Micropaleontology across the Precambrian—Cambrian boundary in Spitsbergen

1987 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 898-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew H. Knoll ◽  
Keene Swett
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Europe ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
East European Platform ◽  
Trace Fossils ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
East European ◽  
Stratigraphic Subdivision ◽  
Biostratigraphic Correlation ◽  
Early Metazoan

Paleobiological studies of early metazoan evolution are critically dependent on the accurate stratigraphic subdivision and correlation of uppermost Proterozoic and Lower Cambrian sequences. Planktonic microfossils evolved rapidly during this period and are widely distributed and abundant in Vendian and Lower Cambrian rocks; therefore, they provide what is potentially one of the best means of correlating successions of this age. In Ny Friesland, Spitsbergen, tillite-bearing detrital rocks of the uppermost Proterozoic Polarisbreen Group are overlain without apparent unconformity by the Tokammane Formation, a tripartite lithologic sequence consisting of quartzarenites (Blårevbreen Member) overlain by dark shales with subordinate sandstone (Topiggane Member) and dolomites (Ditlovtoppen Member).Salterella, hyoliths, and other invertebrate remains occur in the upper part of the Tokammane succession; trace fossils are found in the Tokammane quartzarenites and shales, as well as in the uppermost few meters of the Polarisbreen sequence. Planktonic microfossils occur throughout the succession. They indicate that the Polarisbreen Group is Vendian in age and that a hiatus corresponding in time to the latest Vendian and (perhaps) earliest Cambrian coincides with the Polarisbreen/Tokammane boundary. Lower Topiggane shale samples contain acritarchs comparable to those found in the sub-HolmiaLontova Beds of Eastern Europe. Upper Topiggane samples contain diverse acritarch assemblages that indicate a lateHolmiaorProtolenusage, suggesting the presence of a second hiatus within the Tokammane Formation. Planktonic microfossils allow biostratigraphic correlation with other sequences both within (East Greenland) and between (East European Platform) paleocontinents. Like those from other areas, diversity trends exhibited by late Proterozoic and Early Cambrian acritarchs from Spitsbergen indicate a major Vendian episode of extinction followed by Early Cambrian rediversification of planktonic microfossils.

Lower Cambrian acritarchs from northern Spain: the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary and biostratigraphic implications

1992 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teodoro Palacios ◽  
Gonzalo Vidal
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
East European Platform ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Eastern Siberia ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Northern Spain ◽  
East European ◽  
Cantabrian Region ◽  
Biostratigraphic Correlation ◽  
Cambrian Trilobite

AbstractAcritarchs are reported from basal Cambrian rock units inthe Cantabrian region of northern Spain that are known to contain archaeocyathan and trilobite faunas. Biostratigraphic correlation of the Iberian sequences with other regions has been hampered by the strong provincialism of these faunas. However, this report of evidently cosmopolitan acritarch taxaestablishes the time equivalence of early Cambrian trilobite faunas from Iberia, Baltoscandia and the East European Platform (EEP). Our data suggest that the detrital deposition of the Lower Cambrian Herreria Formation embraces at least three (and possibly four) Lower Cambrian acritarch zones previously identified in the EEP, eastern Siberia, Baltoscandia, Scotland, Greenland, Svalbard and western North America. The early Cambrian transgression in northern Spain was probably initiated in Talsy times (Schmidtiellus mickwitzi trilobite Zone in Baltoscandia and the EEP), in part corresponding to the Dokidocyathus regularis archaeocyathian Zone of the Middle Tommotian in Siberia.

Low-temperature diagenetic illite-smectite in Lower Cambrian clays in North Estonia

Clay Minerals ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Kirsimäe ◽  
P. Jøgensen ◽  
V. Kalm
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
East European Platform ◽  
Clay Fraction ◽  
High Water ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Important Process ◽  
X Ray ◽  
East European ◽  
Ray Methods ◽  
Water Contents

AbstractEarly Cambrian sediments on the East European platform in North Estonia, represented mostly by clays and silty clays, were deposited under normal marine conditions. The sediments were never affected by significant tectonic or thermal events after sedimentation 530 Ma ago, and the clays still have high water contents. The clay fraction, divided into four sub-fractions, was studied using X-ray methods and Rb/Sr dating. Decomposition of the XRD curves was used to quantify the amounts of illitic minerals in the sub-fractions. Dating by Rb/Sr showed that the finest fraction (<0.06 µm) was formed 50–150 Ma after sedimentation. The coarser fractions also contain considerable amounts of diagenetically formed minerals. This shows that neoformation of illitic minerals in marine sediments with high water/sediment ratios is a very important process even at temperatures <35°C.

