dc.contributor.author	Anderson, Evan Pelzner	en
dc.contributor.committeechair	Xiao, Shuhai	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Kowalewski, Michal	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Read, James Fredrick	en
dc.contributor.department	Geosciences	en
dc.date.accessioned	2016-09-22T14:57:15Z	en
dc.date.adate	2010-06-21	en
dc.date.available	2016-09-22T14:57:15Z	en
dc.date.issued	2010-05-03	en
dc.date.rdate	2015-07-08	en
dc.date.sdate	2010-05-17	en
dc.description.abstract	Carbonaceous Compressions are a widespread preservational style for fossils, yet their taphonomy remains poorly understood. Previous studies focusing on the taphonomy of carbonaceous compressions have primarily looked at exceptionally preserved faunas in plane view. The precious nature of these fossils leaves destructive techniques of analysis out of the question, but these techniques are necessary if the taphonomy of carbonaceous compressions is to be deciphered. This study analyzes Neoproterozoic carbonaceous compressions from the Yangtze Gorges area in order to address this issue. Chuaria fossils from the Jiulongwan, Sixi, and Sifangtan sections of the Doushantuo Formation and Vendotaenia fossils from the Wuhe and Miaohe sections of the Denying Formation are microchemically analyzed in both plane view and cross section in order to gain a greater understanding of the makeup of carbonaceous compressions. Results confirm and elaborate on previous studies. Likely clay coats are detected on some Chuaria specimens, while they are absent on less thermally mature specimens. Evidence for sulfate reduction in association with carbonaceous compressions is found. Sulfur enrichment, rather than clay coats, is found in association with Vendotaenia fossils. These observations lead to the hypothesis that while organic remains require a very precise set of taphonomic conditions in order to be preserved as carbonaceous compressions, there may be more than one set of conditions that allow for preservation. More studies of a greater taxonomic and taphonomic range of carbonaceous compressions are needed, however, if the mechanisms which control this preservational pathway are to be fully understood.	en
dc.description.degree	Master of Science	en
dc.identifier.other	etd-05172010-203147	en
dc.identifier.sourceurl	http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05172010-203147/	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/72988	en
dc.language.iso	en_US	en
dc.publisher	Virginia Tech	en
dc.rights	In Copyright	en
dc.rights.uri	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	en
dc.subject	Carbonaceous Compression	en
dc.subject	Chuaria	en
dc.subject	Elemental Mapping	en
dc.subject	Taphonomy	en
dc.subject	Vendotaenia	en
dc.title	Chuaria, Vendotaenia, and the taphonomy of the Carbonaceous Compression	en
dc.type	Thesis	en
dc.type.dcmitype	Text	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Geosciences	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	en
thesis.degree.level	masters	en
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science	en

Chuaria, Vendotaenia, and the taphonomy of the Carbonaceous Compression

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