The Rockport Quarry Limestone is a geologic formation in Michigan. It preserves fossils dating back to the middle Devonian period.
Fossil content
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Color key
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Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.
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Vertebrates
The Devonian vertebrate fauna of the Rockport Quarry Limestone is the most diverse in Michigan.[1]
Acanthodians
| Acanthodians reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| ?Machaeracanthus
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?M. sp.
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A single specimen (UMMP 13047).[1]
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Cartilaginous fish
Placoderms
Invertebrates
Brachiopods
| Brachiopods reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| Chonetes
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C. mediolatus
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[4]
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Also found in the Bell Shale, Ferron Point Formation and St. Laurent Limestone.
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| Pentamerella
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P. sp. B
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Basal 8 inches of the formation.[4]
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2 specimens.[4]
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| Pholidostrophia
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P. gracilis gracilis
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[4]
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Also found in the Bell, Ferron Point and Genshaw formations.
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| Schizophoria
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S. ferronensis
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Basal 8 inches of the formation.[4]
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Also found in the Bell Shale, Ferron Point Formation and Silica Shale.
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| Schuchertella
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S. crassa
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[4]
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Also found in the lower Bell Shale, Ferron Point Formation and Arkona Shale.
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| Spinulicosta
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S. mutocosta
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[4]
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Also found in the Bell, Ferron Point, Four Mile Dam, Beebe School, Thunder Bay and Potter Farm formations.
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| Strophodonta
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S. extenuata rockportensis
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Lower 8 inches of the formation.[4]
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| Tylothyris
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T. rockportensis
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[5]
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Appears to be endemic to the Michigan Basin.
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| T. subvaricosa
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[5]
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Also found in the Cedar Valley, Milwaukee, Mineola, Bell, Ferron Point, Genshaw, Alpena, Gravel Point, Norway Point and Potter Farm formations.
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Bryozoans
Crustaceans
| Crustaceans reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| Ostracoda
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[2]
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| Phlyctiscapha
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P. rockportensis
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Basal part of the formation.[6]
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An ostracod.
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Echinoderms
| Echinoderms reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| Crinoidea
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"Observed as disaggregated ossicles, ossicles stacked en echellon, and fragments of columnals".[2]
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Molluscs
| Molluscs reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| Cephalopoda
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"All specimens collected as single-hand specimens".[2]
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| Gastropoda
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[2]
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Sponges
| Sponges reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| Clathrodictyidae
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[2]
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| Idiostromatidae
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[2]
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| Stromatoporidae
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[2]
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Trilobitomorphs
| Trilobitomorphs reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| Trilobitomorpha
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200 m south of the large sinkhole on the west wall of Rockport Quarry.[2]
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Plants and algae
| Plants and algae reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| Calcisphera
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C. sp. A
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"Abandoned quarry of the Onaway Limestone Company on the shore of Black Lake".[2]
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| C. sp. B
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"Abandoned quarry of the Onaway Limestone Company on the shore of Black Lake".[2]
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| Rhodophyta
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Indeterminate
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200 m south of the large sinkhole on the west wall of Rockport Quarry.[2]
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| Vermiporella
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"Observed as transverse sections, most specimens now irregular in shape due to crushing".[2]
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Cyanophytes
| Cyanophytes reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| Genus and species indeterminate
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Indeterminate
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"Spherical bodies 3-5 microns in diameter".[2]
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| Oncolite
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"Some post-depositional crushing of the sample has occurred".[2]
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| Renalcis
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"Abandoned quarry of the Onaway Limestone Company on the shore of Black Lake".[2]
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Foraminifera
| Foraminifera reported from the Rockport Quarry Limestone
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| Genus |
Species |
Presence
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Material |
Notes |
Images
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| Family indet.
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"Found sparsely as solitary individuals in 6 specimens".[2]
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| Nodosinellidae
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[2]
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See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Stack, Jack; Sallan, Lauren (20 September 2018). "An examination of the Devonian fishes of Michigan". PeerJ. 6 (2) e5636. doi:10.7717/peerj.5636. PMC 6151260. PMID 30258725.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Cookman, C. W. (1976). "Petrology of the Rockport Quarry Limestone (Middle Devonian Traverse Group) Alpena, Presque Isle and Montmorency Counties, Michigan". S2CID 130419618.
- ^ a b Swinehart, Anthony L.; Hoenig, Matthew M. J.; Ginter, Michal (July 2020). "A New Addition to the Devonian Elasmobranch Fauna of Michigan, U.S.A." The American Midland Naturalist. 184 (1): 109–115. doi:10.1637/0003-0031-184.1.109 (inactive 12 July 2025). ISSN 0003-0031.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
- ^ a b c d e f g h Imbrie, John (1959). "Brachiopods of the Traverse group (Devonian) of Michigan. Part 1, Dalmanellacea, Pentameracea, Strophomenacea, Orthotetacea, Chonetacea, and Productacea. Bulletin of the AMNH; v. 116, article 4". hdl:2246/1258.
- ^ a b Rogers, Frederick S.; Pitrat, Charles W. (1987). "Distribution of Tylothyris (Brachiopoda) and Its Occurrence in the Traverse Group (Middle Devonian) of Michigan". Journal of Paleontology. 61 (3): 494–507. Bibcode:1987JPal...61..494R. doi:10.1017/S0022336000028651. ISSN 0022-3360. JSTOR 1305304. S2CID 130922140.
- ^ Kesling, R. V. (1953). "A New Beyrichiid Ostracod from the Middle Devonian Rockport Quarry Limestone of Michigan". S2CID 127104889.