Missing molluscs as evidence of large-scale, early skeletal aragonite dissolution in a Silurian sea

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2000 Missing molluscs as evidence of large-scale, early skeletal aragonite dissolution in a Silurian sea Lesley Cherns; Lesley Cherns 1Department of Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, Box 914, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK. Also at BG International, 100 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading RG6 1PT, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar V. Paul Wright V. Paul Wright 1Department of Earth Sciences, Cardiff University, Box 914, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK. Also at BG International, 100 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading RG6 1PT, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2000) 28 (9): 791–794. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<791:MMAEOL>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 06 Apr 2000 rev-recd: 19 Jun 2000 accepted: 20 Jun 2000 first online: 02 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 Lesley Cherns, V. Paul Wright; Missing molluscs as evidence of large-scale, early skeletal aragonite dissolution in a Silurian sea. Geology 2000;; 28 (9): 791–794. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<791:MMAEOL>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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract In the Silurian carbonate platform succession of Gotland, Sweden, interreef limestone and marl sequences have shallow-marine shelly assemblages dominated by brachiopods, typical of many Paleozoic benthic faunas. Locally, from similar facies, where early skeletal silicification occurred associated with bentonites, there are rich and diverse assemblages of originally aragonitic molluscs. Quantitative faunal analysis suggests that massive depletion of skeletal aragonite, chiefly molluscs, took place, and the entire molluscan fauna may generally be underrepresented by at least 100-fold. Previous workers on the Gotland succession have already shown that abundant diagenetic limestones were sourced by early aragonitic remobilization. Our findings indicate molluscs as the probable source of this diagenetic calcite, not aragonite mud as was previously thought. The taphonomic window represented by the silicified faunas illustrates the importance of aragonitic shells among the original Silurian shelf benthos, and raises the possibility that the paucity of such shells among many fossil faunas may be largely an early taphonomic effect. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.