Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4466743 Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 2012 8 Pages PDF
Abstract

Continental communities represented by complex, rapidly evolving invertebrate ecosystems first appeared during the Early Palaeozoic Era and are recorded in surface and subsurface bioturbation. The Mississippian-age Mauch Chunk Formation contains several high-density bioturbated, fine-grained sandstones that are preserved as erosively based fluvial channel fills. Several of these channel sandstone bodies are almost completely homogenized by subsequent bioturbation throughout their entire thickness, up to a maximum depth of 1.6 m.The Mauch Chunk ichnofossil record demonstrates that high-density bioturbation occurred at least 30 my prior to the Permian and well before its widespread distribution in the Triassic. Hence, the Late Mississippian high-density bioturbated sandstones demonstrate a much earlier high-density exploitation of the continental subsurface ecospace than previously known.

► We have discovered intensely bioturbated channel deposits in Mississippian deposits. ► Intense bioturbation has homogenized these channel deposits. ► These deposits push back the onset of intense ecospace utilization by 30 myr.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Earth and Planetary Sciences Earth-Surface Processes
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