Environmental constraints on the distribution of matground and mixground ecosystems across the Cambrian Series 2–Miaolingian boundary interval in Iran: A case study for the central sector of northern Gondwana

The stratigraphic architecture, changes of depositional systems in lateral and vertical extent, and 3D-stacking pattern of second- and third-order sequences of the Cambrian successions on the northern Gondwanan margin indicates a distinct sea-level fall in the Alborz Zone and Central Iran corresponding with global sea-level fluctuations. The peak of the sea-level fluctuations is located at the boundary between the Lalun Formation and the base of the overlying Mila Group. A vertical trend from gradual sea-level rise during the Cambrian Series 2 (recorded as thick transgressive deposits of the Lalun Formation) to transgressive valley-fill system at the base of the Fasham Formation and overlying highstand subtidal carbonates (carbonate platform of the Deh-Sufiyan Formation) can be observed. This trend is paralleled by a change from mixgrounds with metazoan body fossils to microbial matgrounds and microbial boundstones (thrombolites and stromatolites). The general increase in vagile bilaterian metazoans led to a distinct proliferation in ichnofossils in the Lalun Formation indicating a considerable increase in progressive ecospace utilization and tiering complexity. These are associated with biodiffusion, sediment reworking and bioirrigation so that matgrounds were disrupted and mixed layer substrates developed. A proliferation of microbes took place at the base of the Mila Group, which is regarded as a reaction to unfavourable environmental conditions and considerable challenges for metazoans. Consequently, a dramatic degradation of marine bottom communities followed the major eustatic sea-level fall at the Cambrian Series 2–Miaolingian boundary interval and led to the decrease in ichnodiversity, bioturbation intensity, depth of bioturbation and burrow size at the base of the Mila Group. The amount of biogenic mixing significantly decreased, and eventually sedimentary mixed layers disappeared. •Facies and sequence stratigraphic analyses of the Cambrian Series 2–Miaolingian boundary interval.•The impact of the eustatic sea-level fall on mixground and matground ecosystems.•The trace-fossil record of organism–matground interactions by changes in environmental conditions.•Document trend of change from mixgrounds to matgrounds and microbial boundstones.•Results are useful for correlation to Cambrian strata in other parts of Gondwana.