Trace fossils and palaeoenvironments in the Ecca group of the Nongoma Graben, northern Zululand, South Africa

Turner, Brian R.; Stanistreet, Ian G.; Whateley, M. K. G.

doi:10.1016/0031-0182(81)90053-5

Cited by 26 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…Following on this work, for many years little to no academic interest was taken in this coalfield, and it was only in the early 1980s that research refocussed on this coalfield, with Whateley (1980a, b) and Turner et al (1981) discussing various sedimentological aspects of the Nongoma graben. Thirion (1982) published the first comprehensive report on the coals of the Nongoma Coalfield.…”

Section: Research Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Nongoma graben, which hosts the Nongoma Coalfield, developed in response to crustal thinning and the first phase of extensional tectonics (rifting) prior to continental break-up and the separation of east and west Gondwana (Whateley, 1980a, b;Turner et al, 1981). It is unique in KZN for hosting potentially mineable coals in both the Vryheid and Emakwezini formations.…”

Section: Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…30). According to Whateley (1980b) and Turner et al (1981) the Ecca Group in the Nongoma Graben comprises a lower progradational deltaic sequence, a middle fluviatile sequence and an upper transgressive deltaic sequence. Detailed descriptions of these sequences and their lithofacies components are presented in Whateley (1980b).…”

Section: Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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South Africa's coalfields — A 2014 perspective

Hancox

Götz

2014

International Journal of Coal Geology

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Highlights• South Africa's Coalfields are presented.• The role of Gondwanan coals as palaeoclimate archives is stated.• Future research fields include palynology, sequence stratigraphy, basin fill. AbstractFor well over a century and a half coal has played a vital role in South Africa's economy and currently bituminous coal is the primary energy source for domestic electricity generation, as well as being the feedstock for the production of a substantial percentage of the country's liquid fuels. It furthermore provides a considerable source of foreign revenue from exports.Based on geographic considerations, and variations in the sedimentation, origin, formation, distribution and quality of the coals, 19 coalfields are generally recognised in South Africa. This paper provides an updated review of their exploration and exploitation histories, general geology, and coal seam nomenclature and coal qualities. Within the various coalfields autocyclic variability is the norm rather than the exception, whereas allocyclic variability is much less so, and allows for the correlation of genetically related sequences. During the mid-Jurassic break up of Gondwana most of the coals bearing successions were intruded by dolerite. These intrusions are important as they may cause devolatilisation and burning of the coal, create structural disturbances and related seam correlation problems, and difficulties in mining operations.Whilst many of the coalfields have been extensively explored and exploited, those in the north of the country have until recently received much less attention. Four coalfields occur partly or wholly within the Limpopo Province of South Africa and these may contain as much as 70% of South Africa's remaining coal resources. These coalfields in particular have been the focus of recent exploration due to the presence of large coking and thermal coal resources, as well as for their coal bed methane potential, resources that need to be unlocked regards to maximum benefit and minimal environmental degradation. South Africa's coals have been also recently addressed as palaeoclimate archives recording Gondwana's postglacial climate amelioration by major changes in land plant communities, and proving high-resolution palyno-stratigraphy as a crucial tool to decipher climate change during the Permo-Carboniferous. This aspect of the coals of South Africa is also reviewed.

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Section: Research Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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South Africa's coalfields — A 2014 perspective

Hancox

Götz

2014

International Journal of Coal Geology

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“…Traces produced in marine ecosystems have long been studied (Dapples, 1938;Moore, 1938;MacGinitie, 1945;Barnes and Powell, 1950;Frey, 1968;Ginrgras et al, 2008), but more recent studies have begun to focus on the traces found in continental ecosystems (Ahlbrandt et al, 1978;Ratcliffe and Fagerstrom, 1980;O'Green and Busacca, 2001;Gingras et al, 2002;Hembree and Hasiotis, 2006;Lawfield and Pickerill, 2006;Genise et al, 2009;Hamer and Sheldon, 2010;Buynevich et al, 2011). Trace fossils may be used to infer the presence of organisms whose bodies are rarely fossilized (Cameron, 1969;de Gibert et al, 2000;Chin et al, 2013;Fernández and Pazos, 2013) and to interpret the environmental conditions under which the trace was produced (Turner et al, 1981;Savrda and Bottjer, 1986;Maples and Archer, 1989;Kraus and Hasiotis, 2006;Dashtgard et al, 2008). These interpretations are possible because of studies of living tracemakers in the field and laboratory (Hasiotis, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neoichnology of the burrowing spiders Gorgyrella inermis (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) and Hogna lenta(Araneomorphae: Lycosidae)

