Paleoenvironmental analysis of Ediacaran strata in the Catalina Dome, Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland

A new paleoenvironmental analysis of Ediacaran strata in the Catalina Dome, Newfoundland, reveals significant differences from other well-studied sites like Mistaken Point and Spaniard's Bay. The study identifies a stratigraphically higher turbidite paleocurrent shift from easterly to southerly directions, supporting a two-phase tectonic model for basin evolution. Notably, volcanic ash beds are more common and volumetrically significant in the Catalina Dome succession, suggesting proximity to a volcanic arc. This also correlates with a diverse rangeomorph fossil assemblage in the Fermeuse Formation, contrasting with the low-diversity Ediacaran discs found elsewhere in the Avalon Peninsula. The research underscores the role of taphonomy in shaping deep-water Ediacaran assemblages and provides deeper insights into the paleobiology and tectonic history of eastern Newfoundland.

Mason, S. J., Narbonne, G. M., Dalrymple, R. W., & O’Brien, S. J. (2013). Paleoenvironmental analysis of Ediacaran strata in the Catalina Dome, Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, 50(2), 197–212. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2012-0099