Middle Ordovician carbonates in the Lake Simcoe area, south-central Ontario were examined to determine if: (1) The δ18O values of early-stage calcite cement in hardgrounds are useful proxies for Ordovician seawater δ18O values; (2) a regional hydrothermal event affected middle Ordovician strata in the Lake Simcoe area. Whole rock samples of middle Ordovician hardgrounds and immediately overlying limestones containing early calcite cement have δ13C values ranging from -1.7 to +2.9‰ (PDB) and δ18O values ranging from -6.9 to -2.9‰ (PDB). Hardground δ18O values and the similarity of the isotopic composition between the hardgrounds and overlying limestones are consistent with diagenetic alteration during shallow burial, which indicates the hardgrounds are not useful proxies. Late-stage calcite cements have δ13C values from -8.4 to +2.9‰ (PDB) and δ18O values from -11.4 to -6.0‰ (PDB). Late-stage microcrystalline dolomites have δ13C values from -3.9 to +0.4‰ and δ18O values from -10.7 to -7.6‰. Late-stage saddle dolomites have δ13C values from -1.7 to 1.9‰ and δ18O values from -13.8 to -8.5‰. The late-stage carbonate δ18O values are more negative than the early-stage carbonate δ18O values and are interpreted to reflect progressively deeper burial diagenesis. Four types of fluid inclusions were identified in late-stage calcite, saddle dolomite, barite, and quartz. Type 1 inclusions are aqueous liquid-rich with very consistent low to very low vapour-liquid ratios and are of primary, secondary pseudosecondary and indeterminate origins. Type 2 inclusions are aqueous liquid-only and are of primary and secondary origins. Type 3 inclusions are oil-bearing, liquid-rich with low to medium vapor-liquid ratios and are of secondary origin. Type 4 inclusions are vapour-only and are of indeterminate origin. The type 4 inclusions analyzed did not yield any microthermometric data suggesting they are empty cavities that have lost all their fluid. Fluid inclusions of primary, secondary and pseudosecondary origins in calcite, dolomite and quartz have overlapping homogenization temperatures ranging from 43 to 188°C. Fluid inclusions of indeterminate origin in calcite and barite have homogenization temperatures from 80 to greater than 200°C. Petrographic and microthermometric evidence indicates that fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures greater than 150°C most likely are caused by stretching or leaking; therefore, are discounted. Fluid inclusion types 1 and 2 represent two fluid inclusion assemblages (FIA) based on final ice melting temperatures. The high salinity (10 to 30 wt%CaCl2) inclusions in FIA 1 are of primary, secondary, pseudosecondary and indeterminate origin in calcite, dolomite, barite and quartz. Fluid inclusions in FIA 1 are interpreted as reflecting saline basin brines from which the host minerals precipitated during burial diagenesis. The low salinity (0 to 2.7 wt%CaCl2) inclusions in FIA 2 are of secondary and indeterminate origin in calcite. Fluid inclusions in FIA 2 may reflect a meteoric origin such as in a vadose or phreatic environment based on inclusions containing different phases and variable vapor-liquid ratios. Alternatively the low salinity inclusions may reflect alteration from an influx of meteoric fluids that migrated through basement faults and fractures during periods of uplift and erosion. Early and late-stage carbonates from this study precipitated from 18O-depleted pore fluids and/or at progressively higher temperatures accompanying deeper burial. The FIA 1 homogenization temperatures support burial diagenesis at 66 to 80°C if it is assumed the rocks were buried 2 km, the surface temperature was 20°C and the geothermal gradient was between 23 to 30°C/km. An alternative interpretation is mineral precipitation during a regional hydrothermal event. Burial diagenesis does not explain the fluid inclusion homogenization temperatures of 90°C and greater unless geothermal gradients are higher than 35°C/km or burial depth is increased to 3 km or more. However, thermal maturity of organic matter in the Michigan Basin suggests Ordovician strata were never buried more than 2 km. Four models for regional hydrothermal fluid migration are: (1) gravity-driven flow; (2) ‘squeegee-type’ fluid flow; (3) convection cell fluid flow; and (4) structurally-controlled fluid flow. The gravity-driven model relies on continental heat flow and an influx of meteoric water from basin catchment areas. For the ‘squeegee, convection cell and structurally controlled models, hot fluids could have entered the region from several conduits concurrently during episodic reactivation of basement faults and fracture systems in response to intracratonic stresses created by the continuous interaction of tectonic plates. Determining which of the models best explains regional hydrothermal fluid flow in the Michigan Basin is difficult for several reasons; (1) surface temperatures and maximum burial temperatures at the time of mineral precipitation in the Michigan Basin during the Ordovician are unknown; (2) the timing of mineral precipitation in relation to tectonic pulses is undetermined; (3) there is as yet no known deep-seated heat sources in the Michigan Basin for convection to occur; and (4) it is unknown whether advection is a major process in the Michigan Basin. A collaborative multi-disciplinary research project covering geology, geophysics and hydrogeology would provide much more integrated data than is currently available from stable isotopes, fluid inclusions and organic matter.

