Page, A. A. and Wilby, P. R. and Williams, M. and Vannier, J. and Davies, J. R. and Waters, R. A. and Zalasiewicz, J. A. (2010) Soft-part preservation in a bivalved arthropod from the Late Ordovician of Wales. Geological magazine, 147 (2). pp. 242-252. DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756809990045
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Abstract
A new component of the Early Palaeozoic arthropod fauna is described from a monospecific accumulate of carapaces in a Late Ordovician (Katian) hemipelagic mudstone from the Cardigan district of southwest Wales (UK). Its non-biomineralized carapace is preserved as a carbonaceous residue, as is more labile anatomy (soft-parts) including the inner lamella and sub-ovate structures near its antero-dorsal margin, which we interpret to be putative eyes. The depositional context and associated fauna indicate that the arthropods inhabited an area of deep water and high primary productivity above a pronounced submarine topography. The preserved density of carapaces suggests the arthropods may have congregated into shoals or been transported post-mortem into depressions which acted as detritus traps. The accumulate provides a rare example of soft-part preservation in hemipelagic mudstones and highlights the role of organic material as a locus for authigenic mineralization during metamorphism.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | 09AREP; IA58; |
Subjects: | 04 - Palaeobiology |
Divisions: | 04 - Palaeobiology |
Journal or Publication Title: | Geological magazine |
Volume: | 147 |
Page Range: | pp. 242-252 |
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756809990045 |
Depositing User: | Sarah Humbert |
Date Deposited: | 16 Feb 2009 13:03 |
Last Modified: | 23 Jul 2013 10:08 |
URI: | http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/573 |
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