Comments on the environments and faunas across the Ludlovian-Downtonian boundary (upper silurian) at Siefton,Salop

A new temporary section across the Ludlovian-Downtonian boundary (Upper Silurian) at Siefton (Nr Craven Arms), Salop, England, is described. The sediments present in the section were deposited in both intertidal and subtidal marine environments. The shelly faunas across the section are recorded and considered to be transported assemblages. Both burrowing and boring trace fossils occur in the presumed subtidal environments. Evidence for a late Whitcliffian marine transgression, following a marine regression is presented.     

Palaeoenvironmental significance of trace fossils from the palaeocene sediments of the Pondicherry area,South India

Sediments of Manaveli Formation (Palaeocene) are studied from the Thondaimanattam quarry section and Manaveli section of the Pondicherry area, which comprises of bioturbated arenaceous limestone-shale and shaly-sandstone sequences respectively. These sediments consist of high density and low diversity trace fossil genera which includes Lanicodichnus, Ophiomorpha, Planolites, Palaeophycus, Skolithos, Thalassinoides, and Polychaetes tubes. The abundance of horizontal structures of the Thondaimanattam quarry section indicate low to moderate wave and current energy in fully marine subtidal environments while the presences of vertical structures of the Manaveli section indicate moderate to high wave and current energy in the marginal marine environment of deposition for the Palaeocene sediments of the Pondicherry area.     

意大利Mt.Faito地区白垩纪早阿普第期浅水碳酸盐岩沉积微相及其环境演化

通过对白垩纪早阿普第期Mt.Faito野外露头剖面宏观特征描述及室内岩石薄片分析,根据岩性及沉积特征变化,将其划分为A、B、C三个地层单元:A以潮下带粒泥灰岩为主,时有生物碎屑粒泥灰岩-泥粒灰岩夹层沉积;B以潮下带双壳类漂浮岩沉积为主,基质多为生屑泥粒灰岩;C与下伏地层呈不整合接触,该单元岩性变化复杂,整体以潮下带-潮上带沉积环境为主,偶尔发育潟湖沉积。根据三个地层单元所发育的骨架生物颗粒类型,可将地层A、B和C划分为"Chlorozoan"、"Chlorozoan&Foramol"、"Foramol&Microbial"三种不同组合的生物颗粒沉积。其沉积环境演变如下:A为暖水贫营养的水体环境,B为暖水富营养环境,而C则主要为温水富营养环境。基于Mt.Faito剖面的生物沉积特征及碳同位素数据可知,由温度、CO₂及水体营养物质增加所引起的早白垩世生物沉积及其环境演化具全球性。     

Variations in Neoarchean microbialite morphologies: clues to controls on microbialite morphologies through time

The Neoarchean Carawine Formation, Hamersley Group, Western Australia is a carbonate ramp that preserves diverse microbial structures which are characteristic of specific depositional environments. These distinctive structures are distributed in five shallow subtidal and two deeper‐water facies in the Oakover area of the Carawine Formation. The shallow subtidal facies are composed of biohermal and bedded stromatolites, centimetre‐scale ridge‐shaped microbialites and wavy‐laminated microbialites. The deeper‐water facies are composed of fenestrate microbialites, planar laminated dolostone and dolostone with rolled‐up microbial laminae. Microbialites in the Carawine Formation lie within a continuum of Archean to Proterozoic microbial facies. Some shallow‐water microbial facies in the Carawine Formation are similar to Proterozoic facies, such as large bioherms internally composed of a variety of stromatolite morphologies. In contrast, fenestrate microbialites grew in quiet subtidal environments and are common in Archean rocks but have not been documented in similar Proterozoic environments. The similarity of shallow‐water facies across the Archean–Proterozoic transition, before and after the oxidation of the atmosphere and surface oceans, indicates that stromatolite growth in shallow subtidal environments was not strongly affected by the chemical changes associated with oxidation of the oceans or by biological responses to those chemical changes. Rather, stromatolite morphology was controlled mostly by the physical environment and the corresponding biological responses to that environment. In contrast, the absence of fenestrate microbialites from Proterozoic deep subtidal environments suggests that the morphology of deep subtidal microbial structures was influenced by chemical or biological changes that occurred in association with oxidation of the surface oceans.     

