150 years of the discovery of the Cambrian Lagerstätte of Murero (Cadenas Ibéricas, NE Spain)

El yacimiento paleontológico del Cámbrico inferior-medio de Murero (Cadenas Ibéricas, NE de España) es una localidad clásica del Cámbrico europeo. Fue dado a conocer a la ciencia por Edouard de Verneuil en 1862, celebrándose en 2012 el 150 aniversario de su descubrimiento. Es un siglo y medio de trabajos geológicos y de logros puestos al servicio del conocimiento del Período Cámbrico. Murero es un Lagerstätte excepcional porque coexisten en él grupos esqueléticos y de cuerpo blando a lo largo de un registro estratigráfico continuo que abarca unos 8 millones de años, dividido en 14 zonas de trilobites. En 1997, este yacimiento paleontológico fue el primero de España en obtener de la Administ…

Trace and soft body fossils from the Pedroche Formation (Ovetian, Lower Cambrian of the Sierra de Córdoba, S Spain) and their relation to the Pedroche event

The low Lower Cambrian rocks from the Sierra de Cordoba contain one of the best successions in Europe, which consists of well exposed mixed facies with abundant fossil assemblages showing long stratigraphical ranges throughout the Pedroche Formation. These assemblages include diverse Ovetian archaeocyaths, trilobites, small shelly fossils, calcimicrobes, trace fossils and stromatolites. Trace fossils are still poorly known, and thus they are the main objective of this work. Ichnological data are obtained from the Arroyo de Pedroche 1, Arroyo de Pedroche 2 and Puente de Hierro sections. Trace fossils include the ichnogenera Bergaueria, aff. Bilinichnus, Cochlichnus, aff. Cosmorhaphe?, Cylind…

Upper Ovetian trilobites from Spain and their implications for the palaeobiogeography and correlation of the Cambrian Stage 3 in Gondwana

Abstract The upper part of the La Herreria Formation in Los Barrios de Luna (Leon Province, N Spain) has been revised from a palaeontological and biostratigraphical point of view. Two stratigraphic sections have been studied including their trilobite and ichnofossils contents. The ichnofossil assemblages have a high diversity of species characterising the Cruziana ichnofacies, suggesting a shallow sublittoral environment for the upper part of the La Herreria Formation. The trilobites species recognised are Lunagraulos antiquus , Dolerolenus formosus , Dolerolenus longioculatus , Lunolenus lunae , Metadoxides richterorum , Metadoxides armatus and Sardaspis ? sp. from the upper Ovetian (lower…

Proposal of a reference section and point for the Cambrian Series 2-3 boundary in the Mediterranean subprovince in Murero (NE Spain) and its intercontinental correlation

The classical lower-middle Cambrian boundary is approximately equivalent with the boundary of the Cambrian Series 2 and 3, which is now in the process of definition by the International Subcommission on Cambrian Stratigraphy. Currently, there are two oryctocephalid trilobite species first appearance data (FAD) that are suggested as possible markers of this level: Ovatoryctocara granulata Tchernysheva, 1962 and Oryctocephalus indicus (Reed, 1910), respectively. Until now neither of these two species has been recorded in the Mediterranean subprovince or Baltica. As a result, in these regions a level potentially correlating with either the FAD of Ovatoryctocara granulata or Oryctocephalus indi…

TRIBUTE TO JORDI MARIA DE GIBERT ATIENZA

On September 23rd 2012, Jordi Maria de Gibert Atienza, an innovative explorer of the fossil record, passed away suddenly in Barcelona. He left behind interesting scientifi c contributions in the areas of invertebrate ecology, palaeoecology, evolutionary ecology, taphonomy and ichnology. Jordi Maria was only 44 and had a whole life in science ahead of him. The 2014 volume of the Spanish Journal of Palaeontology is dedicated to his memory.

