An analysis of the fauna in the Wolf Mountain Shale north of Strawn, Texas in Palo Pinto County

The Wolf Mountain Shale is a member of the Graford Formation of the Canyon Group that contains multiple fossiliferous units of Pennsylvanian age. An abundance of fossils is found on the Stephen Ranch in Palo Pinto County, north of Strawn, Texas. A detailed study of fossils on the Stephen Ranch was performed to establish the fossils present and the continuity with surrounding studies. Fossils were collected and identified systematically throughout the ranch area for a faunal abundance analysis to establish populations consistent within the study area. Four communities were found on the Stephen Ranch, two of which were predominately brachiopods, the other two were a bryozoan hash which has also been described as a thicket. These communities were compared to studies of the surrounding areas and found to closely resemble four communities established by previous works.