The Palaeoichnology of the Oxfordian of Osmington Mills, Dorset

This study looks at the ichnofacies of the Corallian group, Oxfordian (Upper Jurassic) of Osmington Mills and constructs an accurate sea level curve. The beds studied extend from the Nothe Grit Formation to the Red Beds Member in the Trigonia clavellata Formation. New divisions are given to the Nothe Grit Formation and the Sandy Block Member of the Trigonia clavellata Formation and one new bed is recognised in the Upton Member, Osmington Oolite Formation. The ichnofacies assigned to the studied section range from the Skolithos ichnofacies to the distal Cruziana ichnofacies indicating an overall shallow water assemblage. One possible new method of analysing trace fossils is introduced through studying an Asterosoma ludwigae faecal lobe discovered from the Red Beds Member of the Trigonia clavellata Formation and its accuracy, purpose and value discussed