Trace fossils and hummocky cross-stratification, upper Cretaceous of Utah

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Palaois; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3514939· OSTI ID:6052129

Frey, R W ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Georgia, Athens (USA)

The Spring Canyon Member of the Blackhawk Formation in Coal Creek Canyon, Utah, consists of four regressive nearshore-to-offshore sequences punctuated locally by hummocky cross-stratification. Collectively, nonstorm bedding units span lower offshore to middle shoreface lithofacies. Associated ichnofaunas tend to be diverse, distinctive, and diagnostic of original depositional gradients. Nevertheless, all resident ichnofaunas are referable to the Cruziana ichnocoenose. Ichnofaunas of hummocky beds, in contrast, mainly represent either a Skolithos ichnocoenose or a mixed Skolithos-Cruziana ichnocoenose. These post-storm ichnocoenoses evidently correspond to a sere of opportunistic pioneers or ensuing seres of resilient resident populations, although distal biocoenoses may have remained essentially beyond reach of prevalant nearshore opportunists. The predominance of domichnia over fodinichnia in initial post-storm ichnocoenoses probably reflects original larval settlement patterns tempered by gradients in hydraulic energy. Differences in ichnofaunas also are related to differences in rates of post-storm deposition: the slower the rate of sediment accumulation, the greater the degree of overprinting by burrows of subsequent seres or equilibrium communities.

• OSTI ID: 6052129
• Journal Information: Palaois; (USA), Journal Name: Palaois; (USA) Vol. 5:3; ISSN PALAE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
011000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
COAL DEPOSITS
DEPOSITION
DISASTERS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
FOSSILS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGY
MINERAL RESOURCES
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOCLIMATOLOGY
PALEONTOLOGY
RESOURCES
SEDIMENTATION
SEDIMENTS
STORMS
STRATIFICATION
STRATIGRAPHY
USA
UTAH