Lecture 6: Biostratigraphy 1SA ture oan \ BS ‘ormations " netic. Seismic Vel.| Series and ombers |Foraminters — Motusks 4AP% ton | Revwreas ominec”| “Stages ; . ae J Biostratigraphic lo i 5 Zone A cane } || units can be 5 ; " 2) || different form H . m1 ree 3\__|\lithostratigraphic i i 8 j units a ¢ =| | zone 6 i g i g fl ia] ia ae a : i & i 2” 8 i GET : “ é j 3 g } Figure 1. Illustration of the differences in position in a stratigraphic section of strati- graphic boundaries based on different properties or attributes of the rocks.Categories and Ranks of Stratigraphic Units defined in the 1983 North American Stratigraphic Code a 3 Lithostratigraphic | Lithodemic | Magnetopolarity | Biostratigraphic | Pedostratigraphic | Allostratigraphic Supergroup Supersuite Group Suite | Polarity Allogroup | Superzone Formation Lithodeme | Polarity 2one cosa! Alloformation (lnterval, Member Assemblage, Allomember (or Lens, or ‘or Abundance) Tongue) Polity Subbiozone Beds) Subzone ‘or Flows) B Temporal and Related Chronostratigraphic Units Chrono Geochronologic Polarity chrono- Polarity stratigraphic | Geochronometric stratigraphic chronologic Diachronie Eonothem Eon Polarity Polarity Superchronozone | Superchron Erathem. Er (Supersystem) | (Superperiod) stem Period Poterity Polarity Episode ‘Gubsystem) (Subperiod) ‘Chronozome Chron z Series Epoch Phase Stage Age Polarity Polarity Span (Gubstage) ‘Gubage) Subchronozone Subchron Chronozone n ClineHistory * William Smith (1769-1839) introduce the principle of fossil successions * Smith’s message is — Similar fossils occurred in similar rocks * But facies changes!*Charles Lyell (1797- 1875) used of molluscan faunas as a geologic clockHistory * George Cuvier (1769-1832) stressed the importance of fossils and “revolutions” of life on earth. * Cuvier’s message is — Fossils delineate time horizons (catastrophes) * Modern rule — Strata containing similar fossils are synchronous — (solution of facies changes)Time boundary * Alcide d’Orbigny —introduced the term stage * Vertical changes fossil assemblageStages and fossil assemblage | * Alcide d’Orbigny (1802- 1857) established fossil assemblages in the Jurassic rocks (1842). Acide Dessalines Orbigny (1802-1857)Stages and fossil assemblage ¢ Friedrich August von Quenstedt (1809- 1889) started to work with individual fossil taxa Albert Oppel 1831-1865)SA ture oan \ BS ‘ormations " netic. Seismic Vel.| Series and ombers |Foraminters — Motusks 4AP% ton | Revwreas ominec”| “Stages ; . ae J Biostratigraphic lo i 5 Zone A cane } || units can be 5 ; " 2) || different form H . m1 ree 3\__|\lithostratigraphic i i 8 j units a ¢ =| | zone 6 i g i g fl ia] ia ae a : i & i 2” 8 i GET : “ é j 3 g } Figure 1. Illustration of the differences in position in a stratigraphic section of strati- graphic boundaries based on different properties or attributes of the rocks.Time-arrow Darwin’s theory of evolution The presence of single fossil can used to determine the age of rocks Biostratigraphy is time-arrow Lithostratigraphy is time-cycle methodEcology and Paleoecology *Facies-controlled organismsBiostratigraphic provinces 400 Ma ¥ Rhenish-Bohemian A Appalachian @ Malvinokaffric @ Karpinskia Avalonia = ph Te i Fig. 9. Reconstruction for carly mid- Devonian (400 Ma) times, with Emsian brachiopod provinces. Also shown are the major continental land areas (shaded).Biostratigraphic provinces T.Il. TORSVIK & L. R. M. COCKS, 2004 280 Ma (G3) Early Permian A Angaran @ Cathaysian & Gondwanan @ American & Euramerican E) Evaporites CO Glacial areaBiostratigraphic zonation Collection of fossils in the section Identification Classification Carefully plotting of the vertical distribution, or range, of every fossil in a local sectionLast appearance First appearance Taxon B Taxon © Taxon D *Defining biozones we take into account - first appearance of taxa - last appearance of taxaSeon purrisecat ay Puke Ey avesonle AR ‘onbaton: |-{- Groowe cant pCO Graded bedding” $m see Tookmurhs yy Com bea8ng. sNews re Crone bedding, 222 Revered —pedcantics: rpc AM owah” c00 mination it a es seraions/ iregiarEvolution to a new species Marine Continental | Remains destroyed Marine shale sandstone sedimentary | by metamorphism rocks Tail zone Range Zone Distance Time Remains Time range in never range in Province 1 fossilized Province 2 Range zone of the graptolite species Species total ZZ The graptolite once lived here also, ne but remains are gone. 1° Lower and upper limits of originally deposited remains of the graptoliteNomenclature of biozones * There are three classes of biozones: - Interval biozones - Assemblage biozones - Abundance biozones‘Two-taxon Multitaxon concurrent range zone taxon range zone Interval : Zones lineage zones (defined by related taxa) interval zones tr Taxon range limits: [Upper limit L towertieitofoverlapof - range of overlap Ranges of of five taxa of five taxa individual taxa Assemblage zones Vertical range Horizontal Time line er) T Upper limit L Lower limitAbundance zones = Acme zones Abundance zone Species C Abundance zone Species B Abundance zone Species A Time Relative abundancePractical problems of biostratigraphy Even in continuous deposition with a good record, the taxa can be deceptive + Lazarus Taxa + Zombie effect Choristoderes - reptilePractical problems of biostratigraphy Regulations in work (Stratigraphic Code) Stratotypes Boundary: extinction or gradual change? Gaps in the record First appearance and a single taxon with clear evolutionary sequenceFirst stratigraphic work Following studiesMeters Studies of local stratigraphic sections Geological Base of Top of Upper limits Peak Combination column range range undefined abundance method method method method ee eee — #8 i 225: b AD no a oe ia c 5 F fon eA GS, Vv 6 oy d are zt Vv 1234567 8910112 Leaver lait Species undefinedGlobal Stratotype Sections and Points (GSSP) * The basal boundary of each stage is defined at a point ina single reference section (stratotype) within an interval showing continuous sedimentation (Golden spike) Most GSSPs have been defined by biostratigraphy but some utilized other global episodes* Primary and secondary markers - Principal correlation marker at GSSP level - Other primary and secondary markers — biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, chemical stratigraphy, etc. - Potential age dating from volcanic ashes and/or orbital tuning - Demonstration of regional and global correlation* Summary of selection process - Relation of the GSSP to historical usage; references to historical background and adjacent (stage) unit; selected publications - Other candidates and reasons for rejection; summary of vote by appropriate committee members - Other useful reference sections Official publication - Summary documentation in IUGS journal Episodes - Full publication in journal LethaiaRequirements for establishing a Global stratotypes Section and Point (CSSP) Name and stratigraphic rank of the boundary GSSP geography and physical geology - Geographic location, including map coordinates - Geologic setting (lithostratigraphy, sedimentology, post- depositional tectonic, etc.) - Precise location and stratigraphic position of GSSP level and specific point - Stratigraphic completeness across GSSP level - Adequate thickness and stratigraphic extent of section above and below - Accessibility, including logistics, national politics, and property rights - Provisions for conservation and protection