Ediacaran in Uruguay: Facts and controversies

The Ediacaran of Uruguay has been regarded as containing a significant geological and paleontological record, which would make these successions critical to unraveling diverse aspects regarding the assembly of southwestern Gondwana and to understanding the conditions surrounding the rise of animal life in a period punctuated by drastic paleoenvironmental changes. However, a review of currently available data leads to the conclusion that, although variable, the stratigraphy, distribution and age of these units remain ambiguous. The same is true for existing basin models and tectonic evolution, which show different and sometimes contradicting supporting evidence. Here, we propose that the Ediacaran record consists of the Maldonado Group (Playa Hermosa, Las Ventanas and San Carlos formations), and the Tacuarí, Barriga Negra, Rocha and Sierra de Aguirre formations. The Arroyo del Soldado Group (Yerbal, Polanco Limestones and Cerro Espuelitas formations) and the Arroyo de la Pedrera Group (Piedras de Afilar and Cerro Victoria formations) were likely deposited between 700 and 1000 Ma. The best available radiometric age constraints indicate intense magmatic–tectonic activity occurred between 600 and 560 Ma, incompatible with previous models suggesting a stable, Atlantic-type passive margin on this portion of southwestern Gondwana. Further research is needed in order to firmly establish a consistent litho- and chronostratigraphic framework; particularly, before attempting any regional or global correlation, and inferences on global paleoenvironmental and paleobiological events.     

Ediacaran in Uruguay: palaeoclimatic and palaeobiological implications

The Ediacaran to lowermost Cambrian successions of south‐eastern Uruguay preserve an unusual and significant record of deposits generated during the Gondwana assembly (ca 590 to 535 Ma). This study presents a review of data obtained through extensive field‐based mapping coupled with detailed sedimentology and stratigraphy of key formations. The geological units within the study area consist of the Maldonado Group (Playa Hermosa, Las Ventanas and San Carlos formations), the Arroyo del Soldado Group (Yerbal, Polanco Limestones, Barriga Negra and Cerro Espuelitas formations) and the Arroyo de la Pedrera Group (Piedras de Afilar and Cerro Victoria formations). The Maldonado Group is characterized by a glacially influenced volcanogenic‐sedimentary sequence with ice‐rafted debris and dropstones in the Playa Hermosa and Las Ventanas formations. The Arroyo del Soldado Group is a mixed siliciclastic‐carbonate succession, mainly represented by an intercalation of basal pink dolostones, banded siltstones, rhythmites of dolostone‐limestone, iron formations, cherts and conglomerates. Carbonates in the Polanco Limestones Formation are characterized by a negative δ¹³C excursion up to ?3·26‰ PeeDeeBelemnite. The Arroyo de la Pedrera Group consists of quartz arenites and stromatolitic/oolitic dolostones. Preliminary data indicate that the Precambrian–Cambrian could be contained within or at the base of this group. The entire succession is almost 6000 m thick, and contains a rich fossil assemblage composed of organic‐walled microfossils and small shelly fauna, including the index fossil Cloudina riemkeae. The stratigraphic and chemostratigraphic features are suggestive of a Gaskier age (ca 580 Ma) for the basal glacial‐related units. In this scenario, the results show the importance of lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and chemostratigraphic data of these Ediacaran units in the global correlation of terminal Proterozoic sedimentary rocks.     

Octoradiate Spiral Organisms in the Ediacaran of South China

Shales of the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation of South China contain a new disc-shaped macrofossil, Eoandromeda octobrachiata, characterized by eight spiral arms that were probably housed within an outer membrane. Although the presence of eight radiating structures entails a resemblance to cnidarian octocorals as well as to ctenophores, direct homologies with these extant groups are unlikely. Instead we bring attention to the helicospiral morphology of newly reported embryos from the Doushantuo Formation, suggesting that the long-sought adults of the Ediacaran embryonic metazoans have finally been found.     

