This study implies a survey of a somewhat unexplored Cambrian carbonate formation in the Argentine Precordillera (AP) located in western Argentina, close to the city of San José de Jáchal. The carbonate platform of the AP is a unique piece of the South American geology and is in this study partly surveyed and compared with the Stephen Formation of northern Canada, a middle Cambrian unit renowned for its contents of exceptionally well preserved soft bodied fossils named the Burgess Shale biota. The investigated formation consists of an olistolith among the several Los Túneles Olistoliths at the Western Precordillera. The olistolith originates from the Cambrian Period and lies embedded in younger material with an age and history up for debate by several paleontologists and biostratigraphers. Shallow investigations have shown that these rocks may have similar properties to rocks of the Stephen Formation. There are only a few known rock assemblages on Earth showing Burgess Shale-type (BST) preservation and if the Los Túneles Olistolith proves to possess BST preservation it would be of great substance for the geological researchers of Argentina. The olistolith has in this study been explored by gathering samples in field and dissolving them in acid to investigate possible fossil content. The aim is thus to ascertain whether or not the Los Túneles Olistolith may contain especially well preserved fossils. This is the first study ever made of the microfauna in a middle Cambrian unit in the whole of South America, and hence it will tell if further investigations would be of interest. This survey determines that the Los Túneles Olistolith actually consists of three olistoliths encased in matrix, do not contain BST preservation and that further studies are not probable to show otherwise. The fossil findings, such as Chancelloriidae Chancelloria, Hexactinellida Recticulosa and Mollusca Hyolitha establish that the three Los Túneles Olistoliths originate from middle Cambrian while the matrix surrounding the olistolith is determined to be of Devonian age. / Den här studien är den första undersökningen någonsin som fokuserar på mikrofauna i sedimentära avlagringar från mellersta kambrium i Sydamerika. Studien utreder en tidigare bara ytligt utforskad kalkstensformation i västra Argentina, nära staden San José de Jáchal, i den argentinska precordilleran. Formationen, med namnet Los Sombreros Formationen, innehåller olistoliter från kambrium som undersökts och jämförts med den välkända Stephen Formation från norra Kanada, en formation som är känd för att innehålla exceptionellt välbevarade mjukdelar av fossil, kallat the Burgess Shale Biota. Syftet med studien är att fastställa huruvida Los Túneles Olistoliterna har potential att innehålla välbevarade fossil samt att utreda ifall ytterligare undersökningar är av intresse eller ej.                       Studien fokuserar på vad som tidigare trotts vara en av olistoliterna bland Los Túneles Olistoliterna, som är en del av Los Sombreros Formationen, men som i denna studie visat sig egentligen vara tre olika olistoliter som avsatts intill varandra. Tidigare ytliga undersökningar har visat att dessa olistoliter skulle kunna innehålla liknande fossil som the Stephen Formation. Det finns bara ett fåtal platser i världen där så pass exceptionellt välbevarade fossil tidigare hittats och om Los Túneles Olistoliterna skulle visa sig vara ett nytt fynd skulle det vara av betydelse för den fortsatta geologiska forskningen i Argentina. Genom insamling av prover som upplösts i syra och sedan undersökts i mikroskop har slutsatsen dragits att Los Túneles Olistoliterna inte innehåller Burgess Shale Biota och att ytterligare undersökningar förmodligen inte kommer visa annorlunda resultat. Fossilfynden som har gjorts, så som Chancelloriidae Chancelloria, Hexactinellida Recticulosa och Mollusca Hyolitha fastställer att de tre Los Túneles Olistoliterna härstammar från mellersta kambrium medan omkringliggande material kommer från Devon. / Este estudio se enfoca en un área poco explorada de una formación que aloja olistolitos carbonaticos del Cámbrico y Ordovícico situado en la Precordillera de Argentina en el oeste del país, cerca de San José de Jáchal, Provincia de San Juan. La plataforma carbonatada de la precordillera es una parte única de la geología de Sudamérica y es en esta investigación parcialmente estudiada y comparada con la Formación Stephen en el norte de Canadá, una unidad del Cámbrico Medio famosa por su contenido de fósiles excepcionalmente bien preservados llamado the Burgess Shale biota.                       La investigación se ha enfocado en un olistolito entre los varios que aparecen en el sector Los Túneles en el norte de la Precordillera de San Juan, oeste de Argentina. De este olistolito sa ha recuperado macrofauna indicativa del período Cámbrico. Este olistolito está alojado en rocas clásticas cuya una edad que es todavía un tema de debate entre paleontólogos y bioestratigrafos. Investigaciones superficiales han mostrado que estas rocas pueden tener los mismos atributos que las rocas de la Formación Stephen. Solo hay unas pocas formaciones sedimentarias en la Tierra que mantienen preservación del tipo de Burgess Shale (BST) y si el olistolito de estudio de la sección de Los Túneles presenta preservación de BST va a tener gran importancia para la Geología de Argentina. El estudio ha incluido un muestreo de campo de varios olistolitos, posterior tratamiento químico (desagregación física y química de las calizas en ácido para investigar possible contenido de microfósiles), y finalmente”picking” bajo lupa binocular para rescatar micropiezas fósiles. El objetivo de este es comprobar si el olistolito de la sección de Los Túneles puede tener fósiles especialmente bien preservados. Este estudio es el primer estudio de la micro fauna del Cámbrico medio en el conjunto de Sudamérica y de ahí que lo indicará si estudios adicionales serían de interés.                       Este investigación determina que el olistolito en Los Túneles Olistolitos en realidad consiste en tres olistolitos encerrados en matriz, contiene fósiles sin una preservación BST y por tanto estudios adicionales no son requeridos para demostrar lo contrario. Los hallazgos fósiles, por ejemplo Chancelloriidae Chancelloria, Hexactinellida Recticulosa y Mollusca Hyolitha, establezca que los tres olistolitos de Los Túneles Olistolitos son de Cámbrico Medio y la matriz que rodea a los olistolitos de periódo Devónico.

