Marina B. Suarez

Isotopic composition of low-latitude paleoprecipitation during the Early Cretaceous

The response of the hydrologic cycle in global greenhouse conditions is important to our understanding of future climate change and to the calibration of global climate models. Past greenhouse conditions, such as those of the Cretaceous, can be used to provide empirical data with which to evaluate climate models. Recent empirical studies have utilized pedogenic carbonates to estimate the isotopic composition of meteoric waters and calculate precipitation rates for the AptianAlbian. These studies were limited to data from mid- (35°N) to high (75°N) paleolatitudes, and thus future improvements in accuracy will require more estimates of meteoric water compositions from numerous localities around the globe. This study provides data for tropical latitudes (18.5°N paleolatitude) from the Tlayua Formation, Puebla, Mexico. In addition, the study confi rms a shallow nearshore depositional environment for the Tlayua Formation. Petrographic observations of fenestral fabrics, gypsum crystal molds, stromatolitic structures, and pedogenic matrix birefringence fabric support the interpretation that the strata represent deposition in a tidal fl at environment. Carbonate isotopic data from limestones of the Tlayua Formation provide evidence of early meteoric diagenesis in the form of meteoric calcite lines. These trends in δ 18 O versus δ 13 C

Rare earth element geochemistry and taphonomy of the Early Cretaceous Crystal Geyser Dinosaur Quarry, east-central Utah

Abstract The Crystal Geyser Dinosaur Quarry contains a large monospecific accumulation of bones from a basal therizinosaur, Falcarius utahensis. The quarry is located approximately 16 km south of Green River, Utah, at the base of the early Cretaceous (Barremian) Yellow Cat Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation. Fossil bones in the quarry occur in three units that have distinct taphonomic, lithologic, and geochemical characteristics. Rare earth element compositions of fossils suggest that bones from each unit were drawn from different reservoirs or sources having distinctly different compositions, and fossils were not reworked between units. Compositions of bones differ greatly within Units 1 and 2, even within the same 1-m2 quarry grid. These chemical differences and taphonomic characteristics, such as current orientation, hydraulic sorting, and occasional extensive abrasion, suggest that bones from these two units are allochthonous and were fossilized at other localities, possibly over an area of several kilometers, and were then eroded, transported, and concentrated in a spring-influenced fluvial environment. Bones in Unit 3 have very similar rare earth element signatures, suggesting that they were probably fossilized in situ at a separate time from bones in Units 1 and 2. At least two mass mortality events were responsible for the monospecific assemblage of bones at the quarry. Because bones may have been concentrated from a wide area, causes of mass mortality must have been regionally extensive, possibly owing to seasonal drought, sudden changes in weather, or disease.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS ON THE GENESIS OF MARINE MICROBIALITES AND DISSOLUTION SURFACE ASSOCIATED WITH THE END-PERMIAN MASS EXTINCTION: NEW SECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE NANPANJIANG BASIN, SOUTH CHINA

Abstract A widespread marine microbialite and underlying truncation surface occur in Permian–Triassic sections of South China. We interpret the microbialite to have formed as a shallow, open-marine benthic framework stimulated by high seawater CaCO3 saturation. The widespread distribution across platform interiors and lack of asymmetry or thickening toward platform margins is incompatible with an alternative hypothesis, that microbialite deposition was stimulated by upwelling anoxic, alkaline waters. The truncation surface beneath the microbialite is irregular with overhangs and small caverns extending up to 30 cm beneath the surface indicating a dissolutional origin. Petrographic observations refute the interpretation that strata immediately beneath the surface contain pendant cements, meniscus cements, and vadose silt. Measurements of the anisopachous fibrous cements show that thickened areas have random, not downward orientations. Pores retain the pointed geometry consistent with isopachous cement. Carbon and oxygen isotope measurements, from immediately beneath the surface, do not show a negative shift as would be expected with subaerial exposure. Also incompatible with a subaerial origin is the occurrence of only one truncation surface within a subtidal succession ~ 50 m thick below the surface and the limited vertical penetration of dissolution. The surface closely resembles a hardground containing a micritized alteration zone with stromatolites encrusted on the surface. We interpret the surface to have formed by submarine dissolution driven by a pulse of ocean acidification associated with Siberian Traps eruptions and the end-Permian extinction. After a hiatus of ~ 30–100 kyr, seafloor dissolution would have brought seawater back to saturation coupled with increased delivery of calcium to the oceans as the result of elevated continental weathering and caused a rebound in carbonate saturation and precipitation of microbialites.

