Abstract
Fossil microspherules suspected to be marine algal cysts of varying mineralogy are abundant in Paleozoic deposits worldwide. Positive identification of remineralized microspherule fossils is problematic and long debated, particularly for tasmanid species. Several hundred silica-rich microspherules were retrieved through complete maceration of black shale samples from the Givetian Oatka Creek Formation of the Appalachian Basin. Microspherules were analyzed visually through transmitted, incident light, and fluorescence microscopy. The structural features of these microspherules are evident and are interpreted to be Tasmanites sinuous. The images presented herein are the first fluorescence images showing in detail the life cycle stages of the genus Tasmanites. This work also confirms that this tasmanid species does extend into the Givetian as suspected from prior research.
References
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<p>Caplan, M.L. & Bustin, R.M. (1996) Factors governing organic matter accumulation and preservation in a marine petroleum source rock from the Upper Devonian to Lower Carboniferous Exshaw Formation, Alberta.<em> Bulletin of Canadian Petroleum Geology</em> 44 (3): 474–494.</p>
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<p>Chamberlain, J.A., Chamberlain, R.B. & Brown, J.O. (2016) A mineralized alga and acritarch dominated microbiota from the Tully Formation (Givetian) of Pennsylvania, USA. <em>Geosciences</em> 6 (4): 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences6040057</p>
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<p>Filer, J.K. (2002) Late Frasnian sedimentation cycles in the Appalachian basin—possible evidence for high frequency eustatic sea-level changes. <em>Sedimentary Geology</em> 154 (1–2): 31–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0037-0738(02)00159-8</p>
<p>Guy-Ohlson, D. (1988) Developmental stages in the life cycle of Mesozoic Tasmanites.<em> Botanica Marina</em> 31: 447–456. https://doi.org/10.1515/botm.1988.31.5.447</p>
<p>Hackley, P.C., Walters, C.C., Keleman, S.R., Mastalerz, M. & Lowers, H.A. (2017) Organic petrology and micro-spectroscopy of Tasmanites microfossils: applications to kerogen transformations in the early oil window. <em>Organic Geochemistry</em> 114: 23–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orggeochem.2017.09.002</p>
<p>Haddad, E.E., Boyer, D.L., Droser, M.L., Lee, B.K., Lyons, T.W. & Love, G.D. (2018) Ichnofabrics and chemostratigraphy argue against persistent anoxia during the Upper Kellwasser Event in New York State.<em> Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology </em>490: 178–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.10.025</p>
<p>He, R., Lu, W., Junium, C.K., Ver Straeten, C.A. & Lu, Z. (2020) Paleo-redox context of the Mid-Devonian Appalachian Basin and its relevance to biocrises. <em>Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta</em> 257: 328–340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2019.12.019</p>
<p>Jux, U. (1968) Uber den Feinbau der Wandung bei <em>Tasmanites</em> Newton, <em>Palaeontographica. Abteilung B</em> 124: 112–124.</p>
<p>Kelly, A.A., Cohen, P.A. & Boyer, D.L. (2019) Tiny keys to unlocking the Kellwasser events: Detailed characterization of organic walled microfossils associated with extinction in western New York State. <em>Palaios</em> 34 (2): 96–104. https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2018.063</p>
<p>Knoll, A.H. & Swett, K. (1985) Micropalaeontology of the Late Proterozoic Veteranen Group, Spitsbergen. <em>Palaeontology</em> 28: 451–473</p>
<p>Kus, J., Hackley, P. & Ostertag-Henning, C. (2012) Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) applied to micro-structural analysis of alginite in the Huron Member of the Ohio Shale, Appalachian Basin, USA. <em>Lectures and Posters GeoHannover:</em> 1–3.</p>
<p>Lelono, E.B. (2019) The Gondwanan Green Alga Tasmanites sp. in the Permian Lacustrine Deposits of West Timor. <em>Indonesian Journal on Geoscience</em> 6 (3): 255–266. https://doi.org/10.17014/ijog.6.3.255-266</p>
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