The majority of the Middle Cambrian Wheeler Formation in the Drum Mountains was deposited during a single 3rd order sequence. Superimposed onto this sequence are three indistinct 4th order cycles and twenty distinct 5th order cycles. These higher other cycles were likely deposited within short intervals of geologic time (204 to 405 ky). The lower sequence boundary zone occurs within the Swasey Formation. The Transgressive Surface is the contact between the Swaset and Wheeler Formations. The Maximum Flooding Surface is located near the top of the lower Wheeler Formation, which also approximates the base of the Ptychagnostus atavus range zone. The upper sequence boundary is marked by stromatolites, which occur near the top of the upper member of the Wheeler Formation in the Drum Mountains. Deposition of the Wheeler Formation in the Drum Mountains was controlled by eustacy and tectonics. Local normal faulting associated with Middle Cambrian postrifting thermal subsidence may have caused some of the 5th order cycles. The cycles and surfaces defined in this stratigraphic analysis, and the base of the Ptychagnostus atavus and P. gibbus range-zones, can be used to correlate strata occurring in other localities in the eastern Great Basin. In addition, this study enables the evaluation of the effect of tectonics (faulting) versus global eustacy on the sedimentary regime occurring within the Middle Cambrian House Range Embayment. (95 pages)

The Blacksmith Formation of Middle Cambrian (Albertan) age was studied in southeastern Idaho and northernmost Utah. Lithology and sedimentary structures were compared with modern environments and ancient rocks to determine environments of deposition, paleo-geography, diagenetic alterations and patterns of dolomitization. The Blacksmith Formation can be divided into five basic rock types. Rock type A has cryptalgalaminae, nrudcracks, and lacks bioturbation. Rock type A is inferred to have been deposited in the upper intertidal to supratidal environment. Rock type Bis extremely dolomitized and brecciated. It is inferred that rock type B was deposited in the upper intertidal to supratidal environment. Rock type C may have cryptalgal mats, stromatolites consisting of laterally linked hemispheroids, birdseye structures, vertical burrows and pseudomorphs after evaporite minerals. Rock type C is inferred to have been deposited in the lower intertidal environment. Rock type D is fine grained, often dark gray in color, has trails and often contains fossil fragments. Rock type Dis inferred to have been deposited in subtidal-lagoon or open-platform environments. Rock type Eis ooid-rich, and is often cross-stratified. Rock type Eis inferred to have been deposited in an agitated-shoal or quiet-water shoal environment. All rocks of the Blacksmith Formation were deposited in supratidal to shallow subtidal environments. During Albertan time the study area was located in the tropics, and the adjacent area had little relief. Clay mineralogy of the insoluble residues suggests a relatively humid paleoclimate. Tidal amplitude was probably low, as suggested by ·small algal domes, LLH strornatolites, and cryptalgal mats. Water depth varied throughout the area. Less restricted fauna to the north suggest that water depth increased to the north. It is inferred that a transgression from the west, regression to the west, a second transgression, and possibly a second regression controlled the distribution of facies. Early diagenesis included minor compaction of intertidal or very shallow subtidal deposits, whereas deeper subtidal deposits may have undergone more compaction. Cementation occurred early in the inter-tidal or shallow subtidal environment. Dolomitization of the Blacksmith by a hypersaline brine is suggested by pseudomorphs after evaporites, authigenic quartz, desiccation features and cloudy