Argillaceous strata of the Greenhorn and Niobrara depositional cycles contain an extensive, thoug... more Argillaceous strata of the Greenhorn and Niobrara depositional cycles contain an extensive, though spottily developed, record of tracemaking organisms. These beds are assignable to five facies, four of which represent the gradation from nearshore sandy shales to far offshore calcareous shales, the fifth representing anoxic or nearly anoxic bottom conditions. In strata studied by us the best potential for trace fossil preservation was in deposits characterized by pronounced textural variation, such as shales with sandstone interbeds, shales with thin lenses of siltstone or sandstone, or sandy and silty shales (= mudstones). In pure clayey shales and calcareous shales, trace fossils are preserved best in concretionary structures. Our study suggests that except for shales rich in organics, trace-making organisms were common and widespread in argillaceous muds of the Western Interior. Initial fluidity, high degree of compaction, and textural homogeneity are principal reasons for the poor record of trace makers in pure, clayey shales.
A Silurian reef complex at Delphi, Indiana, consists of two subcircular reefs occupying an area o... more A Silurian reef complex at Delphi, Indiana, consists of two subcircular reefs occupying an area of about 4 sq mi (10.6 sq km). The reef is more than 400 ft (62 m) thick, has a volume of about 0.15 cu mi (0.64 cu km), and effected as much as 75 ft (23 m) of compaction-induced drape in the overlying Middle
Late Palaeozoic “cyclothems” of the midcontinental U.S. cannot be represented by a single ideal f... more Late Palaeozoic “cyclothems” of the midcontinental U.S. cannot be represented by a single ideal facies sequence. Rather, they encompass a wide range of cycle types depending on their stratigraphic position. The exposed Late Palaeozoic (Pennsylvanian and Permian) rocks of Kansas, as compiled by Zeller (1968), can be divided into nine major lithofacies. These lithofacies were ordered based on their times of greatest abundance through the section. From oldest to youngest, they attain their peak abundance in the following order: (1) coal; (2) gray mudrocks and sandstones; (3) black mudrocks; (4) limestones; (5) cherty limestones; (6) fossiliferous mudrocks; (7) variegated mudrocks; (8) evaporites; and (9) variegated dolomitic siliciclastics. Climatically, these nine lithofacies suggest a change from generally wetter, at the base, to generally drier, at the top of the section. This climatic trend was probably generated by a complex interaction of factors primarily driven by global tectonics. Climatic changes can be used to explain the five generally recognized types of lithofacies “cyclothems” in Kansas, and thus are a potential explanation for the changing stratigraphic patterns of the entire Late Palaeozoic time interval of Kansas, and perhaps elsewhere.
Many of the Carboniferous coals in the eastern interior of the US are associated with siliciclast... more Many of the Carboniferous coals in the eastern interior of the US are associated with siliciclastic roof facies that were deposited within a fluvio-estuarine transition. These facies include a variety of rhythmites, some of which exhibit tidal cycles. Drier-interval coals (Westphalian B-C, Stephanian) tend to be more laterally restricted and more commonly are associated with paleovalleys. Conversely, wetter-interval coals (Westphalian D) are very widespread and are not restricted to paleovalleys. Throughout the Lake Carboniferous, wet paleoclimates associated with these coals lead to valley incision during sea-level lowstand when large tropical rivers downcut older sediments deposited during previous sea-level highstands. During subsequent rise of sea level, these fluvial valleys were flooded and converted to estuaries where tidal ranges and sedimentation rates were significantly amplified. Based on modern analogs and interpretation of many examples of Carboniferous tidal rhythmites, the localized depositional rates in these settings are exceptionally high. The estuaries became sediment sinks, trapping sediment that is pumped in from both fluvial and marine sources. As a result, sedimentation readily keeps pace with rising baselevel. Extensive intertidal flats and shallow subtidal flats are created and prograde over the valley-confined mires. Thick tidal cycles and upright trees (some with attached foliage) record rapid burial of mires. This model is supported with examples of roof facies from the Westphalian B-C of the Eastern Interior Basin, and the Stephanian of the Western Interior Basin. In these areas facies within each cycle range from well-developed, extensive paleosols and coals, to widespread marine shales or limestones. Variations in both sea level and climate resulted in a complex history of valley fill during which coals could be developed at any time (except during widespread flooding). Minable, low-sulfur and low-ash coals occur, but the coals are relatively thin and discontinuous. Conversely, the Westphalian D coals are very widespread and significant peat accumulations were not confined to paleovalleys. Nonetheless, the lowest sulfur coals are related to rapid deposition of roof facies that occurred within the paleovalley whereas high-sulfur coals were formed in areas of lower sedimentation rate of roof facies that occurred beyond the confines of the paleovalley.
