Late Vendian Kotlinian Crisis on the East European Platform: Lithogeochemical Indicators of Depositional Environment

Abstract

Sharp changes in the biodiversity of fossil organisms in the Upper Vendian of the East European Platform are considered as the manifestation of global crisis immediately prior to the “Cambrian Explosion.” However, they could be caused by local environmental perturbations. Variations of some lithogeochemical indicators of depositional environment (indicators of paleoclimate, exhalation activity, redox settings, and paleobioproductivity) were analyzed in order to establish the possible influence of sedimentary systems on evolutionary processes in the Late Vendian and at the boundary with the Cambrian. The applied algorithm of lithogeochemical studies revealed no significant perturbations in physical properties of the environment on a scale of sedimentary basins. The obtained data suggest that local factors did not affect the evolution of Ediacaran biota on the East European Platform and confirm the global nature of transitions between the Redkinian, Belomorian, and Kotlinian biotas.