scholarly journals COPROLITES FROM CALVERT CLIFFS: MIOCENE FECAL PELLETS AND BURROWED CROCODILIAN DROPPINGS FROM THE CHESAPEAKE GROUP OF MARYLAND, U.S.A.

2022 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
STEPHEN J. GODFREY ◽  
ALBERTO COLLARETA ◽  
JOHN R. NANCE
Keyword(s):  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Trace Fossils ◽  
Diameter Ratio ◽  
Fecal Pellets ◽  
Upper Miocene ◽  
Brownish Black ◽  
Small Clusters ◽  
Bivalve Shells

New finds of remarkable coprolites (fossilized feces) are here reported from the famous Miocene marine sediments of the Chesapeake Group exposed along Calvert Cliffs (Maryland, U.S.A.).  Although vertebrate coprolites have been described from these deposits, here we provide the first description of tiny invertebrate fecal pellets. Thus far, these fecal pellets have only been found in the upper Miocene (Tortonian) St. Marys Formation. The micro-coprolites represent the coprulid ichnospecies Coprulus oblongus. The fecal pellets are found in small clusters or strings of dozens to masses of many hundreds. Pellets range in size from approximately 0.4 – 2.0 mm wide by 1.0 – 5.0 mm long, and range in color from gray to brownish black. Their length/diameter ratio is always very nearly 2. These coprulids have been found in a variety of Miocene fossils/concretions including a uranoscopid neurocranium, naticid gastropod, bivalve shells, barnacle tests, and in pellet-backfilled sinuous burrows through sediment. Because the fecal pellets are often found in tiny spaces or spaces thought to be inaccessible to shelled invertebrates, the coprulids are attributed to small and soft-bodied polychaetes or other annelids. Some coprolites attributed to crocodilians from the lower-middle Miocene Calvert Formation were tunneled into, presumably the result of coprophagy, by some unknown kind of organism(s). These compound trace fossils are in the form of burrows that excavate the coprolites, the sides of which are sculptured by scratch/gouge marks.

scholarly journals De miocæne Formationer i Danmark

1961 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-45
Author(s):  
Leif Banke Rasmussen
Keyword(s):  
North Sea ◽  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Northern Germany ◽  
Lower Miocene ◽  
Upper Miocene ◽  
Type Section ◽  
Quartz Sands ◽  
P 16

The Miocene Formations of Denmark.The Miocene sediments of Denmark are restricted to the central and western part of the peninsula of Jutland. The Danish Miocene basin forms the northern part of the Miocene North Sea Basin which also covered parts of Northern Germany, Holland and Belgium. More than 200 metres of mainly micaceous clays and sands, often richly fossiliferous, were deposited. The distribution and thickness of the Miocene in Denmark is shown on the map, fig. 1, page 10.Since long the Danish Miocene has been subdivided time-stratigraphically in a Lower, Middle, and Upper division on the basis of paleontological studies by J.P.J. Ravn (1907) and Nørregaard (1916). Works by Sorgenfrei (1940, 1958) and Rasmussen (1956) recently increased our knowledge of the Danish Miocene molluscan faunas and formations.The following 6 formations are now recognized in the Miocene of Denmark (cf. fig. 7, page 41):6. Gram formation (marine). Rasmussen 1956, p. 16 (Age: Upper Miocene).5. Hodde formation (marine). This paper, p. 32 (Age: Middle Miocene).4. Odderup formation (limnic). This paper, p. 30 (Age: Middle Miocene).3. Arnum formation (marine). Sorgenfrei, 1958, p. 28 (Age: Middle Miocene).2. Ribe formation (limnic). Sorgenfrei, 1958, p. 28 (Age: Middle or Lower Miocene).1. Klintinghoved formation (marine). Klintinghoved clay, Sorgenfrei, 1940, p. 68 (Age: Lower Miocene).The type section of the Odderup formation is defined as the interval from 28,2 to 40,3 m below surface in DGU well file no. 103.50 (at Odderup Brickworks). The form ation consists of limnic sediments of quartz sands with lignite.The type section of the Hodde formation is from 13,8 to 23,4 m below surface in the well DGU well file no. 113.33 a, Hoddemark (NE of Varde). The formation consists of marine sediments of micaceous clays and sands with beds of quartz sand.The distribution of the Marine Middle Miocene of Denmark is shown on map, fig. 2, page 30 and the distribution of the Marine Upper Miocene is shown on map fig. 4, page 34.

