Micropaleontological evidence for redox changes in the OAE3 interval of the US Western Interior: Global vs. local processes

The Coniacian-Santonian interval has been proposed as the youngest of the Cretaceous ocean anoxic events (OAE3), but this designation has long been debated. OAE3 is associated with a long-lasting (∼3 myr) succession of black shales from the central and South Atlantic, Caribbean region, and the North American Western Interior; in the Western Interior it is characterized by an abrupt increase in total organic carbon (TOC) and corresponding trace metal indicators for anoxia. However, the modern concept of OAEs is predicated on detection of global carbon cycle perturbations as recorded by substantial carbon isotope excursions (CIE), and the protracted Coniacian-Santonian black shale interval does not have a large CIE. A more conservative definition of OAE3 might limit the event to the modest positive carbon isotope excursion restricted to the upper Coniacian Scaphites depressus Ammonite Zone. Trace metal proxies suggest that oxygen levels abruptly declined prior to the onset of this CIE in the Western Interior Sea (WIS), but it is unknown whether regional anoxic conditions were confined to sediments/pore waters, or how anoxia may have affected the biota. In an effort to characterize the oxygenation history of the WIS and to better understand the nature of the hypothesized OAE3, we present micropaleontological evidence of declining oxygen in bottom waters prior to the event using benthic foraminifera, which are sensitive to dissolved oxygen. Changes in benthic foraminiferal abundances suggest a decline in oxygen at least 1-myr prior to the CIE (including a nadir immediately below the start of the excursion), improving bottom water oxygen during the CIE, and re-establishment of persistent anoxia following the isotope excursion. Anoxia endured for nearly 3 myr in the central seaway, showing some signs of recovery toward the top of the Niobrara Formation. Our findings suggest that declining oxygen concentrations in the seaway eventually reached a tipping point, after which dissolved oxygen quickly dropped to zero.The late Coniacian CIE is an exception to the trend of declining oxygen in the WIS, and part of a larger pattern in the oxygenation history of the Niobrara Formation which suggests that it does not adhere to standard black shale models. Transgressive periods, including the Fort Hays Limestone and the lower limestone unit of the Smoky Hill Shale (which corresponds to the CIE) are relatively oxic, while periods of highstand (i.e., most of the Smoky Hill) correspond to deteriorating oxygen conditions. This contrasts with the standard black shale model for sea level and oxygen, where transgressions typically correlate with maximum TOC enrichment, interpreted to result from both sediment condensation and oxygen deficiency. The association of global carbon burial/anoxia (as indicated by carbon isotopes) with a regional increase in oxygen and decrease in organic matter preservation is reminiscent of the Cenomanian-Turonian Greenhorn Limestone, which contains OAE2. In both cases, the facies are not typical black shales, but instead have appreciable carbonate content. Western Interior redox trends support the rejection of the original concept of a protracted Coniacian-Santonian OAE3 because it is not a distinct “event.” Increasing local oxygen during the late Coniacian CIE also argues against a narrower OAE designation for this event, because the excursion can't be tied to anoxia here or anywhere else it has been described. Nevertheless, the Late Coniacian Event (as we prefer to call this CIE) still represents an important perturbation of the global carbon cycle. This is emblematic of the shift away from widespread, discrete anoxic events during the ongoing paleoceanographic reorganization of the Late Cretaceous, even as large carbon cycle perturbations continued.     

Organic carbon deposition and phosphorus accumulation during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 in Tarfaya, Morocco

