Trace fossils of shallow subtidal to dunal ichnofacies in Bahamian Quaternary carbonates

Pleistocene and Holocene carbonate grainstones or calcarenites capping the islands of the Bahamas commonly contain distinctive animal and/or plant trace fossils. Three ichnocoenoses within the Skolithos and Psilonichnus ichnofacies are recognized in the transition from sediments deposited in the sha...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Palaios 1991-10, Vol.6 (5), p.498-510
Main Authors: Curran, H. Allen, White, Brian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bahamas
Beaches
burrows
Carbonates
Caribbean region
Cenozoic
coastal environment
Coral reefs
Dunes
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Fossils
Geology
Great Inagua
ichnocoenoses
Ichnofacies
ichnofossils
Invertebrate paleontology
Marine and continental quaternary
morphology
Paleontology
Plant roots
Plantae
Psilonichnus
Quaternary
Research Reports
San Salvador
Sediments
Skolithos
subtidal environment
Surficial geology
Trace fossils
tropical environment
West Indies
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Pleistocene and Holocene carbonate grainstones or calcarenites capping the islands of the Bahamas commonly contain distinctive animal and/or plant trace fossils. Three ichnocoenoses within the Skolithos and Psilonichnus ichnofacies are recognized in the transition from sediments deposited in the shallow shelf environment, commonly associated with coral reefs, to sediments of the coastal dune environment. Analog relationships between the trace fossils and modern tracemakers can be established in many cases, and this correspondence strengthens the interpretive model. Ophiomorpha and Skolithos linearis characterize beds deposited in shallow shelf settings. Psilonichnus upsilon, the fossil burrow of the ghost crab Ocypode quadrata, marks beds deposited in the upper foreshore-backshore environment and has particular utility as an indicator of sea-level position. A diverse ichnocoenosis consisting of Skolithos linearis, a large cluster burrow, small, irregular burrows, and plant trace fossils formed along bedding planes characterizes beds of the dunal environment. The ichnologic model developed herein for recognition of depositional zones in the transition from shallow subtidal to dune environments in the tropical, carbonate coastal settings of the Bahamas should be applicable to other geologically similar settings around the world.
ISSN:0883-1351
1938-5323
DOI:10.2307/3514987