The Ediacaran fossils of Charnwood Forest: Shining new light on a major biological revolution

Charnwood Forest (UK) hosts some of the oldest and best-preserved macrofossils known from the Ediacaran. It is the counterpoint to the more widely studied fossil sites of south-eastern Newfoundland (Canada), which include the recently-designated UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mistaken Point. Discoveries made in Charnwood Forest since 2008 have the potential to revolutionise our understanding of the evolution of complex macroscopic life and the subsequent development of ‘modern’ (i.e. Phanerozoic) ecosystems. The sites in Charnwood include the holotypes for several iconic Ediacaran taxa, and potentially both the oldest and youngest representatives of the deep-water Avalon Assemblage. These communities provide a unique opportunity to test models of community ecology, biological endemism and environmental sensitivity and adaptability in the Ediacaran. Here, we review the geology of Charnwood Forest and the palaeobiology of its biotas, and we summarise recent scientific advances in the context of our developing understanding of early macroscopic life. We review the application of Reflectance Transformation Imaging to these ancient communities, and signpost exciting new directions for research in Charnwood Forest, almost 170 years after the fossils were first brought to light.     

藏北羌塘南部埃迪卡拉系达布热组的建立及其地质意义

羌塘位于青藏高原腹地,构造上处于冈瓦纳大陆北缘。因其特殊的构造位置,羌塘地体的起源及构造演化对于探讨青藏高原的早期形成演化、冈瓦纳大陆裂解,以及特提斯洋演化等关键科学问题至关重要。最近,在羌塘南部达布热地区发现一套碎屑岩夹玄武岩的岩石组合,碎屑岩具有低成分成熟度的特点,虽然岩石发生了低绿片岩相变质,但仍然保留了原岩类复理石沉积的特点。根据碎屑锆石定年结果,该套地层中碎屑锆石的最年轻年龄为550Ma左右。此外,该套地层中玄武岩夹层的测年结果表明,该套地层形成于埃迪卡拉纪(约550Ma)。结合地层剖面及区域地层对比,建立了埃迪卡拉纪达布热组。达布热组是羌塘地区首次发现的埃迪卡拉纪地层,该组地层的建立为探讨冈瓦纳大陆北缘构造演化提供了重要线索。     

Discoveries of new Longfengshaniaceae from the uppermost Ediacaran in eastern Yunnan, South China and the significance

A morphologically more diverse assemblage of Longfengshaniaceae has been found in the uppermost Ediacaran (Sinian) Jiucheng Member, Yuhucun Formation at Jinning and Jiangchuan, eastern Yunnan, South China. A majority of them are different from the Longfengshania found in the Neoproterozoic Changlongshan Formation, Yanshan Mountain area, North China and the Little Dal Group, North America. They are mainly characterized by a more varied, often thallus-like appearance with no branches, such as oval, pyriform, spindle, shovel, heart, ribbon and balloon shapes, and more sturdy stalk-like projection (stipe) with a smooth connection on the basal part of the thallus. In addition, they appear to have a remarkable attaching organ of lanceolate, shuttle-like or short stem-like structure at the base of the stipe. Six distinct morphological taxa are recognized, including one new genus, two new species and three conformis species. The characteristics of the family and the genus Longfengshania are further discussed in this paper. The new discoveries of these carbonaceous macrofossils identified as Longfengshaniaceae algae on the basis of the diagnostic forms and anastomosis patterns of their thalli and stipes demonstrate that an important evolutionary radiation of metaphytes took place in the last Ediacaran stage. The flourishing of the benthonic thallophytes attached to the substrate from eastern Yunnan and considered to be photosynthetic alga probably provided continuous nutritional habitats for the explosion and diversification of the Early Cambrian “Chengjiang biota”. Translated from Acta Geologica Sinica, 2006, 80(11): 1643–1649 [译自: 地质学报]     

