Science in Pictures: The Fossils of Monte San Giorgio

Bürgin, Toni; Rieppel, Olivier; Sander, P. Martin; Tschanz, Karl

doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0689-74

Cited by 28 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…Field investigations showed that these Triassic marine reptiles mainly concentrated at three horizons (Wang et al, 2001): the upper member of the Guanling Formation (Anisian), the transition beds between the Yangliujing and Zhuganpo formations (Ladinian), and the lower member of the Wayao Formation (Early Carnian, Hao et al, 2003), representing three distinct Triassic marine reptile faunas ranging from the Anisian of the Middle Triassic to the Early Camian of the Upper Triassic, namely Panxian, Xingyi and Guanling faunas, respectively ( Table 1). The preservation and diversity of these marine reptile faunas are comparable with the famous Grenzbitumenzone fauna found in the Besanohlonte San Giorgio area near the Italy/Switzerland border (Sander, 1988;Burgin et al, 1989;Rieppel, 1999). Among these faunas, the Panxian Fauna represents the lowest horizon with marine reptile fossils in SW Guizhou and, to some extent, fills the gap in the early evolution of the Triassic marine reptiles, however, the definite age of the Panxian Fauna remains unknown so far, mainly because the Guanling Formation is lack of ammonoid index (Yang and Zhang, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Conodont Evidence for the Age of the Panxian Fauna, Guizhou, China

Sun

Hao

et al. 2010

Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition

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Detailed conodont analysis on the Yangjuan‐Chupiwa section, Xinmin, Panxian County, Guizhou Province, revealed a conodont sequence including four Anisian conodont zones, viz. Nicoraella germanica Zone, Nc. kockeli Zone, Paragondolella bifurcata Zone and Neogondolella constricta Zone. These zones indicate that the upper Guanling Formation consists of strata from the Bithynian to the Illyrian of the Anisian. Appearance of Neogondolella constricta suggests that the Anisian/Ladinian boundary might be in the overlying Yangliujing Formation. The Panxian Fauna with well‐preserved marine reptile and fish fossils is proved to belong to the lower part of the conodont Nc. kockeli Zone in the studied area. Thus, the age of the Panxian Fauna could be the early Pelsonian of the Anisian.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Conodont Evidence for the Age of the Panxian Fauna, Guizhou, China

Sun

Hao

et al. 2010

Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition

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“…Most of the spectacular vertebrate fossils (reptiles and fishes) together with important index fossils including ammonoids and daonellid bivalves come from this formation (e.g. Rieber 1969Rieber , 1973bKuhn-Schnyder 1974;Bürgin et al 1989). The Besano Formation grades upwards into the San Giorgio Dolomite and the Meride Limestone, all together constituting an around 600 m thick sequence.…”

Section: The Middle Triassic Sequence Of Monte San Giorgiomentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated Ladinian bio-chronostratigraphy and geochrononology of Monte San Giorgio (Southern Alps, Switzerland)

2012

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“…Most of the spectacular vertebrate fossils (reptiles and fishes), together with important index fossils including ammonoids and daonellid bivalves, come from this formation (e.g. Rieber, , ; Kuhn‐Schnyder, ; Bürgin et al ., ). The Besano Formation grades upwards into the San Giorgio Dolomite and the Meride Limestone, together constituting a 614 m thick sequence in total.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palaeoenvironmental significance of organic facies and stable isotope signatures: the Ladinian San Giorgio Dolomite and Meride Limestone of Monte San Giorgio (Switzerland, WHL UNESCO)

Stockar¹,

Adatte

Baumgartner

et al. 2013

Sedimentology

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The over 600 m thick Ladinian carbonate section of Monte San Giorgio (World Heritage List, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Switzerland), including the San Giorgio Dolomite and the Meride Limestone, was analysed with respect to its sedimentology, organic‐matter content (Rock‐Eval and palynofacies) and stable carbon and oxygen‐isotope composition. Application of geochemical proxies and optical data (transmitted light microscopy, epifluorescence, cathodoluminescence and scanning electron microscopy) allowed the assessment of the relative sea‐level trend and the characterization of the organic‐matter content. Three main organic‐matter assemblages were defined according to their composition and stratigraphic position. Overall, results suggest immature organic matter, predominantly of marine bacterial origin with an upsection‐increasing land plant‐derived contribution. Forcing factors controlling organic‐matter accumulation include changes in sea‐level, productivity and runoff which, in turn, were probably promoted by periods of rainfall following explosive volcanic activity. Enhanced productivity during sea‐level highstands is considered to have played a key role in black‐shale formation under anoxic–sulphidic conditions (mainly in the Besano Formation). In contrast, sea‐level lowstands, coupled with intensified runoff, resulted in increased basin restriction and in deposition of laminated limestone, mainly under lower dysoxic to anoxic conditions (chiefly in the Lower Meride Limestone). Under the latter conditions, benthic microbial activity produced most of the hydrogen‐rich organic matter, contributed to carbonate precipitation and also played a major role in taphonomic control on vertebrate fossil preservation. In more general terms, the Monte San Giorgio section proved to be an excellent testing ground, making it possible to compare diverse approaches with each other and, more specifically, to relate optical evidence to geochemical signatures.

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Science in Pictures: The Fossils of Monte San Giorgio

Cited by 28 publications

References 0 publications

Conodont Evidence for the Age of the Panxian Fauna, Guizhou, China

Conodont Evidence for the Age of the Panxian Fauna, Guizhou, China

Integrated Ladinian bio-chronostratigraphy and geochrononology of Monte San Giorgio (Southern Alps, Switzerland)

Palaeoenvironmental significance of organic facies and stable isotope signatures: the Ladinian San Giorgio Dolomite and Meride Limestone of Monte San Giorgio (Switzerland, WHL UNESCO)

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