Stranded jellyfish in the lowermost Cambrian (Corduban) of Spain

Ninety discoid structures of big size occurring on a bedding plane of Nemakit-Daldynian to Tommotian sandstones (i.e. Corduban in the Spanish scale of Cambrian stages) from south-western Spain are described. Cross-cutting relationships between discoid structures and associated trace fossils, as well as evidence for penecontemporaneous deformation of sediment laminae below the discoids, permit to interprete these structures as impressions of ancient, soft-bodied marine organisms. Taphonomic, biometric, and morphological studies suggest that they are outer moulds of both sides, subumbrellar and exumbrellar, of ancient jellyfish of hydrozoan coelenterates, whose canals resemble the modern genu…

New Finds of Skeletal Fossils in the Terminal Neoproterozoic of the Siberian Platform and Spain

A current paradigm accepts the presence of weakly biomineralized animals only, barely above a low metazoan grade of organization in the terminal Neoproterozoic (Ediacaran), and a later, early Cambrian burst of well skeletonized animals. Here we report new assemblages of primarily calcareous shelly fossils from upper Ediacaran (553–542 Ma) carbonates of Spain and Russia (Siberian Platform). The problematic organism Cloudina is found in the Yudoma Group of the southeastern Siberian Platform and different skeletal taxa have been discovered in the terminal Neoproterozoic of several provinces of Spain. New data on the morphology and microstructure of Ediacaran skeletal fossils Cloudina and Namac…

‘‘Distinguishing eustatic and epeirogenic controls on Lower-Middle Cambrian boundary successions in West Gondwana (Morocco and Iberia)’’, by Ed Landing, Gerd Geyer and Wolfram Heldmaier, published in Sedimentology (2006), 53(4), 899-918 - discussion

150 years of the discovery of the Cambrian Lagerstätte of Murero (Cadenas Ibéricas, NE Spain).

The classical, lower and middle Cambrian Lagerstiitte of Murero (NE Spain) was first reported by the French geologist Edouard de Verneuil in 1862, and now it achieves 150 years of geological works. In this paper the main stratigraphical and palaeontological characteristics of the site are given. Murero is exceptional because the coexistence of both skeletal and soft - bodied groups along a continuous record of ca. 10 million years, which is subdivided into 14 trilobite biozones. The edu­cational and social interest of the site is also highlighted.

Carboniferous trace fossils from Vélez-Málaga (Maláguide Complex, Betic Cordillera, SE Spain).

150 años del descubrimiento del yacimiento cámbrico de Murero (Cadenas Ibéricas, NE España).

The lower-middle Cambrian palaeontological site of Murero (Cadenas Ibéricas, NE Spain) is a classical locality of the Cambrian in Europe. The site was first reported by the French geologist Edouard de Verneuil in 1862, and now it achieves 150 years of geological works contributing to a better knowledge of the Cambrian Period. Murero is an exceptional Lagerstätte because the coexistence of both skeletal and soft-bodied groups along a continuous record of ca. 8 million years, which is subdivided into 14 trilobite zones. Murero was the first palaeontological site in Spain to obtain the highest protection figure (Bien de Interés Cultural, BIC) from the Spanish Administration in 1997. Since then…

Lower Ovetian (Lower Cambrian) trilobites and biostratigraphy of the Pedroche Formation (Sierra de Córdoba, southern Spain)

The low Lower Cambrian rocks from the Sierra de Cordoba, which consist of well exposed mixed facies and abundant fossil assemblages showing long stratigraphic ranges throughout the Pedroche Formation, represent one of the best successions of this age in Europe. The fossil assemblages include diverse Ovetian archaeocyaths, trilobites, small shelly fossils, calcimicrobia, trace fossils and stromatolites. Trilobites are still poorly known, and thus they are the main objective of this work. The trilobites studied originate from three sections. At the Arroyo de Pedroche 1 section, cf. Bigotinella and Bigotina bivallata are replaced towards the top by Lemdadella linaresae, Lemdadella perejoni sp.…