Many Late Paleozoic environments have been interpreted as marine because of the co-occurrence of ... more Many Late Paleozoic environments have been interpreted as marine because of the co-occurrence of supposedly exclusively marine trace fossils. Beginning in the Late Ordovician, however, nonmarine trace-fossil diversity increased throughout the Paleozoic. This diversification of nonmarine organisms and nonmarine trace fossils was especially prevalent in Devonian and later times. Diversification of freshwater organisms is indicated by the large number of freshwater fish, arthropods, annelids and molluscs that had developed by the Carboniferous. In addition to diverse freshwater assemblages, entirely terrestrial vertebrate and invertebrate ecosystems had developed by the Devonian. This rapid diversification of freshwater and terrestrial organisms is inherently linked to development and diversification of land plants and subsequent shedding of large quantities of organic detritus in nonmarine and marginal-marine areas. Nearshore marine organisms and their larvae that are able to tolerate relatively short periods of lowered salinities will follow salt-water wedges inland during times of reduced freshwater discharge. Similarly, amphidromous marine organisms will migrate periodically inland into nonmarine environments. Undoubtedly, both of these processes were active in the Paleozoic. However, both processes are restricted to stream/distributary channels, interdistributary bays, or estuaries. Therefore, the presence of diverse trace-fossil assemblages in association with floodplain deposits is interpreted to reflect true nonmarine adaptation and diversity. Conversely, diverse trace-fossil assemblages in association with stream/distributary channel deposits, interdistributary-bay deposits, or estuarine deposits may reflect migration of salt-water wedges inland, or migration of marine organisms into freshwater environments (amphidromy), or both.
Numerous departures from ideal relationships are revealed by Monte Carlo simulations of widely ac... more Numerous departures from ideal relationships are revealed by Monte Carlo simulations of widely accepted binomial coefficients. For example, simulations incorporating varying levels of matrix sparseness (presence of zeros indicating lack of data) and computation of expected values reveal that not only are all common coefficients influenced by zero data, but also that some coefficients do not discriminate between sparse or dense matrices (few zero data). Such coefficients computationally merge mutually shared and mutually absent information and do not exploit all the information incorporated within the standard 2 × 2 contingency table; therefore, the commonly used formulae for such coefficients are more complicated than the actual range of values produced. Other coefficients do differentiate between mutual presences and absences; however, a number of these coefficients do not demonstrate a linear relationship to matrix sparseness. Finally, simulations using nonrandom matrices with known degrees of row-by-row similarities signify that several coefficients either do not display a reasonable range of values or are nonlinear with respect to known relationships within the data. Analyses with nonrandom matrices yield clues as to the utility of certain coefficients for specific applications. For example, coefficients such as Jaccard, Dice, and Baroni-Urbani and Buser are useful if correction of sparseness is desired, whereas the Russell-Rao coefficient is useful when sparseness correction is not desired.
... 1Present address: Darron G. Deboer, Environmental Resources Management, Overland Park, KS, US... more ... 1Present address: Darron G. Deboer, Environmental Resources Management, Overland Park, KS, USA. ... During alignment of the Earthmoonsun (new moon) or moonEarthsun (full moon), the lunar and solar gravitational forces are additive and the highest, or spring, tides ...
... On-going studies of Jurassic stratigraphic successions and associated dinosaur fossils in the... more ... On-going studies of Jurassic stratigraphic successions and associated dinosaur fossils in the Western United States reveal that dinosaur ichnofaunas are facies related to some degree (Lockley, et al., 1994; Mickelson, unpublished data). ...
