Oldhamia from the Oligocene/Miocene-age deep-marine Algeciras Unit, Campo de Gibraltar Complex, southeast Spain: First record of this characteristic Lower Palaeozoic (mainly Cambrian) ichnofossil from younger strata

Abstract

Abstract The ichnofossil Oldhamia is considered to be characteristic of deep-marine, Cambrian-age successions. Recent work from an Oligocene/Miocene-age sedimentary succession in the southwest of Spain revealed the presence of well-preserved Oldhamia at the base of two beds (which occur close to one another). Oldhamia was associated with a range of other ichnofossils including Belorhaphe, Chondrites, Circulichnis, Cochlichnus, Cosmorhaphe, Desmograpton, Halopoa, Helminthopsis, Nereites, Palaeodictyon, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Protopalaeodictyon, Scolicia, Spirophycus, Teichichnus, Thalassinoides, and Zoophycos. Deposition occurred in a lobe or channel margin environment in a deep-marine setting. This record of Oldhamia extends the range into the Paleogene/Neogene, and as such is of great ichnological and ichnostratigraphic significance.