The first field paleontological expedition took place in the upper reaches of the Buotama River in Yakutia, led by Arkady Semenov, director of the Lena Pillars National Park. Researchers confirmed the unique scientific and educational value of the park's territory for studying the earliest stages of the Cambrian evolutionary explosion. This information was shared on the "Lena Pillars" website.
"The expedition surveyed the area and created a geological profile of the lower part of the exposure located on the left bank of the Buotama River," the report stated.
Scientists collected rock samples and discovered a layer containing numerous remains of the earliest sponge-like organisms known as archaeocyathids.
"Based on the geological structure of the surveyed area, it was established that in the lower part of the studied geological profile, the oldest layers of deposits from the warm Cambrian sea are exposed, which can be attributed to the Tommotian horizon. Further analysis of the discovered archaeocyathids and rock samples with likely microfauna will be conducted in laboratory conditions," noted the national park officials.
The rock analysis will help determine the species composition of archaeocyathids, highlight the microfauna, and study its composition. This will enable researchers to compare findings with Cambrian fauna from other regions to accurately determine the geological age of the studied deposits.
"The expedition demonstrated that there are exposures of the oldest Cambrian deposits at the surface within the national park, which can be related to the Tommotian layer – the first layer of the Cambrian system. Thus, it has been confirmed that the territory of the Lena Pillars National Park, in addition to its aesthetic beauty, possesses unique scientific and educational value recognized by the global scientific community for studying the earliest stages of the Cambrian evolutionary explosion," the statement read.
The expedition was initiated and scientifically led by RAS academician Alexey Rozanov.
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