dolomite rhombs. Chemical analyses for sodium also indicate a hypersaline fluid. The association of some of the dolomite with the oolite-shoal environment suggests that the dolomite distribution may be in part facies-controlled. The hypersaline brine likely developed on tidal flats south of the area, and percolated through the sediments via refluxion and through the permeable sediments via hydrostatic head. The amount of dolomite decreases to the north, farther from the source of the brine. As the dolomitizing brine moved downward, the Mg/Ca ratio was lowered so that a ferroan dolomite formed in the subsurface, under reducing conditions. Late diagenetic events include aggrading neoroorphism by low-Mg calcite which may obliterate grains and cement or preserve grains and episodes of cementation. Late dolomitization, producing coarse dolomite rhombs exhibiting undulose extinction and curved crystal faces may have been epigenetic in origin.

The Middle Cambrian Langston and Ute formations were studied in the northern portion of the Bear River Range and the south-central part of the Portneuf Range in southeastern Idaho. The rocks of the Langston and Ute formations were divided into 17 different rock types. The 17 rock types were formed within four recognizable lithofacies: I) Shoal - or Coastal -Peritidal Carbonate Complex; 2) Agitated Shoal; 3) Inner Marine Shelf; and 4) Outer Marine Shelf. Clastic sediments belonging to the Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation (outer marine shelf) were deposited over the carbonate complex . A transgressive sequence marks the base of both formations. Paleomagnetic evidence suggests that during the time of the deposition of the two formations, the study area was located near the outer reaches of an equatorial epeiric sea. Clay mineralogy of insoluble residues suggests a warm, humid, tropical climate. Eogenetic diagenetic features include compaction, cementation, aggrading, and degrading neomorphism, birdseye structures, and initiation of dolomitization . Mesogenetic diagenetic features include dolomitization and pressure solution. Telogenetic diagenetic features are confined to fracturing and subsequent calcite infilling, and the oxidation of pyrite. Massive dolomitization in the northernmost section is believed to be the result of a downward flux of fluids originating as hypersaline brines. The nonconformable lower contact, conformable upper contact, the vertical and lateral extent of dolomitization, and the general association with coastal-peritidal facies have led to this conclusion. Two other subordinate types of dolomite are believed to be the result of: 1) the release of magnesium caused by the decomposition of magnesium-rich organic matter; and 2) the formation of a secondary ferroan dolomite as Fe/Mg ratios in the precipitating fluids increased under reducing conditions.

The Middle Cambrian Spence Shale Member contains meter-scale, shallowing-up cycles (parasequences) and record approximately 360 ky of deposition. These meter-scale cycles are nested within transgressive systems tracts (TST) and highstand systems tracts (HST) which reflect different stages of a lower-order, higher-magnitude sea-level excursion. Fossil assemblages are located in stratigraphic positions within the Spence Shale Member that can be predicted on the basis of sequence architecture. The cycle architecture, taphonomy, and geochemistry of the Spence parasequences confirm synthetic sections and theoretical models of meter-scale cycles developed in other studies. Delineation of meterscale cycles, based on taphonomic and sedimentologic criteria, allows high-resolution (100-500 ky) correlation. This study also documented the Cambrian existence of the Tooele and Arco Arches and aided in further understanding paleoenvironmental conditions within the Spence Shale Member.

