Environmental significance of Ophiomorpha in a transgressive–regressive sequence of the Spitsbergen Paleocene
The study focuses on occurrences of Ophiomorpha burrows in a transgressive–regressive succession composing the Early Paleocene Firkanten Formation deposited in paralic, prodelta to delta front conditions in the Central Basin of Spitsbergen. The burrows colonize sandstones of the Todalen Member at fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2016-04-01
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| Series: | Polar Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/24192/pdf_70 |
| _version_ | 1818232504830656512 |
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| author | Jenȍ Nagy Francisco J. Rodríguez Tovar Matías Reolid |
| author_facet | Jenȍ Nagy Francisco J. Rodríguez Tovar Matías Reolid |
| author_sort | Jenȍ Nagy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The study focuses on occurrences of Ophiomorpha burrows in a transgressive–regressive succession composing the Early Paleocene Firkanten Formation deposited in paralic, prodelta to delta front conditions in the Central Basin of Spitsbergen. The burrows colonize sandstones of the Todalen Member at four sites and belong to two ichnospecies: Ophiomorpha cf. nodosa, forming dominantly vertical shafts; and O. cf. irregulaire, consisting of horizontal sinuous tunnels ending in subconical shafts. Both species are observed in shoreface sandstones deposited as a barrier bar. Lithological features and stratigraphic positions suggest that the trace-makers preferentially colonized high-energy sand environments. Foraminiferal faunas occurring below and above the barrier sandstones indicate brackish water conditions for the Ophiomorpha levels, which accordingly are of restricted, monospecific nature. It is inferred that the trace-makers had a dominantly suspension feeding habit as a modern analogue Calianassa major. Portrayed in a sequence stratigraphic framework, the Ophiomorpha-bearing sandstones in middle reaches of the Central Basin were deposited in the final stage of the transgressive systems tract, which drowned the underlying coal-bearing paralic facies. Moreover, in the northern, coal-rich parts of the basin, occurrence of Ophiomorpha signals marine ingression into the paralic system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:07:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a3746fafec924fa2a0455cdeb2fa9ab7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-8369 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:07:21Z |
| publishDate | 2016-04-01 |
| publisher | Norwegian Polar Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polar Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-a3746fafec924fa2a0455cdeb2fa9ab72022-12-22T00:26:23ZengNorwegian Polar InstitutePolar Research1751-83692016-04-0135011510.3402/polar.v35.2419224192Environmental significance of Ophiomorpha in a transgressive–regressive sequence of the Spitsbergen PaleoceneJenȍ Nagy0Francisco J. Rodríguez Tovar1Matías Reolid2 Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, PO Box 1047 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway Department of Stratigraphy and Paleontology, University of Granada, Campus Fuentenueva sn, ES-18071 Granada, Spain Department of Geology, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas sn, ES-23071 Jaén, SpainThe study focuses on occurrences of Ophiomorpha burrows in a transgressive–regressive succession composing the Early Paleocene Firkanten Formation deposited in paralic, prodelta to delta front conditions in the Central Basin of Spitsbergen. The burrows colonize sandstones of the Todalen Member at four sites and belong to two ichnospecies: Ophiomorpha cf. nodosa, forming dominantly vertical shafts; and O. cf. irregulaire, consisting of horizontal sinuous tunnels ending in subconical shafts. Both species are observed in shoreface sandstones deposited as a barrier bar. Lithological features and stratigraphic positions suggest that the trace-makers preferentially colonized high-energy sand environments. Foraminiferal faunas occurring below and above the barrier sandstones indicate brackish water conditions for the Ophiomorpha levels, which accordingly are of restricted, monospecific nature. It is inferred that the trace-makers had a dominantly suspension feeding habit as a modern analogue Calianassa major. Portrayed in a sequence stratigraphic framework, the Ophiomorpha-bearing sandstones in middle reaches of the Central Basin were deposited in the final stage of the transgressive systems tract, which drowned the underlying coal-bearing paralic facies. Moreover, in the northern, coal-rich parts of the basin, occurrence of Ophiomorpha signals marine ingression into the paralic system.http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/24192/pdf_70Trace fossilsPaleoceneshoreface sandstonesbrackish watertransgression signal. |
| spellingShingle | Jenȍ Nagy Francisco J. Rodríguez Tovar Matías Reolid Environmental significance of Ophiomorpha in a transgressive–regressive sequence of the Spitsbergen Paleocene Polar Research Trace fossils Paleocene shoreface sandstones brackish water transgression signal. |
| title | Environmental significance of Ophiomorpha in a transgressive–regressive sequence of the Spitsbergen Paleocene |
| title_full | Environmental significance of Ophiomorpha in a transgressive–regressive sequence of the Spitsbergen Paleocene |
| title_fullStr | Environmental significance of Ophiomorpha in a transgressive–regressive sequence of the Spitsbergen Paleocene |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental significance of Ophiomorpha in a transgressive–regressive sequence of the Spitsbergen Paleocene |
| title_short | Environmental significance of Ophiomorpha in a transgressive–regressive sequence of the Spitsbergen Paleocene |
| title_sort | environmental significance of ophiomorpha in a transgressive regressive sequence of the spitsbergen paleocene |
| topic | Trace fossils Paleocene shoreface sandstones brackish water transgression signal. |
| url | http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/24192/pdf_70 |
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