Big guns of the Cambrian Explosion: macroskeletal benthic assemblage in the lower Cambrian Stage 2 of the Olenek Uplift, Arctic Siberia

Authors

  • Z. A. Sarsembaev Department of Stratigraphy and Sedimentology, Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of SB RAS - Department of Geology and Geophysics, Novosibirsk State University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4198-9276
  • V. V. Marusin Department of Stratigraphy and Sedimentology, Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of SB RAS - Department of Geology and Geophysics, Novosibirsk State University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0526-0392

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/egeol.43595.568

Keywords:

Cambrian explosion, Biomineralization, Cambrian, Siberian Platform

Abstract


The basal Cambrian Stage 2 strata of the Olenek Uplift host diverse assemblages of macroscopic fossils, which closely resemble certain small skeletal taxa early reported from this section and typical for the Terreneuvian Epoch. Herein studied macroscopic assemblage includes helcionellid, stenothecid and kharkhaniid molluscs, and anabaritids and circothecid hyoliths. Among the assemblage, only anabaritids and some citrcothecid hyoliths exhibit relics of calcite shell, whereas most of the fossils reveal no evidence of rigid biomineralized exoskeleton. Hence, at least these problematic Cambrian organisms had reached macroscopic sizes (up to 35 mm long) and were covered with calcite shells at the very beginning of the Cambrian Age 2.

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References

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Published

2019-12-30

How to Cite

Sarsembaev, Z. A., & Marusin, V. V. (2019). Big guns of the Cambrian Explosion: macroskeletal benthic assemblage in the lower Cambrian Stage 2 of the Olenek Uplift, Arctic Siberia. Estudios Geológicos, 75(2), e113. https://doi.org/10.3989/egeol.43595.568

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