... mean of the sparse-data binomial (0.10) and general utility, we rank the coefficients tested ... more ... mean of the sparse-data binomial (0.10) and general utility, we rank the coefficients tested as Dice, Braun-Blanquet, Simpson, Jacc-ard, Baroni-Urbani and Buser, Simple Matching, and Hamann. This ranking is generally the opposite of that for Monte Carlo simulations using 50 ...
... Page 2. 176 ALLEN W. ARCHER, WILLIAM P. LANIER, AND HOWARD R. FELDMAN COLORADO; ; ; TEXAS ; ;... more ... Page 2. 176 ALLEN W. ARCHER, WILLIAM P. LANIER, AND HOWARD R. FELDMAN COLORADO; ; ; TEXAS ; ; ; N 200 km SALINA BASIN ,(1. HUGOTON EMBAYMENT ... LL BD 1"-Douglas Group outcrop Page 3. E o Robbins Sh. Haskell Ls. Tonganoxie Ss. latan Ls. Weston Sh. ...
Tides have been a source of inquiry since the dawn of human civilization. It has been known for m... more Tides have been a source of inquiry since the dawn of human civilization. It has been known for millennia that the Moon is a causative agent in the formation of tides, with the observation that lunar phases often correlated to changing tidal amplitudes. The precise mechanisms underlying the formation of tides and local tidal dynamics, however, have proven difficult to elucidate. Only with Newton's theory of gravitation in the 17th century was the correlation between lunar cycles and tides partially explained. Further work by Laplace and others resulted in a more dynamic theory that more closely matched observations and allowed for better prediction of local tidal behavior. Quantitative models derived from these methods have increased in precision and complexity (particularly with the advent of the electronic computer), and have allowed new insights into the nature of tidal dynamics and tidal dissipation.In more recent years scientists have analyzed deposits known as tidal bundles and tidal rhythmites in an attempt to extrapolate the history of tides from the geologic record. Tidal bundles are laterally accreted cyclic foreset beds separated by mud laminae. Tidal rhythmites are vertically accreted planar laminae that alternate between coarse and fine sediments forming couplets often composed of sands and muds. These deposits are characterized by bed/laminae thicknesses that vary rhythmically and preserve tidal periodicities, and are generally found in intertidal or subtidal depositional environments. The mode of deposition (e.g. sand or mud) is primarily determined by current velocity and tidal range, factors largely controlled by the tides in marginal marine settings.Quantitative analyses of tidal rhythmites may facilitate more precise elucidation of tidal periodicities encoded in the rock record. The partial reconstruction of the history of lunar recession from existing data and analyses indicates that the Earth is presently experiencing a high rate of tidal dissipation. Further data obtained from ancient tidal proxies may prove essential in constraining models of tidal dissipation, thereby revealing the mechanisms and dynamics present in the dissipation process controlling secular changes in the length of day and lunar orbit.
Page 1. RESEARCH Lt II RS A Tidal Model of Carboniferous Konservat-Lagerstatten Formation HOWARD ... more Page 1. RESEARCH Lt II RS A Tidal Model of Carboniferous Konservat-Lagerstatten Formation HOWARD R. FELDMAN Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047 ALLEN W. ARCHER Department ...
ABSTRACT Analyses are presented for a variety of ancient cyclic tidal rhythmites, which exhibit w... more ABSTRACT Analyses are presented for a variety of ancient cyclic tidal rhythmites, which exhibit well developed neap-spring tidal periods. Many such rhythmites were formed within the upper intertidal zone and exhibit truncated cycles that contain relatively few discrete ...