Hils

Hembree

2015

Palaeontologia Electronica

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Burrowing arachnids are important to modern soil ecosystems, but knowledge of these animals in ancient soil ecosystems is limited. In this study, two species of burrowing spiders were studied: Gorgyrella inermis (South African trapdoor spider) and Hogna lenta (field wolf spider). Individuals of each species were studied to investigate their burrowing techniques and behaviors and to categorize the morphologies of their burrows. Experiments were run with variations in sediment density and sediment moisture to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions on burrow morphology. Seven burrow architectures were produced by the spiders: vertical shafts, vertical shafts with terminal chambers, subvertical shafts, subvertical shafts with terminal chambers, Jshaped burrows, Y-shaped burrows, and isolated chambers. All burrow architectures share common features that make them identifiable as spider burrows. Sediment density and moisture had little influence on burrow morphology, but architecture diversity was greatest in sediments of moderate density and moisture. Results from this study show that spiders produce unique biogenic structures that can be distinguished from the burrows of other soil organisms. Data collected from this study can be used to better interpret the paleoecology and evolutionary history of spiders and soil arthropods.

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“…In general, Diplocraterion is interpreted as the permanent dwelling of suspension or detritus feeders, but also represents equilibrium activity of the tracemaker in response to high or frequent sedimentation and/or erosion events (e.g. Turner et al, 1981;Bromley, 1996;Savrda & Nanson, 2003;Seilacher, 2007). Although very often recorded in marine deposits, Diplocraterion also occurs associated with in brackish-water ichnofaunas through all the Phanerozoic, as summarized by Buatois et al (2005), as well as in tide-dominated deltaic deposits (e.g.…”

Section: Ichnogenusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trace fossils from the Permian Teresina Formation at Cerro Caveiras (S Brazil)

Lima¹

2012

Rev. bras. paleontol.

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-The ichnofauna of the Teresina Formation from the Cerro Caveiras (Dom Pedrito, Rio Grande do Sul State, South Brazil) is revised in this paper. Bergaueria isp., Cochlichnus cf. anguineus, Cruziana problematica, cf. Diplocraterion isp., Diplopodichnus biformis, Helminthopsis isp., Lockeia siliquaria, Multina arcuata isp. nov., Oldhamia isp., Palaeophycus striatus, P. tubularis, Phymatoderma burkei, Planolites beverleyensis, P. montanus, Teichichnus isp., and Thalassinoides isp. were recorded. Isopodichnus problematicus, Helminthopsis tenuis and Unarites isp., previously described in these deposits are now described as Cruziana problematica, indeterminate molluscan trail, and Multina arcuata isp. nov., respectively. The ichnofauna is composed chiefly of horizontal, simple shallow burrows, with a predominance of feeding structures. Resting, dwelling and crawling structures also occur, as well as indeterminate tiny grazing trails, but are less frequent. Ichnodiversity and intensity of bioturbation are usually low, and P. montanus is the commonest ichnotaxon. The main characteristics of the ichnofauna suggest a marine benthic fauna stressed by salinity fluctuations and resulting in an impoverished Cruziana ichnofacies. The absence of vertical burrows and the common occurrences of monospecific assemblages of Planolites indicate extreme stress events, probably due to the establishment of freshwater conditions. Further studies focused on the ichnological signatures of these deposits will provide more detailed information to improve the current paleoecologic and paleoenvironmental interpretations of the Teresina Formation deposits.

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Trace fossils and palaeoenvironments in the Ecca group of the Nongoma Graben, northern Zululand, South Africa

Cited by 26 publications

References 3 publications

South Africa's coalfields — A 2014 perspective

South Africa's coalfields — A 2014 perspective

Neoichnology of the burrowing spiders Gorgyrella inermis (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) and Hogna lenta(Araneomorphae: Lycosidae)

Trace fossils from the Permian Teresina Formation at Cerro Caveiras (S Brazil)

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