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The Paleocene (Danian) Clayton Formation of western Alabama, USA, includes multiple marine shelf parasequences, each comprising a relatively thick marl, capped by a thin limestone, the latter variably reflecting marine flooding episodes. The marls host relatively large firmground burrow systems that penetrate 50–60 cm beneath, and are cast by, superjacent limestones. Excavation of two partially exposed burrow systems – one beneath a highstand parasequence‐bounding flooding surface and the other beneath an overlying coplanar sequence boundary/transgressive surface (SB/TS) – reveals complex, primarily horizontal, irregularly branching networks. The former, allied with Thalassinoides paradoxicus, lacks wall bioglyphs, whereas the latter, allied with Spongeliomorpha iberica, is characterized by pervasive, mainly rhombohedral wall bioglyphs that reflect a relatively more firm substrate. Contrasts between these burrow systems are consistent with sequence stratigraphical context and inferred differences in the mechanism and magnitude of depositional hiatuses responsible for firmground development. Both excavated burrow systems likely represent cumulative structures produced by multiple organisms over extended periods of time. The cumulative nature and potential taphonomic biases associated with these and comparable burrow systems in the stratigraphical record preclude confident interpretation of tracemakers and their behaviours. The Clayton burrow systems likely were produced by one or more species of decapod crustacean that engaged in suspension‐feeding, surface detritus feeding, gardening or some combination thereof.

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Equilibrium sorption and desorption experiments were conducted with clinoptilolite to evaluate the potential sorption/desorption of iron during different pH conditions. Sorption experiments indicated a partitioning of 0% to 17% of the iron in solution given pH of 2 to 4. The pH 2 solution was able to desorb 70% of the iron that was captured from a pH 3 solution. The largest desorption and sorption of iron and corresponding pH represent the end points of iron capture primarily by sorption/ exchange. These endpoints are the estimated pH pzc of 2.5 and the initial precipitation point of iron(II) at pH ~3.5. This acidity range is where clinoptilolite is able to capture iron without precipitation or the occurrence of full surface protonation. The inability of the highest acidity to remove all sorbed iron represents the greater bound iron that will not readily desorb with a change in pH. This retained iron creates a metastable state of the clinoptilolite that has a lower sorption capacity but reflects the ability of clinoptilolite to retain a sorbed transition metal with changes in pH. As pH varies, clinoptilolite may evolve in a sequence of metastable states reflective of its ability to capture or retain metals. © 2021 Water Environment Federation • Practitioner points• Clinoptilolite is a capable reactive substrate, but its sorption/exchange effectiveness at low and variable pH and ability to retain captured metals was unknown. • Clinoptilolite retains its metal capture properties to a pH of 2.5 where surface protonation and mineral degradation likely occurs. • The ability of clinoptilolite to retain captured iron under greater acidity reflects an evolution of its sorption/retention capacity.