A model for organic fossilization of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Lagerstätte based on the taphonomy of "Ephemeropsis trisetalis"
Pan YH, Sha JG, Fürsich F (2014)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2014
Journal
Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology
Book Volume: 29
Pages Range: 363-377
Journal Issue: 7
Abstract
The taphonomic pathways of "Ephemeropsis trisetalis" nymphs (mayfly larvae) were systematically investigated based on fossils of different preservational types, collected during three high-stratigraphic-resolution (mm to cm) excavations in the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation in the Sihetun area of western Liaoning, China. All fossils studied are fully articulated either in three or two dimensions, which indicates that decay was terminated at a stage before the exoskeleton became disarticulated. We conclude that the Jehol organic skeletons represent at least two general types of preservation produced by pyritization and collapse/compression, respectively. The two-dimensional compressions show no evidence for authigenic minerals, but the three-dimensionally preserved fossils are wholly or partially pyritized. Our study also indicates that aluminosilicate clay and pyrite mineralization are closely associated with fossil "Ephemeropsis trisetalis" nymphs, suggesting that both clay and pyrite played important roles in lacustrine fossil preservations, as in some marine fossil Lagerstätten. We propose a general model for organic tissue fossilization in the Jehol Lagerstätte based on study of taphonomy of "Ephemeropsis trisetalis" nymphs.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
China (CN)How to cite
APA:
Pan, Y.-H., Sha, J.-G., & Fürsich, F. (2014). A model for organic fossilization of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Lagerstätte based on the taphonomy of "Ephemeropsis trisetalis". Palaios, 29(7), 363-377. https://dx.doi.org/10.2110/palo.2013.119
MLA:
Pan, Yan-Hong, Jin-Geng Sha, and Franz Fürsich. "A model for organic fossilization of the Early Cretaceous Jehol Lagerstätte based on the taphonomy of "Ephemeropsis trisetalis"." Palaios 29.7 (2014): 363-377.
BibTeX: Download