Browse
Submit Data
Databases
API
Help

Dataset Information

21 Views

0 Connections

0 Citations

0 Reanalyses

0 Downloads

Omics score: 0

Geochemical and sedimentary constraints on the formation of the Venta Micena early Pleistocene site (Guadix-Baza Basin, Spain)

ABSTRACT: Despite the paleontological relevance of the terrestrial Early Pleistocene Venta Micena bonebed (Baza Basin, Spain), it lacks a comprehensive geochemical/sedimentological study. Here, we demonstrate that the 1.5-m-thick Venta Micena limestone formed in a relatively small freshwater wetland/pond located at the periphery of the large saline Baza paleolake. Two microfacies are observed, with high and low contents of invertebrate fossils, and which originated in the centre and margin of the wetland, respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) mineralogy and paleohydrological characterization based on ostracod and bulk-rock geochemistry (δ13C and δ18O) indicate that the limestone reflects a general lowstand of the Baza lake, permitting the differentiation of freshwater wetlands that were fed by adjacent sources. Conversely, during highstands, the Baza lake flooded the Venta Micena area and the freshwater fauna was replaced by a saline one. Bulk-rock isotopic data indicate that the lower interval C1 of the limestone (bone-rich in marginal settings) displays general negative values, while the upper interval C2 (bone free) displays less negative values. The bones of predated mammals accumulated in the marginal areas, which were flooded and buried by recurring water-table fluctuations. Lake dynamics played a critical role in bone accumulation, which was previously considered as representing a hyena den.

SUBMITTER: Granados A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8599509 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Json Xml

Similar Datasets

Taphonomic and spatial analyses from the Early Pleistocene site of Venta Micena 4 (Orce, Guadix-Baza Basin, southern Spain).

Project description:Venta Micena is an area containing several palaeontological sites marking the beginning of the Calabrian stage (Early Pleistocene). The richness of the fossil accumulation including species of Asian, African and European origin, makes Venta Micena a key site for the the palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental study of southern Europe during the Early Pleistocene. Thus, research has been focused on Venta Micena 3, which was originally interpreted as a single palaeosurface associated with a marshy context, in which most of the fauna was accumulated by Pachycrocuta brevirostris. Recent excavations have unearthed a new site, Venta Micena 4, located in the same stratigraphic unit (Unit C) and in close proximity to Venta Micena 3. Here we show the first analyses regarding the taphonomic and spatial nature of this new site, defining two stratigraphic boundaries corresponding to two different depositional events. Furthermore, the taphonomic analyses of fossil remains seem to indicate a different accumulative agent than Pachycrocuta, thus adding more complexity to the palaeobiological interpretation of the Venta Micena area. These results contribute to the discussion of traditional interpretations made from Venta Micena 3.

| S-EPMC8263577 | biostudies-literature

Deja vu: a reappraisal of the taphonomy of quarry VM4 of the Early Pleistocene site of Venta Micena (Baza Basin, SE Spain).

Project description:Venta Micena, an Early Pleistocene site of the Baza Basin (SE Spain), preserves a rich and diverse assemblage of large mammals. VM3, the main excavation quarry of the site, has been interpreted as a den of the giant hyaena Pachycrocuta brevirostris in the plain that surrounded the Baza palaeolake. Taphonomic analysis of VM3 has shown that the hyaenas scavenged the prey previously hunted by the hypercarnivores, transported their remains to the communal den, and consumed the skeletal parts according to their marrow contents and mineral density. In a recent paper (Luzón et al. in Sci Rep 11:13977, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93261-1 , 2021), a small sample of remains unearthed from VM4, an excavation quarry ~ 350 m distant from VM3, is analysed. The authors indicate several differences in the taphonomic features of this assemblage with VM3, and even suggest that a different carnivore could have been the agent involved in the bone accumulation process. Here, we make a comparative analysis of both quarries and analyse more skeletal remains from VM4. Our results indicate that the assemblages are broadly similar in composition, except for slight differences in the frequency of megaherbivores, carnivores and equids according to NISP values (but not to MNI counts), the degree of bone weathering, and the intensity of bone processing by the hyaenas. Given that VM4 and VM3 were not coeval denning areas of P. brevirostris, these differences suggest that during the years when the skeletal remains were accumulated by the hyaenas at VM3, the rise of the water table of the Baza palaeolake that capped with limestone the bones was delayed compared to VM4, which resulted in their more in-depth consumption by the hyaenas.

