Preliminary taphonomic approach to "Lo Hueco" palaeontological site (Upper Cretaceous, Cuenca, Spain)

  1. Cambra-Moo, O. 1
  2. Barroso-Barcenilla, F. 5
  3. Berreteaga, A. 5
  4. Carenas, B. 1
  5. Coruña, F. 2
  6. Domingo, L. 2
  7. Domingo, M.S. 3
  8. Calera Elvira, Ana. 1
  9. Escaso, F. 1
  10. Ortega, F. 4
  11. Pérez-García, A. 2
  12. Peyrot, D. 2
  13. Sanz, J.L. 1
  14. Segura, M. 5
  15. Sopelana, Aitor. 1
  16. Torices, A. 2
  1. 1 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01cby8j38

  2. 2 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

  3. 3 Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales
    info

    Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02v6zg374

  4. 4 Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
    info

    Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02msb5n36

  5. 5 Universidad de Alcalá
    info

    Universidad de Alcalá

    Alcalá de Henares, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04pmn0e78

Journal:
Geobios

ISSN: 0016-6995

Year of publication: 2012

Volume: 45

Issue: 2

Pages: 157-166

Type: Article

DOI: 10.1016/J.GEOBIOS.2011.04.002 SCOPUS: 2-s2.0-84860640456 GOOGLE SCHOLAR

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Abstract

"Lo Hueco" encloses an extraordinary upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtian fossil assemblage, composed mainly of vertebrates but also plants and invertebrates, and concentrated in a sandy channel structure (C), two grey marly mudstone levels (G1 and G2) and the lower part of a red marly mudstone level (R2). Regarding biostratinomy, the C structure (interpreted as a distributary sandy channel) contains numerous highly altered and randomly distributed macrofossils. The G1 level (the proximal part of a flooded muddy plain) preserves several totally or partially articulated specimens, mainly sauropods, with low degree of scattering and preferred orientation with respect to C. The G2 level (the distal part of a flooded muddy plain) and the lower part of the R2 level (the dried part of a muddy plain) contain numerous rarely articulated and randomly scattered macrofossils. Concerning fossil diagenesis, macroscopically, most bones present a first infilling of gypsum in spongy cavities, a ferruginous crust over outer surfaces and a second precipitation of gypsum over outer surfaces and eventually crossing the ferruginous crust and the first infilling of gypsum. Microscopically, most bones from the C structure and the G1 level additionally show radial microcracks in secondary osteons and ferruginous rings in Haversian channels. Given their particular geological and taphonomic characteristics, the C structure, the G1 and G2 levels and the lower part of the R2 level constitute four distinct taphofacies or bonebeds. © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS.