Effect of the Mid-Carboniferous event on the diversity of brachiopods in the Middle and Southern Urals

Abstract

Research subject. In this study, the distribution of brachiopods in the Mid-Carboniferous boundary (MCB) sediments in the Middle and Southern Urals was investigated with the aim of determining the influence of the global Serpukhovian-Bashkirian minor mass extinction event on the diversity of these benthic organisms. Materials and methods . Brachiopods distributed over the most complete carbonate sections of the West-Uralian (Brazhka, Sokol, Martyanovo, Askyn, Lakly), Magnitogorskian (Khudolaz, Kalinino, Bolshoy Kizil) and the East-Uralian (Beklenishchevo, Cave gully, Brod-Klyuchiki, “Uralnerud-1” quarry) megazons were studies. Results. It was established that the diversity of the Giganto-productus-Striatifera brachiopod association reduced during the Late Serpukhovian, with the extinction of its dominant taxa having occurred during the Early and Middle Carboniferous boundary. During the Syuranian time of the Bashkirian Age, the Middle-Late Carboniferous Choristites association was formed. Further, in the Akavassian time, the diversity of brachiopods was restored. The consequences of the described event affected mainly the taxa of the species and genus taxonomic rank, and, to a much lesser extent, those of the family rank. On the western slope of the Urals, the maximum regression was recorded at the top of the Striatifera shell-rock layer of the Lower Carboniferous Staroutkinskian regional substage. On the eastern slope of the Urals, the brachiopod diversity characterizing the event in question can be clearly seen in the Late Serpukhovian. This dynamics was also manifested in the lowermost Pennsylvanian; however, it was obscured by the activation of regional tectonic factors. Conclusion. In the Middle and Southern Urals, the Mid-Carboniferous minor mass extinction event is recognized according to the dynamics of the genus and species diversity of bra-chiopods in the deposits of different facies.