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L’étude de l’Ordovicien de l’Anti-Atlas oriental s’intègre dans un vaste projet celui de l’étude de la plate-forme nord-gondwanienne qui se caractérise par une sédimentation essentiellement silico-clastique avec une polarité globale qui est Sud-Nord. Cette étude, basée sur les principes de la stratigraphie séquentielle et de la sédimentologie, met en évidence l’existence de deux systèmes de dépôts sur la marge nord-ouest de la plate-forme nord-gondwanienne. A l’Ordovicien moyen et supérieur préglaciaire, à l’emplacement de l’Anti-Atlas oriental, coexistent un système deltaïque (lato sensu) et un système de plate-forme dominée par l’action de la houle et des tempêtes. Ces deux systèmes de dépôts ont une certaine répartition spatiale et temporelle. Le système deltaïque domine le nord-est de l’Anti-Atlas oriental où il prend naissance à l’Est du Tafilalt. Ce système deltaïque est à dominance fluviale, il est actif lors des périodes de régression. Pendant les maximums de régression, il incise le haut du plateau continental en créant d’importantes structures érosives dont le remplissage se fait par des faciès de haute énergie à composante unidirectionnelle. Le système de haute énergie influencé par l’action de la houle et des tempêtes domine le secteur sud de l’Anti-Atlas oriental et se répand au nord au cours des périodes transgressives. La sédimentation durant l’Ordovicien préglaciaire sur la marge nord-ouest du Gondwana a un contrôle tectonique et eustatique avec une polarité des systèmes, dans le Tafilalt-Maïder qui diffère de celle de la plate-forme nord-gondwanienne et est Nord Est-Sud-Ouest. Le profil de dépôt est quasi plat où les clinoformes sont de faible amplitudes et se dessinent à l’intérieur des séquences de 3ème ordre. Le Darriwillien se caractérise par des une subsidence différentielle entre le domaine nord et le domaine sud en raison d’une tectonique active. Alors que, le Sandbien-Katien montre un taux de subsidence faible (x 10m/Ma) en adéquation avec un contexte intracratonique. L’Hirnantien dans le Tafilalt, décrit comme étant discontinu voir absent, est très bien développé il se caractérise par la mise en place d’une sédimentation mixte gréso-carbonaté à bryozoaires de type littoral et ce à l’extrémité oriental de l’Anti-Atlas et d’une épaisse série conglomératique (conglomérat d’Amessoui et d’Imzizoui) et flyschoïde qui peut atteindre les 500m dans le Tafilalt. / The Ordovician Anti-Atlas study is part of a larger project of comprehension the sedimentary system of the north Gondwana platform. This sedimentary area is characterized by essentially terrigenous sediments that come from the south from de West African Craton. This study based on sequence stratigraphy and sedimentology principles highlights two systems juxtaposed during the preglacial Ordovician period (before hirnantian). These two deposits systems have a spatial and temporal distribution. One deltaic occurs on north-eastern Tafilalt (east Anti-Atlas) and widespread during regressive periods. The second is storm dominate system which is developed in the south-western part of eastern Anti-Atlas and transgressive periods. The deltaic system is river dominant, it incise the continental shelf by creating a significant erosive structure whose filling is done by high energy facies unidirectional component. During the Ordovician, the sedimentation was controlled by tectonic and eustatic variation. The polarity of the system in the Tafilalt-Maïder is different from that of the northern Gondwana platform and it is given North East- South West. The Darriwilian characterized by differential subsidence, between the north and the south of the oriental Anti-Atlas, due to active tectonics, while, Sandbian-Katian show a low subsidence rates (x10m/Ma) in the line of intracratonic basin. The Hirnantian, in Tafilalt, is largely well developed and characterized by huge conglomeratic series, flysch deposits and Bryozoan limestone at the northeastern.