The linguliform brachiopod fauna from the Stephen Formation have long been thought to be very species poor and only consist of a few genera, but new discoveries from lime-stone beds in the “thick” Stephen Formation shows that this is not the case. The species described herein, Kyrshabaktella cf. tatjanae and Ceratreta hansi sp. nov., are two new additions to described species and genera of the area.The specimens come from a 0.6 meters thick limestone bed, approximately 17 meter above the base of the formation in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, British Columbia, Yoho National Park a few kilometers SSE from Odaray Mountain. The specimens where retained from the rock by dissolution in diluted formic acid for a few days and later coated with a palladium-gold alloy and photographed under a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).In addition to the widen knowledge that these specimens of K. cf. tatjanae and C. hansi brings to the paleoecology of the area the two species also expands the knowledge of their families and genera. The coarse filae ornamentation on the exterior shell of K. cf. tatjanae requires the revision of the diagnosis of the family Kyrshabaktellidae and the discovery of the new species C. hansi expands the stratigraphic range of the genus Ceratreta to the middle Cambrian. / Detta arbete behandlar arterna Kyrshabaktella cf. tatjanae och Ceratreta hansi sp. nov. från den ’tjocka’ Stephenformationen. Tidigare har området ansetts vara väldigt art- och släktfattigt på linguliforma brachiopoder. Nya fynd av Caron m.fl. (2010, 2014) visar på att så inte är fallet, och de fynd som behandlas här styrker den bilden. Fynden kommer från ett kalkstenslager beläget ca 17 meter upp i sekvensen på den ’tjocka’ Stephenformationen. Lagret har visat sig vara väldigt rikt på fossil. Med hjälp av dessa exemplar av K. cf. tatjanae har diagnosen av familjen Kyrshabaktellidae kunnat ändras, från att inte ha haft några utsmyckningar alls på de vuxna skalen till att kunna ha bland annat grovt koncentriska ornament (s.k. filae). Detta arbete och dessa nya fynd ska sprida ytterligare ljus över området. Förhoppningen är att denna ska hjälpa till att ge ny kunskap om områdets paleoekologi samt arterna och släktenas geografiska utbredning.Fossilen har separerats från kalkstenen genom att låta stufferna dra i utspädd myrsyra några dagar, tills kalken är upplöst. Fossilen har belagts med en palladium-guld legering och fotograferats med hjälp av ett svepelektronmikroskop (SEM).Syftet med arbetet är att göra en taxonomisk beskrivning av nya exemplar av brachiopodfossil från Stephenformationen.

The origin of many lophotrochozoan groups can be traced to “small shelly fossil” (SSF) faunas of the Early Cambrian. Antarctica is a key region of study, due to the continent’s known close geographical proximity to well-studied Australian and Indian basins in in the Cambrian. Few studies have focused on this region however, due to a paucity of data. Re-examination of camenellan sclerites from the Early Cambrian Shackleton Limestone of the Churchill Mountains of Antarctica has revealed a previously unidentified species of Dailyatia in the formation, co-occurring alongside previously described Dailyatia odyssei Evans and Rowell, 1990, as in the Arrowie Basin of Australia. Re-examination of material previously described as Kennardia sp. A and Kennardia sp. B has indicated that these taxa can likely be synonymized as a second species of Dailyatia. Dailyatia sclerites were also found in the temporally equivalent “Schneider Hills Limestone” formation, which cropsout in the Argentina Range of Antarctica. These specimens appear to belongto a third species of Dailyatia, suggesting that the spatial distribution of tommotiids in the Early Cambrian was more complex than previously recognized, and that the group may be useful in future biostratigraphic studies. A study ofthe Middle Cambrian (Drumian Stage) Nelson Limestone Formation of the Neptune Range, Antarctica has revealed a moderately diverse brachiopod and trilobite fauna. The brachiopods have strong faunal links to taxa from South Australia and India, as well as other parts of the Antarctic province, fitting independent strong evidence for a united East Gondwanan region in the Middle Cambrian. An unidentified camenellan tommotiid sclerite is also described from the Nelson Limestone. This extends the worldwide temporal range of the tommotiid clade into the Drumian Stage, and suggests that more basal members of the brachiopod stem-group survived to form part of a more diverse Middle Cambrian fauna.

