古海洋活性铁循环研究进展及对白垩纪缺氧 富氧 沉积转变的启示

铁作为地壳中丰度最高的元素之一,广泛参与到一系列地球化学循环中。现代海洋中的铁主要来源于河流、冰川和风的铁氧化物颗粒和溶解铁的输入。陆源输入的铁氧化物在有机质埋藏、降解的早期成岩作用过程中,发生一系列转化过程而埋藏下来,该过程被称作活性铁循环。氧化 强氧化条件利于沉积物中氧化铁的持续产生或者至少保持不被溶解的状态,从而形成棕色-红色沉积物;还原条件利于沉积物中铁氧化物的溶解,形成菱铁矿、黄铁矿(铁硫化物) 等形式的埋藏,并可能造成溶解铁在海洋内的迁移。Raiswell、Canfield、Poulton等通过对现代典型海洋环境活性铁循环研究,提出了一系列用于判别古海洋氧化 还原条件的活性铁指标体系,并成功地将太古宙以来的古海洋划分成为含铁的大洋、硫化的大洋和氧化的大洋等3个演化阶段。由于活性铁的不同形态对磷具有不同的生物地球化学效应,将造成“氧化条件下磷的优先埋藏、缺氧条件下优先释放的现象”。磷是海洋生产力的限制性元素,铁和磷循环的上述耦合关系将造成“缺氧的大洋生产力越高,富氧的大洋生产力越低”现象的出现。目前已在白垩纪古海洋缺氧 富氧沉积中初步证实了上述反馈关系的存在,但是对活性铁埋藏形式对该特殊沉积的贡献还需要进一步的工作。     

古海洋生产力指标研究进展

寻求反映古海洋生产力变化的指标是古海洋学研究的重要内容。生物沉积物、营养元素、微量元素和同位素、古生物资料等与古海洋生产力具有一定的关系,常用于古海洋生产力的重建工作:(1)生物沉积物主要包括有机碳、生物碳酸盐和生物硅质沉积等,其埋藏速率在很大程度上受到古海洋生产力的控制,常常用作古海洋生产力的替代性指标;(2)在地质时间尺度上,古海洋生产力主要受到大洋中营养元素可利用程度的控制,因此营养元素的相关记录可以提供古海洋生产力状况的重要信息;(3)海洋中某些微量元素的地球化学行为或者与有机质的改造有关,或者受到氧化还原条件变化的控制,或者受到某种浮游生物的生长的影响,从而能够直接或者间接地指示古海洋生产力的变化;(4)海相碳酸盐和有机质的碳同位素记录,海相有机物的氮同位素比值也用以再造古生产率等古海洋学参数;(5)可以利用对微体化石丰度值及其组合反映古生产力的变化。     

白垩纪世界与大洋红层

白垩纪代表着地质历史中的一种极端的温室气候,已被国际地球科学界视为研究地球系统科学的典型范例。文中在评述白垩纪沉积作用、古气候、古海洋研究中取得的重要进展基础上,重点介绍推动白垩纪研究核心问题之一的黑色页岩和大洋缺氧事件以及由中国学者提出的白垩纪大洋红层和富氧作用。大洋缺氧事件与大洋红层的研究因其与碳氧循环、古气候和古海洋变化的紧密关系,已经成为国际白垩纪研究中的热点问题,并在今后一段时期内继续引领着白垩纪古海洋、古气候变化研究的不断深入。     

北大西洋晚白垩世大洋缺氧-富氧事件中Fe同位素研究及其古海洋意义

<正>白垩纪大洋缺氧事件(oceanic anoxic events,OAEs)[1-2]指白垩纪时期海洋中大量有机碳埋藏的短暂时期,记录了全球碳循环的主要扰动。最极端的事件发生在Cenomanian-Turonian(OAE2)界线时期,大致对应于中生代以来的最高温度时期,并表现为碳同位素正偏移和过量的生物碳埋藏。在这个事件之后全球古海洋发生了显著的变化,黑色页岩沉积被大洋红层(Cretaceous oceanic red beds,CORBs)沉积所替     

