Fossils of the Littleton formation (Lower Devonian) of New Hampshire

Abstract

Reexamination and study of fossils collected from 3 localities in New Hampshire show the presence of the brachiopods Amiriiigenia and Eofler&naria cf. E. arciiata at 2 of the localities. The evidence suggests a correlation of the containing strata with the Camden chert (Lower Devonian) of Tennessee. All the fossils are from slightly metamorphosed (chlorite zone) strata of the Littleton formation in northern New Hampshire. Fossils from highly metamorphosed (sillimanite zone) rocks correlated with the Littleton formation are determined to be of post-Early Ordovician age. Several thousand feet of unfossiliferous post-Silurian rocks, below the fossiliferous strata (Littleton formation) in the Littleton quadrangle, are present in part of the adjoining Whitefield quadrangle. The absence of these strata in part of the Whitefleld quadrangle may be due to nondeposition or to erosion prior to deposition of strata of Camden age.