With a multi-proxy approach, an attempt was made to constrain productivity and bottom-water redox conditions and their effects on the phosphorus accumulation rate at the Mohammed Plage section on the Tarfaya coast, Morocco, during the Cenomanian-Turonian Anoxic Event (OAE 2). A distinct δ¹³C_org isotope excursion of +2.5‰ occurs close to the top of the section. The unusually abrupt shift of the isotope excursion and disappearance of several planktonic foraminiferal species (e.g. Rotalipora cushmani and Rotalipora greenhornensis) in this level suggests a hiatus of between 40–60 kyrs at the excursion onset. Nevertheless, it was possible to determine both the long-term environmental history as well as the processes that took place immediately prior to and during OAE 2. TOC% values increase gradually from the base of the section to the top (from 2.5% to 10%). This is interpreted as the consequence of a long-term eustatic sea-level rise and subsidence causing the encroachment of less oxic waters into the Tarfaya Basin. Similarly a reduction in the mineralogically constructed ‘detrital index’ can be explained by the decrease in the continental flux of terrigenous material due to a relative sea-level rise. A speciation of phosphorus in the upper part of the section, which spans the start and mid-stages of OAE 2, shows overall higher abundances of P_reactive mass accumulation rates before the isotope excursion onset and lower values during the plateau. Due to the probable short hiatus, the onset of the decrease in phosphorus content relative to the isotope excursion is uncertain, although the excursion plateau already contains lower concentrations. The C_org/P_total and V/Al ratios suggest that this reduction was mostly likely caused by a decrease in the available bottom oxygen content (probably as a result of higher productivity) and a corresponding fall in the phosphorus retention ability of the sediment. Productivity appears to have remained high during the isotope plateau possibly due to a combination of ocean-surface fertilisation via increased aridity (increased K/Al and Ti/Al ratios) and/or higher dissolved inorganic phosphorus content in the water column as a result of the decrease in sediment P retention. The evidence for decreased P-burial has been observed in many other palaeoenvironments during OAE 2. Tarfaya's unique upwelling paleosituation provides strong evidence that the nutrient recycling was a global phenomenon and therefore a critical factor in starting and sustaining OAE 2.     

Stable isotope analysis of the Cenomanian–Turonian (Late Cretaceous) oceanic anoxic event in the Crimea

Carbon and oxygen isotope data from Cenomanian–Turonian sediments from the southwest of the Crimea are presented. The sediments consist of limestones, marls and organic-rich claystones, the latter with total organic carbon values up to 2.6 wt. %, representing Oceanic Anoxic Event 2. A shift to more negative δ¹⁸O values through the uppermost Cenomanian into the lowermost Turonian may be the result of warming; however, petrographic analysis shows that the samples have undergone a degree of diagenetic alteration. The carbon isotope data reveal a positive excursion from 2.7‰ to a peak of 4.3‰ at the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary; values then decrease in the early Turonian. This excursion is comparable to those of other Cenomanian–Turonian sections, such as those seen in the Anglo-Paris Basin, and is thought to be due to global changes in the oceanic carbon reservoir. On this curve are a number of negative δ¹³C excursions, just below the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary. It is suggested that these negative excursions are associated with the uptake of light carbon derived from the oxidation and deterioration of organic material during localised exposure of the sediments to oxic or meteoric diagenetic conditions, possibly during sea-level fluctuations.     

Late Cretaceous paleoenvironmental evolution of the Tarfaya Atlantic coastal Basin,SW Morocco

Lithological evidence, benthic foraminiferal census counts, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanner-derived elemental data were integrated with planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and bulk carbonate stable isotopes to retrace the Turonian to early Campanian paleoenvironmental evolution and sea-level history of the Tarfaya Atlantic coastal basin (SW Morocco). The lower Turonian is characterized by laminated organic-rich deposits, which contain impoverished benthic foraminiferal assemblages, reflecting impingement of the oxygen minimum zone on the shelf during a sea-level highstand. This highstand level is correlated to the global transgressive pulse above the sequence boundary Tu1. The appearance of low-oxygen tolerant benthic foraminiferal assemblages dominated by Gavelinella sp. in the middle to upper Turonian indicates an improvement in bottom water oxygenation, probably linked to offshore retraction of the oxygen minimum zone during a regressive phase. This interval is marked by major regressive events expressed by a series of erosional truncations associated with the prominent sequence boundaries Tu3 and/or Tu4. Dysoxic–anoxic conditions recorded in the upper Santonian of the Tarfaya Basin coincide with the eustatic sea-level rise prior to Sa3 sequence boundary. The lower Campanian transgression, only recorded in the southern part of the Tarfaya Basin, coincided with substantial deepening, enhanced accumulation of fine-grained clay-rich hemipelagic sediments and improved oxygenation at the seafloor (highest diversity and abundance of benthic foraminiferal assemblages). Stable isotope data from bulk carbonates are tentatively correlated to the English Chalk carbon isotope reference curve, in particular the Hitch Wood Event in the upper Turonian, the Navigation Event in the lower Coniacian, the Horseshoe Bay Event in the Santonian and the Santonian/Campanian Boundary Event.     

