A new Lagerstätte-like fossil assemblage from the early Silurian of Mösseberg, Sweden
(2024) In Dissertations in Geology at Lund University GEOR02 20241Department of Geology
- Abstract
- A well-preserved fossil assemblage from the early Silurian has recently been discovered at Mösseberg in Västergötland, Sweden. This study aims to present an initial overview of the findings and determine the age and characteristics of the assemblage and depositional environment. While fossil material from Västergötland has garnered scientific interest for centuries, relatively little is known about the Silurian stratigraphy of the region. The samples used for this study were collected at two sites at Mösseberg, namely Påverås and Ästorp. Various imaging and investigative methods, such as macro-, micro-, and UV-light photography, light and scanning electron microscopy (including geochemical elemental mapping), and relative abundance... (More)
- A well-preserved fossil assemblage from the early Silurian has recently been discovered at Mösseberg in Västergötland, Sweden. This study aims to present an initial overview of the findings and determine the age and characteristics of the assemblage and depositional environment. While fossil material from Västergötland has garnered scientific interest for centuries, relatively little is known about the Silurian stratigraphy of the region. The samples used for this study were collected at two sites at Mösseberg, namely Påverås and Ästorp. Various imaging and investigative methods, such as macro-, micro-, and UV-light photography, light and scanning electron microscopy (including geochemical elemental mapping), and relative abundance calculations of biotic elements, were employed to analyse the samples for an initial description of the fossil content and lithological properties. Attempts to use acid dissolution for microfossil extraction were however unsuccessful. The faunal composition was found to consist of at least six primary categories of organisms, notably including numerous graptolites, several brachiopods, and at least three types of molluscs. Some specimens show evidence of exceptional preservation, including putative soft-tissue structures, although much of the material is fragmented. Through identification of the graptolite Cephalograptus cometa, the material was attributed to the Lituigraptus convolutus Biozone, indicating a mid-Aeronian (Llandovery, Silurian) age. The depositional environment likely was shallow marine, possibly oxygen-poor, with a water depth that probably did not exceed 100 metres. In comparison to other well-preserved fossil assemblages, the material at hand could potentially be considered as representing a Konservat-Lagerstätte. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Nyligen upptäcktes välbevarade fossil från tidig silur på Mösseberg i Västergötland, Sverige. Denna studie syftar till att ge en översikt över materialet samt fastställa dess ålder och karaktärisera depositions- och bevaringsmiljö. Även om fossilt material från Västergötland har väckt vetenskapligt intresse under århundraden, är förhållandevis lite känt om regionens siluriska stratigrafi. Proverna i studien är insamlade från två platser på Mösseberg, nämligen Påverås och Ästorp. Materialet genomgick analys med hjälp av olika metoder, makro- mikro- och UV-ljus fotografi, svepelektronmikroskopi (inkluderande röntgenspektroskopi) och beräkningar av relativ abundans av bioelement, för att ge en inledande beskrivning av det fossila innehållet... (More)
- Nyligen upptäcktes välbevarade fossil från tidig silur på Mösseberg i Västergötland, Sverige. Denna studie syftar till att ge en översikt över materialet samt fastställa dess ålder och karaktärisera depositions- och bevaringsmiljö. Även om fossilt material från Västergötland har väckt vetenskapligt intresse under århundraden, är förhållandevis lite känt om regionens siluriska stratigrafi. Proverna i studien är insamlade från två platser på Mösseberg, nämligen Påverås och Ästorp. Materialet genomgick analys med hjälp av olika metoder, makro- mikro- och UV-ljus fotografi, svepelektronmikroskopi (inkluderande röntgenspektroskopi) och beräkningar av relativ abundans av bioelement, för att ge en inledande beskrivning av det fossila innehållet och de litologiska egenskaperna. Försök att använda syraupplösning för att extrahera mikrofossil var dock resultatlösa. Faunasammansättningen består av minst sex grupper av organismer, inklusive ett stort antal graptoliter, flera armfotingar och minst tre typer av blötdjur. Vissa exemplar uppvisar exceptionell bevaring, inklusive förmodad mjukvävnad, men mycket av det materialet är fragmentariskt. Genom identifiering, främst av graptoliten Cephalograptus cometa, kunde materialet knytas till Lituigraptus convolutus-biozonen, vilket ger en uppskattad ålder till mellersta aeron (llandovery, silur). Genom att kombinera litologi med identifiering av det fossila innehållet kan det konstateras att depositionsmiljön sannolikt var grundmarin, möjligen syrefattig, och med ett vattendjup som troligen inte översteg 100 meter. I jämförelse med andra liknande fossilansamlingar är det aktuella materialet potentiellt representativt för en Konservat-Lagerstätte. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9151193
- author
- Brotzen, Olga LU
- supervisor
- organization
- alternative title
- En ny Lagerstätte-lik fossilansamling från tidig silur från Mösseberg, Sverige
- course
- GEOR02 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Mösseberg, Västergötland, Aeronian, early Silurian, fossils, Lituigraptus convolutus Biozone, Kallholn, Platåbergens Geopark
- publication/series
- Dissertations in Geology at Lund University
- report number
- 675
- language
- English
- id
- 9151193
- date added to LUP
- 2024-05-02 10:37:55
- date last changed
- 2024-05-02 10:37:55
@misc{9151193,
abstract = {{A well-preserved fossil assemblage from the early Silurian has recently been discovered at Mösseberg in Västergötland, Sweden. This study aims to present an initial overview of the findings and determine the age and characteristics of the assemblage and depositional environment. While fossil material from Västergötland has garnered scientific interest for centuries, relatively little is known about the Silurian stratigraphy of the region. The samples used for this study were collected at two sites at Mösseberg, namely Påverås and Ästorp. Various imaging and investigative methods, such as macro-, micro-, and UV-light photography, light and scanning electron microscopy (including geochemical elemental mapping), and relative abundance calculations of biotic elements, were employed to analyse the samples for an initial description of the fossil content and lithological properties. Attempts to use acid dissolution for microfossil extraction were however unsuccessful. The faunal composition was found to consist of at least six primary categories of organisms, notably including numerous graptolites, several brachiopods, and at least three types of molluscs. Some specimens show evidence of exceptional preservation, including putative soft-tissue structures, although much of the material is fragmented. Through identification of the graptolite Cephalograptus cometa, the material was attributed to the Lituigraptus convolutus Biozone, indicating a mid-Aeronian (Llandovery, Silurian) age. The depositional environment likely was shallow marine, possibly oxygen-poor, with a water depth that probably did not exceed 100 metres. In comparison to other well-preserved fossil assemblages, the material at hand could potentially be considered as representing a Konservat-Lagerstätte.}},
author = {{Brotzen, Olga}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{Dissertations in Geology at Lund University}},
title = {{A new Lagerstätte-like fossil assemblage from the early Silurian of Mösseberg, Sweden}},
year = {{2024}},
}