The Stormy Path from Life to Death Assemblages: The Formation and Preservation of Mass Accumulations of Fossil Sand Dollars

Abstract

Other| August 01, 2002 The Stormy Path from Life to Death Assemblages: The Formation and Preservation of Mass Accumulations of Fossil Sand Dollars JAMES H. NEBELSICK; JAMES H. NEBELSICK 1Institut und Museum für Geologie und Paläontologie, Sigwartstrasse 10, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ANDREAS KROH ANDREAS KROH 2Institut für Geologie und Paläontologie, Heinrichstrasse 26, A-8010 Graz, Austria Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information JAMES H. NEBELSICK 1Institut und Museum für Geologie und Paläontologie, Sigwartstrasse 10, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany ANDREAS KROH 2Institut für Geologie und Paläontologie, Heinrichstrasse 26, A-8010 Graz, Austria Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology Accepted: 27 Feb 2002 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online Issn: 1938-5323 Print Issn: 0883-1351 Society for Sedimentary Geology PALAIOS (2002) 17 (4): 378–393. https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2002)017<0378:TSPFLT>2.0.CO;2 Article history Accepted: 27 Feb 2002 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 JAMES H. NEBELSICK, ANDREAS KROH; The Stormy Path from Life to Death Assemblages: The Formation and Preservation of Mass Accumulations of Fossil Sand Dollars. PALAIOS 2002;; 17 (4): 378–393. doi: https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2002)017<0378:TSPFLT>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 Clypeasteroids can be very common in Recent, shallow water environments in a variety of biogeographic settings and represent important members of benthic invertebrate communities. Mass deposits of fossil clypeasteroids are also common and characteristic of many Cenozoic shallow water deposits. Their distribution and formation, however, has received much less attention than molluscan counterparts, although fossil examples are found within all three of the clypeasteroid suborders.A comparison of two mass deposits of scutellid clypeasteroids from the Miocene of the Mediterranean (Gebel Gharra section, Eastern Desert, Egypt; Alahan Section, Mut Basin, Turkey) shows common features, but also significant differences. Both were formed in high energy, coarse sandy, shoreface environments. The Gebel Gharra section consists of a thick, multi-event accumulation with numerous sedimentary features dominated by complete and fragmented skeletal remains of a single taxon (Parascutella). The accumulations in Alahan represents a single, thin, multi-taxon (Amphiope, Parascutella) deposit dominated by very well preserved, complete specimens. Both units are interpreted as proximal storm deposits based on the general sedimentary environment, clast relationships, and taphonomic features.Four factors contributing to mass deposits of clypeasteroid sea urchins in Cenozoic sediments include: (1) their gregarious nature with very high density populations; (2) their relatively robust skeletal morphology; (3) the high transport capacity of their flattened, low density skeletons; and (4) their habitat in shoreface environments which is conducive to physical concentrations of skeletal material. The presence of mass clypeasteroid accumulations is compared to other echinoderm deposits and discussed within the context of their rapid evolution in the Cenozoic. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.