Various paleotidal periods can be extracted from analyses of cyclic tidal rhythmites, which are c... more Various paleotidal periods can be extracted from analyses of cyclic tidal rhythmites, which are common in upper Carboniferous (∼300 Ma) rocks of the eastern and midcontinental United States. These periods provide details of the paleotidal regime that controlled sedimentation during deposition of the rhythmites. In addition to shorter-term diurnal/semidiurnal periods and longer-term neap-spring tidal periods, some rhythmites have unusual intermediate
Argillaceous strata of the Greenhorn and Niobrara depositional cycles contain an extensive, thoug... more Argillaceous strata of the Greenhorn and Niobrara depositional cycles contain an extensive, though spottily developed, record of tracemaking organisms. These beds are assignable to five facies, four of which represent the gradation from nearshore sandy shales to far offshore calcareous shales, the fifth representing anoxic or nearly anoxic bottom conditions. In strata studied by us the best potential for trace fossil preservation was in deposits characterized by pronounced textural variation, such as shales with sandstone interbeds, shales with thin lenses of siltstone or sandstone, or sandy and silty shales (= mudstones). In pure clayey shales and calcareous shales, trace fossils are preserved best in concretionary structures. Our study suggests that except for shales rich in organics, trace-making organisms were common and widespread in argillaceous muds of the Western Interior. Initial fluidity, high degree of compaction, and textural homogeneity are principal reasons for the poor record of trace makers in pure, clayey shales.
A Silurian reef complex at Delphi, Indiana, consists of two subcircular reefs occupying an area o... more A Silurian reef complex at Delphi, Indiana, consists of two subcircular reefs occupying an area of about 4 sq mi (10.6 sq km). The reef is more than 400 ft (62 m) thick, has a volume of about 0.15 cu mi (0.64 cu km), and effected as much as 75 ft (23 m) of compaction-induced drape in the overlying Middle
Late Palaeozoic “cyclothems” of the midcontinental U.S. cannot be represented by a single ideal f... more Late Palaeozoic “cyclothems” of the midcontinental U.S. cannot be represented by a single ideal facies sequence. Rather, they encompass a wide range of cycle types depending on their stratigraphic position. The exposed Late Palaeozoic (Pennsylvanian and Permian) rocks of Kansas, as compiled by Zeller (1968), can be divided into nine major lithofacies. These lithofacies were ordered based on their times of greatest abundance through the section. From oldest to youngest, they attain their peak abundance in the following order: (1) coal; (2) gray mudrocks and sandstones; (3) black mudrocks; (4) limestones; (5) cherty limestones; (6) fossiliferous mudrocks; (7) variegated mudrocks; (8) evaporites; and (9) variegated dolomitic siliciclastics. Climatically, these nine lithofacies suggest a change from generally wetter, at the base, to generally drier, at the top of the section. This climatic trend was probably generated by a complex interaction of factors primarily driven by global tectonics. Climatic changes can be used to explain the five generally recognized types of lithofacies “cyclothems” in Kansas, and thus are a potential explanation for the changing stratigraphic patterns of the entire Late Palaeozoic time interval of Kansas, and perhaps elsewhere.
Many of the Carboniferous coals in the eastern interior of the US are associated with siliciclast... more Many of the Carboniferous coals in the eastern interior of the US are associated with siliciclastic roof facies that were deposited within a fluvio-estuarine transition. These facies include a variety of rhythmites, some of which exhibit tidal cycles. Drier-interval coals (Westphalian B-C, Stephanian) tend to be more laterally restricted and more commonly are associated with paleovalleys. Conversely, wetter-interval coals (Westphalian D) are very widespread and are not restricted to paleovalleys. Throughout the Lake Carboniferous, wet paleoclimates associated with these coals lead to valley incision during sea-level lowstand when large tropical rivers downcut older sediments deposited during previous sea-level highstands. During subsequent rise of sea level, these fluvial valleys were flooded and converted to estuaries where tidal ranges and sedimentation rates were significantly amplified. Based on modern analogs and interpretation of many examples of Carboniferous tidal rhythmites, the localized depositional rates in these settings are exceptionally high. The estuaries became sediment sinks, trapping sediment that is pumped in from both fluvial and marine sources. As a result, sedimentation readily keeps pace with rising baselevel. Extensive intertidal flats and shallow subtidal flats are created and prograde over the valley-confined mires. Thick tidal cycles and upright trees (some with attached foliage) record rapid burial of mires. This model is supported with examples of roof facies from the Westphalian B-C of the Eastern Interior Basin, and the Stephanian of the Western Interior Basin. In these areas facies within each cycle range from well-developed, extensive paleosols and coals, to widespread marine shales or limestones. Variations in both sea level and climate resulted in a complex history of valley fill during which coals could be developed at any time (except during widespread flooding). Minable, low-sulfur and low-ash coals occur, but the coals are relatively thin and discontinuous. Conversely, the Westphalian D coals are very widespread and significant peat accumulations were not confined to paleovalleys. Nonetheless, the lowest sulfur coals are related to rapid deposition of roof facies that occurred within the paleovalley whereas high-sulfur coals were formed in areas of lower sedimentation rate of roof facies that occurred beyond the confines of the paleovalley.
