Fossil Flies

From Whipsaw Creek, BC

Fossil specimen of a March Fly (Plecia sp.) from the Allenby Formation, Whipsaw Creek, British Columbia, about 20 km south of Pemberton.

These shales were deposited between 52.5 and 48 million years ago and allowed for preservation of delicate plants and animals such as this fly.

These deposits are ‘fluvial’, meaning that they formed in river environments. These shales were likely deposited in small, overgrown lakes and ponds on a floodplain, and the lack of oxygen in the still waters prevented decomposition of the animals after they died and sank to the bottom of the lake.

Preservation of large amounts of plant material in this same environment also formed the coal seams associated with this area of British Columbia.

Specimen Information

Store: Association for Mineral Exploration (AME)

Collection: –

Accession #: 918f

Primary Fossil: Mayflies

Secondary Fossils: Plant fragments

Site Locality: Whipsaw Creek

Location: nr. Princeton, British Columbia

Special Features: n/a

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