FOSSILIZATION OF AMMONITES AND SEDIMENTARY EVENTS IN DEEP ENVIRONMENTS OF CARBONATE PLATFORM (HIGHEST MIDDLE TO LOWEST UPPER OXFORDIAN, IBERIAN RANGE, SPAIN)

In the Ricla area (Zaragoza, Aragonese Branch of the Iberian Range), at the top of the Yátova Formation, grey-reddish wackestone limestones grade into yellow-green siliciclastic limestones of the Aldealpozo Formation. These changes of facies between the two successive formations are associated with...

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Main Authors: SIXTO R. FERNÁNDEZ-LÓPEZ, GUILLERMO MELÉNDEZ
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Milano University Press 2004-03-01
Series:Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia
Online Access:https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/6292
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author SIXTO R. FERNÁNDEZ-LÓPEZ
GUILLERMO MELÉNDEZ
author_facet SIXTO R. FERNÁNDEZ-LÓPEZ
GUILLERMO MELÉNDEZ
author_sort SIXTO R. FERNÁNDEZ-LÓPEZ
collection DOAJ
description In the Ricla area (Zaragoza, Aragonese Branch of the Iberian Range), at the top of the Yátova Formation, grey-reddish wackestone limestones grade into yellow-green siliciclastic limestones of the Aldealpozo Formation. These changes of facies between the two successive formations are associated with syndepositional palaeoreliefs developed during the Late Oxfordian. The uppermost deposits of the Yátova Formation represent an Oxfordian condensed section, from the upper Bifurcatus Zone (Middle Oxfordian) and Hypselum Zone (Upper Oxfordian). These deposits are interpreted as developed in an open marine, moderately deep carbonate platform, showing uniform low-energy conditions with extremely reduced carbonate and terrigenous background sedimentation, and very low sedimentation rates. The low diversity of the benthic fauna, scarce development of sponge bioherms and ammonite populations inhabiting the platform are palaeobiological criteria which corroborate these palaeoenvironmental conditions. Ammonite assemblages are composed of Sub-Mediterranean taxa. Over 900 ammonite specimens have been collected from the upper Bifurcatus and Hypselum zones. Oppeliidae (45,2%) and Perisphinctidae (37,9 %) are dominant. Aspidoceratidae (14,3%) are common. Haploceratidae (2,2%) are scarce. Two phylloceratids and a lytoceratid have been found. Ammonoids are commonly preserved as concretionary calcareous internal moulds of reelaborated elements. Resedimented shells are scarce. The degree of packing of ammonite remains and the stratigraphical persistence display high values. Taphonomic features indicative of sedimentary starving in deep carbonate platform environments are: 1) high concentrations of reelaborated ammonites, 2) taphonic population of type two, 3) phragmocones completely filled with sediment, and 4) homogeneous concretionary internal moulds, bearing no signs of abrasion, bioerosion or dense encrusting by organisms (such as serpulids, bryozoans or oysters). In conclusion, the occurrence of these ammonite associations confirms the development of an advanced deepening phase, within a 3rd order deepening/shallowing cycle, in the Aragonese platform, during the late Bifurcatus to Hypselum zones.
