Abstract
Abstract
Ichnology and Composition of the Pinelog Formation Quartzite,
Jasper, Georgia: Situating the
Formation in the Geologic Record.
By James Brandon Shope
The Pinelog Formation Quartzite is a low-grade metamorphosed quartz
arenite that crops out
near Jasper, Georgia. Its lithology, physical sedimentary
structures, and trace fossils indicate that
its sediments were initially deposited in a shallow, near-shore
marine environment. The presence
of trace fossils (Palaeophycus) has been previously documented;
however, this discovery was not
examined in detail and the full implications of these fossils
remained unresolved. Furthermore,
despite this information about the original depositional
environment of the Pinelog Formation, its
age and occurrence have not been clearly defined. Previous work has
placed the Pinelog in the
Ediacaran Period; however, examples of Palaeophycus and trace
fossils indicate the Pinelog is at
least of Cambrian age. Samples of bedding and fossil burrows were
collected from two different
outcrops and burrow dimensions measured. These burrows are compared
with descriptions of the
identified trace fossils in the literature to determine if their
classifications were appropriate. The
mineral composition of each sample was analyzed through
thin-section point counts, and mineral
proportions were compared with the Snowbird Group (Ocoee
Supergroup) and the Chilhowee
Group to better determine the lithologic affinity of the Pinelog
Formation. Locations of samples
and associated features were mapped using ESRI's ArcGISTM software,
which was used to
show the distribution of physical and chemical features. Burrow
samples collected by Martin and
Crawford (1996) were then re-measured and in one instance
reclassified as Taenidium. The
presence of Taenidium indicates that the Pinelog Formation is at
least Cambrian in age and most
probably belongs to the Chilhowee Group based on that age.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION….………………….………………………………………………………………1
TRACE FOSSIL
DESCRIPTIONS...………………………………………………………………..3
METHODS..………………………………………………………………………………………….5
RESULTS.…………………………………………………………………………………………….9
DISC
…………………………………………………………………………….......................19
CONCLUSIONS……………………………………………………………………………..........23
REFERENCES
CITED...…………………………………………………………………….........25
APPENDIX A. COORDINATE AND SAMPLE ANALYSIS
DATA...………………................27
APPENDIX B. IN-DEPTH SAMPLE
DESCRIPTIONS...…………………………………….....28
APPENDIX C. BURROW DIAMETER MEASUREMENTS AND
STATISTICS.....……………..38
FIGURES AND TABLES
FIGURE 1. LOCALITY MAP OF THE MIDDLE PINELOG FORMATION
AT.....………………6
FIGURE 2. EXAMPLE OF DARKER, POSSIBLY REDUCTION SPOTS
PROMINENT...……...6
FIGURE 3. THE DISTRIBUTION OF GRAIN SIZES BY SAMPLE
LOCATION..……………..10
FIGURE 4. THE DISTRIBUTION OF PHYSICAL STRUCTURES
OBSERVED...……………..11
FIGURE 5. THE DISTRIBUTION OF MATURITY ROCKS BY SAMPLE
LOCATION.....…….12
FIGURE 6. DISTRIBUTION OF IRON STAINING IN ROCKS BY SAMPLE
LOCATION...….13
FIGURE 7. MINERAL COMPOSITION OF THE HENDERSON
MOUNTAIN.....……………..14
FIGURE 8. PHOTOMICROGRAPH OF THE HENDERSON MOUNTAIN
QUARTZITE...…….15
FIGURE 9. SIZE-FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF PALAEOPHYCUS
DIAMETERS.....….16
TABLE 1. DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS FOR PALAEOPHYCUS FROM THE
PINELOG........16
TABLE 2. Z-TEST FOR SIMILARITY BETWEEN THE MEANS OF
OBSERVED……………..17
FIGURE 10. EXAMPLE OF PALAEOPHYCUS AND POSSIBLE
TAENIDIUM......…………..18
FIGURE 11. TAENIDIUM ICHNOFOSSIL WITH A
MENISCATE..……………………………18
TABLE 3.COMPARISON OF FEATURES DESCRIBED BY PEMBERTON
AND........………..19
TABLE 4. COORDINATE AND SAMPLE ANALYSIS
DATA.......………………………………27
TABLE 5. BURROW DIAMETER MEASUREMENTS AND
STATISTICS.......………………...38
About this Honors Thesis
Rights statement
- Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
| School |
|
|---|
| Department |
|
|---|
| Degree |
|
|---|
| Submission |
|
|---|
| Language |
|
|---|
| Research Field |
|
|---|
| 关键词 |
|
|---|
| Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor |
|
|---|
| Committee Members |
|
|---|