国际埃迪卡拉系年代地层学研究进展与发展趋势

埃迪卡拉系为国际地层表新增的新元古界最上部的系级年代地层单位,层型剖面被确定为南澳大利亚弗林德斯山脉依诺拉马河剖面,其底界点位（GSSP）选定为埃拉逖那冰成杂砾岩（Elatina diamictite）之上盖帽碳酸盐岩努卡利那组（Nuccaleena Formation）的下界（Gradstein et al．,2004;Knoll et al．,2004）。我国修定后的震旦系与埃迪卡拉系完全相当,底界以南沱冰碛岩之上盖帽碳酸盐岩的下界为界。本文综合国际地层委员会新元古代地层分会以及相关国家和地区近年来在埃迪卡拉系年代地层学领域研究的新进展、存在问题以及未来发展趋势作一概要介绍,以期引起国内晚前寒武纪地层古生物学者的广泛关注。     

Remarkable preservation of microbial mats in Neoproterozoic siliciclastic settings: Implications for Ediacaran taphonomic models

It is beyond doubt that the appearance of infaunal bioturbation and metazoan biomineralization across the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition irreversibly affected the nature of marine sediment architecture and biogeochemistry. Here we review those changes in relation to their likely effect upon the processes of fossil preservation, especially within siliciclastic sediments. Processes of soft-tissue preservation in siliciclastic settings from the Ediacaran Period, including microbes and microbial mats as well as Ediacaran macrofossils, are here reviewed within this context. Highlighted examples include the exceptional preservation of microbes found in association with wrinkle structures and Ediacaran macrofossils in England and Newfoundland (replicated by silicate minerals) and in the White Sea region of Russia (replicated by iron sulphide). These occurrences show that soft-tissue preservation in siliciclastic settings went well beyond that typical for Ediacaran macrofossils alone and also extended to similar modes of preservation in associated microbes. Using these new observations it can be argued that several existing explanations for Ediacaran fossil preservation can be united within a biogeochemical model that involves evolution of the sediment mixed layer across this transition.     

Redox history of the Three Gorges region during the Ediacaran and Early Cambrian as indicated by the Fe isotope

The Ediacaran-Cambrian transition is characterized by numerous events such as the emergence of large multi-cellular metazoans and surface environmental disturbances.Based on geological evidence,it has been proposed that this transition coincided with the increase in the atmospheric oxygen level that was key to the evolution of life.Even though ancient redox conditions can be inferred from the composition of sedimentary iron mineral species,this method is not necessarily applicable to all rocks.In the Earth system,the cycling of iron is of considerable interest owing to its sensitivity to redox conditions.Information regarding the paleo-oceanic iron cycle is revealed in the iron isotopic composition of ironbearing minerals.Unfortunately,only limited iron isotopic data exists for Ediacaran-to Cambrianperiod oceans.To circumvent this deficiency,we drilled a fossiliferous Ediacaran to Early Cambrian sedimentary succession in the Three Gorges region,South China.We analyzed the iron isotope ratios(δ~(56/54)Fe)of pyrite grains in the drill cores using laser ablation multi collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.The results demonstrate large variations inδ~(56/54)Fe,from-1.6 to 1.6‰,and positive iron isotope ratios are observed in many successions.The presence of positiveδ~(56/54)Fe in pyrite indicates that the ferrous iron in the seawater was partially oxidized,suggesting that seawater at Three Gorges was ferruginous during the Ediacaran and Early Cambrian periods.However,aggregated pyrite grains in organic carbon-rich black shales at Member 4 of the Doushantuo Formation and the base of the Shuijingtuo Formation yield near-zeroδ~(56/54)Fe values;this suggests that the ocean was transiently dominated by sulfidic conditions during these periods.Notably negativeδ~(56/54)Fe values,lower than-1‰,can be interpreted as a signature of DIR.The DIR also might contribute in part to the re-mineralization of organic matter during the largest negative carbon isotope anomaly in the Ediacaran.     

滇东伊迪卡拉（震旦）系顶部旧城段多样宏体化石群的发现?

