Fossil footprints as biosedimentary structures for paleoenvironmental interpretation: Examples from Gondwana

摘要: Abstract The origin and preservation of a track are related to many distinct environmental factors, concerning especially the substrate cohesiveness, plasticity, grain size, texture water content. Then, environment, through sedimentation processes, plays role that enhances quality tracks their preservation. Three contexts - tidal flats, aeolian, fluvial-lacustrine paleoenvironments, encompass majority fossil footprints occurrences analyzed. Footprints as biosedimentary structures, due close relationships with physical chemical processes control formation, represent an important clue paleoenvironmental interpretation. present study is mainly based on direct examination ichnosites allow us evaluate aspects Mesozoic from different regions paleocontinent Gondwana, currently correspondent Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Congo, Iran, India, Madagascar Morocco sedimentary structures use in interpretations.