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Taphonomy of exceptionally preserved fossils from the Kinzers Formation (Cambrian), southeastern Pennsylvania

Skinner, Ethan S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1090592371

Abstract Details

2004, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Geological Sciences.
The pelitic Emigsville Member of the Kinzers Formation (Cambrian), southeastern Pennsylvania, is a deposit of exceptional fossil preservation. It contains three main lithofacies that were part of a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate debris fan developed seaward of a carbonate shelf along the Appalachian margin of Laurentia. Fossils were exceptionally preserved in a shelf environment subject to tempestite deposition. Most remains are fragmentary, which emphasizes the importance of predation as a taphonomic process where Emigsville sediments were deposited. Remains are preserved mostly as organic carbon films, pyrite crusts, and aluminosilicate films. These preservation styles apparently depended upon the development of microbial consortia; some microbes were autolithifiers. Sedimentary and biological evidence suggests that anoxia, salinity fluctuations, and sedimentary obrution played relatively minor roles for fossil preservation in the Emigsville Member of the Kinzers Formation. The abundance of exceptionally preserved remains suggests that unusual sedimentary conditions were not necessary in the Cambrian in order for exceptional preservation to occur. The abundance of predation evidence in a deposit of exceptional preservation reinforces the concept that predation was the primary taphonomic filter during Cambrian time.
Loren Babcock (Advisor)
167 p.
paleontology; Cambrian; Kinzers Formation; exceptional preservation; Burgess Shale type deposits; lagerst&228; tten

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Skinner, E. S. (2004). Taphonomy of exceptionally preserved fossils from the Kinzers Formation (Cambrian), southeastern Pennsylvania [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1090592371

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Skinner, Ethan. Taphonomy of exceptionally preserved fossils from the Kinzers Formation (Cambrian), southeastern Pennsylvania. 2004. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1090592371.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Skinner, Ethan. "Taphonomy of exceptionally preserved fossils from the Kinzers Formation (Cambrian), southeastern Pennsylvania." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1090592371

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2004, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.