Significance:
Geological Formations:
Diverse shelly invertebrate biotas dominated by brachiopods, echinoderms, trilobites and molluscs (with several other minor groups), diverse trace fossils, rare fish remains (acanthodians, placoderms, sharks, bony fish) & primitive vascular plants (psilophytes, lycopods); microfossils
Shallow marine siliciclastics (alternating sandstone- and mudrock-dominated formations)
Early – Mid Devonian (Emsian – Eifelian)
Rich fossil record of these units in E. Cape poorly recorded compared with W. Cape.
Tectonic deformation limits fossil collection, especially within mudrock-rich horizons
Rich fossil invertebrate biotas commoner in mudrock-dominated units (esp. Gydo and Voorstehoek Fms), with low diversity shelly coquinas in sandstones (Dga, Dh), while trace fossils are best preserved in heterolithic units (thin bedded sandstones and mudrocks)
