The Stanley Glacier locality is an exposure of the "thin" Stephen formation

Stephen Formation

The Stephen Formation is a middle Cambrian unit exposed in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia. It is famous for the exceptional preservation of soft-bodied fossils: the Burgess Shale biota...

 exhibiting soft-tissue preservation. Fossils were discovered by a hiker who reported the find to Parks Canada

Parks Canada

Parks Canada , also known as the Parks Canada Agency , is an agency of the Government of Canada mandated to protect and present nationally significant natural and cultural heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment in ways that ensure their ecological and commemorative...

; this brought the site to the attention of scientists who were able to study the site and describe the new biota. The discovery of Burgess Shale-type preservation in the thin Stephen was unexpected, given the absence of the Cathedral escarpment

Cathedral escarpment

The Cathedral escarpment was a submarine cliff during the Cambrian period, and is often associated with the exquisite preservation of the Burgess Shale. It runs for around 100 km through and around Yoho national park, British Columbia...

 in the area. Several new species, including Stanleycaris

Stanleycaris

Stanleycaris is an extinct, monotypic genus of anomalocaridid which existed in Canada, during the middle Cambrian . It was first named by Jean-Bernard Caron, Robert R. Gaines, M. Gabriela Mángano, Michael Streng and Allison C. Daley in 2010 and the type species is Stanleycaris hirpex...

, have already been found in exploratory excavations at the site.