Chapter 9 The Western Interior Basin

Miall, Andrew D.; Catuneanu, Octavian; Vakarelov, Boyan K.; Post, Ryan

doi:10.1016/s1874-5997(08)00009-9

Cited by 49 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…9B,D); while aragonitic fauna still show a limited range, the difference between both bivalve groups is less pronounced. This pattern also matches with the distribution of carbonate deposition within the WIS: the Cenomanian–Turonian interval experienced widespread carbonate sedimentation—in the form of the Greenhorn Limestone Formation—in the basin center (Miall et al 2008), while deposition in the basin center transitioned from limestones of the Niobrara Formation to the siliciclastic mudstones of the Pierre Shale in the early Campanian (McGookey et al 1972; Da Gama et al 2014). As our results confirm that carbonate environments can exacerbate the effects of aragonite dissolution, it is possible that the differences between the Cenomanian–Turonian and the Campanian are partially driven by the enhanced effects of aragonite bias in carbonate-rich environments, resulting in a lowered sampling probability within carbonate-dominated localities.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Aragonite bias exhibits systematic spatial variation in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, North America

Dean¹,

Allison²,

Hampson³

2019

Paleobiology

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Preferential dissolution of the biogenic carbonate polymorph aragonite promotes preservational bias in shelly marine faunas. While field studies have documented the impact of preferential aragonite dissolution on fossil molluscan diversity, its impact on regional and global biodiversity metrics is debated. Epicontinental seas are especially prone to conditions that both promote and inhibit preferential dissolution, which may result in spatially extensive zones with variable preservation. Here we present a multifaceted evaluation of aragonite dissolution within the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America. Occurrence data of mollusks from two time intervals (Cenomanian/Turonian boundary, early Campanian) are plotted on new high-resolution paleogeographies to assess aragonite preservation within the seaway. Fossil occurrences, diversity estimates, and sampling probabilities for calcitic and aragonitic fauna were compared in zones defined by depth and distance from the seaway margins. Apparent range sizes, which could be influenced by differential preservation potential of aragonite between separate localities, were also compared. Our results are consistent with exacerbated aragonite dissolution within specific depth zones for both time slices, with aragonitic bivalves additionally showing a statistically significant decrease in range size compared with calcitic fauna within carbonate-dominated Cenomanian–Turonian strata. However, we are unable to conclusively show that aragonite dissolution impacted diversity estimates. Therefore, while aragonite dissolution is likely to have affected the preservation of fauna in specific localities, time averaging and instantaneous preservation events preserve regional biodiversity. Our results suggest that the spatial expression of taphonomic biases should be an important consideration for paleontologists working on paleobiogeographic problems.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Aragonite bias exhibits systematic spatial variation in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, North America

Dean¹,

Allison²,

Hampson³

2019

Paleobiology

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“…Such interbasinal correlation diagrams are enormously useful for making stratigraphic comparisons between units and similar style diagrams have become commonplace in the geological literature. Recent, broad-scale correlations akin to that of Cobban and Reeside [ 1 ] are less common, but examples include Krystinik and DeJarnett [ 2 ], Sullivan and Lucas [ 3 , 4 ], Miall et al [ 5 ], and Roberts et al [ 6 ]. Construction of these kinds of correlation charts is built upon a great wealth of literature; the product of dedicated work by generations of stratigraphers working in the Western Interior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revised geochronology, correlation, and dinosaur stratigraphic ranges of the Santonian-Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) formations of the Western Interior of North America