Organic Carbon Isotopic Evolution during the Ediacaran-Cambrian Transition Interval in Eastern Guizhou, South China： Paleoenvironmental and Stratigraphic Implications

Secular variations of carbon isotopic composition of organic carbon can be used in the study of global environmental variation, the carbon cycle, stratigraphic delimitation, and biological evolution, etc. Organic carbon isotopic analysis of the Nangao and Zhalagou sections in eastern Guizhou reveals a negative excursion near the Precambrian-Cambrian boundary that correlates with a distinct carbonate carbon isotopic negative excursion at this boundary globally. Our results also demonstrate that several alternating positive and negative shifts occur in the Meishucunian, and an obvious negative anomaly appears at the boundary between the Meishucunian and Qiongzhusian. The isotope values are stable in the middle and lower parts but became more positive in the upper part of the Qiongzhusian. Evolution of organic carbon isotopes from the two sections in the deepwater facies can be well correlated with that of the carbonate carbon isotopes from the section in the shallow water facies. Integrated with other stratigraphic tools, we can precisely establish a lower Cambrian stratigraphic framework from shallow shelf to deep basin of the Yangtze Platform.     

高分辨率碳氧同位素应用及西藏岗巴地区白垩纪中期Cenomanian-Turonian期碳同位素偏移

介绍了高分辨率碳氧同位素的应用成果;指出半远洋、远洋碳酸盐全岩高分辨率碳同位素高值正偏可作为甄别大洋缺氧事件的指示剂和分析古气候变化的指针,碳同位素偏移型式可为长期海平面变化和短期海平面波动提供参照对比的依据。西藏南部岗巴地区的高分辨率偏移曲线显示,碳同位素Cenomanian Tu ronian界线时期的正偏幅度达2.90‰,Turonian期长期持续负偏,并在M. sigali带中、下部呈现两个负偏凹陷区。这表明,该区白垩纪中期Cenomanian Turonian期存在可以在特提斯甚至全球类比的碳同位素变化趋势,表现为Cenomanian Turonian界线时期的缺氧事件、Turonian期的长期海平面下降趋势和Turonian晚期短暂气候变冷的响应。     

Reconstruction of palaeosalinity using carbon isotopes and benthic associations: a comparison

Carbon and oxygen isotopes were determined on 40 recrystallized shells of Late Jurassic bivalves from the Lusitanian Basin of Portugal. In contrast with the oxygen isotopes, which exhibited considerable diagenetic distortion, the carbon isotopes are thought to preserve a record of the salinity of the Jurassic marginal marine seas in which these bivalves lived. The reconstructed palaeosalinities range from 35%o (euhaline) to 5% (oligohaline). Comparing these values with the palaeosalinity reconstructed from a palaeoecological analysis of 17 stratigraphic levels within the basin, the independently derived values agree in most cases. Strongly differing values are explained as being due to biotic factors and to diagenetic distortion of the isotopic signal; they are less likely to be due to smallscale time-averaging or insufficient microstratigraphic sampling. On the whole, the carbon isotope analyses are thought to produce reasonable palaeosalinity values, although data from infaunal, originally aragonitic bivalves appear to be less reliable than those from epifaunal bivalves with a predominantly or exclusively calcitic shell. As diagenetic alteration of the carbon isotope signal is, however, unpredictable and biotic effects on the isotopic composition are insufficiently known, palaeosalinity reconstructions based on stable isotope data should be supported by palaeoecological data.     

土壤次生碳酸盐碳氧稳定同位素古环境意义及应用

土壤次生碳酸盐碳氧稳定同位素特征是反映古气候与古环境的重要代用指标,其碳氧稳定同位素组成分别受土壤CO2中C同位素组成和大气水的O同位素控制。在一定深度的土壤中,土壤次生碳酸盐δ^13C就主要受当地植物类型(C3植物和C4植物等)控制。土壤次生碳酸盐样预处理中剔除土壤中原生碳酸盐以及有机物污染尤为重要。土壤中次生碳酸盐C、O稳定同位素地球化学在土壤发生学、古气候恢复、古生态重建以及全球变化研究中应用日益广泛,但解译时可能受应用年代范围、成岩作用、原生和次生碳酸盐混杂、土壤碳酸盐多元发生等因素影响,其应用机理和范围还需进一步探讨。     