| S-EPMC8758678 | biostudies-literature

Geochemical characteristics and detrital zircon U-Pb ages of the Yimin Formation, Kelulun Depression, Hailar Basin and constraints on uranium mineralization.

Project description:The sandstone uranium deposits in the Kelulun Depression are the first commercially viable uranium deposits discovered in the Hailar Basin and the ore-bearing strata corresponding to the Lower Cretaceous Yimin Formation. However, the source of sedimentary matter, uranium source conditions, and uranium mineralization processes in the region have not been characterized. Accordingly, we analyzed the lithology, whole-rock geochemistry, zircon U-Pb ages, and trace elements of the Yimin Formation sandstones. The Yimin Formation sandstones were primarily composed of detrital grains with low compositional maturity. A geochemical analysis indicated that the parent rocks are felsic igneous rocks formed at an active continental margin with a moderately high degree of weathering. The detrital zircon U-Pb ages of the Yimin Formation 215-287 Ma with a peak at 230-260 Ma. Based on chronological, geochemical, and lithological data, we conclude that the Yimin Formation matter is derived from the Adunchulu Uplift on the western side of the Kelulun Depression and its parent rocks are Triassic granites. The Adunchulu uplift since the late Early Cretaceous and weathering and denudation of its uranium-rich granites provided ample matter and uranium. Therefore, the Kelulun Depression is a promising area for the exploration of sandstone uranium deposits.

| S-EPMC11364426 | biostudies-literature

Core formation and core composition from coupled geochemical and geophysical constraints.

Project description:The formation of Earth's core left behind geophysical and geochemical signatures in both the core and mantle that remain to this day. Seismology requires that the core be lighter than pure iron and therefore must contain light elements, and the geochemistry of mantle-derived rocks reveals extensive siderophile element depletion and fractionation. Both features are inherited from metal-silicate differentiation in primitive Earth and depend upon the nature of physiochemical conditions that prevailed during core formation. To date, core formation models have only attempted to address the evolution of core and mantle compositional signatures separately, rather than seeking a joint solution. Here we combine experimental petrology, geochemistry, mineral physics and seismology to constrain a range of core formation conditions that satisfy both constraints. We find that core formation occurred in a hot (liquidus) yet moderately deep magma ocean not exceeding 1,800 km depth, under redox conditions more oxidized than present-day Earth. This new scenario, at odds with the current belief that core formation occurred under reducing conditions, proposes that Earth's magma ocean started oxidized and has become reduced through time, by oxygen incorporation into the core. This core formation model produces a core that contains 2.7-5% oxygen along with 2-3.6% silicon, with densities and velocities in accord with radial seismic models, and leaves behind a silicate mantle that matches the observed mantle abundances of nickel, cobalt, chromium, and vanadium.

| S-EPMC4603515 | biostudies-literature

Microbial methane formation in deep aquifers of a coal-bearing sedimentary basin, Germany.

Project description:Coal-bearing sediments are major reservoirs of organic matter potentially available for methanogenic subsurface microbial communities. In this study the specific microbial community inside lignite-bearing sedimentary basin in Germany and its contribution to methanogenic hydrocarbon degradation processes was investigated. The stable isotope signature of methane measured in groundwater and coal-rich sediment samples indicated methanogenic activity. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed the presence of methanogenic Archaea, predominantly belonging to the orders Methanosarcinales and Methanomicrobiales, capable of acetoclastic or hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Furthermore, we identified fermenting, sulfate-, nitrate-, and metal-reducing, or acetogenic Bacteria clustering within the phyla Proteobacteria, complemented by members of the classes Actinobacteria, and Clostridia. The indigenous microbial communities found in the groundwater as well as in the coal-rich sediments are able to degrade coal-derived organic components and to produce methane as the final product. Lignite-bearing sediments may be an important nutrient and energy source influencing larger compartments via groundwater transport.

| S-EPMC4367440 | biostudies-literature

A new Lower Pleistocene archeological site in Europe (Vallparadis, Barcelona, Spain).

