Preservation of Early Cambrian animals of the Chengjiang biota

Research Article| October 01, 2004 Preservation of Early Cambrian animals of the Chengjiang biota Sarah E. Gabbott; Sarah E. Gabbott 1Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Hou Xian-guang; Hou Xian-guang 2Research Centre for the Chengjiang Biota, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, Yunnan Province, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michael J. Norry; Michael J. Norry 3Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David J. Siveter David J. Siveter 3Department of Geology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2004) 32 (10): 901–904. https://doi.org/10.1130/G20640.1 Article history received: 09 Mar 2004 rev-recd: 02 Jun 2004 accepted: 12 Jun 2004 first online: 02 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 Sarah E. Gabbott, Hou Xian-guang, Michael J. Norry, David J. Siveter; Preservation of Early Cambrian animals of the Chengjiang biota. Geology 2004;; 32 (10): 901–904. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G20640.1 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 The Chengjiang biota of Yunnan, China, documents the earliest extensive radiation of the Metazoa recorded in the fossil record. Gauging preservational bias is crucial in providing an assessment of the completeness of this biota and thereby elucidating whether it represents a comprehensive depiction of Early Cambrian life. We here present a model to explain the nature of the exceptional preservation of the Chengjiang biota and details of the decay process. This study indicates that Chengjiang fossils were preserved through two taphonomic pathways that may have captured tissues of distinct compositions, and this finding should provide a foundation for the interpretation of Chengjiang fossils. Many Chengjiang fossils are preserved by pyrite (later pseudomorphed by iron oxides); the clay-rich host sediment was deficient in organic carbon but replete in available Fe, and this composition ensured that a decaying carcass acted as a local substrate for Fe- and S-reducing bacteria. Pyrite morphology probably reflects contrasts in the decay rate, and hence the H2S production rate, of different tissues in a carcass. Reactive, rapidly decaying tissues would have quickly supplied H2S, producing many pyrite nuclei, resulting in framboidal habits. More recalcitrant tissues would have produced H2S more slowly, so that crystal growth operated on fewer nuclei, resulting in larger euhedral pyrite crystals. Reflective films, especially common on Chengjiang arthropods, represent the remains of degraded carbon. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.