Award Date

1-1-1995

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geoscience

First Committee Member

Stephen M. Rowland

Number of Pages

106

Abstract

A comparative sedimentological and paleontological study was made of two approximately coeval Lower Cambrian bioherm complexes, one in the Ravenswood area of Lander County in central Nevada, and the other in the Montenegro Member of the Campito Formation in the White-Inyo Range of eastern California. Although both bioherm complexes were constructed by archaeocyaths and calcareous microbial organisms, there are significant differences in the structure and fabric of the biohermal limestones, in the taxa and diversity of archaeocyaths, and in the diversity of the bioherm community in general. The Ravenswood bioherms developed as framework reefs in a high-energy, normal marine setting and display a relatively high diversity of archaeocyaths and associated organisms, as well as distinct core and flank facies. The Montenegro bioherm complex developed in a restricted, low-energy setting as a mud mound composed of lenticular units (kalyptrae); it contains a lower diversity archaeocyathan fauna and a depauperate fauna of other organisms.

Keywords

Bioherms; California; Cambrian; Central; Eastern; Lower; Nevada

Controlled Subject

Geology; Paleontology; Paleoecology

File Format

pdf

File Size

7004.16 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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