Microbial deposits in the aftermath of the end‐Permian mass extinction: A diverging case from the Mineral Mountains (Utah,USA)

The Lower Triassic Mineral Mountains area (Utah, USA) preserves diversified Smithian and Spathian reefs and bioaccumulations that contain fenestral‐microbialites and various benthic and pelagic organisms. Ecological and environmental changes during the Early Triassic are commonly assumed to be associated with numerous perturbations (productivity changes, acidifica‐tion, redox changes, hypercapnia, eustatism and temperature changes) post‐dating the Permian–Triassic mass extinction. New data acquired in the Mineral Mountains sediments provide evidence to decipher the relationships between depositional environments and the growth and distribution of microbial structures. These data also help to understand better the controlling factors acting upon sedimentation and community turnovers through the Smithian–early Spathian. The studied section records a large‐scale depositional sequence during the Dienerian(?)–Spathian interval. During the transgression, depositional environments evolved from a coastal bay with continental deposits to intertidal fenestral–microbial limestones, shallow subtidal marine sponge–microbial reefs to deep subtidal mud‐dominated limestones. Storm‐induced deposits, microbialite–sponge reefs and shallow subtidal deposits indicate the regression. Three microbialite associations occur in ascending order: (i) a red beds microbialite association deposited in low‐energy hypersaline supratidal conditions where microbialites consist of microbial mats and poorly preserved microbially induced sedimentary structure; (ii) a Smithian microbialite association formed in moderate to high‐energy, tidal conditions where microbialites include stromatolites and associated carbonate grains (oncoids, ooids and peloids); and (iii) a Spathian microbialite association developed in low‐energy offshore conditions that is preserved as multiple decimetre thick isolated domes and coalescent domes. Data indicate that the morphologies of the three microbialite associations are controlled primarily by accommodation, hydrodynamics, bathymetry and grain supply. This study suggests that microbial constructions are controlled by changes between trapping and binding versus precipitation processes in variable hydrodynamic conditions. Due to the presence of numerous metazoans associated with microbialites throughout the Smithian increase in accommodation and Spathian decrease in accommodation, the commonly assumed anachronistic character of the Early Triassic microbialites and the traditional view of prolonged deleterious conditions during the Early Triassic time interval is questioned.     

The trinity of depositional phase of foreland basins: An example from the western Taiwan foreland basin

Due to oblique arc-continent collision, the west-ern Taiwan foreland basin has evolved into three dis-tinct subbasins: an over-filled basin proximal to the Taiwan orogen, mainly distributed in the Western Foothhils and Coastal Plain provinces, a filled basin occupying the shallow Taiwan Strait continental shelf west of the Taiwan orogen and an under-filled basin distal to the Taiwan orogen in the deep marine Kaop-ing Slope offshore southwest Taiwan, respectively. The over-filled depositional phase is dominated by fluvial environments across the structurally controlled piggy-back basins. The filled depositional phase in the Taiwan Strait is characterized by shallow marine en-vironments and is filled by Pliocene-Quaternary sedi-ments up to 4,000 m thick derived from the Taiwan orogen with an asymmetrical and wedge-shaped cross section. The under-filled depositional phase is charac-teristic of deep marine environments in the wedge-top basins accompanied by active structures of thrust faults and mud diapers.     

湖南栖霞期的生物群落、古地理与生物礁

湖南栖霞期发育了8种不同类型的生物群落,各自反映了不同的沉积环境。这些生物群落的时空分布规律反映了当时的古地理概貌。根据群落分布及岩性特征可将栖霞期的湖南浅海划分为5个古地理单元。在涟(源)浏(阳)开阔浅海的部分海底隆起区,由Peronidella群落形成了生物礁。这是国内首次发现的栖霞期生物礁。     

