A global Ediacaran-Cambrian Age Model of 130 geological successions, with radiometric ages (zircon U-Pb CA-ID-TIMS), carbon (δ13Ccarb) and strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope data (NERC Grant NE/T008458/1)

We present new age models for the Ediacaran-Cambrian which lacks a robust global temporal framework. This interval marks the radiation of animals, but there are major uncertainties in the evolutionary dynamics of this critical radiation and its relationship to changes in palaeoenvironmental changes. Here we present global data from 130 successions that enable us to create four new possible global age models (A to D) for the interval 551–517 million years ago (Ma). These models comprise composite carbonate carbon isotope (δ13Ccarb) curves, which are anchored to radiometric ages and consistent with strontium isotope chemostratigraphy, and are used to calibrate metazoan distribution in space and time. These models differ most prominently in the temporal position of the basal Cambrian negative δ13Ccarb excursion (BACE). Two age models (A and B) place the BACE within the Ediacaran, and yield an age of ~538.8 Ma for the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary; however models C and D appear to be the most parsimonious and may support a recalibration of the boundary age by up to 3 Myr younger. All age models reveal a previously underappreciated degree of variability in the terminal Ediacaran, incorporating notable positive and negative excursions that precede the BACE. Nothwithstanding remaining uncertainties in chemostratigraphic correlation, all models support a pre-BACE first appearance of Cambrian-type shelly fossils in Siberia and possibly South China, and show that the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition was a protracted interval represented by a series of successive radiations. Data were compiled by Fred Bowyer, with support from Andrey Yu. Zhuravlev, Rachel Wood, Maoyan Zhu, Graham Shields, Ying Zhou, Chuang Yang, Simon Poulton, Dan Condon, Andrew Curtis.

Date (Revision): 2022-01-13

Citation identifier: http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13607887

Point of contact

Organisation name	Individual name	Electronic mail address	Role
University of Edinburgh	Rachel Wood	not available	Originator
University of Edinburgh	Rachel Wood	not available	Principal investigator
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	not available	Distributor
British Geological Survey	Enquiries	not available	Point of contact

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Geology

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Language: English

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British Geological Survey	Enquiries	not available	Distributor

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	https://webapps.bgs.ac.uk/services/ngdc/accessions/index.html#item171409	Data

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Title: INSPIRE Implementing rules laying down technical arrangements for the interoperability and harmonisation of Geology

Date (Publication): 2011

Explanation: See the referenced specification

Pass: No

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Title: Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services

Date (Publication): 2010-12-08

Explanation: See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF

Pass: No

Statement: We present a new δ13Ccarb framework for the Ediacaran Nama Group of southern Namibia. These data are correlated regionally by combined litho-, chemo-, and sequence stratigraphy, constrained in time using high precision U-Pb ages determined via zircon chemical abrasion isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS). Trends in the Nama reference curve are corelated with δ13Ccarb data from globally distributed sections that are well constrained by interbedded zircon ages, and robust high-resolution regional section correlation, for the interval ~ 551 to 517 Ma in multiple regions. Compiled data act as framework curves to reveal trends in the global data that can be confidently constrained in age. These curves are used to anchor a wider correlation in order to best fit high-resolution δ13Ccarb data from key sections that lack robust radiometric constraints. This allows construction of four possible composite carbon isotope curves and age models, comprising 130 globally distributed sections (Australia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Mexico, USA, Canada, Oman, Siberia and South China). These curves are consistent with all reliable radiometric age data and strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) records between ~551–517 Ma. All First Appearance Datums (FADs) and, for Ediacaran taxa, Last Appearance Datums (LADs) of key fossil occurrences are calibrated within this framework. This provides the basis for biotic temporal and spatial distributions to be accurately constrained and visualized.