A paleontological or fossiliferoussite is a locality in which a significant quantity of fossils is naturally preserved in the rocks. The extent of the site is determined, in some cases, by the spatial distribution of the concentration of fossils and in others by practical issues of sampling or excavation. The discipline that studies the formation of fossil sites is the part of paleontology called taphonomy.[1]
The term paleontological site is somewhat ambiguous and its use is more practical than scientific, so it can refer to localities in which several fossiliferous layers of different ages appear, whose study must be faced by clearly separating each layer (strictly speaking, each layer would be a different site).
The term fossil-lagerstätte (from the German Fossillagerstätte, "fossil site") is often used for some sites with a special quality of fossils or with a high number of remains.[1]
Fossils can be found in many different types of rocks, mostly sedimentary, but sometimes volcanic (ash or lava flows).[2]
Sites of sedimentary origin usually have very different characteristics depending on the sedimentary medium, whether they are sediments of marine, continental (fluvial or lacustrine) or transitional origin. The stratigraphy in marine environments usually has great lateral continuity and the fossils are distributed more or less distributed over large areas (e.g., in the Solnhofen Limestones in Germany),[3] whereas sediments of continental origin, mostly derived from the upper and middle reaches of rivers or from alluvial fans are usually more irregular and discontinuous, with fossils concentrated in only a few facies, usually in stream beds or scattered in alluvial plain (e.g., the Torralba and Ambrona sites in Spain).
Another type of continental sediments are the hypogeous sediments of karstic origin, where groundwater circulation causes the redistribution, mixing and accumulation of red decalcification clays and fossil remains (e.g. Sima de los Huesos in Atapuerca, Spain).
A peculiar site of mixed lacustrine-karst origin is the site of Bernissart (Belgium), where a subterranean karst system, through the continuous lowering of a doline, conditioned the sedimentation that took place in the lacustrine and marsh environment installed on it, gradually "swallowing" the sediments together with the abundant complete bones of iguanodonts and other vertebrates that they contained.[4]
Also of volcanic origin are the deposits formed by the lacustrine filling of the maar resulting from a phreatomagmatic eruption, although in this case the volcanism is the cause of the formation of a small basin, not the sedimentary filling. Of this type are the sites of Messel (Germany), with abundant and exceptionally well-preserved Eocene fossils,[5] or the site of La Higueruelas (Ciudad Real, Spain), from the Upper Pliocene, which records an abundant and varied fauna of terrestrial mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles.[6]
^ abFernández López, S. R. (2000). Temas de Tafonomía(PDF) (in Spanish). Departamento de Paleontología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
^López Martínez, Nieves; Truyols Santonja, Jaime. "Paleontología. Conceptos y métodos". Col. Ciencias de la vida (in Spanish). 19. Editorial Síntesis: 334. ISBN8477382492.
^Raup, D.M.; Stanley, S.M. (1978) [1971]. Principios de Paleontología (in Spanish). Editorial Ariel. p. 456. ISBN84-344-0145-2.
^Quinif, Y. (2009). "The karstic phenomenon of Bernissart pit and the geomorphology situation in the Mesozoic times". Darwin-Bernissart meeting. 9 (13). Brussels: 82.
^Gruber, Gabriele; Micklich, Norbert. "The Messel Maar". Messel. Treasures of the Eocene. Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt. Darmstdt: WBG. pp. 23–28. ISBN978-3-534-20913-2.
^E. R., Badiola; Mazo, A. V.; Rodríguez Ruiz, P. (2007). "El yacimiento de Las Higueruelas, Alcolea de Calatrava (Ciudad Real): procesos diagenéticos y volcanismo asociado". Estudios Geológicos (in Spanish). 63 (2): 67–86.
External linksedit
(in Spanish).
