Tixerant) has a very similar set of vertebrates and is regarded as Julian (earliest Carnian). In the Argana basin, these strata are conformably overlain by T5, which contains vertebrate assemblages the same age as the middle Wolfville. Furthermore, TS I of Morocco (the Ikakern Formation) has proved to be Permian and there is preliminary data that the Honeycomb Point Formation is also Permian.

Unfortunately, because of time and tide constraints we will not be able to visit these units on the field trip.

References:

Olsen, P. E. 1997. Stratigraphic record of the early Mesozoic breakup of Pangea in the Laurasia-Gondwana rift system. Annual Reviews of Earth and Planetary Science v. 25, p. 337-401.