Nd isotope composition of the Ediacaran and earliest Cambrian phosphorite nodules and Fe sulphide from the East European Platform

2020 ◽  
Vol 157 (12) ◽  
pp. 2081-2088
Author(s):  
Sergey B Felitsyn ◽  
Eugeny S. Bogomolov
Keyword(s):  
East European Platform ◽  
Isotope Composition ◽  
Water Reservoir ◽  
Secular Change ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Iron Sulphide ◽  
Nd Isotope ◽  
East European ◽  
Moscow Syneclise ◽  
Nd Isotope Composition

AbstractAn enhanced concentration of phosphorus has been found at the stratigraphic level of the disappearance of Ediacaran taxa in two areas, the Cis-Dniester region and the Moscow syneclise, on the East European Platform (EEP). The isotope composition of neodymium was determined in Fe sulphide and phosphorite in the same beds. Measured εNd(t) values in diagenetic phosphate nodules are similar to those in iron sulphide from the same layer. During the Ediacaran − Early Cambrian, accumulation of radiogenic Nd in the epeiric basins on the EEP increased progressively from −17.9 and −19.4 in pyrite from the sequence bottom to −7.9 and −8.5 in the Early Cambrian pyrite of the central part of the EEP. The Ediacaran phosphate nodules show εNd(t) ranging from −12.9 to −15.0, while that in the Early Cambrian nodules is typically c. −9.0. These data indicate the secular change in Nd isotope composition of the water reservoir on the EEP from Ediacaran to Cambrian.

The problematic fossil Triplicatella from the Early Cambrian of Greenland, Canada, and Siberia

2004 ◽  
Vol 41 (11) ◽  
pp. 1273-1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian B Skovsted ◽  
John S Peel ◽  
Christian J Atkins
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Functional Morphology ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Taxonomic Affinity ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
North East ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Two New Species

The cap-shaped Early Cambrian fossil Triplicatella, previously known only from Australia, is reported from the upper Lower Cambrian of North and North-East Greenland, western Newfoundland, and Siberia. The occurrence of Triplicatella in Laurentia strengthens faunal ties between Laurentia and the Australian margin of Gondwana in late Early Cambrian times and supports hypotheses advocating the close proximity for the two palaeocontinents. Two new species, Triplicatella sinuosa n. sp., and T. peltata n. sp. are described, morphological details of which help elucidate the functional morphology and taxonomic affinity of the group. Three opercular types attributable to Triplicatella are left in open taxonomy. The postulated affinity of Triplicatella to hyoliths is confirmed, although the genus can not be placed within either of the two orders of hyoliths currently recognized.

scholarly journals Lower Cambrian trace fossils from northern Greenland

1988 ◽  
Vol 137 ◽  
pp. 43-53
Author(s):  
J Bergström ◽  
J.S Peel
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Trace Fossils ◽  
Trace Fossil ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
North West ◽  
North Greenland

Rusophyciform and cruzianaeform trace fossils are described from Lower Cambrian siliciciastic shelf deposits in North-West and North Greenland. Cruziana cf. C. dispar Linnarsson, 1869 is reported from the Dallas Bugt Formation of Inglefield Land while a new ichnospecies, Rusophycus marginatus, occurs in the Buen Formation of Peary Land and in the equivalent Humboldt Formation of Daugaard-Jensen Land. These species show no similarity to the Cruziana sp. previously described from East Greenland. The occurrence of C. cf. C. dispar could indicate some similarity in Cambrian trace fossil 'ichnofaunas' between Greenland and Europe but available material is insufficient to ciarify this relationship.

Precambrian—Cambrian boundary and correlation from southwestern and central part of Spain

1984 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Liñán ◽  
T. Palacios ◽  
A. Perejón
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
First Record ◽  
Trace Fossils ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Upper Proterozoic ◽  
Upper Vendian ◽  
General Series ◽  
Calcareous Microfossils