The upper Tanglewood Member is the final member of the Lexington Limestone and is well-known for its soft-sediment deformation. This study has confirmed the carbonate-shoal-complex origin of the unit, and detailed study shows that its development took place during five small-scale, sequence-like, fining-upward cycles related to eustasy and tectonics. Four lithofacies are represented in the unit. Facies analysis of each cycle shows that the thickest and coarsest part of each cycle corresponds to previously uplifted basement-fault blocks; the occurrence of thick, coarse facies on the same fault blocks suggests that the blocks continued to experience uplift due to Taconian far-field forces generated on the eastern margin of Laurentia. The upper Tanglewood Member includes six deformed horizons that can be traced into equivalent parts of the Clays Ferry and Point Pleasant formations. Concurrence of four lines of evidence, suggested by Ettensohn et al. (2002d) for interpretation of seismites, indicates that the widespread horizons of deformation are seismogenic in origin. Reactivation of basement structures due to Taconian far-field forces probably induced seismicity on the intra-platform carbonate complex so as to produce soft-sediment deformation. Petrographic investigation indicates that most of the cements in the upper Tanglewood limestones appear to be late diagenetic, fresh-water phreatic cements. Comparing the petrography of deformed and undeformed portions of the same horizon showed no significant differences in terms of cementation, indicating that cementation occurred primarily after deformation. The primary impact of deformation on the microstructure of the unit was the randomization of grain fabric and the increased presence of broken intraclasts.

Deep subsurface rock samples from Upper Ordovician strata in the Michigan Basin were analyzed for the presence of microbial communities. High concentrations of biogenic methane were observed in the Upper and Middle Ordovician formations. Total porosity values for the shale, shale hard bed and limestone samples were 7.4%, 2.5% and 1.9%, respectively. Hydrocarbon presence ranged from petroliferous shale, to bituminous layering in shale hard beds, to hydrocarbon odour in limestone. Organic carbon content ranged from 0.5 to 2.5%, highest amount being present in the shale. Environmental DNA was extracted from core samples and PCR amplified using 16S rDNA bacterial primers. PCR performed with archaeal 16S rDNA and methanogen-specific (mcrA) primers did not yield DNA amplification. Gene analysis indicated that bacterial sequences similar to Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria were present. Most sequences were not related to known cultivated species. Proteobacteria was the most dominant phyla at all depths and included heterotrophic, lithotrophic, acidophilic, radiotolerant, and sulphate-reducing species of bacteria. This study concludes that the observed biogenic methane is a product of ancient methanogenesis.

This dissertation thesis is a summary of five studies published in peer- reviewed, impacted scientific journals. All of the publications are taxonomic revisions of previously unknown or little known collections of fossil cephalopods from the Early Paleozoic strata of Bohemia, Estonia and Sweden. Paleogeogra- phical and stratigraphical distributions of the respective taxa were summarized, refined and compared with contemporary fossil assemblages known from other regions. Implications on the paleoecology of the cephalopods and original envi- ronmental conditions were made. The text of the thesis is divided into three main parts. In the first part, the morphology of cephalopods is explained, stressing out the most important diagnostic characters used for their descriptions. The current systematics of the Cephalopoda is overviewed and the main cephalopod groups during the Ordovician are briefly introduced. The second part of the thesis describes the geological development and settings of the regions, from which the studied fossil cephalopods originate. The third and final part of the thesis provides a discussion and interpretation of the results of the published studies in the context of the previously published research. The genus Bactroceras Holm, 1898 and some members of the order Litui- tida were studied...

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Trilobites were a successful group of marine arthropods that thrived for much of the Palaeozoic Era. Akey innovation of trilobites involved the capacity to enrol their biomineralized exoskeletons for protection; a trait that appeared early in their evolutionary history during the Cambrian Period. However, even though there has been much interest in the description of enrolment-related anatomical adaptations, and different styles of enrolment, the kinematic aspect has just begun to be explored—not just as means of understanding trilobite movements, but also as a potential driver of evolution. In this study, with the use of the open-source software Blender, four models of three different species of Ordovician trilobites(two phacopines and two illaenines) were constructed and later submitted to enrolling simulations. Different angle metrics were measured and then compared between simulations to analyse the performance of the developed methodology, and between the different models to reveal potential evolutionary or developmental trends. Results suggest a clear relationship between the kind of higher-level taxonomic groups analysed and the angle arrangement of the trunk elements in an enrolled position. In contrast, the same was not as evident when comparing the measured angle metrics against the total number of segments. Illaenina models consistently resulted in lower angles between segments required to enrol, suggesting a more efficient enclosure of the body favoured by bigger and more spherical proportions of cephalon and pygidium. This study contributes to a growing field in palaeontology and provides new, detailed enrolment data for several trilobite species. In future, such data should be synthesized with those from previous and future studies to analyse the evolutionary and developmental history of trilobites from this novel perspective.

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