April 12, 2024
paleontological, site, paleontological, fossiliferous, site, locality, which, significant, quantity, fossils, naturally, preserved, rocks, extent, site, determined, some, cases, spatial, distribution, concentration, fossils, others, practical, issues, sampling. A paleontological or fossiliferous site is a locality in which a significant quantity of fossils is naturally preserved in the rocks The extent of the site is determined in some cases by the spatial distribution of the concentration of fossils and in others by practical issues of sampling or excavation The discipline that studies the formation of fossil sites is the part of paleontology called taphonomy 1 Sima del Elefante one of the Atapuerca sites Spain Fossil of a pterosaur Ctenochasma from the Solnhofen Limestone Germany American Museum of Natural History New York US The term paleontological site is somewhat ambiguous and its use is more practical than scientific so it can refer to localities in which several fossiliferous layers of different ages appear whose study must be faced by clearly separating each layer strictly speaking each layer would be a different site The term fossil lagerstatte from the German Fossillagerstatte fossil site is often used for some sites with a special quality of fossils or with a high number of remains 1 Contents 1 Types of sites 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksTypes of sites editFossils can be found in many different types of rocks mostly sedimentary but sometimes volcanic ash or lava flows 2 Sites of sedimentary origin usually have very different characteristics depending on the sedimentary medium whether they are sediments of marine continental fluvial or lacustrine or transitional origin The stratigraphy in marine environments usually has great lateral continuity and the fossils are distributed more or less distributed over large areas e g in the Solnhofen Limestones in Germany 3 whereas sediments of continental origin mostly derived from the upper and middle reaches of rivers or from alluvial fans are usually more irregular and discontinuous with fossils concentrated in only a few facies usually in stream beds or scattered in alluvial plain e g the Torralba and Ambrona sites in Spain Another type of continental sediments are the hypogeous sediments of karstic origin where groundwater circulation causes the redistribution mixing and accumulation of red decalcification clays and fossil remains e g Sima de los Huesos in Atapuerca Spain A peculiar site of mixed lacustrine karst origin is the site of Bernissart Belgium where a subterranean karst system through the continuous lowering of a doline conditioned the sedimentation that took place in the lacustrine and marsh environment installed on it gradually swallowing the sediments together with the abundant complete bones of iguanodonts and other vertebrates that they contained 4 Of volcanic origin is the deposit of Australopithecus ichnites on volcanic ash at Laetoli Tanzania Also of volcanic origin are the deposits formed by the lacustrine filling of the maar resulting from a phreatomagmatic eruption although in this case the volcanism is the cause of the formation of a small basin not the sedimentary filling Of this type are the sites of Messel Germany with abundant and exceptionally well preserved Eocene fossils 5 or the site of La Higueruelas Ciudad Real Spain from the Upper Pliocene which records an abundant and varied fauna of terrestrial mammals birds amphibians and reptiles 6 See also editArchaeological site Depositional environment Field mineral deposit Geological formation List of fossil sites Petrified woodReferences edit a b Fernandez Lopez S R 2000 Temas de Tafonomia PDF in Spanish Departamento de Paleontologia Universidad Complutense de Madrid Lopez Martinez Nieves Truyols Santonja Jaime Paleontologia Conceptos y metodos Col Ciencias de la vida in Spanish 19 Editorial Sintesis 334 ISBN 8477382492 Raup D M Stanley S M 1978 1971 Principios de Paleontologia in Spanish Editorial Ariel p 456 ISBN 84 344 0145 2 Quinif Y 2009 The karstic phenomenon of Bernissart pit and the geomorphology situation in the Mesozoic times Darwin Bernissart meeting 9 13 Brussels 82 Gruber Gabriele Micklich Norbert The Messel Maar Messel Treasures of the Eocene Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt Darmstdt WBG pp 23 28 ISBN 978 3 534 20913 2 E R Badiola Mazo A V Rodriguez Ruiz P 2007 El yacimiento de Las Higueruelas Alcolea de Calatrava Ciudad Real procesos diageneticos y volcanismo asociado Estudios Geologicos in Spanish 63 2 67 86 External links editPresentation of the Museum of the paleontological site at the Carpetana Metro Station in Spanish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paleontological site amp oldid 1213794262, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