Project description:Here we report the discovery of a new late Lower Pleistocene site named Vallparadís (Barcelona, Spain) that produced a rich archeological and paleontological sequence dated from the upper boundary of the Jaramillo subchron to the early Middle Pleistocene. This deposit contained a main archeological layer with numerous artifacts and a rich macromammalian assemblage, some of which bore cut marks, that could indicate that hominins had access to carcasses. Paleomagnetic analysis, electron spin resonance-uranium series (ESR-US), and the biostratigraphic chronological position of the macro- and micromammal and lithic assemblages of this layer reinforce the proposal that hominins inhabited Europe during the Lower Pleistocene. The archeological sequence provides key information on the successful adaptation of European hominins that preceded the well-known fossil population from Atapuerca and succeeded the finds from Orce basin. Hence, this discovery enables us to close a major chronological gap in the early prehistory of Iberia. According to the information in this paper and the available data from these other sites, we propose that Mediterranean Western Europe was repeatedly and perhaps continuously occupied during the late Matuyama chron.

| S-EPMC2851913 | biostudies-literature

Early Pleistocene archaeological occurrences at the Feiliang site, and the archaeology of human origins in the Nihewan Basin, North China.

Project description:The Early Pleistocene archaeological evidence from the fluvio-lacustrine sequence of the Nihewan Basin (North China) offers an excellent opportunity to explore early human evolution and behavior in a temperate setting in East Asia, following the earliest 'Out of Africa'. Here we present the first comprehensive study of the Feiliang (FL) site, with emphasis on the archaeological sequence, site integrity, and stone artifact assemblages. Magnetostratigraphic dating results show that early humans occupied the site ca. 1.2 Ma. Archaeological deposits were buried rapidly in primary context within shallow lake margin deposits, with only minor post-depositional disturbance from relatively low energy hydraulic forces. The FL lithic assemblage is characterized by a core and flake, Oldowan-like or Mode 1 technology, with a low degree of standardization, expedient knapping techniques, and casually retouched flakes. The bone assemblage suggests that hominin occupation of the FL site was in an open habitat of temperate grassland with areas of steppe and water. The main features of the FL assemblage are discussed in the context of the early Pleistocene archaeology of Nihewan, for which an assessment of current and future research is also presented.

| S-EPMC5699830 | biostudies-literature

Geochemical constraints on bacteriophage infectivity in terrestrial environments.

Project description:Lytic phages can be potent and selective inhibitors of microbial growth and can have profound impacts on microbiome composition and function. However, there is uncertainty about the biogeochemical conditions under which phage predation modulates microbial ecosystem function, particularly in terrestrial systems. Ionic strength is critical for infection of bacteria by many phages, but quantitative data is limited on the ion thresholds for phage infection that can be compared with environmental ion concentrations. Similarly, while carbon composition varies in the environment, we do not know how this variability influences the impact of phage predation on microbiome function. Here, we measured the half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) of 80 different inorganic ions for the infection of E. coli with two canonical dsDNA and ssRNA phages, T4 and MS2, respectively. Many alkaline earth metals and alkali metals enabled lytic infection but the ionic strength thresholds varied for different ions between phages. Additionally, using a freshwater nitrate-reducing microbiome, we found that the ability of lytic phages to influence nitrate reduction end-products depended upon the carbon source as well as ionic strength. For all phage:host pairs, the ion EC50s for phage infection exceeded the ion concentrations found in many terrestrial freshwater systems. Thus, our findings support a model where phages most influence terrestrial microbial functional ecology in hot spots and hot moments such as metazoan guts, drought influenced soils, or biofilms where ion concentration is locally or transiently elevated and nutrients are available to support the growth of specific phage hosts.

| S-EPMC10439110 | biostudies-literature

Outcrop coordinates and stratigraphic dip data of the Tambach Formation in the Tambach-Dietharz sedimentary basin, Central Germany.

