Pyritization of soft-bodied fossils: Beecher's Trilobite Bed, Upper Ordovician, New York State

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 1991 Pyritization of soft-bodied fossils: Beecher's Trilobite Bed, Upper Ordovician, New York State Derek E.G. Briggs; Derek E.G. Briggs 1Department of Geology, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, England Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Simon H. Bottrell; Simon H. Bottrell 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, England Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert Raiswell Robert Raiswell 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, England Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Derek E.G. Briggs 1Department of Geology, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Queen's Road, Bristol BS8 1RJ, England Simon H. Bottrell 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, England Robert Raiswell 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, England Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1991) 19 (12): 1221–1224. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<1221:POSBFB>2.3.CO;2 Article history 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 Derek E.G. Briggs, Simon H. Bottrell, Robert Raiswell; Pyritization of soft-bodied fossils: Beecher's Trilobite Bed, Upper Ordovician, New York State. Geology 1991;; 19 (12): 1221–1224. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<1221:POSBFB>2.3.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 Although pyrite is ubiquitous in fine-grained, organic, carbon-bearing marine sediments, it is only rarely involved in the preservation of soft-bodied organisms. Beecher's Trilobite Bed in Upper Ordovician strata of New York State is an exception—it is a classic locality for trilobites having appendages and other soft tissues preserved in pyrite. The relative timing and duration of the formation of pyrite associated with the fossils and their host sediments were determined by use of sulfur isotope ratios. The exoskeleton and appendages of the trilobites show relatively light sulfur isotope values in contrast to the enclosing sediment, which is characterized by a substantial excursion to heavy isotope values. Preservation of soft parts requires rapid burial of carcasses in sediments otherwise low in metabolizable organic matter. In these circumstances, pyrite formation within the sediments is suppressed; thus, concentrations of sulfate and reactive iron are initially high enough to promote early, rapid, and extensive pyritization of nonmineralized tissue. 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.