scholarly journals An integrated approach to the coal deposits in the Mesohellenic Trough, Greece

2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Koukouzas ◽  
Pavlos Krassakis ◽  
Petros Koutsovitis ◽  
Christos Karkalis
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Spatial Relation ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Parent Plant ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Upper Miocene ◽  
Coal Deposits ◽  
Geological Map

A considerable amount of coal deposits occur within the Mesohellenic Trough in Greece. It is considered as the largest and most important basin of the last orogenic stage of the Hellenides, which is interpreted as a back-arc basin that evolved during the period of Late Oligocene to Miocene. In this study, a simplified geological map has been constructed emphasizing on the coal formation occurrences of the Mesohellenic Trough. This work has been accomplished, through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and has been organized via geodatabase as GIS data files (feature classes). For the creation of the geological map suitable homogenization and discrete representation has been implemented different geological sheets, original source and traditional maps. Next step was the geostatistical analysis using polygonal methods linked to the corresponding tabular information. Regarding the stratigraphical age, and petrographic data related to geographic distribution of the coal occurrences, these are divided into three categories: Oligocene, Middle Miocene and Upper Miocene coals, exhibiting various physicochemical and topological properties. Upper Miocene coal exhibits the greatest area and perimeter values, while the lowest values correspond to those of the Middle Miocene. Terrain models such as aspect (angle-direction) and hillshade (shaded relief) showed the spatial relation between coal occurrences and morphotectonic as long as geometrical characteristics of the study area. Coals are mainly classified as huminites including mainly huminite group minerals (90%). Their S contents can probably derive from parent plant material or a combination of parent plant material with seawater sulfates. Moisture contents are strongly connected with the sustainability of the coal use in the energy production, while their carbonation grade is strongly associated with their age and expressed by their reflectivity values. All these data have been inserted in an integrated database and can be useful for pre-mining or post mining activities (e.g. planning, analysis, management, restoration). Results of this study are available for the effective evaluation of the existing coal occurrences, which can be used with renewable energy sources providing sustainable solutions, in combination with the upcoming innovative CCS and CCU technologies. Results also showed that coals from the Mesohellenic Trough present excellent quality traits. However, their value as combustible coal is very low due to the absence of economically recoverable reserves. The largest coal lenticular bodies have been extracted in the past and the remaining occurrences do not exceed several thousand tones. Based upon existing literature and from geospatial estimations, coal deposits in the Mesohellenic Trough Basin cannot be considered as economically valuable for exploitation.

An early heron (Aves, Ardeidae, Ardea) from the Middle Miocene of Nebraska

1986 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 968-970 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan J. Becker
Keyword(s):  
Brown Coal ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Mining District ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Local Fauna ◽  
Fossil Species ◽  
Specific Identification ◽  
Upper Miocene ◽  
Living Species

The genus Ardea includes all living species of large herons. Brodkorb (1963) listed five fossil species of Ardea, and only one fossil species has since been described. Of these six, only two are unquestionably members of the genus Ardea. Ardea brunhuberi von Ammon, 1918, from the Upper Miocene Brown Coal Formation, Württemburg, Germany, was moved by Brodkorb (1980) to the Phalacrocoracidae as Phalacrocorax brunhuberi. Brodkorb (1980) considered A. lignitum Giebel, 1860, from the Sarmatian Brown Coal of Rippersroda, Thuringia, Germany, to be a large owl in the genus Bubo. Olson (1985) similarly regards A. perplexa from the Astaracian of Sansan, France, to be a large owl, possibly in the genus Bubo. The type of Ardea aureliensis Milne-Edwards, 1871, from the Oreleanian of Suevres, France, has never been illustrated or restudied and its affinities need to be confirmed (Olson, 1985). The valid fossil species are Ardea polkensis Brodkorb, 1955, from the late Hemphillian Bone Valley Mining District, Florida, and A. howardae Brodkorb, 1980, from the Plio/Pleistocene Shungura Formation, Omo Basin, Ethiopia. A large species of Ardea is also known from the late Clarendonian Love Bone Bed local fauna, Florida, but is based on material too fragmentary for specific identification (Becker, 1985). This note reports the earliest certain occurrence of Ardea now known.

