The Lower Cambrian transgression and glauconite-phosphate facies in western Europe

Facies models and successions are outlined for the North American, Avalon, Baltic, Armorican and S European platforms, showing that glauconite and apatite formed partly behind carbonate barriers but mostly on ocean-facing shelves. Phosphogenic rhythms on the Avalon and Baltic platforms are related to transgressions and regressions while the Cambrian phosphogenic episode may be linked with invertebrate evolution, phytoplankton blooms and a rise in the O 2 minimum.