Fowler

2017

PLoS ONE

111

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Interbasinal stratigraphic correlation provides the foundation for all consequent continental-scale geological and paleontological analyses. Correlation requires synthesis of lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic and geochronologic data, and must be periodically updated to accord with advances in dating techniques, changing standards for radiometric dates, new stratigraphic concepts, hypotheses, fossil specimens, and field data. Outdated or incorrect correlation exposes geological and paleontological analyses to potential error. The current work presents a high-resolution stratigraphic chart for terrestrial Late Cretaceous units of North America, combining published chronostratigraphic, lithostratigraphic, and biostratigraphic data. 40Ar / 39Ar radiometric dates are newly recalibrated to both current standard and decay constant pairings. Revisions to the stratigraphic placement of most units are slight, but important changes are made to the proposed correlations of the Aguja and Javelina formations, Texas, and recalibration corrections in particular affect the relative age positions of the Belly River Group, Alberta; Judith River Formation, Montana; Kaiparowits Formation, Utah; and Fruitland and Kirtland formations, New Mexico. The stratigraphic ranges of selected clades of dinosaur species are plotted on the chronostratigraphic framework, with some clades comprising short-duration species that do not overlap stratigraphically with preceding or succeeding forms. This is the expected pattern that is produced by an anagenetic mode of evolution, suggesting that true branching (speciation) events were rare and may have geographic significance. The recent hypothesis of intracontinental latitudinal provinciality of dinosaurs is shown to be affected by previous stratigraphic miscorrelation. Rapid stepwise acquisition of display characters in many dinosaur clades, in particular chasmosaurine ceratopsids, suggests that they may be useful for high resolution biostratigraphy.

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“…One such example is the Panther Tongue Sandstone and Ferron Sandstone units of the Cretaceous Interior Seaway, which crop out in the Book Cliffs region of Utah, United States. Both units represent mouth bar deposition within fluvial-dominated deltas that filled the retro-foreland basin generated by the Sevier Orogeny (Miall, Catuneanu, Vakarelov, & Post, 2008). The Panther Tongue and Ferron Sandstone are of comparable thickness (20 m vs 16 m, respectively), and are thought deposited under similar provenance, climate and palaeogeographic conditions (Enge, Howell, & Buckley, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sink‐to‐source: Influence of offshore dynamics on upstream processes

et al. 2018

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When we model fluvial sedimentation and the resultant alluvial stratigraphy, we typically focus on the effects of local parameters (e.g., sediment flux, water discharge, grain size) and the effects of regional changes in boundary conditions applied in the source region (i.e., climate, tectonics) and at the shoreline (i.e., sea level). In recent years this viewpoint has been codified into the “source‐to‐sink” paradigm, wherein major shifts in sediment flux, grain‐size fining trends, channel‐stacking patterns, floodplain deposition and larger stratigraphic systems tracts are interpreted in terms of (1) tectonic and climatic signals originating in the hinterland that propagate downstream; and (2) eustatic fluctuation, which affects the position of the shoreline and dictates the generation of accommodation. Within this paradigm, eustasy represents the sole means by which downstream processes may affect terrestrial depositional systems. Here, we detail three experimental cases in which coastal rivers are strongly influenced by offshore and slope transport systems via the clinoform geometries typical of prograding sedimentary bodies. These examples illustrate an underdeveloped, but potentially important “sink‐to‐source” influence on the evolution of fluvial‐deltaic systems. The experiments illustrate the effects of (1) submarine hyperpycnal flows, (2) submarine delta front failure events, and (3) deformable substrates within prodelta and offshore settings. These submarine processes generate (1) erosional knickpoints in coastal rivers, (2) increased river channel occupancy times, (3) rapid rates of shoreline movement, and (4) localized zones of significant offshore sediment accumulation. Ramifications for coastal plain and deltaic stratigraphic patterns include changes in the hierarchy of scour surfaces, fluvial sand‐body geometries, reconstruction of sea‐level variability and large‐scale stratal geometries, all of which are linked to the identification and interpretation of sequences and systems tracts.

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Chapter 9 The Western Interior Basin

Cited by 49 publications

References 58 publications

Aragonite bias exhibits systematic spatial variation in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, North America

Aragonite bias exhibits systematic spatial variation in the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, North America

Revised geochronology, correlation, and dinosaur stratigraphic ranges of the Santonian-Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) formations of the Western Interior of North America

Sink‐to‐source: Influence of offshore dynamics on upstream processes

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