Stable isotope chemostratigraphy in lacustrine strata of the Xiagou Formation, Gansu Province, NW China

Abstract Two sections from Early Cretaceous lacustrine strata of the Xiagou Formation from the Changma Basin in Gansu Province, China, are correlated based on their carbon isotopic compositions of bulk sedimentary organic matter and carbonate, as well as carbonate oxygen-isotopic compositions. The samples were collected from fossiliferous strata, which contain well-preserved Cretaceous bird remains. The sections are primarily correlated based on a two-step increase in δ13Corg with an overall magnitude of c. 12.5‰. The stratigraphic variations in carbon isotopes within the two lacustrine sections are correlated with global carbon isotope variations C3–C7 based on marine carbon isotope records. This correlation places the Xiagou lacustrine strata in this locality within the early Aptian Stage, specifically, the Selli Equivalent, which is associated with Ocean Anoxic Event 1a.

SEDIMENTOLOGY, STRATIGRAPHY, AND DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE CRYSTAL GEYSER DINOSAUR QUARRY, EAST-CENTRAL UTAH

Abstract The Crystal Geyser Dinosaur Quarry, near Green River, Utah, is located at the base of the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) Yellow Cat Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation. The quarry preserves a nearly monospecific accumulation of a new basal therizinosauroid, Falcarius utahensis. We used field descriptions and petrographic analysis to determine the depositional environment and development of the quarry strata. Results of these analyses suggest that the quarry represents multiple episodes of bone accumulation buried by spring and overbank flood deposits. Evidence for these previously undescribed spring deposits includes calcite macroscopic structures within the quarry strata—such as pisolites and travertine fragments—and calcite micromorphologies—including radial-fibrous, feather, and scandulitic dendrite morphologies and tufa clasts. At least two episodes of bone incorporation are preserved in the quarry based on their stratigraphic position and lithologic associations. The unique depositional setting in and around the Crystal Geyser Dinosaur Quarry appears to have been favorable for the preservation of vertebrate fossils and provides insight into early Cretaceous environments in North America.

The Triassic–Jurassic boundary event from an equatorial carbonate platform (Ghalilah Formation, United Arab Emirates)

The Ghalilah Formation, UAE provides a complete and continuous equatorial shallow-water carbonate sequence through the Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic interval. In higher latitudes, this interval is frequently associated with widespread ocean acidification evidenced by a lack of carbonates or a hiatus in deposition. The data presented here in contrast show evidence for aragonite supersaturation at the Triassic–Jurassic boundary in the equatorial Tethys. δ13Ccarb shows a characteristic negative excursion with values as low as −2.8‰ just below the boundary. Deposition of fossiliferous limestones in this location persisted into the latest Rhaetian through the initial negative carbon isotope excursion. Supplementary material: δ13Ccarb data from bulk rock and a detailed stratigraphic log with sample locations are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3277283.