Project description:Coordinates of surface outcrops in the Tambach Formation (Rotliegend Group, early Permian) as well as stratigraphic dip azimuth and dip angle values were measured newly during recent mapping activities in the Tambach-Dietharz sedimentary basin. In total, 304 localities of the Tambach Formation were measured. The dataset includes stratigraphic dip measurements of in-situ beds from all subunits of the Tambach Formation (i.e., Bielstein Conglomerate Member, Tambach Sandstone Member, Finsterbergen Conglomerate Member). The sedimentary rocks are composed of fine- to coarse-grained, reddish coloured siliciclastics resulting from alluvial and fluvial sediment transportation and deposition in an intracontinental palaeoenvironment. Longitude and latitude coordinates of the outcrop sections were measured with a handheld GPS device. Values of both the dipping azimuth and the dipping angles were measured with a geologic compass. The dataset has reuse potential for both cataloguing surface outcrops of the Tambach Formation and geologic mapping in the Tambach-Dietharz sedimentary basin. Additionally, the dipping azimuth and the dipping angle data can be reused for analysing the sedimentary basin geometry and digital geological modelling (2D, 3D) of the Tambach Formation.

| S-EPMC9218173 | biostudies-literature

The influence of Cenozoic Eurasia-Arabia convergence on the Southeast Arabian Foreland Basin: new geochronological and geochemical constraints from syn-kinematic carbonate mineralization.

Project description:The Cenozoic succession of the Jabal Hafeet anticline yields the most complete surface expression of the deformation that affected the Southeast Arabian Foreland Basin (SEAFB). The carbonate rocks of the Eocene Rus Formation comprise the core of the Jabal Hafeet anticline and host a network of fractures and carbonate veins associated with dynamic fracture opening and sealing events. These fracture networks developed during the propagation of compressional stresses from the Makran and Zagros fold-and-thrust belts into their foreland basin system (the SEAFB) and are associated with Arabia-Eurasia convergence. Syn-kinematic calcite veins associated with the Cenozoic folding events in the SEAFB were dated by U-Pb LA-ICP-MS carbonate geochronology and characterized further by Raman fluid-inclusion geochemistry. The U-Pb data show that Cenozoic compression linked to the propagation of the Makran fold-and-thrust belt into the SEAFB took place from c. 20 Ma (early Miocene) to c. 2 Ma (mid Pleistocene). Raman fluid-inclusion data reveal the presence of complex hydrocarbons within the parent carbonate-bearing fluids, reflecting a fluid transport pathway between the upper Cenozoic rocks and deeper hydrocarbon-bearing Mesozoic sequences. Combined isotopic and geochemical datasets show that the deformational history of the SEAFB is likely related to the reactivation of inherited deep-seated structures in the upper Cenozoic stratigraphic sequence due to the far-field stress propagation from the Makran belt into the Arabian peninsula, rather than the propagation of a thin-skinned deformation architecture.

| S-EPMC10020455 | biostudies-literature

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

OmicsDI is an Elixir interoperability service. Learn more ›

Tweets

OmicsDI Databases

PRIDE
PeptideAtlas
MassIVE
JPOST Repository
Physiome Model Repository

EGA
EVA
ENA
LINCS
PAXDB
Cell Collective

MetaboLights
Metabolomics Workbench
MetabolomeExpress
GNPS
BioModels
FAIRDOMHub

ArrayExpress
dbGaP
ExpressionAtlas
GEO
NODE

Information

Databases
Help
API
Contact us
Code on GitHub
Terms of use
Submit Data