白垩纪大洋缺氧事件:研究进展与未来展望

白垩纪古海洋中分别在.Aptian-Albian、Cenomanian-Turonian和Coniacian-Santonian期间发生多次大洋缺氧事件(Oceanic Anoxic Events,OAEs),分别被称为OAE1、OAE2和OAE3,而OAE1又可以划分为OAE1a,1b,1c和1d四次,其中OAE1a和OAE2达到全球规模.白垩纪大洋缺氧事件一般对应海相碳酸盐岩的碳同位素正偏、海洋生物的快速更替和富有机质黑色页岩的大规模分布,指示了大范围的古环境、古气候变化.虽然历次大洋缺氧事件在成因上具有一定的差异,但是一般认为其与白垩纪时期海底大规模火成岩省的活动有关.大规模火成岩省活动将带来大气-海洋系统中CO2的上升,地表风化和水循环的加速,从而造成海洋中营养元素的过剩输入,引发海洋生产力的升高,诱发海洋中缺氧条件的发生.大洋缺氧条件下,由于碳-氧-硫-磷等元素之间的耦合循环关系,在大洋缺氧和海洋生产力之间形成快速的正反馈关系,有可能是白垩纪大洋缺氧事件得以达到全球规模的促进因素(如OAE1a和OAE2).不同时期的大洋缺氧事件对白垩纪大气-海洋系统的发展具有不同的意义:OAE1a标志着白垩纪中期极端温室气候的开始,OAE2前后是温室气候的高潮时期,而OAE3的发生则伴随白垩纪温室气候的减弱.由于历次大洋缺氧事件产生的大规模有机碳的埋藏,对大气-海洋系统产生了深刻的影响,其主要作用是导致大气海洋系统中CO2下降、O2上升,以及伴随而来的全球变冷和海洋氧化能力的增强.虽已历经30多年的研究,白垩纪大洋缺氧事件的前因和后果还未完全阐明,后续研究中将继续对重点的缺氧事件如OAE1(a,b,c,d)、OAE2和OAE3,开展多学科的研究,获取缺氧事件发生期间的古大气CO2浓度、海水温度、营养状况、生物种类及其海平面变化等方面的信息.大洋缺氧事件的陆相响应方面的研究也已经陆续开展,我国科学家可望在这方面有所作为.     

白垩纪中期异常地质事件与全球变化

白垩纪中期(125~90 Ma)是地质历史中一个极端温室时期,集中出现一系列异常事件。异常事件是地球系统内各圈层相互耦合的产物,事件相互之间不是孤立的,单个事件引起的全球变化对其他事件起着明显的正/负反馈机制作用。文中基于对白垩纪中期异常事件的深入解剖和分析,包括大规模海底火山事件、大洋缺氧事件、生物异常更替与绝灭、白垩纪超静磁带、大洋红层出现等,在探讨白垩纪中期各个事件特征基础上,重点阐述异常事件所引起的全球变化及其对海洋、气候的影响;提出异常事件之间的相互关联与反馈机制。研究发现,大规模海底火山作用是引起白垩纪中期异常海洋和气候的最根本原因,直接促进大洋缺氧事件、生物绝灭与更替、沉积记录的转变等事件的发生。     

陆地沉积物对大洋缺氧事件的响应：六盘山群黑色页岩地球化学特征及其意义

通过对六盘山群中上部湖相沉积中一层黑色页岩年代（113.45~112.98 Ma）及其下部泥灰岩的元素地球化学特征研究发现,黑色页岩形成于干热而相对湿润气候背景下的缺氧还原环境中,与典型缺氧事件黑色页岩的地球化学特征基本一致,说明该黑色页岩记录了六盘山地区对全球白垩纪大洋缺氧事件OAE1b (约113～111 Ma)的响应,可能指示该期大洋缺氧事件是一次全球性的气候变化事件。     

白垩纪至早第三纪的极端气候事件

地球科学界正在将预测未来气候变化的研究重点放到地球过去突然发生的气候变暖事件。白垩纪至早第三纪发生的极端气候事件被认为是最接近于现今的地球系统,对其研究有利于理解现今地球系统过程在碳循环快速搅动时的响应。这些气候事件主要包括：古新世-始新世最热事件（PETM,～5 5 MaBP）、早阿普第晚期和森诺曼-土仑界线的大洋缺氧事件（OAE1a,～120 Ma;OAE2,～93．5 MaBP）。PETM事件是中白垩世以来一次突然变暖事件,在10 ka年以内深海温度增加～5 ℃,表层海水温度增加 4～8 ℃,而δ¹³C至少发生 3．0‰的负偏移。目前普遍认为PETM事件是由于海洋气水化合物（CH₄）的巨量释放造成的。大洋缺氧事件（OAEs）记录了海洋环境下有机质的大量埋藏,代表了碳循环和海洋生物系统的重大搅动事件。综合大洋钻探计划（IODP）将极端气候确定为优先研究领域,将采取特定的钻探策略,在世界大洋范围内获取最低限度蚀变的新生代至白垩纪沉积物,研究精度要求达到米兰柯维奇的天文调谐时间尺度,其最终目标是定量描述过去全球气候变化,并为未来气候变化预测提供依据。     