中国云南东部晋宁、江川地区的伊迪卡拉（震旦）系顶部灯影组旧城段新发现了多样的宏体化石群，除了丰富的Vendotaenia与Tyrasotaenia类化石以外，以形体较大的Tawuia类和Longfengshaniaceae科等具固着构造的底栖多细胞藻类化石占据优势，另有一些形态奇特、亲缘关系不明的宏体化石，该组合与华南陡山沱组和灯影组石板滩段的宏体化石组合相比存在着明显的差别。依据形态特征，本文概述了部分产自江川旧城段的具有不同类型固着构造的底栖藻类和归属不明的宏体化石特征。华南滇东地区旧城段形态多样的宏体藻类化石的发现，进一步表明伊迪卡拉纪末期存在后生植物的多样化发展。这一时期浮游微生物和后生植物的共同繁盛可能为早寒武世“澄江生物群”的爆发奠定了生态基础。     

Utility of Raman spectroscopy in estimates of the thermal maturity of Ediacaran organic matter: An example from the East European Craton

Raman spectroscopy was used as a supplementary method to characterise the thermal maturity of Ediacaran organic matter (OM) from the East European Craton. Because this method is based on organic particles measurement, it appears to be a good supplementary method in addition to the acquisition of biomarker data, which is based on extractable organic matter and may be affected by potential contamination. Raman spectroscopy seems to be particularly useful for lower Palaeozoic rocks, which do not contain vitrinite. Here, we compared C₃₁ 22S/(S + R) homohopane ratio results (obtained using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry), with various Raman parameters including: G_STA, G_max position, D_max/G_max, FWHM_G, RAR, D_STA, and P_Dmax. Close correlations were observed between C₃₁ 22S/(S + R) and G_STA, G_max position, D_max/G_max, and FWHM_G, reaching values of R² = 0.5‒0.6, whereas no correlation existed between homohopane ratio and the RAR, D_STA, and P_Dmax parameters. Raman spectroscopy results divided Ediacaran samples into two distinctive groups: (i) immature (Russian, Lithuanian, and Belarusian), characterised by relatively higher values of G_STA, D_max/G_max, and FWHM_G and relatively lower values of P_Gmax, and (ii) mature (Polish and Ukrainian), with relatively lower values of G_STA, D_max/G_max, and FWHM_G and relatively higher values of P_Gmax. Within each group no statistically confirmed differences were found. However, significant discrepancies were observed between the hopane ratio and Raman parameters in Lithuanian samples, in relation to other samples from the group (i). Values of the C₃₁ 22S/(S + R) ratio for Lithuanian samples are close to those for the group (ii) and significantly higher than those for the group (i). However, all Raman parameters are the same as those of the rest samples from the group (i), indicating the immature character of OM from Lithuanian rocks. We interpret this discrepancy as representing contamination of the cores with drilling fluids, resulting in increased values for the C₃₁ 22S/(S + R) ratio. In this case, Raman spectroscopy is a useful tool for detecting extract contamination and appears to be an effective and decisive method in the case of rocks suspected of contamination.     

华南老堡组硅质岩中草莓状黄铁矿——埃迪卡拉纪末期深海缺氧的证据

为恢复埃迪卡拉纪末期深海的氧化还原状态,我们对华南桂北泗里口剖面老堡组（大约550~540Ma）硅质岩中草莓状黄铁矿的粒径和分布进行了测量、统计和研究。老堡组硅质岩样品中普遍存在着草莓状黄铁矿,呈星散状分布,未见自形晶的黄铁矿颗粒和明显后期充填的草莓状黄铁矿集合体。硅质岩中草莓状黄铁矿颗粒的统计表明,它们具有很窄的变化范围,最大粒径小于18μm,大多数样品中草莓状黄铁矿的平均粒径和中间粒径均小于5μm。根据这些硅质岩中原生黄铁矿的粒径和分布,我们判定埃迪卡拉纪末期的深部海水是缺氧的。泗里口剖面老堡组硅质岩中草莓状黄铁矿的平均粒径、中间粒径和最大直径沿剖面向上逐渐增加,这意味着埃迪卡拉纪末期华南的深部海水有逐步被氧化的趋势。     