scholarly journals Trace fossils from Bhuban Formation, Surma Group (Lower to Middle Miocene) of Mizoram India and their palaeoenvironmental significance

2011 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 1127-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAGHAVENDRA P TIWARI ◽  
CHINMOY RAJKONWAR ◽  
LALCHAWIMAWII ◽  
PAUL LALNUNTLUANGA JEHOVA MALSAWMA ◽  
VICTOR Z RALTE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Trace Fossils ◽  
Surma Group

scholarly journals Middle Miocene (Badenian) macroinvertebrates from Pécs-Danitzpuszta (Mecsek Mts, SW Hungary)

2021 ◽  
Vol 151 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-334
Author(s):  
Alfréd Dulai ◽  
Tamás Henn ◽  
Krisztina Sebe
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
Benthic Assemblages ◽  
Brackish Lake ◽  
Lake Pannon ◽  
Central Paratethys ◽  
Upper Miocene ◽  
Marine Deposits

This paper examines Badenian (middle Miocene) macroinvertebrates – corals and molluscs – from the Pécs-Danitzpuszta sand pit (Mecsek Mts, SW Hungary) in order to extend our knowledge on Miocene normal marine deposits of the Mecsek region. Corals occur reworked in the upper Miocene sand that was deposited in the brackish Lake Pannon, and presumably originate either from the middle Badenian Pécsszabolcs or the upper Badenian Rákos Member of the Lajta Formation. A total of seven taxa were identified. These taxa suggest subtropical conditions and a lack of coral reefs in the Badenian. Molluscs were found in situ in the upper Badenian Szilágy Clay Marl Member of the Baden Formation and the Rákos Member of the Lajta Formation. They dominantly consist of bivalves and represent benthic assemblages typical of the middle Miocene Central Paratethys.

scholarly journals Calappa praelata Lőrenthey in Lőrenthey & Beurlen, 1929 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Calappidae) from the Middle Miocene of Tresnuraghes (Oristano, Sardegna, Italy)

2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (1) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Pasini ◽  
Antonio De Angeli ◽  
Alessandro Garassino
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Middle Miocene ◽  
First Record ◽  
Upper Miocene ◽  
Italian Territory ◽  
Stratigraphic Range

We report <em>Calappa praelata</em> Lőrenthey in Lőrenthey &amp; Beurlen, 1929 (Calappidae De Haan, 1833), based upon one single carapace, three-dimensionally preserved, from the Middle Miocene of Tresnuraghes (Oristano, Sardegna, Italy). It is the first record of this species in Sardegna and Italian territory, enlarging the knowledge of distribution and its stratigraphic range in the paleo-Mediterranean basin. The species is already known from Middle-Upper Miocene of Hungary, Poland, Austria, Malta, and Spain.

Evidence from trace fossils

1985 ◽  
Vol 309 (1138) ◽  
pp. 241-242 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Marine Sediments ◽  
Trace Fossils ◽  
Trace Fossil ◽  
Fossil Evidence

I wish to emphasize the im portance of trace fossil evidence in studying the terrestrialization of invertebrates. Associations of trace fossils of arthropod origin are known from the late Silurian and Devonian non-marine sediments in the Welsh Borders, Scotland (Midland Valley and Orcadian basins), Norway (Ringerike and Hornelen basins), Spitzbergen, Appalachians of North America and Antarctica (Pollard et al . 1982, figure 15; Pollard & W alker 1984, figure 3).

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