Chemo- and biostratigraphy of the Gaojiashan section (northern Yangtze platform, South China): a new Pc-C boundary section
The widespread, terminal Ediacaran Dengying Formation (~ 551–~ 542 Ma) of South China hosts one of the most prominent negative carbonate carbon isotope excursions in Earth's history and thus bears on the correlation of the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary worldwide. The dominantly carbonate strata...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pensoft Publishers
2015-06-01
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| Series: | Fossil Record |
| Online Access: | http://www.foss-rec.net/18/105/2015/fr-18-105-2015.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797369701126373376 |
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| author | A. Gamper U. Struck F. Ohnemueller C. Heubeck S. Hohl |
| author_facet | A. Gamper U. Struck F. Ohnemueller C. Heubeck S. Hohl |
| author_sort | A. Gamper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The widespread, terminal Ediacaran Dengying Formation (~ 551–~ 542 Ma)
of South China hosts one of the most prominent
negative carbonate carbon isotope excursions in Earth's history and thus
bears on the correlation of the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary worldwide. The
dominantly carbonate strata of the Dengying Formation are largely studied
for their unique preservation of its terminal Ediacaran fauna but their
geochemical context is poorly known. This study presents the first
high-resolution stable isotope record (δ<sup>13</sup>C, δ<sup>18</sup>O)
of calcareous siliciclastic shallow-water deposits of the
Gaojiashan section (Shaanxi Province). The section includes (in ascending
order) the Algal Dolomite Member, the Gaojiashan Member and the Beiwan
Member of the Dengying Formation. Our data record a major δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>carb</sub>
negative excursion to −6 ‰ in the
uppermost Gaojiashan Member which is comparable in shape and magnitude to
the global Precambrian–Cambrian boundary negative δ<sup>13</sup>C
excursion. Our data set is consistent with a "shallow-water anoxia"
scenario which is thought to contribute to the "Cambrian explosion". The
stratigraphic occurrence of <i>Cloudina</i> and a large negative δ<sup>13</sup>C
excursion suggest that the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary is located near the
top of the Gaojiashan Member and, consequently, that overlying carbonates
and dolomites of the Beiwan Member are of earliest Cambrian age. Thus the
Gaojiashan section may represent a new shallow-water section spanning the
Precambrian–Cambrian boundary. Although bio- and chemostratigraphic data
support this novel interpretation, we cannot exclude the possibility that the
key excursions may represent a local perturbation indicating a
restricted-basin environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:50:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f63184a78ed44f07b165c97843dd0a20 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2193-0066 2193-0074 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:50:39Z |
| publishDate | 2015-06-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fossil Record |
| spelling | doaj.art-f63184a78ed44f07b165c97843dd0a202024-01-02T08:32:24ZengPensoft PublishersFossil Record2193-00662193-00742015-06-0118210511710.5194/fr-18-105-2015Chemo- and biostratigraphy of the Gaojiashan section (northern Yangtze platform, South China): a new Pc-C boundary sectionA. Gamper0U. Struck1F. Ohnemueller2C. Heubeck3S. Hohl4Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, GermanyMuseum für Naturkunde Berlin, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstraße 43, 10115 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Geosciences and MARUM – Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, University of Bremen, Leobener Str., 28359 Bremen, GermanyInstitut für Geologische Wissenschaften, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteserstraße 74-100, 12249 Berlin, GermanyInstitut für Geologische Wissenschaften, Freie Universität Berlin, Malteserstraße 74-100, 12249 Berlin, GermanyThe widespread, terminal Ediacaran Dengying Formation (~ 551–~ 542 Ma) of South China hosts one of the most prominent negative carbonate carbon isotope excursions in Earth's history and thus bears on the correlation of the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary worldwide. The dominantly carbonate strata of the Dengying Formation are largely studied for their unique preservation of its terminal Ediacaran fauna but their geochemical context is poorly known. This study presents the first high-resolution stable isotope record (δ<sup>13</sup>C, δ<sup>18</sup>O) of calcareous siliciclastic shallow-water deposits of the Gaojiashan section (Shaanxi Province). The section includes (in ascending order) the Algal Dolomite Member, the Gaojiashan Member and the Beiwan Member of the Dengying Formation. Our data record a major δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>carb</sub> negative excursion to −6 ‰ in the uppermost Gaojiashan Member which is comparable in shape and magnitude to the global Precambrian–Cambrian boundary negative δ<sup>13</sup>C excursion. Our data set is consistent with a "shallow-water anoxia" scenario which is thought to contribute to the "Cambrian explosion". The stratigraphic occurrence of <i>Cloudina</i> and a large negative δ<sup>13</sup>C excursion suggest that the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary is located near the top of the Gaojiashan Member and, consequently, that overlying carbonates and dolomites of the Beiwan Member are of earliest Cambrian age. Thus the Gaojiashan section may represent a new shallow-water section spanning the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary. Although bio- and chemostratigraphic data support this novel interpretation, we cannot exclude the possibility that the key excursions may represent a local perturbation indicating a restricted-basin environment.http://www.foss-rec.net/18/105/2015/fr-18-105-2015.pdf |
| spellingShingle | A. Gamper U. Struck F. Ohnemueller C. Heubeck S. Hohl Chemo- and biostratigraphy of the Gaojiashan section (northern Yangtze platform, South China): a new Pc-C boundary section Fossil Record |
| title | Chemo- and biostratigraphy of the Gaojiashan section (northern Yangtze platform, South China): a new Pc-C boundary section |
| title_full | Chemo- and biostratigraphy of the Gaojiashan section (northern Yangtze platform, South China): a new Pc-C boundary section |
| title_fullStr | Chemo- and biostratigraphy of the Gaojiashan section (northern Yangtze platform, South China): a new Pc-C boundary section |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chemo- and biostratigraphy of the Gaojiashan section (northern Yangtze platform, South China): a new Pc-C boundary section |
| title_short | Chemo- and biostratigraphy of the Gaojiashan section (northern Yangtze platform, South China): a new Pc-C boundary section |
| title_sort | chemo and biostratigraphy of the gaojiashan section northern yangtze platform south china a new pc c boundary section |
| url | http://www.foss-rec.net/18/105/2015/fr-18-105-2015.pdf |
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