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Faunal and sedimentological analysis of a latest Silurian stromatoporoid biostrome from the central Appalachian Basin

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Abstract

A period of reduced reefal abundance and size occurred around the time of the Silurian–Devonian boundary, between the middle Silurian and Middle Devonian reef building peaks. In southeastern Laurentia, stromatoporoid and coral reefs became especially rare during this time, and very few buildups have been reported from the region. This paper reports on the sedimentological, faunal, and paleoenvironmental characteristics of a newly discovered latest Silurian stromatoporoid-dominated buildup in the Keyser Limestone of the Virginia Appalachians. The buildup is classified as a parabiostrome, because over 95 % of the stromatoporoids in the buildup have been disturbed. Based on qualitative and statistical comparisons of facies characteristics, the buildup most likely formed from a stromatoporoid-tabulate buildup that was repeatedly damaged by high-energy events. Multivariate analyses of point count data reveal a decrease in stromatoporoids and an increase in tabulate corals and matrix moving vertically upward through the buildup, indicating changes in faunal composition as the buildup grew. The results of this study provide unique insight into reef development in one of the oldest Silurian reefal buildups from the central Appalachian Basin during a time interval when reefal buildups were poorly represented.

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Acknowledgments

Early versions of this manuscript were improved by comments from S. A. Leslie, L. S. Fichter, W. I. Ausich, and D. F. Wright. Helpful discussions and assistance with statistical analyses were provided by D. F. Wright. S. Kershaw, L. S. Leighton, and two anonymous reviewers provided valuable feedback on this manuscript. S. R. Cole thanks Charlotte Lucas for her warm hospitality, the JMU Allison McDonald-Doherty scholarship fund, and the JMU Honors Program Frances Pitts Memorial Scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University, 275 Mendenhall Lab, 125 South Oval Mall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Selina R. Cole

  2. Department of Geology and Environmental Science, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, 22807, USA

    John T. Haynes

  3. Virginia Speleological Survey, 587 Limestone Lane, Burnsville, VA, 24487, USA

    Philip C. Lucas

  4. Virginia Speleological Survey, PO Box 151, Monterey, VA, 24456, USA

    Richard A. Lambert

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  1. Selina R. Cole
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Correspondence to Selina R. Cole.

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Cole, S.R., Haynes, J.T., Lucas, P.C. et al. Faunal and sedimentological analysis of a latest Silurian stromatoporoid biostrome from the central Appalachian Basin. Facies 61, 12 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-015-0440-x

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