Reconstructing the Avalonia palaeocontinent in the Cambrian: A 519 Ma caliche in South Wales and transcontinental middle Terreneuvian sandstones

2013 ◽  
Vol 150 (6) ◽  
pp. 1022-1046 ◽  
Author(s):  
ED LANDING ◽  
STEPHEN R. WESTROP ◽  
SAMUEL A. BOWRING
Keyword(s):  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Carbonate Platforms ◽  
Depositional Sequence ◽  
Cool Water ◽  
Subaerial Exposure ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Volcanic Ashes ◽  
Sand Sheet ◽  
Early Palaeozoic ◽  
Sequence Boundaries

AbstractAn Early Cambrian caliche on the St Non's Formation (emended) is the base of the Caerfai Bay Formation (unit-term changed) at Caerfai Bay, South Wales. Subaerial exposure and the caliche mean the two formations were not genetically related units. The St Non's is an older sand sheet (likely tidalitic, not delta-related) referred to Avalonian depositional sequence (ADS) 2, and the Caerfai Bay is a shallow mud basin unit refered to ADS 4A. The similar Random Formation (upper ADS 2) in North American Avalonia has a basal age ofc. 528 Ma and is unconformably overlain by red mudstones or sandstones in fault-bounded basins on the Avalonian inner platform. Coeval British sandstones (lower Hartshill, Wrekin, St Non's, Brand Hills?) are unconformably overlain by latest Terreneuvian (ADS 3) or Epoch 2 (ADS 4A) units. Dates of 519 Ma on Caerfai Bay ashes give an upper bracket on the late appearance of Avalonian trilobites and suggest an ADS 2–4A hiatus of several million years. Post-St Non's and post-Random basin reorganization led to abundant Caerfai Bay Formation volcanic ashes and sparse Brigus Formation ashes in Newfoundland. The broad extent of erosional sequence boundaries that bracket lithologically similar to identical units emphasize that ‘east’ and ‘west’ Avalonia formed one palaeocontinent. The inner platform in southern Britain was larger than the Midlands craton, a tectonically defined later Palaeozoic area unrelated to terminal Ediacaran – Early Palaeozoic depositional belts. The cool-water successions of Early Palaeozoic Avalonia were distant from coeval West Gondwanan carbonate platforms.

Duration of the Early Cambrian: U-Pb ages of volcanic ashes from Avalon and Gondwana

1998 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Landing ◽  
Samuel A Bowring ◽  
Kathleen L Davidek ◽  
Stephen R Westrop ◽  
Gerd Geyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Young Age ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Volcanic Ashes

Volcanic zircons from three ashes give a U-Pb date of 511 ± 1 Ma on trilobite-bearing, upper Lower Cambrian (upper Branchian Series) strata of southern New Brunswick that correlate into the Siberian middle Botomian - Toyonian Stage interval. This very young age on the late, but not latest, Early Cambrian of Avalon is consistent both with a 519 ± 1 Ma age on the older Caerfai Bay Shales of south Wales that are tentatively correlated into strata with the oldest Avalonian trilobites (lower Branchian) and with a 517 ± 1.5 Ma age on the Antatlasia gutta-pluviae Zone (trilobites) of Morocco. Determination of a 522 ± 2 Ma zircon age on the Moroccan subtrilobitic Lower Cambrian Lie de vin Formation is consistent with an earlier reported 521 ± 7 Ma age from the Lie de vin but suggests that a 526 ± 4 Ma age on Australian trilobite-bearing Lower Cambrian rocks may be too old. A 33+ Ma duration of the Avalonian Early Cambrian and an 8+ Ma length of the Avalonian trilobite-bearing Lower Cambrian support proposals that most Cambrian time was Early Cambrian and the majority of the Early Cambrian was pretrilobitic.

scholarly journals Tectono-Stratigraphic Note: Time calibration of late Carboniferous, Permian and Early Triassic Arabian stratigraphy to orbital-forcing predictions