贵州东南区埃迪卡拉系层序地层格架

贵州地区的埃迪卡拉系由陡山沱组和灯影组构成,其中陡山沱组以硅质岩为主,灯影组以泥晶白云岩为特征。选取典型剖面进行层序划分,通过空间追索和对比,建立研究区埃迪卡拉系层序地层格架。层序地层格架的建立表明：从陡山沱组到灯影组构成一个总体向上变浅的沉积序列,该序列组成一个二级构造层序,并进一步划分为5个三级层序。二级层序及其所包含三级层序具有相似的相序组构,体现出“旋回含旋回”的特征。从浅水台地区到深水盆地区,灯影组白云岩不存在白云岩相变为灰岩的现象,可能从另一个角度表明这套白云岩就像陡山沱组底部的“帽白云岩”那样是原生白云石沉淀作用的产物,并且可能反映了“帽白云岩”所指示的前寒武纪晚期“极端温室效应”的延续。     

华南伊迪卡拉纪"庙河生物群"的属性分析

我国南方伊迪卡拉(震旦)系陡山沱组页岩中,保存了以"庙河生物群"为代表的宏体碳质压膜化石群,以大量底栖固着的多细胞藻类为主,还包含推测的后生动物和海绵动物、可疑的遗迹化石等多门类生物化石,化石类型多样、分异显著,代表着新元古代"雪球"冰期之后和寒武纪早期后生动物大爆发前夕地球早期多细胞生物的一次大规模的进化辐射事件。本文通过比较湖北秭归庙河和贵州江口翁会两个典型产地的宏体化石优势属种的形态特征,以及两地所处的沉积古环境,分析探讨了这些优势类别与现生多细胞生物(包括红藻、褐藻和绿藻三大高级藻类)的亲缘关系。研究表明,寒武纪之前大约35~10Ma间,各门类多细胞藻类广泛发育,与后生动物的先驱分子构成独特的古生态群落。     

华南埃迪卡拉(震旦)系陡山沱组生物地层学研究的新进展

本文重点介绍华南地区埃迪卡拉(震旦)系陡山沱组生物地层学研究的新进展:(1)贵州江口陡山沱组上部黑色页岩中发现保存完美的八辐射螺旋结构的埃迪卡拉型动物化石--八臂仙母虫,首次确立陡山沱组上部庙河生物群层位有埃迪卡拉型动物化石的存在,为该层位与澳大利亚典型埃迪卡拉动物群层位对比提供了重要证据.(2)陡山沱组第二段首次发现有饰天柱山藻,确立了陡山沱组中下部出现的以Tianzhushania属为特征的具刺疑源类下组合带,为同期地层的对比提供了新依据.(3)在峡东地区陡山沱组第三段发现以Tanarium属为特征的具刺疑源类上组合带,它们与断面呈圆形和方形的管状化石共生,层位稳定,分布广泛.这些新古生物的发现,不仅进一步完善了我国埃迪卡拉(震旦)系陡山沱组的生物地层序列,而且为解决全球埃迪卡拉系划分和对比提供了可靠的古生物依据.     

湖北宜昌樟村坪埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组硅磷质结核中的微体化石

本文报道的微体化石产于湖北宜昌樟村坪万家沟剖面埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱组第10层的硅磷质结核中,化石组合包括疑源类Appendisphaera grandis、Ericiasphaera spjeldnaesii、Knollisphaeridium maxi mum、Leiosphaeridia tenuissi ma、Meghystrichosphaeridium perfectum、Tianzhushania polysiphonia、T.spinosa、T.ornata;丝状蓝藻Oscillatoriopsis obtusa、Polytrichoides induviatus、P.lineatus、Salome hubeiensis、Siphonophycustypicum;多细胞藻类Sarcinophycus palilloformis、Wengania minuta。该微体化石组合面貌与黄陵背斜东、南翼陡山沱组二段硅质结核中以大型具刺疑源类Tianzhushania为特征的组合相同,与贵州瓮安地区陡山沱组上磷块岩下部保存的微体化石组合面貌基本一致。     