南海北部有孔虫碳氧同位素特征与晚第四纪水合物分解的响应关系

为探寻晚第四纪以来水合物分解事件在南海北部甲烷渗漏环境下有孔虫中的记录,对南海北部陆坡2个区块的沉积柱状样有孔虫碳氧同位素组成和测年分析发现,底栖有孔虫Uvigerina spp.碳同位素值为-2.12‰～-0.21‰,浮游有孔虫Globigerinoides ruber.氧同位素值为-3.11‰～-0.60‰,ZD3、ZS5 2个柱状样孔底年龄分别为26 616、64 090 a,对应了氧同位素Ⅲ、Ⅳ期末期,有孔虫碳同位素负偏的层位与氧同位素Ⅱ、Ⅳ期(冷期)层位相对应,负偏程度达到了-2‰,与布莱克海台和墨西哥湾等地区晚第四纪沉积层中有孔虫碳氧同位素组成相似。分析认为:研究区是典型的甲烷渗漏环境,该区在氧同位素Ⅱ、Ⅳ期,由于全球海平面下降,导致海底压力减小,天然气水合物分解释放,具轻碳同位素的大量甲烷释放进入海底溶解无机碳(DIC)池并记录在有孔虫壳体内,造成有孔虫碳同位素负偏;同时在有孔虫负偏层位黄铁矿和自生碳酸盐较发育,进一步证实了有孔虫碳同位素受甲烷影响较大,而海洋生产力的降低和早期成岩作用对有孔虫碳同位素负偏的影响较小。     

Biostratigraphic and isotopic record of the Cenomanian–Turonian deposits in the Ohaba-Ponor section (SW Haţeg, Romania)

The middle Cenomanian–lower Turonian deposits of Ohaba-Ponor section (Southern Carpathians) were studied from biostratigraphic and isotopic points of view. Both the qualitative and semiquantitative nannofloral analyses, as well as the stable isotope (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) data support significant palaeoenvironmental changes in the investigated interval. Two δ¹³C positive excursions were recognized: (1) an excursion up to 1.8‰ (PDB) within the middle/late Cenomanian boundary; (2) an excursion up to 2.2‰ (PDB) in the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval. The oldest δ¹³C positive excursion recorded (placed within the Acanthoceras jukes-brownei/Eucalycoceras pentagonum Ammonite Zone boundary interval, and in the NC11 Calcareous Nannofossil Zone respectively) could be assigned to the middle Cenomanian Event II (MCEII). During the above-mentioned event, significant increase in abundance of Watznaueria barnesae, followed by successive blooms of Biscutum constans and Eprolithus floralis, were observed. The youngest δ¹³C positive excursion was identified in the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval (in the NC12 and lower part of the NC13 Calcareous Nannofossil Zones). Even the amplitude of this δ¹³C positive excursion is lower in the Ohaba-Ponor section, as generally reported, this may represent the regional record of the OAE2. The successive peaks of the nannofossils Biscutum constans, Zeugrhabdotus erectus and Eprolithus floralis indicate episodes of cooler surface water and high fertility, which preceded and lasted the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary event. Additionally, fluctuations of δ¹⁸O values between −2 and −6‰ suggest also cooler conditions within the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary interval.     

IODP 311航次底栖有孔虫碳稳定同位素对天然气水合物地质系统的指示

为了探索海洋天然气水合物背景下有孔虫特征的响应,对综合大洋钻探计划(IODP) 311航次岩芯沉积物中底栖有孔虫Uvigerina peregrina和Bulimina mexicana进行了初步研究。通过对冷泉站位U1328和毗邻的非冷泉站位U1327沉积物中底栖有孔虫Uvigerina peregrina和Bulimina mexicana的显微形貌特征和碳、氧稳定同位素测试等,证实有孔虫壳体未受到后期成岩作用的改造和自生碳酸盐岩的交代影响,有孔虫壳体的碳稳定同位素呈现明显的负偏。其中U1327站位中U.peregrina δ¹³C为-0.67‰～-2.75‰（PDB）,B.mexicana δ¹³C为-0.51‰～-1.52‰（PDB）;U1328站位中U.peregrina δ¹³C为 -0.72‰～-2.71‰（PDB）,B.mexicanaδ¹³C为 -0.58‰～-1.45‰（PDB）。底栖有孔虫壳体的碳稳定同位素负偏成因可能与水合物不稳定分解释放的甲烷厌氧氧化作用和食物源有关,因而可较好地指示海底天然气水合物系统地质背景。     

三峡地区岩家河埃迪卡拉系-寒武系界线剖面碳同位素地层学研究

湖北宜昌三峡地区埃迪卡拉系一寒武系界线位置尚存争议,跨越这一界线的岩家河组地层的分段工作也缺乏统一的意见。对岩家河剖面开展岩相学和碳同位素地层学研究,揭示其碳同位素演化可与扬子板块内滇东北老林剖面和肖滩剖面对比,即自下而上在该界线附近存在一个大的δ13C负漂移、一个稍小的δ13C负漂移和一个大的δ13C正漂移。结合该剖...     

