Cambrian Fossils and Origin of Earth-Moon System

Research Article| November 01, 1967 Cambrian Fossils and Origin of Earth-Moon System D. L LAMAR; D. L LAMAR Earth Science Research Corporation, Santa Monica, California Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. M MERIFIELD P. M MERIFIELD Earth Science Research Corporation, Santa Monica, California Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information D. L LAMAR Earth Science Research Corporation, Santa Monica, California P. M MERIFIELD Earth Science Research Corporation, Santa Monica, California Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 06 Jul 1966 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1967, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1967) 78 (11): 1359–1368. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1967)78[1359:CFAOOE]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 06 Jul 1966 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation D. L LAMAR, P. M MERIFIELD; Cambrian Fossils and Origin of Earth-Moon System. GSA Bulletin 1967;; 78 (11): 1359–1368. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1967)78[1359:CFAOOE]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Analysis of available data on the lunar torque and the mechanism and rate of tidal dissipation and studies of growth lines on Paleozoic corals imply that the Moon became an Earth satellite between 0.5 and 2.0 billion years ago. Origin of the Earth-Moon system by fission or close-capture should have left obvious indications in the geologic record. The absence of such indications is compatible with an origin by capture-at-a-distance or the aggregation of several smaller moons. Evidence of a noncatastrophic origin may nevertheless be present in the stratigraphic record as a consequence of greatly increased tidal ranges and tidal currents and the introduction of a lunar light cycle. Shallow-marine invertebrates, which are highly sensitive to changes in environment, would have been affected by the origin of the Earth-Moon system, and a causal relation with the appearance of hard-shelled marine organisms in Lower Cambrian strata is conceivable. Protective exoskeletons would be an adaptive characteristic for shallow-water bottom-dwellers suddenly confronted with powerful tides. If the origin of the Earth-Moon system provided the impetus for the evolution of hard-shelled organisms, the event occurred in late Precambrian time. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.