PALEONTOLOGY AND PRELIMINARY PALEOECOLOGY OF THE LIMESTONE BEDS OF THE ORDOVICIAN LOWER DOLGEVILLE FORMATION

Fossils were collected from the limestone beds of the lower Dolgeville Formation in Central New York. The two collection sites are located near the southern limit of outcrop exposure. The initial intent was to verify outdated and possilby erroneous faunal lists. With few exceptions, most of the taxa reported have been verified as acutally occurring in this unit. Subsequent observations of a general nature raise questions concerning depositional environment and paleoecology.

Although none of the fossils from the limestone were collected from oriented slabs, most of the fossils appear to be oriented in positions that are not parallel to bedding. On the other hand, the presence of Flexicalymene senaria in Salter's position seemingly contradicts data from other fossils. Furthermore, the cephalopods, both orthocone and coiled nautiloids, are the only taxa that exhibit pyritization. Additional study and refinement regarding deposition and paleoecology is needed.