Authors: VENNIN, EMMANUELLE¹; ÁLVARO, J. JAVIER²; MORENO-EIRIS, ELENA³; PEREJÓN, ANTONIO⁴

Source: Lethaia, Volume 36, Number 1, 2003 , pp. 53-65(13)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

A well-preserved biota of Lower Cambrian cavity-dwelling organisms is recorded within fissures in Neoproterozoic andesites in Ossa-Morena (southern Spain). The cavities are unique among described Lower Cambrian coelobiontic communities due to the igneous character of the host rock. Coelobiontic habitat was episodically enlarged by synsedimentary tectonic fracturing reflecting polyphase infill of recurrent facies. The pioneer coelobiontic biota was diverse, and consisted of encrusting stromatolites and thromboids (dominated by Epiphyton and Renalcis ), attached to walls and ceilings of the cavities, associated with archaeocyaths. Sponge spicules and chancelloriid sclerites occur as dense clusters indicating in situ growth, death and decay of spiculate sponges and coeloscleritophorans. Other organisms, such as echinoderms, trilobites and brachiopods, are also found within the cavities as reworked skeletons, indicating that they were washed in from the overlying, open seafloor. The main feature of the coelobiontic biota is the dominance of a sessile, chemosynthetic and filter-feeding epibenthos, composed of microbial communities, archaeocyaths, spiculate sponges (demosponges and rarer hexactinellides) and coeloscleritophorans.

Keywords: Archaeocyath; Cambrian; Coelobiontic Communities; Palaeoecology; Spain

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00241160310001669

Affiliations: 1: Laboratoire de Géologie CNRS-Fre2400 Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle 43 rue Buffon FR-75005 Paris France, Email: evennin@mnhn.fr 2: UMR 8014 CNRS Laboratoire de Paléontologie et Paléogéographie du Paléozoïque Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille FR-59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq France, Email: Jose-Javier.Alvaro@univ-lille1.fr 3: Instituto de Geología Económica (UCM-CSIC) Universidad Complutense ES-28040 Madrid Spain, Email: eiris@geo.ucm.es 4: Instituto de Geología Económica (UCM-CSIC) Universidad Complutense ES-28040 Madrid Spain, Email: aparqueo@geo.ucm.es

Publication date: 2003-01-01

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