GEOL 3213 MICROPALEONTOLOGY

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GEOL 3213MICROPALEONTOLOGY

• Introduction Classification of
• Conodonts

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COMMON MICROFOSSILS

• Calcium phosphatic conodonts (Cambrian-Triassic)
• Major calcareous microfossils
• forams
• coccoliths
• pteropods
• ostracodes
• Major siliceous microfossils
• Radiolaria
• Diatoms
• Siliceous sponge spicules

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Major Phanerozoic Planktic Nektic Microfossil
Groups
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CONODONTS

• Calcium phosphatic teeth of a marine eel-like
  extinct vertebrate.

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The Elusive Conodont Animal

• Carboniferous
• Granton Quarry
• Scotland

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Acmes of Diversity

• Late Devonian to Carboniferous
• Ordovician (especially Medial Ordovician)

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Number of Genera Per Epoch

• 2 major acmes
• 4 extinctions
• End Ordovician
• End Devonian
• End Permian
• End Triassic

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Biostratigraphic Zonation

• Some conodont zones represent only about 1 Ma,
  while others may be 2-3 Ma long.
• This is good for the Paleozoic Era.

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Conodont Index Fossil Genera

• Many conodont genera have short time ranges!

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Conodont Index Fossil Genera
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Conodont Colour Alteration with Heat

• Original colour yellow
• As burial increases, temperature increases
• Geothermal gradient ?
• Drives volatiles ( ?) out of organic matter in
  teeth, scales, etc.
• Residue is carbon
• What is the end colour?

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Conodont Colour Alteration with Heat

• Shallow burial indicated by specimens at left
• Deep burial indicated by specimens at right

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CAI

• Colour Alteration Index
• Experimentally confirmed
• Geologically documented
• Code numbers recorded and averaged for 100
  specimens in a sample.
• Plot numbers on a map or cross section
• Contour the data
• Helps to locate source rocks for petroleum
  exploration

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Map of Conodont CAI Data Contour it
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CONODONTS

• 3 basic kinds of conodonts
• Cones coniform elements
• Blades bars ramiform elements
• Platforms pectiniform elements
• 1 to 7 kinds associated in natural assemblages
• Element form genera and species
• Generic names given to assemblages
• Examples of ramiform conodonts

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Conodont Natural Assemblage

• Carboniferous bedding surface, Illinois, USA

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Examples of Assemblages

• Scottognathus assemblage

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Conodont Morphology and Terminology

• Morphological terminology for coniform, ramiform,
  pectiniform elements

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Conodont Morphology and Terminology

• Morphological terminology for
• Coniform elements
• Ramiform elements
• Pectiniform elements

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Conodont Morphology and Terminology
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Conodont Morphology and Terminology

• Muller

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Conodont Morphology and Terminology

• Brasier

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Conodont Morphology and Terminology

• Brasier

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• Ozarkadina
• Silurian

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• Palmatolepis
• Late Devonian

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• Plectodina assemblage

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• Coniform elements
• Ordovician

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