Bivalve Borings in Phosphatic Coprolites and Bone, Cretaceous-Paleogene, Northeastern Mali

Abstract

Other| December 01, 2004 Bivalve Borings in Phosphatic Coprolites and Bone, Cretaceous–Paleogene, Northeastern Mali LEIF TAPANILA; LEIF TAPANILA 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, 135 South, 1460 East, Room 719, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112-0111, ltapanila@mines.utah.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ERIC M. ROBERTS; ERIC M. ROBERTS 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, 135 South, 1460 East, Room 719, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112-0111 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar MAMADOU L. BOUARÉ; MAMADOU L. BOUARÉ 3École Nationale des Ingénieurs, Bamako, Mali Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar FAMORY SISSOKO; FAMORY SISSOKO 4Institut des Sciences Humaines, Bamako, Mali Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar MAUREEN A. O'LEARY MAUREEN A. O'LEARY 5Department of Anatomical Sciences, Health Sciences Center T8 (040), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, 11794-8081 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information LEIF TAPANILA 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, 135 South, 1460 East, Room 719, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112-0111, ltapanila@mines.utah.edu ERIC M. ROBERTS 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, 135 South, 1460 East, Room 719, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112-0111 MAMADOU L. BOUARÉ 3École Nationale des Ingénieurs, Bamako, Mali FAMORY SISSOKO 4Institut des Sciences Humaines, Bamako, Mali MAUREEN A. O'LEARY 5Department of Anatomical Sciences, Health Sciences Center T8 (040), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, 11794-8081 Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology Accepted: 09 Feb 2004 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1938-5323 Print ISSN: 0883-1351 Society for Sedimentary Geology PALAIOS (2004) 19 (6): 565–573. https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2004)019<0565:BBIPCA>2.0.CO;2 Article history Accepted: 09 Feb 2004 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation LEIF TAPANILA, ERIC M. ROBERTS, MAMADOU L. BOUARÉ, FAMORY SISSOKO, MAUREEN A. O'LEARY; Bivalve Borings in Phosphatic Coprolites and Bone, Cretaceous–Paleogene, Northeastern Mali. PALAIOS 2004;; 19 (6): 565–573. doi: https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2004)019<0565:BBIPCA>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 SocietyPALAIOS Search Advanced Search Abstract Bivalve borings are described for the first time in coprolites. They occur along with bored bone from Cretaceous through Eocene phosphatic conglomerates in the Taoudeni and Iullemmeden Basins of northeastern Mali. Coprolites are extensively penetrated by flask-shaped borings (Gastrochaenolites): the oldest known occurrence of the ichnospecies G. ornatus preserves mechanical scratch traces at the base of some early Eocene coprolite borings. The alleged tracemaker, a pholad bivalve of the Subfamily Martesiinae, is preserved as an external mold in one of the early Eocene coprolites. It is the first occurrence of rock-borers in this subfamily from the Paleocene of West Africa. Bored coprolites were very firm to fully lithified (paleocoprolites) when bored by the pholads, indicating early-diagenetic phosphogenesis of the clasts. The intense and repeated bioerosion of coprolites and bone by pholads suggests a long residence time in shallow-marine waters for the clasts. Therefore, the vertebrate fossil assemblages in these Mali conglomerates are considered highly time-averaged. Recognition of Gastrochaenolites borings in vertebrate remains provides useful taphonomic and paleoenvironmental information, despite their destructive impact on the fossils. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.