Ancient Treasure Unearthed: Remarkable 280-Million-Year-Old Fossils Found in Western Australia
280-million-year-old Jimbacrinus crinoid found near Gascoyne Junction, Western Australia. Image credit: Matthew Bietz
The alien-looking fossils of Jimbacrinus bostocki crinoids – which were once abundant in the shallow seas that covered much of Western Australia during the Permian period – were first discovered in 1949 by the manager of Jimba Jimba cattle station, for which the genus was named. Mr. J Bostock (after whom the species itself was named) found the fossils in the Cundlego Formation, a sandstone formation created by flooding and storm event deposition during the Early Permian period approximately 275 million years ago.
This deposit was found along a dry creek bed and contained the fossilized remains of numerous species that resided on the sea floor during that era. Interestingly, these fossils are usually found complete and have not been uncovered in any other location.
The alien-looking fossils of Jimbacrinus bostocki crinoids – which were once abundant in the shallow seas that covered much of Western Australia during the Permian period – were first discovered in 1949 by the manager of Jimba Jimba cattle station, for which the genus was named. Mr. J Bostock (after whom the species itself was named) found the fossils in the Cundlego Formation, a sandstone formation created by flooding and storm event deposition during the Early Permian period approximately 275 million years ago.
This deposit was found along a dry creek bed and contained the fossilized remains of numerous species that resided on the sea floor during that era. Interestingly, these fossils are usually found complete and have not been uncovered in any other location.
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