西藏聂拉木三叠系土隆群-曲龙共巴组稳定碳同位素组成及对比

古生代-中生代之交生物灭绝后,三叠纪海洋长期、复杂的生物和环境变化过程受到高度关注.基于牙形石、菊石生物时代及土隆地区三叠系全岩稳定碳同位素曲线,识别出6次负偏和5次正偏.其中早三叠世碳同位素的N1-N4四次负偏和P1-P4四次正向偏移过程,能与我国华南、日本等多个剖面进行对应,反映我国藏南所在的高纬度地区经历了与低纬度地区相同的全球碳循环异常.首次报道了土隆剖面识别出的晚三叠世卡尼期碳同位素负偏,其幅度达到3.3‰,可对应意大利、日本以及我国川西北地区和华南南盘江盆地所记录的卡尼期极端气候事件.中卡尼期温度升高,降雨量急剧增多,风化作用显著加强,陆源硅质碎屑输入增强,可能是土隆剖面岩性剧烈变化的环境驱动因素.      

Palaeoecology and biostratigraphy of early Cretaceous (Aptian) calcareous nannofossils and the δCcarb isotope record from NE Iran

Upper Barremian-Lower Aptian sediments of the Sarcheshmeh and Sanganeh formations in the Kopet Dagh area, northeast Iran were studied with regard to their calcareous nannofossil content and their δ¹³C_carb signal. The sediments are composed mainly of marlstones, argillaceous limestones and limestones. Based on the occurrence of biostratigraphic index taxa, the calcareous nannofossil zones NC5, NC6 and the NC7A Subzone were recognised. The calcareous nannofossils and the δ¹³C_carb data enable recognition of the early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a). The deposits of the OAE 1a interval are characterised by the rarity of nannoconids and a sharp negative δ¹³C_carb excursion (1.36‰), followed by an abrupt positive δ¹³C_carb excursion of 4-5‰; both events have been recognised elsewhere in OAE 1a deposits in the Tethys. In the OAE 1a interval, the relative abundance of Watznaueria barnesiae/Watznaueria fossacincta is higher (more than 40%) than that of Biscutum spp., Discorhabdus spp. and Zeugrhabdotus spp., which indicates dissolution. In the upper part of the section, the higher relative abundance of mesotrophic and oligotrophic taxa (Watznaueria spp. and nannoconids respectively) and the enhanced relative abundance of eutrophic taxa (Biscutum spp., Discorhabdus spp., Zeugrhabdotus spp.) is indicative of an environment with slightly increased nutrient content. The presence of warm water taxa (Rhagodiscus asper and nannoconids) and the absence of cool water taxa (Repagulum and Crucibiscutum) suggest warm surface-water conditions.     

白垩纪缺氧事件期间分子有机碳同位素偏移的二种不同机制

对我国业已发现的白垩纪大洋缺氧事件进行了对比研究.结果显示,我国河北滦平盆地高等植物叶腊碳同位素正偏,是weissert缺氧事件的陆地响应,weissert缺氧事件可能是全球性缺氧事件,而不是区域性的缺氧事件.叶腊烷烃单分子碳同位素正偏有两种不同的机制:早白垩世分子碳同位素正偏主要反映的是大气CO2水平增加;晚白垩世分子碳同位素正偏主要反映的是陆地植物类型的变化.     

