Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Submitted Successfully!
Thank you for your contribution! You can also upload a video entry or images related to this topic. For video creation, please contact our Academic Video Service.
Version Summary Created by Modification Content Size Created at Operation
1 handwiki Sirius Huang -- 2670 2022-10-28 01:37:14

Video Upload Options

We provide professional Academic Video Service to translate complex research into visually appealing presentations. Would you like to try it?
Cite
If you have any further questions, please contact Encyclopedia Editorial Office.
HandWiki. Burgess Shale Type Preservation. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/31741 (accessed on 17 September 2026).
HandWiki. Burgess Shale Type Preservation. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/31741. Accessed September 17, 2026.
HandWiki. "Burgess Shale Type Preservation" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/31741 (accessed September 17, 2026).
HandWiki. (2022, October 28). Burgess Shale Type Preservation. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/31741
HandWiki. "Burgess Shale Type Preservation." Encyclopedia. Web. 28 October, 2022.
Burgess Shale Type Preservation
Edit

The Burgess Shale of British Columbia is famous for its exceptional preservation of mid-Cambrian organisms. Around 40 other sites have been discovered of a similar age, with soft tissues preserved in a similar, though not identical, fashion. Additional sites with a similar form of preservation are known from the Ediacaran and Ordovician periods. These various shales are of great importance in the reconstruction of the ecosystems immediately after the Cambrian explosion. The taphonomic regime results in soft tissue being preserved, which means that organisms without hard parts that could be conventionally fossilised can be seen; also, we gain an insight into the organs of more familiar organisms such as the trilobites. The most famous localities preserving organisms in this fashion are the Canadian Burgess Shale, the Chinese Chengjiang fauna, and the more remote Sirius Passet in north Greenland. However, a number of other localities also exist.

trilobites soft tissue soft tissues

References

  1. Butterfield, N. J. (2000). "The oldest(?) and the youngest(?) Burgess Shale-type biotas in North America, Jasper National Park, Alberta.". 2000 GSA Annual Meeting -- Reno, Nevada. GSA. http://rock.geosociety.org/absindex/annual/2000/50153.htm. 
  2. Gaines, Robert R.; Briggs, Derek E.G.; Yuanlong, Zhao (2008). "Cambrian Burgess Shale–type deposits share a common mode of fossilization". Geology 36 (10): 755–758. doi:10.1130/G24961A.1. Bibcode: 2008Geo....36..755G.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1130%2FG24961A.1
  3. Butterfield, N.J. (2003). "Exceptional fossil preservation and the Cambrian explosion". Integrative and Comparative Biology 43 (1): 166–177. doi:10.1093/icb/43.1.166. PMID 21680421.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1093%2Ficb%2F43.1.166
  4. Orr, P.J.; Benton, M.J.; Briggs, D.E.G. (2003). "Post-Cambrian closure of the deep-water slope-basin taphonomic window". Geology 31 (9): 769–772. doi:10.1130/G19193.1. Bibcode: 2003Geo....31..769O.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1130%2FG19193.1
  5. "Charles Walcott". Royal Ontario Museum. 2011-06-10. http://burgess-shale.rom.on.ca/en/history/discoveries/02-walcott.php. 
  6. Gaines, R.; Kennedy, M.; Droser, M. (2005). "A new hypothesis for organic preservation of Burgess shale taxa in the middle Cambrian Wheeler formation, House Range, Utah". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 220 (1–2): 193–205. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2004.07.034. Bibcode: 2005PPP...220..193G.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2004.07.034
  7. Butterfield, Nicholas J.; Balthasar, Uwe; Wilson, Lucy A. (2007). "Fossil Diagenesis in the Burgess Shale". Palaeontology 50 (3): 537–543. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00656.x.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1475-4983.2007.00656.x
  8. Garson, D.E.; Gaines, R.R.; Droser, M.L.; Liddell, W.D.; Sappenfield, A. (2011). "Dynamic palaeoredox and exceptional preservation in the Cambrian Spence Shale of Utah". Lethaia 45 (2): 164–177. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2011.00266.x.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1502-3931.2011.00266.x
  9. 2.0.CO;2. http://paleobiol.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/reprint/28/1/155. Retrieved 2008-07-01. " id="ref_9">Butterfield, N.J. (2002). "Leanchoilia guts and the interpretation of three-dimensional structures in Burgess Shale-type fossils". Paleobiology 28 (1): 155–171. doi:10.1666/0094-8373(2002)028<0155:LGATIO>2.0.CO;2. http://paleobiol.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/reprint/28/1/155. Retrieved 2008-07-01. 