利用风暴沉积类型恢复海平面变化:以北京西山下苇甸剖面寒武纪中晚期风暴沉积为例

华北地区寒武系中发育有大量的风暴沉积,对于此类沉积物的成因前人意见趋于统一,但对其沉积环境的认识仍存在较多争议。在野外细致观察、实测的基础上,结合室内沉积学描述和分析,在北京西山下苇甸剖面寒武系第三统和芙蓉统内识别出5种沉积相类型,并根据沉积环境将其归入3种相组合,分别形成于浅海碳酸盐缓坡潮下带、深潮下带和页岩盆地环境。在研究地层内,共识别出了49层风暴沉积,基于沉积结构和构造特征,这些风暴沉积层可归入4个风暴沉积大类(原地未破碎风暴沉积、原地破碎风暴沉积、近源风暴沉积、远源风暴沉积)和12个亚类,这些风暴沉积类型形成于不同的环境。根据风暴沉积亚类在地层中的分布规律及其所指示的环境类型,恢复了北京西山寒武纪中晚期相对海平面的变化历史。通过与用不同方法恢复的北京西山和鲁西地区同时期海平面变化曲线进行对比,发现利用风暴沉积类型所恢复的海平面变化曲线与使用正常沉积类型恢复的海平面变化曲线具有相同的变化趋势。因此,风暴沉积类型可以用于恢复长时间尺度的海平面变化趋势。     

Subtidal occurrences of ladder-back ripples: their significance in palaeo-environmental reconstruction

Ladder-back ripples are common on modern intertidal flats and have been thought to be diagnostic of deposition in this environment. Recognition of superimposed, asymmetric ladder-back ripples in a subtidal back-barrier estuary and superimposed, symmetric ladder-back ripples in an embayed, shallow marine environment indicates that these features are not diagnostic of deposition in the intertidal zone only, but can occur in other depositional environments, produced by different mechanisms and on different scales. The presence of ladder-back ripples in the subtidal zones challenges aspects of a model used to determine the palaeotidal range of ancient tidal sequences.     

Stromatolitic associations and their palaeo-environmental significance: A re-appraisal of a lower proterozoic locality from the northern cape province,South Africa

A basal section of the Lower Proterozoic Transvaal Dolomite from the northern Cape has been re-examined. Numerous associations of stromatolites and other structures have been distinguished in it. Forms of domical stromatolite dominate the structures, but columns, and associations built around spheroidal forms, are also represented. This material accumulated in a telescoped range of environments through the intertidal to a high-energy agitated zone and out into the subtidal.Columnar forms and flat domes from the intertidal zone appear to be remarkably similar to features described from Hamelin Pool at Shark Bay, Western Australia. The subtidal elongate domes and mounds increase in size with depth to reach dimensions of 40 by 10 m, heights of 13 m and relief of 2.5 m. Minor structures on these subtidal forms reflect decreasing energy outwards; included within them are columnar forms in the shallow subtidal zone.It is suggested that deposition within an epeiric sea was away from a headland on a relatively steeply shelving floor affected by currents at right angles to the shore. There are indications that an arid to semi-arid climate existed at that time.     

Depositional environments and sea-level changes deduced from Middle Weichselian tidally influenced sediments, Arkhangelsk region, northwestern Russia

Deposits from a Middle Weichselian transgression, the Mezen Transgression, are found in coastal sections in the Mezen and Chyorskaya Bays, northwestern Russia. The marine event is bracketed between two ice advances from the Barents and Kara Sea shelves and dated by Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) to around 60 kyr BP. The deposits represent a shallowing upward succession from offshore marine to intertidal coastal environments. Relative sea-level maximum was at least 40 m above the present owing to significant isostatic subsidence. The sedimentary record is dominated by shallow-marine, subtidal deposits bounded below by an erosion surface representing a downward shift in facies and above by subaerial exposure. The succession reflects deposition during forced regression due to isostatic uplift. A rapidly aggrading succession of subtidal deposits at one site suggests a relative sea-level rise or stillstand superimposed on the isostatically controlled sea-level fall. The rhythmic tidal deposits allow identification of semi-monthly to yearly cycles, providing an estimate of the sedimentation rate of 39 cm/year. This implies a high sediment yield and a rapid relative sea-level rise. We correlate this signal with the rapid eustatic sea-level rise at the end of OIS 4 known from deep-sea records.     

