Cruziana and Helminthopsis in fluvial deposits of the uppermost Stockton Formation (Late Triassic), west-central New Jersey

Abstract

Fluvial deposits of the uppermost Stockton Formation (Late Triassic), west-central New Jersey have yielded the trace fossils Cruziana tenella and Helminthopsis isp. The ichnotaxa belong to the Scoyenia ichnofacies. On the basis of stratification and primary sedimentary structures, the beds are interpreted as deposits in a meandering stream environment. Worm-like forms, nematodes, notostracans, myriapods, and arthropods are probably responsible for most of the animal traces in moist or wet channel and point bar sediments subject to aerial exposure.

Keywords:

• Stockton formation
• Late Triassic
• nonmarine
• trace fossils
• New Jersey

Acknowledgments

I thank Feng Qi (Kean University) for her valuable technical help. I thank Luis Buatois (University of Saskatchewan) for help identifying the trace fossils. I thank Alfred Uchman (University of Jagiellonian), an anonymous reviewer, and Luis Buatois (Co-Editor) for their constructive comments that improved the original manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).