Many Late Paleozoic environments have been interpreted as marine because of the co-occurrence of ... more Many Late Paleozoic environments have been interpreted as marine because of the co-occurrence of supposedly exclusively marine trace fossils. Beginning in the Late Ordovician, however, nonmarine trace-fossil diversity increased throughout the Paleozoic. This diversification of nonmarine organisms and nonmarine trace fossils was especially prevalent in Devonian and later times. Diversification of freshwater organisms is indicated by the large number of freshwater fish, arthropods, annelids and molluscs that had developed by the Carboniferous. In addition to diverse freshwater assemblages, entirely terrestrial vertebrate and invertebrate ecosystems had developed by the Devonian. This rapid diversification of freshwater and terrestrial organisms is inherently linked to development and diversification of land plants and subsequent shedding of large quantities of organic detritus in nonmarine and marginal-marine areas. Nearshore marine organisms and their larvae that are able to tolerate relatively short periods of lowered salinities will follow salt-water wedges inland during times of reduced freshwater discharge. Similarly, amphidromous marine organisms will migrate periodically inland into nonmarine environments. Undoubtedly, both of these processes were active in the Paleozoic. However, both processes are restricted to stream/distributary channels, interdistributary bays, or estuaries. Therefore, the presence of diverse trace-fossil assemblages in association with floodplain deposits is interpreted to reflect true nonmarine adaptation and diversity. Conversely, diverse trace-fossil assemblages in association with stream/distributary channel deposits, interdistributary-bay deposits, or estuarine deposits may reflect migration of salt-water wedges inland, or migration of marine organisms into freshwater environments (amphidromy), or both.
Numerous departures from ideal relationships are revealed by Monte Carlo simulations of widely ac... more Numerous departures from ideal relationships are revealed by Monte Carlo simulations of widely accepted binomial coefficients. For example, simulations incorporating varying levels of matrix sparseness (presence of zeros indicating lack of data) and computation of expected values reveal that not only are all common coefficients influenced by zero data, but also that some coefficients do not discriminate between sparse or dense matrices (few zero data). Such coefficients computationally merge mutually shared and mutually absent information and do not exploit all the information incorporated within the standard 2 × 2 contingency table; therefore, the commonly used formulae for such coefficients are more complicated than the actual range of values produced. Other coefficients do differentiate between mutual presences and absences; however, a number of these coefficients do not demonstrate a linear relationship to matrix sparseness. Finally, simulations using nonrandom matrices with known degrees of row-by-row similarities signify that several coefficients either do not display a reasonable range of values or are nonlinear with respect to known relationships within the data. Analyses with nonrandom matrices yield clues as to the utility of certain coefficients for specific applications. For example, coefficients such as Jaccard, Dice, and Baroni-Urbani and Buser are useful if correction of sparseness is desired, whereas the Russell-Rao coefficient is useful when sparseness correction is not desired.
... 1Present address: Darron G. Deboer, Environmental Resources Management, Overland Park, KS, US... more ... 1Present address: Darron G. Deboer, Environmental Resources Management, Overland Park, KS, USA. ... During alignment of the Earthmoonsun (new moon) or moonEarthsun (full moon), the lunar and solar gravitational forces are additive and the highest, or spring, tides ...
... On-going studies of Jurassic stratigraphic successions and associated dinosaur fossils in the... more ... On-going studies of Jurassic stratigraphic successions and associated dinosaur fossils in the Western United States reveal that dinosaur ichnofaunas are facies related to some degree (Lockley, et al., 1994; Mickelson, unpublished data). ...