云南东部上新元古界-下寒武统地层碳同位素变化

云南东部上新元古界-下寒武统沉积序列中碳酸盐岩较多，本文研究的三条剖面上厚约500m，包括：东龙潭组、渔户村组及筇竹寺组底部，覆于海相冰水沉积之上，反映了从潮上蒸发至浅水相环境。已获得的δ^13C和δ^18O值显示出较大的变化范围，分别是-7．33～ 2．64(‰)和-14．98～ 0．78(‰)。依靠δ^13C测试，结合岩矿鉴定，发现梅树村震旦系．寒武系界线层型剖面岩石成岩作用中有改造现象。显然，δ^13C总的变化范围及变化模式比世界其它地区小，但却包含一个δ^13C负异常，直接位于古生物学上的前寒武系-寒武系界线之下。     

Paleoenvironmental framework of dinosaur tracksites and other ichnofossils in Early Cretaceous mixed siliciclastic-carbonate deposits in the Neuquén Basin,northern Patagonia (Argentina)

The study of the uppermost section of the Early Cretaceous Agrio Formation in northern Patagonia (Neuquén Basin) where dinosaur tracks assigned to cf. Therangospodus pandemicus are exposed (tracksites I and II) evidence mixed marginal marine siliciclastic-carbonate deposits. The succession was divided in two intervals. A lower one containing theropod tracks, recorded on top of subtidal oolithic limestones with tiny wave ripples suggesting shoreline fluctuations and subaerial exposure. Tidal influence is recognised by fining upward and prograding cycles starting with subtidal carbonates and ending with fine-grained siliciclastic deposits at the top, or rarely laminites. Dolomitization affects subtidal deposits generated in an alkaline media stressful for tracemakers. Intertidal facies include abundant heterolithic deposits, coquinas composed of gastropods encrusted by multilayered bryozoans and muddy levels with incipient mud cracking. Invertebrate ichnofossils recognized from tidally dominated deposits include Arenicolites, Kouphichnium, and Rhizocorallium. The upper interval is a transgressive–regressive cycle that starts with dark shales, deficiently oxygenated, and covered by prograding sandstones and finally sand flat deposits. This interval contains Gyrochorte, Hillichnus, and Ophiomorpha documented in wave-influenced sandstones. Dinosaur tracks as well as Hillichnus, attributed to tellinoid bivalves, and Kouphichnium assigned to xiphosurans, imply the activity of producers rarely recorded previously as body fossils in marginal marine deposits of southern South America. Previous paleogeographic schemes are questioned by our analysis, which shows evidence of extremely shallow and tide-controlled sedimentation, sometimes with subaerial exposure, with high cyclicity related to a marginal marine depositional setting and lack of significant erosion by the overlying unit, as traditionally was suggested.     

Tidal-channel deposits on a delta plain from the Upper Miocene Nauta Formation, Marañón Foreland Sub-basin, Peru

Miocene siliciclastic sediments of the Marañón Foreland Sub‐basin in Peru record the sedimentary response to regional marine incursions into Amazonia. Contrary to previous interpretations, the Late Miocene Nauta Formation provides evidence of the last known marine incursion before the current Amazonia river basin became established. Sedimentological, ichnological and palynological data from well‐exposed outcrops along a ca 100 km road transect suggest that the Nauta Formation represents a shallow, marginal‐marine channel complex dominated by tidal channels developed in the inactive, brackish‐water portions of a delta plain. The main facies associations are: FA1 – slightly bioturbated mud‐draped trough cross‐stratified sand; FA2 – locally, pervasively bioturbated inclined heterolithic stratification (IHS); and FA3 – moderately bioturbated horizontally bedded sand–mud couplets. These identify subtidal compound dunes, tidal point bars and shallow subtidal to intertidal flats, respectively. Bi‐seasonal depositional cycles are ascribed to the abundant metre‐ to decimetre‐scale sand–mud couplets that are found mainly in the IHS association: semi‐monthly to daily tidal rhythmicity is inferred from centimetre‐ and millimetre‐scale couplets in the mud‐dominated parts of the decimetre‐scale couplets. The ichnology of the deposits is consistent with brackish depositional conditions; the presence of Laminites, a variant of Scolicia, attests to episodic normal marine conditions. Trace fossil suites are assigned to the Skolithos, Cruziana and mixed Skolithos–Cruziana ichnofacies. Pollen assemblages related to mangrove environments (e.g. Retitricolporites sp., Zonocostites sp., Psilatricolporites maculosus, Retitricolpites simplex) support a brackish‐water setting. Uplift of the Mérida Andes to the North and the consequent closure of the Proto‐Caribbean connection, and the onset of the transcontinental Amazon drainage, constrain the deposition of the Nauta sediments with around 10 to 8 Ma, probably contemporaneous to similar marine incursions identified in the Cuenca (Ecuador), Acre (Brazil) and Madre de Dios (Southern Peru) (sub)basins, and along the Chaco‐Paranan corridor across Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina.     