GeoArabia ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moujahed Al-Husseini ◽  
Robley K. Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Second Order ◽  
Late Carboniferous ◽  
Orbital Forcing ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Depositional Sequence ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
Rosetta Stone ◽  
Time Calibration ◽  
Sequence Boundaries ◽  
Order Sequence

The recent publication of GTS 2004 (Gradstein et al., 2004) provides an opportunity to recalibrate in time the late Carboniferous, Permian and Early Traissic Arabian Stratigraphy (GeoArabia Special Publication 3, Edited by Al-Husseini, 2004) as represented by the rock units in subsurface Interior Oman (Osterloff et al., 2004a, b) and the Haushi-Huqf Uplift region (Angiolini et al., 2004) (Figure). Additionally, sequence stratigraphic models of orbital forcing (Matthews and Frohlich, 2002; Immenhauser and Matthews, 2004) provide new insights in regards to the time calibration of depositional sequences: the “Rosetta Stone” approach. The Rosetta Stone approach predicts that the period of a third-order depositional sequence is 2.430 ± 0.405 my (denoted DS3 and here adjusted to increase the fourth-order ‘geological tuning fork’ from 0.404 to 0.405 my based on Laskar et al., 2004). The present calibration is also tied to the orbital-forcing model developed by R.K. Matthews (in Al-Husseini and Matthews, 2005; this issue of GeoArabia) that predicts that a second-order depositional sequence (denoted DS2) consists of six DS3s that were deposited in a period of about 14.58 my (6 x 2.430 my); the DS2 being bounded by two regional second-order sequence boundaries (SB2) corresponding to sea-level maximum regression surfaces.

scholarly journals Sequence Stratigraphy of Well DX, Gongola Sub-Basin, Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1855-1860
Author(s):  
F.O. Amiewalan ◽  
E.O. Bamigboye
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Ray ◽  
Third Order ◽  
Depositional Sequence ◽  
Benue Trough ◽  
Sequence Stratigraphic ◽  
Surface System ◽  
Sequence Boundaries ◽  
System Tracts ◽  
Maximum Flooding Surface ◽  
Gamma Ray Log

: Biostratigraphic study of Well DX has yielded Cretaceous miospores and dinoflagellates cysts which heightened the recognition of sequence boundaries (SB), Maximum Flooding Surfaces (MFS) and associated Systems Tracts. Five maximum flooding surfaces between 95.6 Ma and 89.0 Ma, four sequence boundaries between 96.4 Ma and 93.0 Ma and threedepositional sequences were identified with varying average thicknesses of sediments interpreted from the gamma ray log and biostratigraphic data. The threedepositional sequences interpreted are -depositional sequence I (96.4 Ma - 95.4 Ma) (8240 ft. - 8120 ft.), depositional sequence II (95.4 Ma - 94.0 Ma) (8120 ft. - 7850 ft.) and depositionalsequence III (94.0 Ma - 93.0 Ma) (7850 ft. - 7550 ft.). All the depositional sequences fall within the third order cycle. The age of the well was attempted based on the presence of some selected marker fossils - Ephedripites spp., Classopollis spp., Spiniferites spp., Cyclonephelium distinctum, Cyclonephelium vannophorum, Subtilisphaera spp., Eucomiidites spp., Triorites africaensis, Odontochitina costata and Droseridites senonicus recovered from the studied intervals and was dated Albian - Santonian. The Sequence stratigraphic interpretations are useful in further deepening the knowledge of thesubsurface geology of the studiedwell in Gongola Sub Basin, Upper Benue Trough of Nigeria.Keywords: Sequence Boundary, Maximum Flooding Surface, System tracts, Depositional sequence

A record of dust deposition in northern, mid-latitude Pangaea during peak icehouse conditions of the late Paleozoic ice age

2020 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-363
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Oordt ◽  
Gerilyn S. Soreghan ◽  
Lars Stemmerik ◽  
Linda A. Hinnov
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Fine Sand ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Atmospheric Dust ◽  
Silicate Mineral ◽  
Subaerial Exposure ◽  
Dust Loading ◽  
Sequence Boundaries

