Johan Yans

Carbon isotope excursions and sea-level change: implications for the Frasnian–Famennian biotic crisis

New carbon and oxygen isotope data from carbonates spanning the Frasnian–Famennian (F–F) boundary in the Guilin area, South China, show a broad positive δ13C rise and fall, with sharp, short-lived negative δ13C events; this pattern is comparable to that in Europe and North America. The integration of the isotope stratigraphy with high-resolution sequence stratigraphy corroborates the onset of the positive δ13C excursion during a third-order sea-level fall in the latest Frasnian. This can best be explained through increased burial of Corg during the sea-level fall, brought about by increased organic productivity caused by increased continent-derived nutrient flux to the ocean due to enhanced weathering through the proliferation of land plants in the Devonian. This scenario would have resulted in anoxic and eutrophic conditions over epicontinental seas and blooms of cyanobacteria, creating a highly stressful and fragile ecosystem for oligotrophic normal-marine benthic organisms and leading to their massive decline. The global third-order sea-level fall near the end of the Frasnian may have led to gas hydrate dissociation (giving the negative δ13C events), and caused wild climatic fluctuations. The subsequent short-term events of sea-level rise, anoxia and eutrophication in the latest part of the F–F transition would have placed additional environmental stresses on the already weakened biota, leading to their further demise.

High-resolution carbon isotope stratigraphy and mammalian faunal change at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary in the honeycombs area of the southern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming

The Paleocene-Eocene boundary is defined chemostratigraphically by the onset of a 100 kyr global carbon isotope excursion (CIE) that is recognized in marine and continental strata in both carbonate and dispersed organic carbon. The CIE is important in continental sections as a proxy for environmental change during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM), which clearly affected faunal succession in Paleocene-Eocene mammals. At Polecat Bench in the northern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, the CIE is in the Willwood Formation, where it spans four mammalian biozones from part of latest Clarkforkian Cf-3, through early Wasatchian Wa-M (Meniscotherium), Wa-0, and part of Wa-1. Here we report a new high-resolution study of the CIE recorded in dispersed organic carbon of the basal Willwood Formation in the Honeycombs area of the southern Bighorn Basin. In the Honeycombs area, 58 isotope sample sites span a vertical section of 71 meters, including the Wa-M locality ‘Halfway Hill North’ with both Meniscotherium and a Heptodon-like perissodactyl, and the richly fossiliferous Wa-0 wash site ‘Castle Gardens’ yielding a diverse mammalian fauna. Total organic carbon in the Honeycombs section is in the range of 0.1 to 0.4 percent by weight, and CaCO3 is notably lacking except in the Castle Gardens interval where it reaches ca. 3 percent. Pre- and post-excursion values of δ13Corg (PDB) range from −26.2 to −24.1 permil. The Honeycombs CIE is about 42 m thick, and CIE excursion values range from −28.8 to −26.2 permil. The Honeycombs area is important because the Halfway Hill North locality is the first to yield a perissodactyl from the Wa-M Meniscotherium zone, and the Castle Gardens wash site is the first to yield abundant evidence of Wa-0 zone microvertebrates. As at Polecat Bench, the Meniscotherium zone in the Honeycombs area is in the lower part of the CIE, and Castle Gardens and other Wa-0 sites are in the longer middle and upper parts, starting near or after the maximum negative excursion. The CIE at Polecat Bench includes a series of 5 to 6 negative-excursion landmarks that are spaced, on average, about 8.5 m apart. These are tentatively interpreted as 21-kyr orbital precession cycles like those inferred for paleosol color. Negative-excursion landmarks are present in the Honeycombs CIE as well, but these are fewer and part of the Honeycombs section may be condensed or missing. Full understanding of the Paleocene-Eocene biotic transition will require investigation at even finer scales of temporal resolution, and results reported here suggest that finer-scale studies should be possible.

Nature and dating of karstic filling in the Hainaut Province (Belgium). Karstic, geodynamic and paleogeographic implications

The Carboniferous limestones of the Hainaut Province (Belgium) provide evidence of complex karstification. The forms and deposits recently discovered are (1) ghost-rocks with residual weathered and decayed rock, (2) fluviatile endokarsts filled with pebbles rounded by rolling, and (3) ghost-rocks taken up later by underground fluviatile erosion and containing sandy and clayey deposits. We here provide a detailed sedimentological description, a granulometric study, a palynological dating and geochronological dating (K-Ar method on grains of glauconite and ferriferous illite) of the karstic filling. This palaeokarst stratigraphy of the studied area allows us to propose the following evolution: (1) a fluviatile endokarstification in a hummocky relief in late Early Cretaceous and early Late Cretaceous, (2) the formation of ghost-rocks on a flat relief during the Cenomanian-Turonian, (3) fluviatile deposition of sands and clays filling, as a result of tectonic reactivation during the Maastrichtian-Danian. This multidisciplinary study, taking into consideration karstic, hydrodynamic, tectonic and palaeogeographic factors within a well-defined stratigraphic framework may be of use in studying of the palaeokarst successions.

