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Authigenic clays shaped Ediacara-style exceptional fossilization.

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Title: Authigenic clays shaped Ediacara-style exceptional fossilization.
Authors: Tarhan, Lidya G.1,2 lidya.tarhan@yale.edu, Boag, Thomas H.1,2,3, Kalderon-Asael, Boriana1
Source: Geology. Mar2026, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p210-214. 5p.
Subject Terms: *Clay minerals, *Fossilization, *Paleozoic Era, *Taphonomy, *Clay, *Proterozoic Era, *Ediacaran fossils
Geographic Terms: Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada
Abstract: The Ediacara Biota—Earth’s earliest fossilized ecosystems of complex, macroscopic organisms—has played a key role in shaping understanding of the transition between the Precambrian and early Paleozoic radiations of animal diversity. The majority of Ediacara Biota Lagerstätten are exceptionally preserved in the distinctive Ediacara style as three-dimensional casts and molds in sandstones. However, the factors responsible for the fossilization of these soft-bodied organisms—in particular, for their preservation in compositionally immature sandstones and heterolithic strata—remain debated. In this study, we investigate the taphonomic importance of clay minerals in fostering Ediacara-style fossilization in classic Ediacara Biota fossil assemblages in Newfoundland and northwestern Canada. Using a combination of electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and major and trace element and lithium isotope analyses, we describe evidence for both detrital and early diagenetic clay minerals associated with these fossils. In particular, we document iron- and magnesium-rich clays, including chamosite and other chlorite-group minerals, which may reflect an authigenic precursor such as berthierine, a mineral that has also been implicated in other modes of exceptional preservation. Lithium isotope data corroborate the importance of detrital and marine authigenic clays in shaping the moldic preservation of these fossils. These results provide a broader view of potential drivers of the Ediacara-style fossil record and suggest that authigenic clay mineralization may have shaped multiple windows of exceptional fossilization across the Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Energy & Power Source
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Header DbId: enr
DbLabel: Energy & Power Source
An: 192272650
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Authigenic clays shaped Ediacara-style exceptional fossilization.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tarhan%2C+Lidya+G%2E%22">Tarhan, Lidya G.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo><i> lidya.tarhan@yale.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Boag%2C+Thomas+H%2E%22">Boag, Thomas H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2,3</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kalderon-Asael%2C+Boriana%22">Kalderon-Asael, Boriana</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Geology%22">Geology</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p210-214. 5p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Clay+minerals%22">Clay minerals</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fossilization%22">Fossilization</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paleozoic+Era%22">Paleozoic Era</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Taphonomy%22">Taphonomy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Clay%22">Clay</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Proterozoic+Era%22">Proterozoic Era</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ediacaran+fossils%22">Ediacaran fossils</searchLink>
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  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Newfoundland+%26+Labrador%22">Newfoundland & Labrador</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The Ediacara Biota—Earth’s earliest fossilized ecosystems of complex, macroscopic organisms—has played a key role in shaping understanding of the transition between the Precambrian and early Paleozoic radiations of animal diversity. The majority of Ediacara Biota Lagerstätten are exceptionally preserved in the distinctive Ediacara style as three-dimensional casts and molds in sandstones. However, the factors responsible for the fossilization of these soft-bodied organisms—in particular, for their preservation in compositionally immature sandstones and heterolithic strata—remain debated. In this study, we investigate the taphonomic importance of clay minerals in fostering Ediacara-style fossilization in classic Ediacara Biota fossil assemblages in Newfoundland and northwestern Canada. Using a combination of electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and major and trace element and lithium isotope analyses, we describe evidence for both detrital and early diagenetic clay minerals associated with these fossils. In particular, we document iron- and magnesium-rich clays, including chamosite and other chlorite-group minerals, which may reflect an authigenic precursor such as berthierine, a mineral that has also been implicated in other modes of exceptional preservation. Lithium isotope data corroborate the importance of detrital and marine authigenic clays in shaping the moldic preservation of these fossils. These results provide a broader view of potential drivers of the Ediacara-style fossil record and suggest that authigenic clay mineralization may have shaped multiple windows of exceptional fossilization across the Neoproterozoic–Paleozoic transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1130/G53967.1210
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 5
        StartPage: 210
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Clay minerals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fossilization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Paleozoic Era
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Taphonomy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Clay
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Proterozoic Era
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ediacaran fossils
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Newfoundland & Labrador
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Canada
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Authigenic clays shaped Ediacara-style exceptional fossilization.
        Type: main
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          Name:
            NameFull: Tarhan, Lidya G.
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            NameFull: Boag, Thomas H.
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            NameFull: Kalderon-Asael, Boriana
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            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Mar2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 54
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            – TitleFull: Geology
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