A new graphical representation of the taphonomy of skeletal carbonates observed at the thin-section scale is proposed, demonstrating their utility in drawing information about the effects of early sea-floor processes on the post-mortem fate of fossil hard parts. The graphical representations consist of two-axis diagrams, which integrate the degree of fragmentation, abrasion, bioerosion, and encrustation as primary descriptors of the average state of fossil remains in a Miocene limestone section from southeastern North Island of New Zealand. Numerical values are expressed as percentages that represent the contribution of each factor to alteration (i.e., the four factors represent up to 25% each of the total alteration), the sum of values quantifying the amount of departure from pristine condition. Data are plotted in a cumulative form that reflects synergistic action of sea-floor processes towards hard parts destruction. One important virtue of this graphical representation is that the nature, degree, and variability of taphonomic alteration can be visualized and compared in a single diagram for several grain categories within a sample, and between samples. The proposed scheme is particularly flexible because more than four taphonomic categories can be integrated, independently from the number of alteration classes specific to each category, provided conversion of scores obtained in each taphonomic categories into percentages. Compiled results of such taphonomic analyses could be used in the future to identify specific depositional conditions, such as hydraulic regime, transportation, and residence time on the sea floor (a potential proxy to net accumulation rates).
Taphonomic analysis is a useful tool to assess the intensity of alteration of skeletal remains and to help characterize depositional conditions as well as completeness and resolution of fossil assemblages. We herein introduce TAPHOGRAPH, an Excel spreadsheet script (a R code is also available), for the production of taphonomic diagrams to characterize the taphonomy of skeletal remains. The graphical representation depicts four taphonomic factors (fragmentation, abrasion, bioerosion, and encrustation) as a cumulative curve that allows visualization and comparison of the degree and variability of taphonomic alteration for different hard part types from one or more samples in a single diagram. The TAPHOGRAPH methodology is highly flexible, and can be used to assess the relative influence of mechanical versus biological (versus chemical) taphonomic alteration. The TAPHOGRAPH approach can guide inferences about hydraulic regimes, residence time at the seafloor, and intensity of different taphonomic processes.
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