A palaeoecological model for the late Mesoproterozoic – early Neoproterozoic Atar/El Mreïti Group, Taoudeni Basin, Mauritania, northwestern Africa

Beghin, Jérémie and Guilbaud, Romain and Poulton, Simon W. and Gueneli, Nur and Brocks, Jochen J. and Storme, Jean-Yves and Blanpied, Christian and Javaux, Emmanuelle J. (2017) A palaeoecological model for the late Mesoproterozoic – early Neoproterozoic Atar/El Mreïti Group, Taoudeni Basin, Mauritania, northwestern Africa. Precambrian Research, 299. pp. 1-14. ISSN 0301-9268

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Abstract

Reconstructing the spatial distribution of early eukaryotes in palaeoenvironments through Proterozoic sedimentary basins provides important information about their palaeocology and taphonomic conditions. Here, we combine the geological context and a reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental redox conditions (using iron speciation) with quantitative analysis of microfossil assemblages (eukaryotes and incertae sedis), to provide the first palaeoecological model for the Atar/El Mreïti Group of the Taoudeni Basin. Our model suggests that in the late Mesoproterozoic – early Neoproterozoic, the availability of both molecular oxygen and nutrients controlled eukaryotic diversity, higher in oxic shallow marginal marine environments, while coccoidal colonies and benthic microbial mats dominated respectively in anoxic iron-rich and euxinic waters during marine highstands or away from shore where eukaryotes are lower or absent.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Precambrian Research
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1907
Subjects:
?? PALAEOEREDOX CONDITIONSIRON SPECIATIONEARLY EUKARYOTESPALAEOECOLOGYGEOCHEMISTRY AND PETROLOGYGEOLOGY ??
ID Code:
87118
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
21 Jul 2017 08:22
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
21 Sep 2023 02:16