  10. Gaines, R. R.; Briggs, D. E. G.; Yuanlong, Z. (2008). "Cambrian Burgess Shale–type deposits share a common mode of fossilization". Geology 36 (10): 755. doi:10.1130/G24961A.1. Bibcode: 2008Geo....36..755G.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1130%2FG24961A.1
  11. Butterfield, N. J. (1995). "Secular distribution of Burgess-Shale-type preservation". Lethaia 28 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1995.tb01587.x.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1502-3931.1995.tb01587.x
  12. We, K. M. T. O. (1996). "Fossil preservation in the Burgess Shale". Lethaia 29 (1): 107–108. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1996.tb01844.x.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1502-3931.1996.tb01844.x
  13. Orr, P. J.; Briggs, D. E. G.; Kearns, S. L. (1998). "Cambrian Burgess Shale Animals Replicated in Clay Minerals". Science 281 (5380): 1173–1175. doi:10.1126/science.281.5380.1173. PMID 9712577. Bibcode: 1998Sci...281.1173O.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.281.5380.1173
  14. Butterfield, N. J.; Balthasar, U. W. E.; Wilson, L. A. (2007). "Fossil Diagenesis in the Burgess Shale". Palaeontology 50 (3): 537. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00656.x.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1475-4983.2007.00656.x
  15. Page, A.; Gabbott, S. E.; Wilby, P. R.; Zalasiewicz, J. A. (2008). "Ubiquitous Burgess Shale–style "clay templates" in low-grade metamorphic mudrocks". Geology 36 (11): 855. doi:10.1130/G24991A.1. Bibcode: 2008Geo....36..855P.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1130%2FG24991A.1
  16. Gabbott, S. E.; Xian-Guang, H.; Norry, M. J.; Siveter, D. J. (2004). "Preservation of Early Cambrian animals of the Chengjiang biota". Geology 32 (10): 901. doi:10.1130/G20640.1. Bibcode: 2004Geo....32..901G.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1130%2FG20640.1
  17. Cai, Y.; Schiffbauer, J. D.; Hua, H.; Xiao, S. (2012). "Preservational modes in the Ediacaran Gaojiashan Lagerstätte: Pyritization, aluminosilicification, and carbonaceous compression". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 326–328: 109–117. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.02.009. Bibcode: 2012PPP...326..109C.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2012.02.009
  18. Budd, G. E. (2007). "Arthropod body-plan evolution in the Cambrian with an example from anomalocaridid muscle". Lethaia 31 (3): 197–210. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.1998.tb00508.x.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1502-3931.1998.tb00508.x
  19. error
  20. Morris, S.C. (2008). "A Redescription of a Rare Chordate, Metaspriggina walcotti Simonetta and Insom, from the Burgess Shale (Middle Cambrian), British Columbia, Canada". Journal of Paleontology 82 (2): 424–430. doi:10.1666/06-130.1.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1666%2F06-130.1
  21. Conway Morris, S. (1979). "The Burgess Shale (Middle Cambrian) Fauna". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 10: 327–349. doi:10.1146/annurev.es.10.110179.001551.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1146%2Fannurev.es.10.110179.001551
  22. Conway Morris, S.; Collins, D. H. (1996). "Middle Cambrian Ctenophores from the Stephen Formation, British Columbia, Canada". Philosophical Transactions: Biological Sciences 351 (1337): 243–360. Bibcode: 1996RSPTB.351..279C.  http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1996RSPTB.351..279C
  23. Page, Alex; Gabbott, Sarah; Wilby, Phillip R.; Zalasiewicz, Jan A (2008). "Ubiquitous Burgess Shale–style "clay templates" in low-grade metamorphic mudrocks". Geology 36 (11): 855–858. doi:10.1130/G24991A.1. Bibcode: 2008Geo....36..855P.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1130%2FG24991A.1