ABSTRACT The Wordiekammen Formation, a carbonate ramp on Spitsbergen developed on the Northern Pangaean margin in Moscovian (Carboniferous) through Sakmarian (Permian) time at a paleolatitude of 30–35° N. The study site on the Nordfjorden High was isolated from any source of fluvio-deltaic input, such that detrital material that occurs in this system experienced eolian transport, thus forming a proxy for atmospheric dust loading. We analyzed two intervals, of Moscovian (10 m) and Asselian (27 m) age, at 20 cm resolution, and identified five mid-ramp subtidal facies organized in upwardly shallowing, high-frequency sequences 3–5 m thick. High-frequency sequence boundaries commonly exhibit signs of subaerial exposure (e.g., Microcodium) developed atop subtidal facies, recording glacioeustatic falls (glacial phases), although the Moscovian section has a severe karst overprint attributable to prolonged exposure on a paleohigh. Samples were processed to isolate the silicate-mineral fraction (SMF), which includes both detrital silicate material and authigenic silica mostly in the form of (fine-sand-size) doubly terminated quartz crystals. Detrital cores in these crystals, together with other evidence, indicate recrystallization from fine-grained (silt- and clay-size) dust. Analysis of the dust record demonstrates that the Asselian (peak icehouse) had a significantly higher atmospheric dust load than the Moscovian (moderate icehouse). In the Asselian interval, dust input varies commensurate with glacial–interglacial cyclicity. Highest dust contents correspond to transgressive facies immediately above sequence boundaries, indicating peak atmospheric dust loading at lowstand to incipient interglacial times. Provenance data from detrital-zircon and whole-rock geochemistry indicate two distinct source regions for the dust. Dust from the Moscovian and lower Asselian intervals reflects a continental island-arc signature consistent with sourcing from the basement of northeast Greenland. Dust from the upper Asselian interval is more consistent with recycling from Devonian and Carboniferous strata of the east Greenland Caledonides, likely deflated from fluvial systems draining this orogenic system, indicating an expansion of regions of eolian deflation.

Faunas and Cambrian volcanism on the Avalonian marginal platform, southern New Brunswick

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. 884-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Landing ◽  
Susan C. Johnson ◽  
Gerd Geyer
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Volcanic Edifice ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Early Paleozoic ◽  
Middle Cambrian ◽  
Cool Water ◽  
Senior Synonym ◽  
Lane Formation

The Cambrian inlier at Beaver Harbour, southern New Brunswick, is now confidently referred to the marginal platform of the late Proterozoic–Early Paleozoic Avalon microcontinent. The sub-trilobitic Lower Cambrian Chapel Island and Random Formations are unconformably overlain by the mafic volcanic-dominated Wade's Lane Formation (new). Late Early Cambrian trilobites and small shelly taxa in the lowest Wade's Lane demonstrate a long Random–Wade's Lane hiatus (middle Terreneuvian–early Branchian). Latest Early–middle Middle Cambrian pyroclastic volcanism produced a volcanic edifice at Beaver Harbour that is one of three known volcanic centers that extended 550 km along the northwest margin of Avalon. Middle Middle Cambrian sea-level rise, probably in theParadoxides eteminicusChron, mantled the extinct volcanics with gray-green mudstone and limestone of the Fossil Brook Member. Black, dysoxic mudstone of the upper Manuels River Formation (upper Middle Cambrian,P. davidisZone) is the youngest Cambrian unit in the Beaver Harbour inlier.Lapworthella cornu(Wiman, 1903) emend., a senior synonym of the genotypeL. nigra(Cobbold, 1921),Hyolithellus sinuosusCobbold, 1921, and probablyAcrothyra seraMatthew, 1902a, range through the ca. 8 m.y. of the trilobite-bearing upper Lower Cambrian, andH. sinuosusandA. serapersist into the middle Middle Cambrian.Lapworthella cornuandH. sinuosusreplaced the tropical taxaL. schodackensis(Lochman, 1956) andH. micansBillings, 1872, in cool-water Avalon.

scholarly journals Development and dolomitization of Anisian isolated carbonate platforms in the Transdanubian Range, Hungary