华南埃迪卡拉系底部钾质斑脱岩的岩石地球化学特征及其地质意义

我国华南扬子地台不同地区（湖北宜昌、安徽休宁）埃迪卡拉系底部的盖帽碳酸盐岩中均保存有浅色粘土岩层。岩石薄片和扫描电镜观察,以及X射线衍射分析表明,这些粘土岩层以伊利石和伊/蒙混层矿物为主,同时含有港湾状熔蚀石英、高温透长石及岩浆锆石等斑晶矿物。X荧光光谱仪和ICP-MS等离子质谱仪等地球化学元素分析表明,这些粘土岩层具有相似的元素组成和配分模式,以高K₂O、低TiO₂,富含Nb、Ta、Zr、Hf、Th、Y等亲石元素为特征,Al₂O₃/TiO₂、Zr/Hf 和Ti/Th 值均指示了酸性火山灰的性质,同时稀土元素配分模式与花岗岩较为相似。岩石学和地球化学特征表明,这些浅色粘土岩层是火山喷发事件形成的钾质斑脱岩。通过两处剖面的对比,可以将安徽休宁地区的钾质斑脱岩年龄限制在大约635Ma左右。岩浆判别图指示了这些钾质斑脱岩的原始岩浆为高钾亚碱性流纹英安岩;依据微量元素特征和构造环境判别图,初步认为原始岩浆形成于大陆弧环境。这些钾质斑脱岩在区域上的分布,表明我国扬子地台埃迪卡拉纪早期发生了广泛的火山活动,“雪球地球”事件的结束可能是导致这期以钾质斑脱岩为代表的火山喷发事件的诱因。     

The correlation between macroscopic algae and metazoans in the Ediacaran: a case study on the Wenghui biota in northeastern Guizhou,South China

After the Marinoan glaciation, macroscopic organisms thrived in the Yangtze Sea, South China, during the Ediacaran period. The Wenghui biota, which is found from the upper Doushantuo Formation black shales (>551 Ma) in northeastern Guizhou, South China, includes macroscopic algae, metazoans and ichnofossils. Most macroalgae in the Wenghui biota bear a holdfast to secure them onto seafloor and have a thallus of various lengths extending into the water column. This biota can be divided into Globusphyton, Sectoralga–Longifuniculum, Cucullus, Beltanelliformis and Baculiphyca–Gesinella assemblages. A fossil-barren interval containing a thin layer of feldspathic sandstone separates the macroscopic organisms into two distinct parts. From the Globusphyton assemblage through the Sectoralga–Longifuniculum assemblage to the Cucullus assemblage, metazoans show a positive correlation with the abundance and diversity of branching macroalgae at both metre and millimetre scales. Nevertheless, both Beltanelliformis and Baculiphyca–Gesinella assemblages, in which the number and diversity of macroscopic algae and metazoans, especially the shorter branching macroalgae, are obviously decreasing or even lacking, might be related to a special environment and a fragile ecosystem. In addition, the ratios of Ni/Co, U/Th and V/(V + Ni) display zigzagged profiles at millimetre scales indicating frequent redox fluctuations. Variations in macrofossils and trace elements at both millimetre and metre scales indicate that the oxygen content in the northeast Guizhou Sea fluctuated frequently during the middle–late Ediacaran period and the Wenghui biota possibly lived in the redox buffering zone. Moreover, the abundance and diversity of macroalgae, especially the branching macroalgae, could have significantly influenced the redox conditions in water column. The increase in oxygen may have improved the environment for the growth and reproduction of macroalgae and metazoans.     

