Brachiopods associated with stromatoporoid mounds from the Middle to Upper Ordovician Cashions Creek Limestone, Tasmania

Kristian Grube Jakobsen, Glenn Brock, Arne Thorshøj Nielsen, David K. Mathieson, David Alexander Taylor Harper

    Abstract

    Stromatoporoid mounds and inter-mound carbonates in the upper part of the Darriwilian to Sandbian (Middle-Upper Ordovician) Cashions Creek Limestone in the Florentine Valley, southwest-central Tasmania were sampled in order to document the benthic macrofauna and investigate whether the stromatoporoid mounds had a higher brachiopod biodiversity. The brachiopod assemblage is characterised by Lepidomena with a relative abundance of about 55% of the fauna. Lepidomena fortimuscula and Lepidomena pulchra represent the key brachiopod species. The brachiopod diversity recorded is higher in the inter-mound than on the mound. Other macrofossil groups, including bivalves, rostroconchs, cephalopods, bryozoans, gastropods and echinoderms are characterised by low diversity. Gastropods and brachiopods are the main encrusting organisms on the mounds, with encrusting bivalves and rostroconchs a minor component. The fauna is interpreted to have existed in a shallow marine, high energy depositional environment.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCambro-Ordovician Studies V
    EditorsJohn R. Laurie, John R. Paterson, Glenn A. Brock
    Number of pages17
    PublisherGeological Society of Australia
    Publication date2014
    Pages249-265
    ISBN (Print)9780949466433
    Publication statusPublished - 2014
    SeriesAssociation of Australasian Palaeontologists. Memoirs
    Volume45
    ISSN0810-8889

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