Paleocommunity reconstruction from shell beds: A case study from the main Glauconite bed, Eocene, Texas (2024)

Zuschin, M., & Stanton, R. J. (2002). Paleocommunity reconstruction from shell beds: A case study from the main Glauconite bed, Eocene, Texas. Palaios, 17(6), 602-614. http://www.scopus.com/scopus/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0036969295&partnerID@&rel=R5.6.0

Zuschin, Martin ; Stanton, Robert J. / Paleocommunity reconstruction from shell beds: A case study from the main Glauconite bed, Eocene, Texas. in: Palaios. 2002 ; Band 17, Nr. 6. S. 602-614.

@article{a4f201ef238843a897c5a29098de3ea6,

title = "Paleocommunity reconstruction from shell beds: A case study from the main Glauconite bed, Eocene, Texas",

abstract = "The Main Glauconite Bed (MGB), near the top of the Eocene Stone City Member (Crocket Formation), Texas, has been considered to contain a typical local paleocommunity (parautochthonous assemblage formed within a stable habitat). Microstratigraphic analysis, however, reveals a complex sedimentologic and taphonomic history for the MGB, a unit that is 1.7-1.9 m thick and consists of three intercalated small-scale facies interpreted to represent differing modes of deposition. The primary autochthonous inner-shelf sediments are dark glauconitic clay-silts with a matrix-supported polytaxic fossil assemblage. Recurrent storms produced thin (few mm to cm) layers of mostly simple, bioclast-supported, polytaxic shell concentrations. These distal tempestites occur mainly as small-scale lenses and as a few beds and pods, associated with glauconite-pellets, terrigenous sands, and scare sedimentary structures. Subsequent burrowing destroyed most skeletal concentrations and formed patches of fossils, glauconite-pellet sand, and terrigenous, very fine sand. The assemblages in the three facies are dominated by corbulids, naticids, turrids, noetiids, and the solitary coral Turbinolia sp., and are indistinguishable based on their taxonomic composition and most of the taphonomic features (disarticulation, fragmentation, incrustation, corrasion, shell repair, and predatory drill holes). Only drilled shells are significantly more abundant in the bioturbated patches than in the two other facies. The only strong evidence for the presence of allochthonous faunal elements is the lack of right valves of anomiid bivalves. The scarcity of significant differences between facies indicates the presence of one basic paleocommunity that was modified by small-scale and short-term depositional events and bioturbation, but which can still be recognized in spite of having been preserved by three different suites of depositional processes. Microstratigraphic analysis of bioclastic deposits can recognize small-scale sedimentologic and biostratinomic processes that otherwise frequently are over looked in paleoecological studies. Such processes have only minor influence on taxonomic composition and taphonomic features, which are therefore robust characteristics of a fossil assemblage.",

author = "Martin Zuschin and Stanton, {Robert J.}",

note = "Affiliations: Institut fu;r Pal{\"a}ontologie, Universit{\"a}t Wien, Althanstra{\ss}e 14, Vienna A-1090, Austria; Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A/M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States Adressen: Stanton Jr., R.J.; Dept. of Invertebrate Paleontology; Nat. Hist. of the Los Angeles County; 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007, United States Source-File: 535Scopus.csv Import aus Scopus: 2-s2.0-0036969295 Importdatum: 11.01.2007 16:48:55",

year = "2002",

language = "English",

volume = "17",

pages = "602--614",

journal = "Palaios",

issn = "0883-1351",

number = "6",

}

Zuschin, M & Stanton, RJ 2002, 'Paleocommunity reconstruction from shell beds: A case study from the main Glauconite bed, Eocene, Texas', Palaios, Jg. 17, Nr. 6, S. 602-614. <http://www.scopus.com/scopus/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0036969295&partnerID@&rel=R5.6.0>

Paleocommunity reconstruction from shell beds: A case study from the main Glauconite bed, Eocene, Texas. / Zuschin, Martin; Stanton, Robert J.

in: Palaios, Band 17, Nr. 6, 2002, S. 602-614.

Veröffentlichungen: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Artikel › Peer Reviewed

TY - JOUR

T1 - Paleocommunity reconstruction from shell beds: A case study from the main Glauconite bed, Eocene, Texas

AU - Zuschin, Martin

AU - Stanton, Robert J.