Paleoceanographic evolution and chronostratigraphy of the Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a) to oceanic red bed 1 (ORB1) in the Gorgo a Cerbara section (central Italy)

We performed a detailed study of the stratigraphic transition of Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a) to oceanic red bed 1 (ORB1) from the classic Gorgo a Cerbara section in the Umbria region of central Italy. We focused on a 25.5-m-thick stratigraphic succession, from which we analyzed 305 samples for total organic carbon (TOC), CaCO₃, magnetic susceptibility, diffuse reflectance spectrophotometry and the stable carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of both bulk samples and organic matter. In the Gorgo a Cerbara section, the Selli Level of OAE1a (∼1.81 m thick) consists of laminated to bioturbated dark gray to black mudstones and shales with medium to dark gray radiolarian-rich silty to sandy layers and a maximum TOC content of 20.22%. The carbon isotopic values show a negative excursion (C3 stage, ∼0.14 m) at the base of the Selli Level, followed by a stepwise positive excursion (C4–C6 stages, ∼1.67 m) in the upper part of the Selli Level. The transition from OAE1a to ORB1 (∼3.19 m thick) is characterized by bioturbated greenish gray cherty limestones and marly limestones with subordinate marls, corresponding to stable carbon isotopic C7 stage and lasts for ∼0.75 Ma. The ORB1 interval (∼13.15 m) consists of reddish marly claystones, dark-red marlstones, red marly limestones and red calcareous shales which indicate a highly oxic environment. Our results reveal a stepwise transition from a predominantly mesotrophic and dysoxic to anoxic environment at the time that the OAE1a black shales were deposited to an oligotrophic and oxic environment during the transitional interval and finally to highly oxic conditions during the ORB1 interval. The nannoconid crisis occurs at the top of the C2 stage, just 0.34 m below the negative excursion in δ¹³C isotopic values. The massive CaCO₃ dissolution phase occurs 0.25 m above the negative excursion; it persisted for 0.85 Ma and probably resulted from excess CO₂, ocean acidification, and carbonate compensation depth (CCD) shoaling. Deposition of massive black shales occurs at the base of the C6 stage and lasted for 0.4 Ma.     

Aptian (Lower Cretaceous) biostratigraphy and cephalopods from north central Tunisia

Thick Aptian deposits in north central Tunisia comprise hemipelagic lower Aptian, reflecting the sea-level rise of OAE 1a, and an upper Aptian shallow marine environment characterized by the establishment of a carbonate platform facies. Carbon stable isotope data permit recognition of the OAE 1a event in the Djebel Serdj section. Cephalopods are rare throughout these successions, but occurrences are sufficient to date the facies changes and the position of the OAE1a event. Ammonite genera include lower Aptian Deshayesites, Dufrenoyia, Pseudohaploceras, Toxoceratoides and ?Ancyloceras; and upper Aptian Zuercherella, Riedelites and Parahoplites. Correlation of carbon isotope data with those of other Tethyan sections is undertaken together with the integration of planktonic foraminiferal data.     

Marine palynology of the Oceanic Anoxic Event 3 (OAE3, Coniacian – Santonian) at Tarfaya,Morocco, NW Africa – transition from preservation to production controlled accumulation of marine organic carbon

The paper presented is the first comprehensive, fully quantitative, high resolution study of marine palynology from an OAE3 black-shale environment. It is based on 175 m core spanning the upper Turonian to lower Santonian at Tarfaya, Morocco, NW Africa, which has been sampled from centimetre to 3 m intervals. The results are integrated and discussed with lithology and geochemistry data to (1) distinguish between potential changes in production and preservation of total organic carbon (TOC) accumulation and (2) constrain the stratigraphic position of the Oceanic Anoxic Event 3 (OAE3).The succession is characterized by increased total organic carbon (TOC), varying between 1% and 19% (average about 6%). Distinct black-shale horizons of variable thickness appear episodically throughout the succession, with higher frequency in the late Turonian. Higher TOC contents do not strictly correlate to lithologic black-shales or peaks of a specific taxon of organic-walled algae. The palynomorph spectrum is strongly dominated by organic-walled algae, with the ratio of terrigenous sporomorphs to organic-walled algae (t/m index) varying between zero and 0.05 (average 0.01). The dominance of algal organic matter is corroborated by the prevalence of Type I kerogen identified using Rock-Eval pyrolysis. Dinocyst diversity is low, with the absolute taxa number varying from 7 to 27 between single samples. The peridinioid/gonyaulacoid ratio of dinocysts (p/g ratio) shows strong fluctuations, varying between 1 and 283 (average of about 100).The upper Turonian interval is dominated by Bosedinia spp., a dinocyst taxon formerly described as abundant only in lacustrine sediments from the Oligocene and Miocene of SE Asia. This dominance is episodically modified by the increase of the warm-temperate waters dinocysts fraction, here mainly represented by the genera Alterbidinium, Isabelidinium and Spinidinium. Within the Coniacian-Santonian, black-shale horizons are limited in number and are concentrated within the upper Coniacian to lower Santonian interval. The dinocysts show alternating, prominent peak abundances of Palaeohystrichophora spp. and the warm-temperate water dinocysts fraction, here mainly represented by the genera Trithyrodinium and Chatangiella. However, a final episode of increased proportions of Bosedinia spp. is confined to a 5 m thick black-shale horizon closely spanning the Coniacian-Santonian boundary.Changes in the ratio of total sulphur to total organic carbon (TS/TOC) reflect fluctuating oxygen contents of bottom waters throughout the late Turonian to Santonian. These are significantly parallelled by the alternation of dinocysts assemblages suggestive of enhanced upwelling and water column stratification respectively, probably reflecting changes in the mode of TOC accumulation. Accordingly, preservation largely prevails during the late Turonian interval and changes towards increased production within the Coniacian-Santonian. However, a final preservation-event is probably represented by the black-shale horizon closely spanning the Coniacian-Santonian boundary (top Dicarinella concavata foraminifera zone), which may reflect an episodic shutdown of a major upwelling cell. It is thus proposed, that the “culmination” of the OAE3 at Tarfaya may represent intermittent preservation of TOC within an otherwise high productivity environment related to a global cooling trend.     

