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Rosselia Ichnofabric in the Miocene Pullen Formation, Northwestern California: Implications for the Interpretation of Regional Tectonics

¹ Humboldt State University, Geology Department, Arcata, California 95521, USA wm1{at}humboldt.edu

The occurrence of the Rosselia ichnofabric in the basal sandstone beds of the late Miocene Pullen Formation (basal Wildcat Group) provides strong evidence that supports our interpretation of a littoral-to-inner-shelf depositional setting for the lowest division of this formation. These sediments were deposited on a wave-cut platform developed along a steep coastline. Our study reconfirms the utility of the Rosselia ichnofabric in the identification of inner-shelf depositional settings having high net deposition rates, represented by the basal Pullen sandstone beds. We demonstrate how recognition of this unique ichnofabric can inform larger-scale tectonic interpretations. The correct interpretation of paleoenvironment in the case of the lowest Pullen beds confirms the view that rapid regional subsidence occurred shortly after their deposition. This allows us to eliminate a previously published alternate hypothesis that the initial accumulation of Pullen sediments occurred at bathyal depths on an inner trench slope.