  24. Saleh, Farid; Antcliffe, Jonathan B.; Lefebvre, Bertrand; Pittet, Bernard; Laibl, Lukáš; Perez Peris, Francesc; Lustri, Lorenzo; Gueriau, Pierre et al. (2020). "Taphonomic bias in exceptionally preserved biotas". Earth and Planetary Science Letters 529: 115873. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2019.115873. Bibcode: 2020E&PSL.52915873S.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.epsl.2019.115873
  25. Gaines, R. R.; Hammarlund, E. U.; Hou, X.; Qi, C.; Gabbott, S. E.; Zhao, Y.; Peng, J.; Canfield, D. E. (2012). "Mechanism for Burgess Shale-type preservation". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109 (14): 5180–4. doi:10.1073/pnas.1111784109. PMID 22392974. Bibcode: 2012PNAS..109.5180G.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=3325652
  26. Forchielli, A.; Steiner, M.; Kasbohm, J. R.; Hu, S.; Keupp, H.; Forchielli, A.; Steiner, M.; Keupp, H. et al. (2013). "Taphonomic traits of clay-hosted early Cambrian Burgess Shale-type fossil Lagerstätten in South China". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 398: 59–85. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.08.001.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2013.08.001
  27. Gupta, N. S.; Briggs, D. E. G.; Pancost, R. D. (2006). "Molecular taphonomy of graptolites". Journal of the Geological Society 163 (6): 897. doi:10.1144/0016-76492006-070. Bibcode: 2006JGSoc.163..897G.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1144%2F0016-76492006-070
  28. Zhang, Xingliang; Briggs, Derek E. G. (2007). "The nature and significance of the appendages of Opabinia from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale". Lethaia 40 (2): 161–173. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2007.00013.x.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1502-3931.2007.00013.x
  29. Budd, G. E.; Daley, A. C. (2011). "The lobes and lobopods of Opabinia regalis from the middle Cambrian Burgess Shale". Lethaia 45: 83–95. doi:10.1111/j.1502-3931.2011.00264.x.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1502-3931.2011.00264.x
  30. Orr, P. J.; Kearns, S. L.; Briggs, D. E. G. (2009). "Elemental mapping of exceptionally preserved 'carbonaceous compression' fossils". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 277 (1–2): 1–8. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.02.009. Bibcode: 2009PPP...277....1O.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2009.02.009
  31. Brett, C. E.; Allison, P. A.; Desantis, M. K.; Liddell, W. D.; Kramer, A. (2009). "Sequence stratigraphy, cyclic facies, and lagerstätten in the Middle Cambrian Wheeler and Marjum Formations, Great Basin, Utah". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 277 (1–2): 9–33. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.02.010. Bibcode: 2009PPP...277....9B.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2009.02.010
  32. Powell, W. (2009). "Comparison of Geochemical and Distinctive Mineralogical Features Associated with the Kinzers and Burgess Shale Formations and their Associated Units". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 277 (1–2): 127–140. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.02.016. Bibcode: 2009PPP...277..127P.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2009.02.016
  33. Caron, Jean-Bernard; Jackson, Donald A. (2006). "Taphonomy Of The Greater Phyllopod Bed Community, Burgess Shale". PALAIOS 21 (5): 451–465. doi:10.2110/palo.2003.P05-070R. Bibcode: 2006Palai..21..451C.  https://dx.doi.org/10.2110%2Fpalo.2003.P05-070R
  34. Zhang, Xi-Guang; Hou, Xian-Guang (2007). "Gravitational Constraints on the Burial of Chengjiang Fossils". PALAIOS 22 (4): 448–453. doi:10.2110/palo.2006.p06-085r. Bibcode: 2007Palai..22..448Z.  https://dx.doi.org/10.2110%2Fpalo.2006.p06-085r
  35. Gabbott, S.E.; Zalasiewicz, J.; Collins, D. (2008). "Sedimentation of the Phyllopod Bed within the Cambrian Burgess Shale Formation of British Columbia". Journal of the Geological Society 165 (1): 307. doi:10.1144/0016-76492007-023. Bibcode: 2008JGSoc.165..307G. http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/cgi/content/abstract/165/1/307. 