Carbon Isotope Records Indicative of Paleoceanographical Events at the Latest Permian Dalong Formation at Shangsi, Northeast Sichuan, China

Paired organic and carbonate carbon isotope compositions of Late Permian Wujiaping (吴家坪) and Dalong (大隆) formations at Shangsi (上寺), Northeast Sichuan (四川) were analyzed by MAT 251. An abrupt negative excursion in the two isotope records was observed in the middle part of Dalong Formation, in association with a drop in the carbon isotope difference of the two records and an increase of total organic carbon (TOC) content. The negative drop of the paired carbon isotope records issuggestive of the input of 12C-enriched CO2. The molecular ratios of pristane to phytane and dibenzothiophene to phenanthrene indicate the anoxic condition in this interval. The enhanced TOC content is indicative of the elevated preservation of organic matter due to the anoxic condition. These isotopic and organic geochemical data probably infer the occurrence of the upwelUng in this interval. The additional contribution of volcanism activity observed in South China cannot be excluded to the input of 12C-enriched CO2 and the negative shifts in carbon isotope composition of bulk organic matter and carbonate.     

Sea-level change, carbon cycling and palaeoclimate during the Late Cenomanian of northwest Europe; an integrated palaeoenvironmental analysis

A new high resolution sea-level curve for the Late Cenomanian M. geslinianum Zone has been generated using sequence stratigraphic analysis on transects through the margins of the Anglo-Paris Basin in the UK and Saxony Basin in Germany. Transgressive sediments that bury a rocky shoreline in the Dresden area have proved particularly useful in determining both the absolute amount of sea-level change and the rate of rise. After a brief fall at the base of the M. geslinianum Zone, sea level rose rapidly through the higher part of the zone, resulting in an overall short term eustatic rise of 22–28 m. Biostratigraphy and carbon isotope stratigraphy have enabled detailed correlations to be made between marginal locations and thick, relatively complete, basinal successions. The basinal successions at Eastbourne, UK, and Gröbern, Germany, provide both geochemical proxies for palaeoenvironmental change, including oxygen and carbon isotope records, and an orbital timescale graduated in precession and eccentricity cycles. Integration of the sea-level history with palaeoclimate evolution, palaeoceanography and changes in carbon cycling allows a detailed reconstruction of events during the Late Cenomanian. Orbital forcing on long eccentricity maxima provides the underlying drive for these changes, but amplification by tectonic events and feedback mechanisms augmented the orbital effects and made the Cenomanian/Turonian Boundary Event distinctive. In particular, variations in atmospheric CO₂ caused by oceanic drawdown and a brief period of intense volcanic outgassing resulted respectively in short term cooling and warming events. The magnitude and high rates (up to 1 m/1 kyr) of sea-level rise are diagnostic of glacioeustasy, however improbable this may appear at the height of the Cretaceous greenhouse.