First Clarkforkian equivalent Land Mammal Age in the latest Paleocene basal Sparnacian facies of Europe: fauna, flora, paleoenvironment and (bio)stratigraphy.

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is correlated with the first occurrences of earliest modern mammals in the Northern Hemisphere. The latest Paleocene Clarkforkian North American Land Mammal Age, that has yielded rodents and carnivorans, is the only exception to this rule. However, until now no pre-PETM localities have yielded modern mammals in Europe or Asia. We report the first Clarkforkian equivalent Land Mammal Age in the latest Paleocene deposits of the basal Sparnacian facies at Rivecourt, in the north-central part of the Paris Basin. The new terrestrial vertebrate and macroflora assemblages are analyzed through a multidisciplinary study including sedimentologic, stratigraphic, isotopic, and palynological aspects in order to reconstruct the paleoenvironment and to evaluate biochronologic and paleogeographic implications. The mammals are moderately diverse and not abundant, contrary to turtles and champsosaurs. The macroflora is exceptional in preservation and diversity with numerous angiosperms represented by flowers, fruits, seeds and wood preserved as lignite material, revealing an abundance of Arecaceae, Betulaceae, Icacinaceae, Menispermaceae, Vitaceae and probably Cornaceae. Results indicate a Late Paleocene age based on carbon isotope data, palynology and vertebrate occurrences such as the choristoderan Champsosaurus, the arctocyonid Arctocyon, and the plesiadapid Plesiadapis tricuspidens. However, several mammal species compare better with the earliest Eocene. Among these, the particular louisinid Teilhardimys musculus, also recorded from the latest Paleocene of the Spanish Pyrenees, suggests a younger age than the typical MP6 reference level. Nevertheless, the most important aspect of the Rivecourt fauna is the presence of dental remains of a rodent and a “miacid” carnivoran, attesting to the presence of two modern mammalian orders in the latest Paleocene of Europe. Interestingly, these two groups are also the only modern groups recorded from the latest Paleocene of North America, making Rivecourt the first direct equivalent to the Clarkforkian Land Mammal Age outside of North America.

Identification and use of white clayey deposits from the area of Tamra (northern Tunisia) as ceramic raw materials

Abstract White clayey geomaterials were collected from northeast of the Nefza region (northern Tunisia). These deposits belong to the Mio-Pliocene molassic basins (basin of Tamra-Sidi Dris, Boukhchiba) and Oligocene Numidien in the area of El Aouinet. Analysis by X-ray diffraction showed associations of halloysite and kaolinite (Tamra), kaolinite and illite (Aouinet zone) and mixed layers, kaolinite and feldspars (Boukhchiba zone). Semi-industrial processed bricks showed promising characteristics and were visibly free of defects. Ceramic tiles had a bending strength that met the required standards but water absorption was somewhat high. So, to achieve higher quality, optimisation needs to be carried out in the formulation of batches or in the processing conditions. Finally, the incorporation in whitish sanitary-ware glaze formulations generated smooth coating layers that showed the required strong brightness and were free of defects.

Molecular composition and ultrastructure of Jurassic paravian feathers

Feathers are amongst the most complex epidermal structures known, and they have a well-documented evolutionary trajectory across non-avian dinosaurs and basal birds. Moreover, melanosome-like microbodies preserved in association with fossil plumage have been used to reconstruct original colour, behaviour and physiology. However, these putative ancient melanosomes might alternatively represent microorganismal residues, a conflicting interpretation compounded by a lack of unambiguous chemical data. We therefore used sensitive molecular imaging, supported by multiple independent analytical tests, to demonstrate that the filamentous epidermal appendages in a new specimen of the Jurassic paravian Anchiornis comprise remnant eumelanosomes and fibril-like microstructures, preserved as endogenous eumelanin and authigenic calcium phosphate. These results provide novel insights into the early evolution of feathers at the sub-cellular level, and unequivocally determine that melanosomes can be preserved in fossil feathers.

Detailed mineralogy and petrology of manganese oxyhydroxide deposits of the Imini district (Morocco)

Manganese ore in the Cenomanian-Turonian dolostone of the Imini district (south of the High Atlas, Morocco) displays a high Mn content due to the occurrence of pyrolusite, cryptomelane, hollandite sensu stricto, coronadite, romanechite, and lithiophorite. The orebodies occur mainly as three stratabound layers along the ~25-km-long ore belt following a WSW-ENE direction. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) coupled with X-ray diffraction (XRD), we here refine the mineralogy and petrology of Mn oxides and oxyhydroxides in order to constrain the paragenetic sequence and define the main processes of ore formation. Deposition and concentration of Mn oxyhydroxides follow a two-step sequence after dolomitization: (1) replacement of dolomite fabric (dolomite micrite and dolomite rhombs) by hollandite group minerals leading to a textural conservation and then (2) neoformation of collomorphous aggregates in an opened and brecciated system. These observations are consistent with a multistage evolution including multiple reworking and brecciation. Pyrolusite is the main Mn oxide observed in the Imini district during both early and late stages. The superficial environment provides supergene conditions suitable for the deposition of only Mn oxyhydroxides. This supergene environment and the occurrence of multiple bands of hollandite group minerals indicate an external migration (allochthonous supply) of Mn and associated elements, contemporaneous to an in situ chemical and mechanical dissolution of the host dolostone. The lithological heterogeneities of dolostone and its chemical environment compared to less permeable surrounding rocks may have provided the conditions to concentrate Mn oxides and oxyhydroxides.

