Geological Society of America

T188 Undergraduate Research Posters by 2YC and 4YCU Geoscience Students (Posters)

Tuesday, 12 October 2021
2:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall A

STROMATOLITIC FABRICS WITHIN CHERT NODULES IN THE KNOX GROUP OF NORTHWEST GEORGIA

Paper number: T188-1
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Brendell Jones Presenting Author
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
Ashley R. Manning-Berg
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
Ryan Roney
Tellus Science Museum, Cartersville, GA
Jose Santamaria
Tellus Science Museum, Cartersville, GA
Andrew D. Czaja
University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

Abstract

Early diagenetic chert is commonly associated with stromatolitic fabrics and well-preserved individual microfossils in the Precambrian. With the evolution of silica-utilizing organisms in the Neoproterozoic and Cambrian, the process of chert deposition in peritidal environments changed. This change should be reflected in the preservation of microfossils in Neoproterozoic and Cambrian chert deposits. Stromatolites within the Copper Ridge Dolomite of the Knox Group were recently collected near Adairsville, Georgia. These stromatolites, which have only been briefly mentioned in previous literature in Georgia, are associated with large, discontinuous black chert nodules and the stromatolite fabrics include individual layers of black chert. Samples that are predominantly dolomite, tend to preserve columnar stromatolite fabrics with convex laminae. Here we describe the fabrics of these stromatolites and use traditional petrographic techniques to identify possible microfossils observed in the black chert nodules and laminae. We also investigate individual microfossil taphonomy to better describe the preservation of the microfossils present.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 53, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2021AM-371149

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