Facies analysis of the Semanggol Formation,South Kedah,Malaysia: A possible Permian–Triassic boundary section

Although the Permian–Triassic Semanggol Formation is widely distributed in northwestern Peninsula Malaysia and is made of various lithofacies, its sedimentology and possible relation with the Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB) were not considered before. In this study, detailed facies analysis was conducted for two sections of the Semanggol Formation at the Bukit Kukus and Baling areas, South Kedah to clarify its sedimentology and relation to the PTB. Four facies from the Permian part of the Semanggol Formation that were identified at the Bukit Kukus section include laminated black mudstone, interbedded mudstone and sandstone, volcanogenic sediments, and bedded chert. In Baling area, the Triassic part of the formation is classified into three members. The lower member comprises of claystone and bedded chert facies, while the middle member is composed of sandstone and claystone interbeds (rhythmite). On the other hand, the upper member is grouped into two main units. The lower unit is mainly claystone and includes two facies: the varve-like laminated silt and clay and massive black claystone. The upper unit is composed of various sandstone lithofacies ranging from hummocky cross stratified (HCS) sandstone to thinly laminated sandstone to burrowed sandstone facies. The HCS sandstones occur as two units of fine-grained poorly sorted sandstone with clay lenses as flaser structure and are separated by a hard iron crust. They also show coarse grains of lag deposits at their bases. The laminated black mudstone at the lowermost part of the Semanggol Formation represents a reducing and quite conditions, which is most probably below the fairweather wave base in offshore environment that changed upwards into a fining upward sequence of tide environment. Abundance of chert beds in the volcanogenic sediments suggests the deposition of tuffs and volcanic ashes in deep marine setting which continues to form the Permian pelagic bedded chert and claystone. The bedded chert in the lower member of the Triassic section suggests its formation in deep marine conditions. The rhythmic sandstone and claystone interbeds of the middle member are suggestive for its formation as a distal fan of a turbidite sequence. Lithology and primary sedimentary structure of the upper member suggest its deposition in environments range from deep marine represented by the varve-like laminated silt and clay to subtidal environment corresponds to the massive black claystone to coastal environment represented by the hummocky sandstone units and reaches the maximum regression at the hiatus surface. Another cycle of transgression can be indicated from the second hummocky unit with transgressive lag deposits that develops to relatively deeper conditions as indicated from the formation of relatively thick laminated sandstone and bioturbated massive sandstone facies that represent tidal and subtidal environment, respectively. Late Permian lithological variation from the radiolarian chert into early Triassic claystone probably resulted from a decrease in productivity of radiolarians and might represent a PTB in the Semanggol Formation. Volcanogenic sediments in the studied section can be used as an evidence for volcanic activities at the end of the Permian, which is probably connected to the nearby volcanic ash layers in the eastern China, the ultimate cause of the PTB in this area. Black mudstone in the Permian part of the studied section may be interrelated to the Latest Permian Anoxia that started to build in the deep ocean well before the event on shallow shelves.     

蒸发岩沉积特征及环境综述

蒸发岩是由于蒸发作用从卤水中化学作用沉淀出来的一种含盐岩类,明显受控于沉积环境。蒸发岩是重要战略资源和优质的储层之一,中国的矿床和石油学界都在致力于寻找大型蒸发岩矿床。近几十年来国内外学者都对不同类型的蒸发岩做了地区性的研究,提供了丰富的实际资料,对蒸发岩成矿沉积环境理论也有相应的修正和补充,但是蒸发岩分类繁多,成因复杂,国内对蒸发岩岩相及其常见组合所对应的环境综合解释并未具体着墨。通过梳理国内外有关蒸发岩文献、应用Miall构架单元理论,从结构、构造整理了29种碳酸型、37种硫酸型、11种氯化物型以及13种混合蒸发盐型岩相与其对应的沉积环境与岩相组合。蒸发沉积环境按海相和陆相划分,亚相细分为萨布哈、潮上带、潮间带—潮下带和半深海—深海环境,以及陆内萨布哈（包括干盐湖）、滨湖、浅湖和半深湖—深湖,对每一个亚相出现的常见蒸发岩组合进行了概述,这对中国进一步寻找大型蒸发岩矿床具有重要的借鉴意义。     