  36. Vannier, J.; Garcia-Bellido, C.; Hu, X.; Chen, L. (Jul 2009). "Arthropod visual predators in the early pelagic ecosystem: evidence from the Burgess Shale and Chengjiang biotas". Proceedings: Biological Sciences 276 (1667): 2567–2574. doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.0361. ISSN 0962-8452. PMID 19403536.  http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2686666
  37. Briggs, D. E. G.; Erwin, D. H.; Collier, F. J. (1995), Fossils of the Burgess Shale, Washington: Smithsonian Inst Press, ISBN 1-56098-659-X, OCLC 231793738  http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/231793738
  38. Hall, P. A.; McKirdy, D. M.; Halverson, G. P.; Jago, J. B.; Gehling, J. G. (2011). "Biomarker and isotopic signatures of an early Cambrian Lagerstätte in the Stansbury Basin, South Australia". Organic Geochemistry 42 (11): 1324–1330. doi:10.1016/j.orggeochem.2011.09.003.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.orggeochem.2011.09.003
  39. Lin, J. P.; Zhao, Y. L.; Rahman, I. A.; Xiao, S.; Wang, Y. (2010). "Bioturbation in Burgess Shale-type Lagerstätten – Case study of trace fossil-body fossil association from the Kaili Biota (Cambrian Series 3), Guizhou, China". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 292 (1–2): 245–256. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.03.048. Bibcode: 2010PPP...292..245L.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.palaeo.2010.03.048
  40. Whittington, H.B. (1975). "Trilobites with Appendages from the Middle Cambrian, Burgess Shale, British Columbia". Fossils Strata 4: 97–136. 
  41. 2.0.CO;2.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1666%2F0022-3360%282002%29076%3C0347%3AMCCIAT%3E2.0.CO%3B2" id="ref_41">Xiao, Shuhai; Steiner, M.; Knoll, A. H.; Knoll, Andrew H. (2002). "A reassessment of the Neoproterozoic Miaohe carbonaceous biota in south China". Journal of Paleontology 76 (2): 345–374. doi:10.1666/0022-3360(2002)076<0347:MCCIAT>2.0.CO;2.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1666%2F0022-3360%282002%29076%3C0347%3AMCCIAT%3E2.0.CO%3B2
  42. Gaines, R.R.; Droser, M.L.; Orr, P.J.; Garson, D.; Hammarlund, E.; Qi, C.; Canfield, D.E. (2012). "Burgess shale-type biotas were not entirely burrowed away". Geology 40 (3): 283. doi:10.1130/G32555.1. Bibcode: 2012Geo....40..283G.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1130%2FG32555.1
  43. Zhuravlev, A.Y.; Wood, R.A. (2008). "Eve of biomineralization: Controls on skeletal mineralogy". Geology 36 (12): 923. doi:10.1130/G25094A.1. Bibcode: 2008Geo....36..923Z. http://wzar.unizar.es/murero/activos/pdfs/2008_Zhuravlev&Wood_Geology.pdf. 
More
Upload a video for this entry
Information
Subjects: Paleontology
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :
View Times: 1.2K
Entry Collection: HandWiki
Revision: 1 time (View History)
Update Date: 28 Oct 2022
Notice
You are not a member of the advisory board for this topic. If you want to update advisory board member profile, please contact office@encyclopedia.pub.
OK
Confirm
Only members of the Encyclopedia advisory board for this topic are allowed to note entries. Would you like to become an advisory board member of the Encyclopedia?
Yes
No
${ textCharacter }/${ maxCharacter }
Submit
Cancel
There is no comment~
${ textCharacter }/${ maxCharacter }
Submit
Cancel
${ selectedItem.replyTextCharacter }/${ selectedItem.replyMaxCharacter }
Submit
Cancel
Confirm
Are you sure to Delete?
Yes No
Academic Video Service