REPLY: PERMIAN–TRIASSIC MICROBIALITE AND DISSOLUTION SURFACE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS ON THE GENESIS OF MARINE MICROBIALITES AND DISSOLUTION SURFACE ASSOCIATED WITH THE END-PERMIAN MASS EXTINCTION: NEW SECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE NANPANJIANG BASIN, SOUTH CHINA

We appreciate Kershaw et al.s comment and continued interest in our Permian–Triassic research in the Nanpanjiang Basin. Kershaw et al. comment on aspects of our recent study that contradict results from the study of Collin et al. (2009). Specifically their comments center around two questions: (1) whether the truncation surface at the base of the Permian–Triassic microbialite shows evidence for subaerial exposure, and (2) whether data support the model of genesis of the microbialites by upwelling of anoxic, alkaline waters with elevated carbonate saturation from bacterial sulfate reduction (Kershaw et al. 1999, 2007, 2012). We note that our recent study is much broader in scope than the issues addressed in this comment and reply. Our study presented extensive stratigraphic, geochemical, biostratigraphic and petrographic analyses from multiple sections, introduced new sections that have not been presented in the literature, and evaluated multiple models for the genesis of the microbialite and underlying truncation surface. We welcome this opportunity to respond to Kershaw et al.s comment and to further illuminate studies of the Permian–Triassic boundary in the Nanpanjiang Basin. ### Two Generations of Fibrous Cement Fringe? Maybe, But There is Still no Evidence for Pendant Geometry Kershaw et al. comment that there are two generations of bladed fringing cement adhered to grains and that only the second generation has a pendant geometry. Collin et al. (2009) made the same interpretation. From the photographs in Collin et al. (2009, fig. 5Aa–5Ab) and from our thin section observations, we interpreted this to be a single generation of fibrous cement fringe adhered to grains, with a faint zonation of clear-cloudy-clear alternation within the fringe, in which the cloudy zone contained a greater concentration of fluid inclusions (fig. 1A, 1B). Note that the photos presented in the comment by Kershaw et al. (figs. 3, 4) are also consistent with this interpretation. The entire bladed cement fringe was used …

Terrestrial Carbon Isotope Chemostratigraphy in the Yellow Cat Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation: Complications and Pitfalls

Organic carbon (OC) isotope profiles from four sections of the Early Cretaceous continental Yellow Cat Member (YCM) of the Cedar Mountain Formation are presented to explore the constraints of studying and correlating continental sections. A significant body of research demonstrates that some continental chemostratigraphic profiles record global perturbations of the carbon cycle and specifically globally correlative carbon isotope excursions that can be correlated with well-constrained marine carbon isotope records to give some chronostratigraphic constraint. However, this is not always straightforward. Here we present our findings of four sections of the YCM and discuss some caveats of using continental OC isotope records, with an insight into some of the possible solutions. In this study a regionally extensive calcrete holds the key to resolving correlation of poorly reproducible carbon isotope profiles. Here, we tentatively correlate the YCM to the Barremian-lower Aptian.

Stable Isotopes Reveal Rapid Enamel Elongation (Amelogenesis) Rates for the Early Cretaceous Iguanodontian Dinosaur Lanzhousaurus magnidens

Lanzhousaurus magnidens, a large non-hadrosauriform iguanodontian dinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous Hekou Group of Gansu Province, China has the largest known herbivorous dinosaur teeth. Unlike its hadrosauriform relatives possessing tooth batteries of many small teeth, Lanzhousaurus utilized a small number (14) of very large teeth (~10 cm long) to create a large, continuous surface for mastication. Here we investigate the significance of Lanzhousaurus in the evolutionary history of iguanodontian-hadrosauriform transition by using a combination of stable isotope analysis and CT imagery. We infer that Lanzhousaurus had a rapid rate of tooth enamel elongation or amelogenesis at 0.24 mm/day with dental tissues common to other Iguanodontian dinosaurs. Among ornithopods, high rates of amelogenesis have been previously observed in hadrosaurids, where they have been associated with a sophisticated masticatory apparatus. These data suggest rapid amelogenesis evolved among non-hadrosauriform iguanodontians such as Lanzhousaurus, representing a crucial step that was exapted for the evolution of the hadrosaurian feeding mechanism.