AbstractThis paper comprises the first palaeontological correlation between the Upper Proterozoic–Lower Cambrian Series of Ossa-Morena, Luso-Oriental-Alcúdica and Galaico-Castellana Zones of the Iberian Peninsula.The authors show the palaeontological events on acritarchs, stromatolites, cyanophyta, soft-bodied metazoa, trilobites, archaeocyathans and skeletal microfossils from three representative sequences of the above mentioned zones and discuss the position of the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary in the sequences. The Sierra de Córdoba general Series (Ossa-Morena Zone) has an erosive discontinuity between the rocks with the first record of Cambrian metazoan activity (Skolithos sp., Monomorphichnus sp., Phycodes pedum and Rusophycus sp.) and the rocks with a palynological association (Bavlinella faveolata, Protosphaeridium flexosum, Trachisphaeridium sp., aff. Octoedryxium truncatum, Phycomicetes? sp. and cf. Ooidium sp.) which suggests a Lower–Middle Vendian age. For this reason we suggest that the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary be placed at this unconformity.The upper part of the Sierra de Guadalupe Series (Luso-Oriental-Alcúdica Zone) includes detrital beds with Phycodes pedum, Planolites sp. and Treptichnus sp. which are also the first record of Cambrian metazoan activity. In the middle part of the sequences, acritarchs attributed to the genus Micrhystridium are found at the top of the Calcareous Beds. This is taken to indicate an early Cambrian age. Vendotaenids and Bavlinella faveolata are found in abundance, thus indicating a Late Vendian age for the middle part of this unit. Thus, we propose the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary be located in the upper part of the Calcareous Beds.In the Rio Uso Series (Galaico-Castellana Zone), the Azorejo Sandstones contain Rusophycus gr. radwanskii, Planolites sp. and Gordia sp. Trace fossils produced by trilobite-like arthropoda (Monomorphichnus) have been cited in the upper part of the underlying Pusa Shales. Moreover, Octoedryxium truncatum and Bavlinella faveolata are found in the lower part of this unit which suggest that the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary could be situated in the Pusa Shales.Calcareous microfossils related to annelid polychaetes are found associated with Upper Vendian acritarchs in the Calcareous Beds of Sierra de Guadalupe. They are the oldest record of skeletal metazoa in the Spanish Series.The medusoids found are associated with a Vendian flora and they are also the oldest non-skeletal metazoa record known in the Iberian Peninsula.

Early Cambrian Ediacaran-type fossils from California

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 731-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W. Hagadorn ◽  
Christopher M. Fedo ◽  
Ben M. Waggoner
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Great Basin ◽  
Lower Cambrian ◽  
Trace Fossils ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
Marine Environments ◽  
Southwestern United States ◽  
White Mountains ◽  
Lower Member ◽  
Middle Member

Ediacara-type fossils are rare in the southwestern United States, and Cambrian occurrences of soft-bodied Ediacaran-type fossils are extremely rare. We report both discoidal and frondlike fossils comparable to Ediacaran taxa from the western edge of the Great Basin. We describe one specimen of a discoidal fossil, referred to the form species ?Tirasiana disciformis, from the upper member of the Lower Cambrian Wood Canyon Formation from the Salt Spring Hills, California. Two fragmentary specimens of frond-like soft-bodied fossils are described from the middle member of the Lower Cambrian Poleta Formation in the White Mountains, California, and the upper member of the Wood Canyon Formation in the southern Kelso Mountains, California. On the basis of similarities with fossils from the lower member of the Wood Canyon Formation and from the Spitzkopf Member of the Urusis Formation of Namibia, these specimens are interpreted as cf. Swartpuntia. All fossils were collected from strata containing diagnostic Early Cambrian body and trace fossils, and thus add to previous reports of complex Ediacaran forms in Cambrian marine environments. In this region, Swartpuntia persists through several hundred meters of section, spanning at least two trilobite zones.

Stratigraphical characteristics and development of Vendian–Cambrian boundary beds on the East European Platform

1986 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Mens ◽  
E. Pirrus
Keyword(s):  
East European Platform ◽  
Sedimentary Environment ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Northwestern Part ◽  
Early Cambrian ◽  
East European ◽  
Clastic Rocks ◽  
Continuous Sedimentation ◽  
The Baltic

AbstractThe present paper serves as a review on the stratigraphy and lithological characteristics of the Cambrian–Vendian boundary beds in the northwestern part of the East European Platform. This transition interval is represented by clastic rocks accumulated in humid climatic conditions. According to the lithological and palaeontological data the corresponding (transition) interval comprises two regional series: the Valdai Regional Series and the Baltic one. They both are divided into two regional stages (from below to top): Redkino, Kotlin, Rovno and Lontova.The Redkino–Kotlin and Kotlin–Rovno boundaries are characterized by distinct contacts reflecting various changes in the sedimentary environment whereas the boundary between the Rovno and Lontova regional stages drawn on the basis of the palaeontological data only falls within the interval of continuous sedimentation.Proceeding from the study of the fossil distribution and their living conditions during late Vendian and early Cambrian on the East European Platform the lower boundary of the Cambrian is most likely situated at the base of the Baltic Series.

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