Anatase and Hadimopanella selection by Salterella from the Kap Troedsson formation (Cambrian Series 2) of North Greenland

Abstract

Shells of the agmatan Salterella from the Kap Troedsson Formation (Cambrian Series 2) of North Greenland are filled with cemented grains of authigenic anatase (TiO₂) associated with the palaeoscolecidan sclerite Hadimopanella apicata. Selection of the heavy grains, both recognized for the first time in Salterella, added ballast to an organism which was probably motile and lived by selective deposit feeding.

Keywords:

• Agmata
• Salterella
• anatase
• Hadimopanella
• ballast

Acknowledgements

In memory of Ellis L. Yochelson (1929–2006) on the 10th anniversary of his death. Raman spectroscopy was carried out by Cecilia Borghero, Niclas Borinder, Abraham Riego Delgado and Lucia Rivero Cuesta under the supervision of Professor Peter Lazor as project work within the M.Sc. Course “Analaytical Methods” at the Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University. Scanning electron microscope facilities were provided by the Microscopy and Imaging unit, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University. Michael Vendrasco and an anonymous reviewer are thanked for constructive comments concerning the submitted manuscript.