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Science 25 May 1984:
Vol. 224. no. 4651, pp. 872 - 874
DOI: 10.1126/science.224.4651.872
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Articles

Chondrites: A Trace Fossil Indicator of Anoxia in Sediments

RICHARD G. BROMLEY 1 and A. A. EKDALE 2

1 Institute of Historical Geology and Palaeontology, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark
2 Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112

The trace fossil Chondrites, a highly branched burrow system of unknown endobenthic deposit feeders, occurs in all types of sediment, including those deposited under anaerobic conditions. In some cases, such as the Jurassic Posidonienschiefer Formation of Germany, Chondrites occurs in black, laminated, carbonaceous sediment that was deposited in chemically reducing conditions. In other cases, such as numerous oxic clastic and carbonate units throughout the geologic column, Chondrites typically represents the last trace fossil in a biotutbation sequence. This indicates that the burrow system was produced deep within the sediment in the anaerobic zone below the surficial oxidized zone that was characterized by freely circulating and oxidizing pore waters.

Submitted on January 26, 1984
Accepted on March 20, 1984


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