A Middle Cambrian edrioasteroid from the Murero biota (NE Spain) with Australian affinities

Abstract A Middle Cambrian edrioasteroid belonging to the genus Cambraster is described from the Middle Cambrian Murero biota (Cadenas Ibericas, NE Spain). Up to now, this genus was known only from Australia and France. This represents the first record of the class Edrioasteroidea in the Cambrian of Spain. Moreover, preliminary results on the diversity and biostratigraphic position of Cincta, Eocrinoidea and Edrioasteroidea from this area are reported.

The lower Ovetian Stage (lower Cambrian Stage 3) trilobite zonation in Spain and correlation with West Gondwana

New trilobites from the upper part of the Pusa Formation (base of Cambrian Stage 3) in Central Spain are studied for their systematic and biostratigraphic significance. The trilobites Proabadiella ...

The middle lower Cambrian (Ovetian)Lunagraulosn. gen. from Spain and the oldest trilobite records

AbstractThe type material ofAgraulos antiquusSdzuy, 1961 from the La Herrería Formation, northern Spain, is revised together with additional material and included in the new genusLunagraulos. The stratigraphical range ofLunagraulos antiquus(Sdzuy, 1961) – occurring below that of the trilobite species of the generaLunolenus,MetadoxidesandDolerolenusin the type locality of Los Barrios de Luna in the province of León, northern Spain – and the accompanying ichnofossil assemblage demonstrate an Ovetian age (lower part of Cambrian Stage 3, currently being discussed by the International Subcommission on Cambrian Stratigraphy) for this species. Moreover, the trilobiteLunagraulos tamamensisn. gen. n…

Cerro del Hierro, Spain: the largest exposed early Cambrian palaeokarst

AbstractWe study the largest exposed example of an early Cambrian palaeokarst, associated with laterites and developed during rifting of the Ossa–Morena Zone. The lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, facies and the genesis reflect episodes of sea-level fall (Cerro del Hierro Regression) related to tectonic events and palaeoclimate. This palaeokarst can be primarily considered as the result of early Cambrian polyphase karstification in an extensional tectonic regime, later modified by Neogene–Quaternary geomorphological processes. The event may correlate with other regressive events of a similar age in Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, South America and Australia. This episode also has local name…

Biostratigraphy of the Ribota and Huérmeda formations (Cambrian Series 2) in the Comarca del Aranda (Zaragoza province), Iberian Chains (NE Spain)

This article presents a detailed biostratigraphic analysis of the Cambrian Series 2 Ribota and Huérmeda formations of four sections of the Iberian Chains (NE Spain), and a systematic study of their trilobite faunas. We identified four major assemblages: two in the middle part of the Ribota Formation, one at the base of the Huérmeda Formation and one at the top of the Huérmeda Formation. The studied species permit the assignment of these formations to the middle and upper Marianian and probably lower Bilbilian stages in the regional stratigraphic chart for the Iberian Peninsula, which correlates with an interval around the Cambrian Stage 3–4 boundary. The assemblages exhibit a great correlat…

A New Early Cambrian Lobopod-Bearing Animal (Murero, Spain) and the Problem of the Ecdysozoan Early Diversification

A new xenusian, Mureropodia apae gen. and sp. nov., is found in the lower Cambrian of the Murero Lagerstatte in the Cadenas Ibericas, NE Spain. In Mureropodia, the lobopod length/body width ratio reveals that this animal hardly was able to walk on the bottom surface. Possibly, it could use the limbs for anchoring the body to the substrate. A well-developed dermomuscular sac of circular and longitudinal muscular systems as well as probably retractile proboscis fit such an interpretation. The ground plan of the Xenusia includes a vermiform body; a proboscis or mouth cone; paired lobopods with claws; a cuticle displaying a repeated anatomical patterning; a straight digestive tract with termina…