The record of Ediacaran Basin transformation from the deepwater Mistaken Point Formation, Avalon Terrane, Newfoundland

A significant transition in the Mistaken Point Formation, a deepwater Ediacaran fossil-bearing unit in Newfoundland, marks the transformation from a backarc to a foreland basin. This shift, occurring around 565–557 million years ago, is characterized by changes in sediment provenance and paleoflow patterns. The study identifies two distinct submarine fan systems: the Middle Cove Member, fed transversely by a west-facing slope, and the Hibbs Cove Member, dominated by south-southeast flow on a structurally confined slope. Detrital-zircon geochronology reveals increased erosion of West Avalonian cover successions and basement, alongside synsedimentary igneous activity. The diachronous transition in sediment supply contrasts with synchronous structural transformation, providing insights into the tectonic and paleoenvironmental context of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Khatrine, G., & Lowe, D. G. (2025). The record of Ediacaran Basin transformation from the deepwater Mistaken Point Formation, Avalon Terrane, Newfoundland. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 95(4), 777–795. https://doi.org/10.2110/jsr.2024.170