Despite recent advances in the understanding of processes leading to Lagerstatten formation, many important Lagerstatten have yet to be studied from a combined taphonomic, sedimentologic, stratigraphic, paleoecologic, and geochemical perspective, all of which lead to understanding of how Lagerstatten form. Understanding preservational processes in these exceptional deposits is important because: 1) taphonomic processes controlled preservational biases, 2) understanding preservational processes will lead to better understanding of the depositional environments that ultimately exerted ecological control on the suite of organisms available for preservation, and 3) secular variations in taphonomic processes could influence perceived evolutionary patterns. Although most Carboniferous Lagerstatten occur in laminated mud-sized sediment, they may represent a range of depositional environments and paleoecologies. To this end, this is a study of five well-known Carboniferous Lagerstatten in North America: Bear Gulch Limestone (Chesterian, Montana), Mecca Quarry Shale (Desmoinesian, Indiana), Hamilton and Garnett localities (Virgilian, Kansas), and Kinney Brick Company Quarry (Virgilian, New Mexico). A multidisciplinary approach using stratigraphy, sedimentology, taphonomy, paleoecology, and geochemistry will be used to distinguish among four models of Lagerstatten formation: 1) tidal sedimentation, 2) deposition in euxinic, stratified basin, 3) production of in-situ cyanobacterial mats, and 4) storm-bed deposition.//