N1 - Affiliations: Institut fu;r Paläontologie, Universität Wien, Althanstraße 14, Vienna A-1090, Austria; Department of Geology and Geophysics, Texas A/M University, College Station, TX 77843, United StatesAdressen: Stanton Jr., R.J.; Dept. of Invertebrate Paleontology; Nat. Hist. of the Los Angeles County; 900 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90007, United StatesSource-File: 535Scopus.csvImport aus Scopus: 2-s2.0-0036969295Importdatum: 11.01.2007 16:48:55

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - The Main Glauconite Bed (MGB), near the top of the Eocene Stone City Member (Crocket Formation), Texas, has been considered to contain a typical local paleocommunity (parautochthonous assemblage formed within a stable habitat). Microstratigraphic analysis, however, reveals a complex sedimentologic and taphonomic history for the MGB, a unit that is 1.7-1.9 m thick and consists of three intercalated small-scale facies interpreted to represent differing modes of deposition. The primary autochthonous inner-shelf sediments are dark glauconitic clay-silts with a matrix-supported polytaxic fossil assemblage. Recurrent storms produced thin (few mm to cm) layers of mostly simple, bioclast-supported, polytaxic shell concentrations. These distal tempestites occur mainly as small-scale lenses and as a few beds and pods, associated with glauconite-pellets, terrigenous sands, and scare sedimentary structures. Subsequent burrowing destroyed most skeletal concentrations and formed patches of fossils, glauconite-pellet sand, and terrigenous, very fine sand. The assemblages in the three facies are dominated by corbulids, naticids, turrids, noetiids, and the solitary coral Turbinolia sp., and are indistinguishable based on their taxonomic composition and most of the taphonomic features (disarticulation, fragmentation, incrustation, corrasion, shell repair, and predatory drill holes). Only drilled shells are significantly more abundant in the bioturbated patches than in the two other facies. The only strong evidence for the presence of allochthonous faunal elements is the lack of right valves of anomiid bivalves. The scarcity of significant differences between facies indicates the presence of one basic paleocommunity that was modified by small-scale and short-term depositional events and bioturbation, but which can still be recognized in spite of having been preserved by three different suites of depositional processes. Microstratigraphic analysis of bioclastic deposits can recognize small-scale sedimentologic and biostratinomic processes that otherwise frequently are over looked in paleoecological studies. Such processes have only minor influence on taxonomic composition and taphonomic features, which are therefore robust characteristics of a fossil assemblage.

AB - The Main Glauconite Bed (MGB), near the top of the Eocene Stone City Member (Crocket Formation), Texas, has been considered to contain a typical local paleocommunity (parautochthonous assemblage formed within a stable habitat). Microstratigraphic analysis, however, reveals a complex sedimentologic and taphonomic history for the MGB, a unit that is 1.7-1.9 m thick and consists of three intercalated small-scale facies interpreted to represent differing modes of deposition. The primary autochthonous inner-shelf sediments are dark glauconitic clay-silts with a matrix-supported polytaxic fossil assemblage. Recurrent storms produced thin (few mm to cm) layers of mostly simple, bioclast-supported, polytaxic shell concentrations. These distal tempestites occur mainly as small-scale lenses and as a few beds and pods, associated with glauconite-pellets, terrigenous sands, and scare sedimentary structures. Subsequent burrowing destroyed most skeletal concentrations and formed patches of fossils, glauconite-pellet sand, and terrigenous, very fine sand. The assemblages in the three facies are dominated by corbulids, naticids, turrids, noetiids, and the solitary coral Turbinolia sp., and are indistinguishable based on their taxonomic composition and most of the taphonomic features (disarticulation, fragmentation, incrustation, corrasion, shell repair, and predatory drill holes). Only drilled shells are significantly more abundant in the bioturbated patches than in the two other facies. The only strong evidence for the presence of allochthonous faunal elements is the lack of right valves of anomiid bivalves. The scarcity of significant differences between facies indicates the presence of one basic paleocommunity that was modified by small-scale and short-term depositional events and bioturbation, but which can still be recognized in spite of having been preserved by three different suites of depositional processes. Microstratigraphic analysis of bioclastic deposits can recognize small-scale sedimentologic and biostratinomic processes that otherwise frequently are over looked in paleoecological studies. Such processes have only minor influence on taxonomic composition and taphonomic features, which are therefore robust characteristics of a fossil assemblage.

M3 - Article

VL - 17

SP - 602

EP - 614

JO - Palaios

JF - Palaios

SN - 0883-1351

IS - 6

ER -

Zuschin M, Stanton RJ. Paleocommunity reconstruction from shell beds: A case study from the main Glauconite bed, Eocene, Texas. Palaios. 2002;17(6):602-614.