Fossil whale preservation implies high diatom accumulation rate in the Miocene–Pliocene Pisco Formation of Peru
Author(s)
Leonard R. Brand
Raúl Esperante
Arthur V. Chadwick
Merling Alomía
Date Issued
1 de enero de 2004
Type
Article
Volume
32
Issue
2
Start Page
165
End Page
165
Abstract
Research Article| February 01, 2004 Fossil whale preservation implies high diatom accumulation rate in the Miocene–Pliocene Pisco Formation of Peru Leonard R. Brand; Leonard R. Brand 1Department of Natural Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Raúl Esperante; Raúl Esperante 2Geoscience Research Institute, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Arthur V. Chadwick; Arthur V. Chadwick 3Biology Department, Southwestern Adventist University, Keene, Texas 76059, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Orlando Poma Porras; Orlando Poma Porras 4 Universidad Peruana Unión, Carretera Central, km. 19, Ñaña, Lima, Peru Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Merling Alomía Merling Alomía 4 Universidad Peruana Unión, Carretera Central, km. 19, Ñaña, Lima, Peru Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2004) 32 (2): 165–168. https://doi.org/10.1130/G20079.1 Article history received: 01 Aug 2003 rev-recd: 29 Oct 2003 accepted: 10 Nov 2003 first online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Leonard R. Brand, Raúl Esperante, Arthur V. Chadwick, Orlando Poma Porras, Merling Alomía; Fossil whale preservation implies high diatom accumulation rate in the Miocene–Pliocene Pisco Formation of Peru. Geology 2004;; 32 (2): 165–168. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G20079.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Diatomaceous deposits in the Miocene–Pliocene Pisco Formation contain abundant whales preserved in pristine condition (bones articulated or at least closely associated), in some cases including preserved baleen. The well-preserved whales indicate rapid burial. The 346 whales within ∼1.5 km2 of surveyed surface were not buried as an event, but were distributed uninterrupted through an 80-m-thick sedimentary section. The diatomaceous sediment lacks repeating primary laminations, but instead is mostly massive, with irregular laminations and speckles. There is no evidence for bioturbation by invertebrates in the whale-bearing sediment. Current depositional models do not account for the volume of diatomaceous sediments or the taphonomic features of the whales. These taphonomic and sedimentary features suggest that rapid burial due to high diatom accumulation, in part by lateral advection into protected, shallow embayments, is responsible for the superb preservation of these whales, leading to a higher upper limit on phytoplankton accumulation rates than previously documented. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.