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Carbonate Platforms ◽  
Southwestern Part ◽  
Volcanic Tuff ◽  
Subaerial Exposure ◽  
Extensional Tectonic ◽  
Platform Margin ◽  
Transdanubian Range ◽  
The Comparative Study ◽  
Tectonic Movements

Abstract In the Middle Anisian, extensional tectonic movements led to the development of isolated carbonate platforms in the area of the southwestern part of the Transdanubian Range. The platforms are made up of meter-scale peritidal–lagoonal cycles bounded by subaerial exposure surfaces. One of the platform successions (Tagyon Platform) consists predominantly of limestone that contains partially and completely dolomitized intervals, whereas the other one (Kádárta Platform) is completely dolomitized. Drowning of the platforms took place in the latest Pelsonian to the early Illyrian interval when submarine highs came into existence and then condensed pelagic carbonate successions with volcanic tuff interbeds were deposited on the top of the drowned platforms from the late Illyrian up to the late Ladinian. The comparative study of dolomitization of the coeval platforms, affected by different diagenetic histories, is discussed in the current paper. Traces of probably microbially-mediated early dolomitization were preserved in the slightly dolomitized successions of the Tagyon Platform. This might also have been present in the successions of the Kádárta Platform, but was overprinted by geothermal dolomitization along the basinward platform margin and by pervasive reflux dolomitization in the internal parts of the platform. The Carnian evolution of the two submarine highs was different, and this may have significantly influenced the grade of the shallow to deeper burial dolomitization.

Precise early Cambrian U–Pb zircon dates bracket the oldest trilobites and archaeocyaths in Moroccan West Gondwana

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ed Landing ◽  
Mark D. Schmitz ◽  
Gerd Geyer ◽  
Robin B. Trayler ◽  
Samuel A. Bowring
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Carbonate Platform ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Lower Range ◽  
Cool Water ◽  
West Gondwana ◽  
Lower Member ◽  
Evolutionary Radiation ◽  
Age Model ◽  
Atdabanian Stage

Abstract New U–Pb radioisotopic ages on early Cambrian volcanic zircons condition a high-resolution Bayesian age model that constrains the first occurrences and zonations of West Gondwanan archaeocyaths and trilobites in southern Morocco. The oldest archaeocyaths in the Tiout Member of the Igoudine Formation (519.71 + 0.26/− 0.35 Ma) are c. 6 Ma younger than the oldest Siberian archaeocyaths. The oldest Moroccan trilobite fragments, from the lower member of the Igoudine, are constrained to 519.95 + 0.43/− 0.40 Ma. The succeeding Issendalenian Stage (i.e. Hupetina antique – Eofallotaspis tioutensis – Fallotaspis plana – Choubertella – Daguinaspis trilobite zones) spans c. 1.5 Ma (519.78 + 0.26/− 0.37 Ma to 518.43 + 0.25/− 0.69 Ma). Identifiable Moroccan fallotaspidids and bigotinids, among Earth’s oldest trilobites, occur above a positive δ13C excursion dated with our age model at 520.27 + 0.59/− 0.57 Ma, and correlated with the IV excursion peak within the lower range of Siberian Atdabanian Stage trilobites (Repinaella Zone). This excursion is the best standard for a Cambrian Series 2 base. The oldest West Gondwana trilobite fragments are c. 1 Ma younger than those in Siberia and c. 0.5 Ma older than the oldest Avalonian trilobites (Callavia Zone). This diachrony means a trilobite first appearance datum is an inappropriate chronostratigraphic base for Cambrian Series 2. Taxonomic differences in the oldest trilobites between Cambrian palaeocontinents are in accordance with trace fossil evidence for the group’s appearance possibly as late as c. 530 Ma in the Cambrian Evolutionary Radiation. Coeval 519–517 Ma dates from Avalonia (cool-water siliciclastic shelf) and West Gondwana (tropical carbonate platform) sections with distinct macrofaunas emphasize these successions were latitudinally separate by the late Ediacaran Period.

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