Glacio-Eustatic Control of Late Ordovician–Early Silurian Platform Sedimentation and Faunal Changes

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 1973 Glacio-Eustatic Control of Late Ordovician–Early Silurian Platform Sedimentation and Faunal Changes WILLIAM B. N. BERRY; WILLIAM B. N. BERRY 1Department of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ARTHUR J. BOUCOT ARTHUR J. BOUCOT 2Department of Geology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1973) 84 (1): 275–284. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<275:GCOLOS>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation WILLIAM B. N. BERRY, ARTHUR J. BOUCOT; Glacio-Eustatic Control of Late Ordovician–Early Silurian Platform Sedimentation and Faunal Changes. GSA Bulletin 1973;; 84 (1): 275–284. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1973)84<275:GCOLOS>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Late Ordovician–Early Silurian stratigraphic sequences across the world's platforms bear evidence for onlapping relations in the early part of the Silurian. In general, Late Ordovician marine benthic faunal communities and faunas found in platform rocks differ from those characteristic of the early part of the Silurian. Planktonic graptolites are also conspicuously different in Early Silurian strata from those in Late Ordovician strata. The impressive evidence for Late Ordovician–earliest Silurian continental glaciation in Africa and significant portions of South America and evidence for only restricted orogenic activity in the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian interval suggests that glaciation was the principal agent behind the changes seen among faunas as well as in the stratigraphic record. Shallowing of marine waters across the Late Ordovician platforms was probably related to "locking up" oceanic waters in the glaciers during glaciation, and onlapping relations took place as the glaciers melted and sea level rose. Restriction of platform marine environments and shallowing as well as cooling of the oceans were primary environmental factors behind the changes in marine faunas. Llandovery deglaciation coincides with a time interval during which animal communities were widely spread areally. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.