Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and analysis of the Cretaceous Gault Clay fauna, Copt Point, Kent
Lead Supervisor: Prof Gregory Price
Location: University of Plymouth, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Duration: 6 weeks
Suitable undergraduate degrees: Earth Sciences or Palaeontology
Project background
The fossils of the Albian Gault Clay in the county of Kent, South-East England show beautifully preserved faunas. In particular, aragonite bivalves and ammonites are frequently preserved as aragonite. The formation also contains gastropods; bony fish remains, shark teeth and vertebrae; crab and lobster carapaces; and extensive micro-fauna. Other commonly found fossils include belemnite rostra, scaphopods, solitary corals, serpulid worms and goose-barnacle valves. Samples of the Gault Clay previously collected are now stored in Plymouth.
Despite its historical importance, there have been relatively few quantitative palaeoecological studies of the fossil faunas of the Gault Clay at this site. There have been a few studies of the paleoecology of the Gault clay but almost no quantitative studies of their fossil assemblages and paleoenvironmental implications. Additionally, from this suite of fossils carbon and oxygen stable isotopes in conjunction with trace element geochemistry and petrology (to determine shell preservation) can be undertaken to provide new data regarding their ecology, their isotopic distributions in this ecosystem as well as well as providing insights into early Cretaceous palaeoclimate and palaeoceanography. Indeed, the long-term oceanographic record of the Albian and Cenomanian suggests that the Cretaceous greenhouse climate began in the Albian.
Training in, sample preparation and isotopic analysis will be provided by Prof Price as well as training in data interpretation. The successful candidate will join our vibrant and active research group of students, postdocs, and faculty from the University of Plymouth, which meets regularly in-person. The results of this project will form parts of a peer-reviewed publication. For further information, interested students can contact Prof. Gregory Price (g.price@plymouth.ac.uk).