Paleoecology of Upper Harkless Archaeocythan Reefs in Esmeralda County, Nevada
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2001 Paleoecology of Upper Harkless archaeocythan reefs in Esmeralda County, Nevada Melissa K Hicks University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Hicks, Melissa K, "Paleoecology of Upper Harkless archaeocythan reefs in Esmeralda County, Nevada" (2001). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 1322. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/4zer-zi9f This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. 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PALEOECOLOGY OF UPPER HARKLESS ARCHAEOCYTHAN REEFS IN ESMERALDA COUNTY, NEVADA by Melissa Hicks Bachelor of Science Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pa 1998 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters of Science Degree Geoscience Department College of Sciences Graduate College Universi^ of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2001 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number 1409032 Copyright 2002 by Hicks, Melissa K. All rights reserved. UMI* UMI Microform 1409032 Copyright 2002 by ProQuest Information and Leaming Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17. United States Code. ProQuest Information and Leaming Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor. Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval UNIV The Graduate College Universit} of Xevada, Las Vegas November, 11 The Thesis prepared by Melissa Hicks Entitled Paleoecology of Upper Harkless Archaeocvathan Reefs In Esmeralda County. Nevada is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of _______________ Master's of Science__________________ / / 1 ! ( 4 ( S Exiimiintru'i: Ceniniittiv CUitir Demi ot the ejrihiiiatc Celle'ce Examination Cimbrittiv Member immittee Memberxaminath ivuTfi Graduate College Factdtxf Representative PR I rt> u Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Paleoecology of Upper Haildess Arcbaeocyatlian Reefs in Esmeralda County, Nevada by Melissa Hicks Dr. Stephen M. Rowland, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Geology University of Nevada, Las Vegas Four previously unstudied reef localities occur in the upper Lower Cambrian {Bonnia-Olenellus Zone) in the Upper Harkless Formation in Esmeralda County, Nevada. These patch reefs were constructed on a shallow, carbonate platform in the subtidal zone by a consortium of archaeocyaths and calcimicrobes (Renalcis). A high diversity of dwelling organisms is found in varying quantities within and surrounding the reefs. Comparisons to the same age reefs in the Forteau Formation in Labrador, Canada preliminarily correlate these two localities. A comparison between modem sponges in Belize and archaeocyaths reveal similarities. Four phases of diagenesis occur showing synsedimentary, mixing zone, shallow and deep burial cementation. Stratigraphie analyses reveal a shallowing upward sequence from packstone, which encases the reefs, to calcareous sandstone. Data indicates that the shoreline pro graded across the carbonate platform. This progradation is theorized to be a result of I) climate change, 2) a prolonged standstill, or 3) sea level lowering. m Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................iü LIST OF FIGURES..............................................................................................................vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS................................................................................................. viü CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION................................................................................... I Methods ............................................................................................................................ 2 Introduction to Archaeocyaths .........................................................................................8 Global Radiation of Archaeocyaths ...............................................................................11 CHAPTER n HISTORY, GEOLOGICAL SETTING. AND REGIONAL STRATIGRAPY................................................................................................................. 15 A Brief History of Esmeralda County ............................................................................15 Previous Work ................................................................................................................ 16 Geological Setting.......................................................................................................... 18 Esmeralda County Stratigraphy .....................................................................................20 Brief Overview of Sequence Stratigraphy of Esmeralda County ................................ 25 CHAPTER m DETAILED STRATIGRAPHY OF REEF-BEARING INTERVALS OF THE UPPER HARKLESS FORMATION.................................................................. 28 Site 1............................................................................................................................... 28 Archaeocyathan-coralomorph Reefs—Site 2 (S2) ........................................................ 32 Palmetto Mountains Reef—^ite 5 (S5) ......................................................................... 34 Water Tank—Site 6 (S6) ................................................................................................35 CHAPTER IV FACIES DESCRIPTIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS................... 39 Eramestone Facies ..........................................................................................................39 Packstone Facies ............................................................................................................71 Siliciclastic Facies..........................................................................................................82 CHAPTER V DIAGENESIS...................................................................................... 92 Synsedimentary Cementation—Stage 1 ........................................................................ 92 Mixing Zone Cementation—Stage 2 ............................................................................. 97 Marine Phreatic—Stage 3 ............................................................................................. 97 Deep Burial Cementation—Stage 4 .............................................................................101 Dolomitization .............................................................................................................. 103 IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Neomoiphism................................................................................................................ 103 Skeletal Preservation ..................................................................................................... 105 Non-Skeletal Preservation .............................................................................................110