华南伊迪卡拉纪宏体生物群的古地理分布及意义*

伊迪卡拉纪（635—542Ma）是前寒武纪全球大规模末次冰期（Marinoan）结束后至寒武纪“生命大爆发”之前一段重要的地质时期,由于受到新元古代气候和环境剧变的影响,真核生物乃至多细胞生物迅速演化、分异,出现显著的适应辐射。中国华南的伊迪卡拉系——震旦系陡山沱组和灯影组及其相当地层代表着这一特殊地史时段的沉积,地层记录完整,岩相环境多样,化石产出丰富,是深入研究伊迪卡拉（震旦）纪（Ediacaran/Sinian）地层划分及全球对比、探讨早期多细胞生物起源和辐射的理想地区之一。其中,扬子台地边缘相地层中出露丰富的宏体化石材料,分异显著,具有较为独特的组合面貌。近年取得的研究成果表明华南宏体化石群中也含有澳洲伊迪卡拉生物群和俄罗斯白海生物群的典型分子。作者总结了前人关于华南伊迪卡拉纪岩相古地理的研究成果;重点展示了近年来开始研究的贵州江口“翁会生物群”、云南“江川生物群”的宏体化石;简要记述了华南伊迪卡拉系中以“庙河生物群”为代表的若干宏体生物群的古地理位置及其宏体化石组合特征,据此提出了华南伊迪卡拉纪丰富多样的宏体生物群基本发育在扬子台地边缘碎屑岩至碳酸盐岩相的过渡带和斜坡带;各生物群宏体化石的组合面貌受沉积微相的制约,存在一定的变化规律。宏体化石记录表明在这一时期,伴随着显著的气候和环境变化,不仅发生了一系列重要的生物演化事件,比如：多细胞藻类和后生动物普遍开始出现多样化发展,为寒武纪生命的演化辐射奠定了生态基础;而且在华南地区已经形成了一个全新的浅海生态系统,以浮游和底栖真核藻类为主的海洋初级生产者大量繁盛,尤其是丰富的多细胞藻类可能成为前寒武纪末期至寒武纪早期主要的生烃植物类群。     

Acritarchs of Las Ventanas Formation (Ediacaran, Uruguay): Implications for the timing of coeval rifting and glacial events in western Gondwana

Acritarchs and other organic-walled microfossils occurring in siltstones of the Las Ventanas Formation (Quebrada de Viera and El Perdido members) are systematically described and illustrated. The assemblage includes the following species: Leiosphaeridia tenuissima, Leiosphaeridia minutissima, Lophosphaeridium sp., Soldadophycus bossii, Soldadophycus major, Soldadophycus sp. and Vendotaenia antiqua. The microflora is characterized by low diversity (six species), dominance of L. tenuissima, absence of acanthomorphic acritarchs, and relatively large size of sphaeromorphs, reaching 400 μm in diameter. A number of species are shared with acritarch assemblages preserved in the overlying Arroyo del Soldado Group. Differences between assemblages include the occurrence of abundant Bavlinella faveolata and small size of spheroids in the Arroyo del Soldado Group. The assemblage occurring in Las Ventanas Formation is assigned to the Ediacaran Leiosphere Palynoflora, which spans the interval between the base of the Ediacaran (end of the Marinoan Glaciation, 635 Ma) and the termination of the Gaskiers Glaciation (582 Ma). An early Ediacaran age between 615 and 579 Ma is also supported by available radiometric ages. An extensional setting for Las Ventanas basin is suggested on the basis of the bimodal, synsedimentary volcanism, strong palaeorelief, great thickness of alluvial fan conglomerates and the evolution from continental to open marine environments. Diamictites occurring in the Quebrada de Viera Member are described for the first time, including associated dropstones which suggest a glacial origin. If confirmed, this would be one more example of the association between rifting and glaciation in the Neoproterozoic, coeval with a low-diversity, high-abundance acritarch microflora. A causal relationship between these tectonic, climatic and biologic events is discussed.