Université de Fribourg

Paleoecology of Pennsylvanian phylloid algal buildups in south Guizhou, China

Enpu, Gong ; Samankassou, Elias ; Changqing, Guan ; Yongli, Zhang ; Baoliang, Sun

In: Facies, 2007, vol. 53, no. 4, p. 615-623

Pennsylvanian phylloid algal reefs are widespread and well exposed in south Guizhou, China. Here we report on reefs ranging from 2 to 8 m thickness and 30–50 m lateral extension. Algae, the main components, display a wide spectrum of growth forms, but are commonly cyathiform (cup-shaped) and leaf-like (undulate plates). The algal reef facies is dominated by boundstone. Algal thalli form a...

Université de Fribourg

Paleoecological control of ostracode distribution in a Pennsylvanian Auernig cyclothem of the Carnic Alps, Austria

Fohrer, Beate ; Samankassou, Elias

In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2005, vol. 225(1-4), p. 317

Pennsylvanian (Kasimovian) ostracodes from the lower part of the Auernig Group, Carnic Alps, Austria, inhabited a shallow-marine and open-marine environment. Paleontological investigations of two ostracode faunas brought significant differences between the ostracode assemblage of the Anthracoporella (dasycladalean algae) mound environment and the one from the overlying nodular limestone....

Université de Fribourg

Cool-water carbonates in a paleoequatorial shallow-water environment: The paradox of the Auernig cyclic sediments (Upper Pennsylvanian, Carnic Alps, Austria-Italy) and its implications

Samankassou, Elias

In: Geology, 2002, vol. 30(7), p. 655

Distinct parts of limestones within the upper Paleozoic Auernig Group of the Carnic Alps, Austria and Italy, are characteristic of cool-water carbonates. The Carnic Alps were between 5°N and 10°S paleolatitude during the late Carboniferous, a position confirmed by dasyclad algae and fossil plants. The floral association, occurrence of coal seams, and absence of evaporites indicate a humid...

Université de Fribourg

Construction versus accumulation in phylloid algal mounds: an example of a small constructed mound in the Pennsylvanian of Kansas, USA

Samankassou, Elias ; West, Ronald R.

In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2002, vol. 185(3-4), p. 379

Most phylloid algal mounds are currently interpreted as no more than accumulations of leaf-like thalli supported by mud. We report here phylloid algae from the Upper Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) Frisbie Limestone Member in Kansas, USA, which built small mounds with recognizable primary topographic relief. Cup-shaped algal thalli, growing closely packed and juxtaposed near and above one...