A first glimpse on the taphonomy and sedimentary environment of the Eocene siliceous sponges from Chiampo, Lessini Mts, NE Italy

Frisone V, Preto N, Pisera A, Agnini C, Giusberti L, Papazzoni CA, De Angeli A, Beschin C, Mietto P, Quaggiotto E, Monaco P, Dominici S, Kießling W, Luciani V, Roux M, Bosellini FR (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Bollettino Della Societa Paleontologica Italiana Società Paleontologica Italiana

Book Volume: 59

Pages Range: 299-313

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.4435/BSPI.2020.25

Abstract

A diverse assemblage of bodily preserved sponges has been recovered from a lower Lutetian tuffite horizon in the Chiampo Valley, Lessini Mountains, Italy. The sponge assemblage is dominated by hexactinellids and lithistids. Using uniformitarian criteria, the composition of the assemblage suggests a water depth greater than 200 m. Sponges are often preserved in growth position including sponge clusters. Taphonomic processes facilitating sponge preservation include rapid burial of a living sponge community and early diagenetic calcification. Different modes of attachment suggest heterogeneous substrate conditions. The associated fauna, such as abundant pteropods in the matrix and in-situ preserved crinoids, confirms a rather deep-water environment. However, there are also common benthic elements of shallow-water origin. Although some of these elements show signs of transport, others, such as decapod crustaceans, do not. Moreover, trace fossils indicate high-energy environments. To reconcile these observations, we propose rapid, tectonically triggered sea-level changes.

Authors with CRIS profile

Wolfgang Kießling Lehrstuhl für Paläoumwelt

Involved external institutions

Università degli Studi di Perugia IT Italy (IT) Università degli Studi di Firenze / University of Florence IT Italy (IT) Università degli Studi di Ferrara IT Italy (IT) Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) FR France (FR) Museo di archeologia e scienze naturali Giuseppe Zannato IT Italy (IT) University of Padua / Universita degli Studi di Padova IT Italy (IT) Polska Akademia Nauk (PAN) / Polish Academy of Sciences PL Poland (PL) Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) IT Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Frisone, V., Preto, N., Pisera, A., Agnini, C., Giusberti, L., Papazzoni, C.A.,... Bosellini, F.R. (2020). A first glimpse on the taphonomy and sedimentary environment of the Eocene siliceous sponges from Chiampo, Lessini Mts, NE Italy. Bollettino Della Societa Paleontologica Italiana, 59(3), 299-313. https://dx.doi.org/10.4435/BSPI.2020.25

MLA:

Frisone, Viviana, et al. "A first glimpse on the taphonomy and sedimentary environment of the Eocene siliceous sponges from Chiampo, Lessini Mts, NE Italy." Bollettino Della Societa Paleontologica Italiana 59.3 (2020): 299-313.

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