This thesis deals with the ontogeny of trilobites and agnostids from the Cambrian of the Skryje-Týřovice and Příbram-Jince basins (Barrandian area, Bohemian Massif). Thesis is presented as a compilation of four papers that were published in scientific peer-reviewed journals. The introduction of the thesis serves as a general overview of the trilobite post- embryonic development and connects all published papers together. All four papers presented here are focussed on modern description of the post-embryonic development of Sao hirsuta, Ptychopariida sp. A, Ptychopariida sp. B, Ptychopariida sp. C, Ellipsocephalus hoffi, Ellipsocephalus polytomus, Hydrocephalus carens and Ecca- paradoxides pusillus. In addition, a discussion about the life-history strategies of early developmental trilobite stages is presented. It has been suggested that Sao hirsuta and Ptychopariida sp. A had benthic protaspides and that the early ontogenetic stages of Ptychopariida sp. B, Eccaparadoxides pusillus and Hydrocephalus carens were likely lecithortophic. Consequently, it has been documented that species with benthic protaspides show a strongly restricted geographic distribution and that lecithotrophic taxa seem to be associated with higher latitude areas. The developmental patterns of Ellipsocephalus hoffi and...

This thesis deals with the topic of eocrinoid echinoderms from the Barrandian area (Příbram- Jince Basin, mid-Cambrian, Drumian). The thesis is presented as a compilation of five published papers and an introduction. The introduction is an overview of current knowledge about eocrinoid echinoderms. It also includes links to new information from the five included papers, and serves as a unifying element for these professional publications. The topic of the thesis is focused on a revision of selected specimens of eocrinoid echinoderms, and the study of their ontogeny, phylogeny, palaeoecology and systematic position. This thesis has also improved our understanding of early evolution of basal blastozoans. This is the first study of Cambrian ontogenetic development on eocrinoid material from the Czech Republic. Complete ontogeny was described on the genus Akadocrinus, and it was possible to establish two basic phases in the development of this genus: pre-epispire-bearing phase and epispire-bearing phase. The new primitive blastozoan Felbabkacystis is described from the Jince Formation - its unique body plan highlights evolution of the body wall among blastozoans. Palaeoecology and phylogeny of the genus Vyscystis was studied, and phylogenetic analysis suggests a basal position of lepidocystoids among...

Research on the Marjum Formation provides insight into facies transitions in the House Range embayment of southwestern Utah during the Middle Cambrian. Sections of the Marjum Formation and equivalents were measured in strata representing shallow- (Drum Mountains), intermediate- (Wheeler Amphitheater), and deep-ramp (Marjum Pass) environments. This traverse across the embayment reveals strong litho- and biofacies changes. The Drum Mountains strata (343 m thick) are dominated by thickbedded shallow-water limestone facies containing polymerid trilobites and stromatolites. The Wheeler Amphitheater locality (392 m thick) provides an example of intermediate deposits between deep-water and shallow-water environments and is characterized by limestone and subordinate shale facies containing polymerid and agnostid trilobites, brachiopods, and sponge spicules. The Marjum Pass locality (424 m thick) contains equal parts shale and limestone facies with abundant fossils that include polymerid and agnostid trilobites, sponge spicules and soft bodied algae, representing deep-water environments. Migration of litho- and biofacies observed within Marjum Formation sections across the embayment shows carbonate ramp build-up and progradation from the Drum Mountains to the Swasey Peak, Wheeler Amphitheater area. Lateral migration of deepwater shale and rhythmite-producing turbidite facies can also be observed on a larger timescale from the Drum Mountains, during the early Bolaspidella time (Wheeler Formation deposits), to the Marjum Pass area (Marjum Formation deposits) by late Bolaspidella time. The Marjum Formation records two, third order shoaling-upward sequences. Fourth, fifth, and higher-frequency (rhythmite) cycles superimposed on these third order sequences can also be identified within the formation and are best preserved within the relatively deep-water deposits at Marjum Pass. Identification of sampled trilobites allowed correlation of known fauna! turnovers found by Robison and Vorwald with observed strata and systems tracts from this study. Stratigraphic locations of trilobite fauna! turnovers were found to be associated with transgressive systems tracts in the Drum Mountains and Marjum Pass localities. Fauna! turnover associated with significant sea-level events within these systems tracts suggests change in water depth altered the local environment forcing extinction and/or migration of organisms. Peak values of total organic carbon (TOC) at each measured section were also found to have a close relationship with maximum flooding zones. Associations of peak TOC values and fauna! turnovers with significant sea-level events demonstrate the value of these tools for correlation across the embayment.