贵州紫云扁平村石炭纪珊瑚礁剖面微相分析与沉积相

扁平村生物礁产于马平组Triticites带内,Fomitchevella骨架构成生物礁主体。扁平村的这种以珊瑚为主要造礁生物的石炭纪生物礁在全球也是不多见的。本文以实测剖面微相分析为主要手段,观察、分析珊瑚礁的生长、沉积环境,对该珊瑚礁的剖面进行详细的微相分析。我们总结了6个微相;划分出5个沉积相:在剖面上由下至上,相1较浅的受保护的台地相,相2搅动水中的浅滩相,相3较深的开阔台地相,相4浪基面以上斜坡相,珊瑚礁在这个相上发育起来,就是相5珊瑚礁相,再向上为相3,相1;进一步总结出了与圆丘礁缓坡类型相似的局部相模式;并分析了珊瑚礁生长、沉积环境。总体上剖面沉积环境为潮下开阔台地环境。     

四川南江地区上震旦统灯影组混积层系特征及成因

陆源碎屑和碳酸盐混积层系是一种沉积机理特殊而又有重要意义的沉积现象。四川南江新立村下震旦统灯影组剖面碎屑岩-碳酸盐岩混积层系发育良好。在该剖面上共识别出4类混积层系岩石组合类型:细砂岩-泥晶白云岩组合(Ⅰ)、粉砂岩-泥晶白云岩组合(Ⅱ)、粉细砂岩-含粉砂白云岩组合(Ⅲ)、含砾砂岩-白云岩组合(Ⅳ)。通过岩石类型、岩石组合特征的分析,显示出灯影组二段上部-三段由下向上发育混积中潮坪、潮下浅滩、潮道、低潮坪4种沉积亚相,而混积层系主要产出于混积中潮坪和潮道亚相。微量元素指示研究地层整体形成于氧化环境,但发生混积层位的形成环境相对缺氧。根据当时海平面变化和大地构造演化,认为灯影组陆源碎屑和碳酸盐混积层系的出现与桐湾运动Ⅰ幕之后海平面下降导致的陆源碎屑输入增强有关。     

Stratigraphy of the Cenomanian–Turonian Oceanic Anoxic Event OAE2 in shallow shelf sequences of NE Egypt

Two shallow water late Cenomanian to early Turonian sequences of NE Egypt have been investigated to evaluate the response to OAE2. Age control based on calcareous nannoplankton, planktic foraminifera and ammonite biostratigraphies integrated with δ¹³C stratigraphy is relatively good despite low diversity and sporadic occurrences. Planktic and benthic foraminiferal faunas are characterized by dysoxic, brackish and mesotrophic conditions, as indicated by low species diversity, low oxygen and low salinity tolerant planktic and benthic species, along with oyster-rich limestone layers. In these subtidal to inner neritic environments the OAE2 δ¹³C excursion appears comparable and coeval to that of open marine environments. However, in contrast to open marine environments where anoxic conditions begin after the first δ¹³C peak and end at or near the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary, in shallow coastal environments anoxic conditions do not appear until the early Turonian. This delay in anoxia appears to be related to the sea-level transgression that reached its maximum in the early Turonian, as observed in shallow water sections from Egypt to Morocco.     

The paleoenvironmental distribution of Phanerozoic wrinkle structures

Wrinkle structures are microbially induced sedimentary structures that are known to have formed in ancient marine siliciclastic environments. This study reviews the sedimentary context and paleoenvironmental distribution of these sedimentary structures throughout three distinct intervals of the Phanerozoic: the Cambrian, the post-Cambrian Paleozoic, and the Lower Triassic. During these times, wrinkle structures are found primarily within two sedimentary environments, storm-dominated subtidal environments and the intertidal zone. Subtidal occurrences of wrinkle structures during the post-Ordovician Phanerozoic only appear to occur during intervals of environmental stress, while earlier examples from the Cambrian and lowermost Ordovician likely formed prior to significant increases in extent and depth of bioturbation that hallmark most of the Phanerozoic. Intertidal examples occur regardless of severe environmental stress, and may have formed under low levels of bioturbation due to inherent vagaries of a marginal marine setting. These environmental preferences appear to be conservative throughout the Phanerozoic, and may very well extend throughout Earth's history.