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spelling doaj.art-c8c8c63596574ebab5a37a92d195e7d92023-08-02T01:23:18ZengMilano University PressRivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia0035-68832039-49422004-03-01110110.13130/2039-4942/62925603FOSSILIZATION OF AMMONITES AND SEDIMENTARY EVENTS IN DEEP ENVIRONMENTS OF CARBONATE PLATFORM (HIGHEST MIDDLE TO LOWEST UPPER OXFORDIAN, IBERIAN RANGE, SPAIN)SIXTO R. FERNÁNDEZ-LÓPEZGUILLERMO MELÉNDEZIn the Ricla area (Zaragoza, Aragonese Branch of the Iberian Range), at the top of the Yátova Formation, grey-reddish wackestone limestones grade into yellow-green siliciclastic limestones of the Aldealpozo Formation. These changes of facies between the two successive formations are associated with syndepositional palaeoreliefs developed during the Late Oxfordian. The uppermost deposits of the Yátova Formation represent an Oxfordian condensed section, from the upper Bifurcatus Zone (Middle Oxfordian) and Hypselum Zone (Upper Oxfordian). These deposits are interpreted as developed in an open marine, moderately deep carbonate platform, showing uniform low-energy conditions with extremely reduced carbonate and terrigenous background sedimentation, and very low sedimentation rates. The low diversity of the benthic fauna, scarce development of sponge bioherms and ammonite populations inhabiting the platform are palaeobiological criteria which corroborate these palaeoenvironmental conditions. Ammonite assemblages are composed of Sub-Mediterranean taxa. Over 900 ammonite specimens have been collected from the upper Bifurcatus and Hypselum zones. Oppeliidae (45,2%) and Perisphinctidae (37,9 %) are dominant. Aspidoceratidae (14,3%) are common. Haploceratidae (2,2%) are scarce. Two phylloceratids and a lytoceratid have been found. Ammonoids are commonly preserved as concretionary calcareous internal moulds of reelaborated elements. Resedimented shells are scarce. The degree of packing of ammonite remains and the stratigraphical persistence display high values. Taphonomic features indicative of sedimentary starving in deep carbonate platform environments are: 1) high concentrations of reelaborated ammonites, 2) taphonic population of type two, 3) phragmocones completely filled with sediment, and 4) homogeneous concretionary internal moulds, bearing no signs of abrasion, bioerosion or dense encrusting by organisms (such as serpulids, bryozoans or oysters). In conclusion, the occurrence of these ammonite associations confirms the development of an advanced deepening phase, within a 3rd order deepening/shallowing cycle, in the Aragonese platform, during the late Bifurcatus to Hypselum zones.https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/6292
spellingShingle SIXTO R. FERNÁNDEZ-LÓPEZ
GUILLERMO MELÉNDEZ
FOSSILIZATION OF AMMONITES AND SEDIMENTARY EVENTS IN DEEP ENVIRONMENTS OF CARBONATE PLATFORM (HIGHEST MIDDLE TO LOWEST UPPER OXFORDIAN, IBERIAN RANGE, SPAIN)
Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia
title FOSSILIZATION OF AMMONITES AND SEDIMENTARY EVENTS IN DEEP ENVIRONMENTS OF CARBONATE PLATFORM (HIGHEST MIDDLE TO LOWEST UPPER OXFORDIAN, IBERIAN RANGE, SPAIN)
title_full FOSSILIZATION OF AMMONITES AND SEDIMENTARY EVENTS IN DEEP ENVIRONMENTS OF CARBONATE PLATFORM (HIGHEST MIDDLE TO LOWEST UPPER OXFORDIAN, IBERIAN RANGE, SPAIN)
title_fullStr FOSSILIZATION OF AMMONITES AND SEDIMENTARY EVENTS IN DEEP ENVIRONMENTS OF CARBONATE PLATFORM (HIGHEST MIDDLE TO LOWEST UPPER OXFORDIAN, IBERIAN RANGE, SPAIN)
title_full_unstemmed FOSSILIZATION OF AMMONITES AND SEDIMENTARY EVENTS IN DEEP ENVIRONMENTS OF CARBONATE PLATFORM (HIGHEST MIDDLE TO LOWEST UPPER OXFORDIAN, IBERIAN RANGE, SPAIN)
title_short FOSSILIZATION OF AMMONITES AND SEDIMENTARY EVENTS IN DEEP ENVIRONMENTS OF CARBONATE PLATFORM (HIGHEST MIDDLE TO LOWEST UPPER OXFORDIAN, IBERIAN RANGE, SPAIN)
title_sort fossilization of ammonites and sedimentary events in deep environments of carbonate platform highest middle to lowest upper oxfordian iberian range spain
url https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/RIPS/article/view/6292
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