... mean of the sparse-data binomial (0.10) and general utility, we rank the coefficients tested ... more ... mean of the sparse-data binomial (0.10) and general utility, we rank the coefficients tested as Dice, Braun-Blanquet, Simpson, Jacc-ard, Baroni-Urbani and Buser, Simple Matching, and Hamann. This ranking is generally the opposite of that for Monte Carlo simulations using 50 ...
... Page 2. 176 ALLEN W. ARCHER, WILLIAM P. LANIER, AND HOWARD R. FELDMAN COLORADO; ; ; TEXAS ; ;... more ... Page 2. 176 ALLEN W. ARCHER, WILLIAM P. LANIER, AND HOWARD R. FELDMAN COLORADO; ; ; TEXAS ; ; ; N 200 km SALINA BASIN ,(1. HUGOTON EMBAYMENT ... LL BD 1"-Douglas Group outcrop Page 3. E o Robbins Sh. Haskell Ls. Tonganoxie Ss. latan Ls. Weston Sh. ...
Tides have been a source of inquiry since the dawn of human civilization. It has been known for m... more Tides have been a source of inquiry since the dawn of human civilization. It has been known for millennia that the Moon is a causative agent in the formation of tides, with the observation that lunar phases often correlated to changing tidal amplitudes. The precise mechanisms underlying the formation of tides and local tidal dynamics, however, have proven difficult to elucidate. Only with Newton's theory of gravitation in the 17th century was the correlation between lunar cycles and tides partially explained. Further work by Laplace and others resulted in a more dynamic theory that more closely matched observations and allowed for better prediction of local tidal behavior. Quantitative models derived from these methods have increased in precision and complexity (particularly with the advent of the electronic computer), and have allowed new insights into the nature of tidal dynamics and tidal dissipation.In more recent years scientists have analyzed deposits known as tidal bundles and tidal rhythmites in an attempt to extrapolate the history of tides from the geologic record. Tidal bundles are laterally accreted cyclic foreset beds separated by mud laminae. Tidal rhythmites are vertically accreted planar laminae that alternate between coarse and fine sediments forming couplets often composed of sands and muds. These deposits are characterized by bed/laminae thicknesses that vary rhythmically and preserve tidal periodicities, and are generally found in intertidal or subtidal depositional environments. The mode of deposition (e.g. sand or mud) is primarily determined by current velocity and tidal range, factors largely controlled by the tides in marginal marine settings.Quantitative analyses of tidal rhythmites may facilitate more precise elucidation of tidal periodicities encoded in the rock record. The partial reconstruction of the history of lunar recession from existing data and analyses indicates that the Earth is presently experiencing a high rate of tidal dissipation. Further data obtained from ancient tidal proxies may prove essential in constraining models of tidal dissipation, thereby revealing the mechanisms and dynamics present in the dissipation process controlling secular changes in the length of day and lunar orbit.
Page 1. RESEARCH Lt II RS A Tidal Model of Carboniferous Konservat-Lagerstatten Formation HOWARD ... more Page 1. RESEARCH Lt II RS A Tidal Model of Carboniferous Konservat-Lagerstatten Formation HOWARD R. FELDMAN Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047 ALLEN W. ARCHER Department ...
ABSTRACT Analyses are presented for a variety of ancient cyclic tidal rhythmites, which exhibit w... more ABSTRACT Analyses are presented for a variety of ancient cyclic tidal rhythmites, which exhibit well developed neap-spring tidal periods. Many such rhythmites were formed within the upper intertidal zone and exhibit truncated cycles that contain relatively few discrete ...
Various paleotidal periods can be extracted from analyses of cyclic tidal rhythmites, which are c... more Various paleotidal periods can be extracted from analyses of cyclic tidal rhythmites, which are common in upper Carboniferous (∼300 Ma) rocks of the eastern and midcontinental United States. These periods provide details of the paleotidal regime that controlled sedimentation during deposition of the rhythmites. In addition to shorter-term diurnal/semidiurnal periods and longer-term neap-spring tidal periods, some rhythmites have unusual intermediate
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