Integrated Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction and Taphonomy of a Unique Upper Cretaceous Vertebrate-Bearing Locality (Velaux, Southeastern France)

The Velaux-La Bastide Neuve fossil-bearing site (Bouches-du-Rhône, France) has yielded a diverse vertebrate assemblage dominated by dinosaurs, including the titanosaur Atsinganosaurus velauciensis. We here provide a complete inventory of vertebrate fossils collected during two large-scale field campaigns. Numerous crocodilian teeth occur together with complete skulls. Pterosaur, hybodont shark and fish elements are also represented but uncommon. Magnetostratigraphic analyses associated with biostratigraphic data from dinosaur eggshell and charophytes suggest a Late Campanian age for the locality. Lithologic and taphonomic studies, associated with microfacies and palynofacies analyses, indicate a fluvial setting of moderate energy with broad floodplain. Palynomorphs are quite rare; only three taxa of pollen grains occur: a bisaccate taxon, a second form probably belonging to the Normapolles complex, and another tricolporate taxon. Despite the good state of preservation, these taxa are generally difficult to identify, since they are scarce and have a very minute size. Most of the vertebrate remains are well preserved and suggest transport of the carcasses over short distances before accumulation in channel and overbank facies, together with reworked Aptian grains of glauconite, followed by a rapid burial. The bones accumulated in three thin layers that differ by their depositional modes and their taphonomic histories. Numerous calcareous and iron oxides-rich paleosols developed on the floodplain, suggesting an alternating dry and humid climate in the region during the Late Campanian.

Poly-phase alteration history of the kaolinitized ‘Cava di Caolino’ volcanics (Lipari Island, southern Italy)

Abstract A 65 m thick altered volcanic profile was studied in the Cava di Caolino (Lipari Island) in order to (1) identify the alteration event(s), (2) model these events, and (3) propose estimates of the degree of chemical alteration (CIA, chemical index of alteration). Two mineral parageneses were identified: one comprising silico-aluminous phases, with well crystallized kaolinite (type 1), and the other comprising sulphates, with kaolinite as fracture infilling (type 2). The geochemistry of fluids analysed from a local hot spring (40°C, pH ≈8) allowed modelling of the observed silico-aluminous paragenesis. A later fumarolic event is suggested to be responsible for the sulphate paragenesis. The main stage of hydrothermal alteration lasted for ~50 ky, was marked by an increase in the CIA from the protolith (~52) to the alterites (~98), and resulted in the alteration of a 65 m thick series. Such data could be used to predict the alteration of volcanic rocks around underground nuclear waste repositories.

Earliest Oligocene hystricognathous rodents from the Atlantic margin of northwestern Saharan Africa (Dakhla, Morocco): systematic, paleobiogeographical, and paleoenvironmental implications

ABSTRACT Hystricognathous rodents are among the most common members of African mammal faunas of the mid-Paleogene, but their record has so far remained limited to North and northeast Africa. Here we report the first Paleogene record of hystricognaths from the Atlantic margin of North Africa. The fossils come from the westernmost part of the Sahara, east of the Dakhla peninsula, Morocco, from estuarine deposits dating to the earliest Oligocene (Dakhla level C2 [DAK C2]). Several tens of isolated teeth plus three jaw fragments document seven species of hystricognaths (Gaudeamus cf. aslius, G. cf. hylaeus, Phenacophiomys occidentalis, gen. et sp. nov., Birkamys aff. korai, Mubhammys atlanticus, sp. nov., Neophiomys minutus, sp. nov., and ?Phiocricetomys sp.). Despite the extensive east-west geographic distance, the majority of hystricognath taxa recorded in DAK C2 document primarily close relatives of taxa that are known from a latest Eocene Egyptian locality (L-41) and from early Oligocene localities of both Egypt and Libya. This highlights the widespread eastwest distribution of hystricognaths across North Africa, a distribution that reflects the existence of roughly similar tropical environmental conditions in northern latitudes of Africa at that time. The presence of seven hystricognath species plus five anomaluroid species in sympatry during the earliest Oligocene demonstrates that rodents were particularly diverse near the global cooling recorded at the Eocene-Oligocene transition. We describe and compare the species and new species of hystricognaths with their sub-coeval counterparts from northern and northeastern Africa and then discuss the paleobiogeographic and paleoenvironmental implications of that discovery.