黑色页岩与大洋缺氧事件的Re-Os同位素示踪与定年研究

地质历史中发育多次大规模的大洋缺氧事件并伴随有巨量的黑色页岩沉积, 对这些大洋缺氧事件发生时限及成因机制的研究已成为当前国际古海洋学研究的一个前沿领域。开展对大洋缺氧事件的研究,有助于了解古海洋演化、地球系统变化和地球其他圈层对生物圈的影响,以及金属成矿、油气形成及生烃环境。因此近年来人们从古海洋、古气候、古地理、古生物、大地构造和地质地球化学等学科,积极开展对大洋缺氧事件的研究。对大洋缺氧事件进行准确定年则是研究工作开展的首要任务之一;而如果用于定年的同位素体系能同时提供相关的环境变迁信息,则更加有利于我们对缺氧事件成因机制的认识。Re Os同位素作为近年来发展起来的一种新的同位素技术方法,恰好适用于对富有机质沉积岩和黑色页岩的定年,可以获得精确的地层沉积年龄,同时利用这些海洋沉积物的Os同位素比值还可获得古海水的Os同位素组成及随时间的演化规律。在中国华南地区新元古代—早古生代发育有多幕次的大洋缺氧事件和黑色页岩的巨厚沉积和广泛分布,利用Re Os同位素研究,不但可以精确厘定这些事件发生的时限,而且可以有效示踪当时的古海洋环境。     

沉积型锰矿床的形成及其与古海洋环境的协同演化

海相沉积型锰矿的成矿过程受古海洋沉积环境影响，而古海洋环境又与超大陆聚合与裂解、极端地质事件、生命演化等密切相关，因此，海相富锰地层是岩石圈、水圈、大气圈和生物圈等多圈层耦合关系与物质循环相关信息的重要载体。深层海水缺氧模型、最小氧化带模型和幕式充氧模型都显示海水中氧化还原梯度的变化是导致锰矿形成的最主要原因。全球范围内海相沉积型锰矿主要形成于古元古代、新元古代和显生宙3个地质历史时期。其中，元古宙时期，地球上发育了完善的氧化还原分层的古海洋结构；古元古代早期和新元古代，超大陆裂解引起的海平面升降变化导致古海洋氧化还原结构产生动荡，并促使大规模沉积型锰成矿作用发生；地球沉寂期（1800~800 Ma）涵盖了整个中元古代，这一时期仅在华北地台发育了少量沉积型锰矿床，反映该时期古海洋中锰的迁移受到了抑制；显生宙地球再次进入活跃期，经历了数次海洋缺氧事件，冰室-温室气候交替促使海水的化学性质剧烈变化，并在局部氧化还原分层的沉积盆地中富集形成沉积型锰矿床。总之，古海洋氧化还原环境的变化是沉积型锰矿形成的必要条件，同时，区域性沉积盆地的结构、海平面的升降、火山作用导致的物缘供给等多种因素都会影响沉积型锰矿的形成。与沉积型铁矿相比，沉积型锰矿对局部海水化学性质的变化更加敏感，综合研究铁锰矿床的共生与分异过程，将有助于更加有效的识别不同尺度的沉积过程与古海洋环境变化。     

Benthic Phosphorus Dynamics in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea

Benthic fluxes of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were measured in situ using autonomous landers in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, on four expeditions between 2002 and 2005. These measurements together with model estimates of bottom water oxygen conditions were used to compute the magnitude of the yearly integrated benthic SRP flux (also called internal phosphorus load). The yearly integrated benthic SRP flux was found to be almost 10 times larger than the external (river and land sources) phosphorus load. The average SRP flux was 1.25?±?0.56?mmol?m^?2?d^?1 on anoxic bottoms, and ?0.01?±?0.08?mmol?m^?2?d^?1 on oxic bottoms. The bottom water oxygen conditions determined whether the SRP flux was in a high or low regime, and degradation of organic matter (as estimated from benthic DIC fluxes) correlated positively with SRP fluxes on anoxic bottoms. From this correlation, we estimated a potential increase in phosphorus flux of 0.69?±?0.26?mmol?m^?2?d^?1 from presently oxic bottoms, if they would turn anoxic. An almost full annual data set of in situ bottom water oxygen measurements showed high variability of oxygen concentration. Because of this, an estimate of the time which the sediments were exposed to oxygenated overlying bottom water was computed using a coupled thermohydrodynamic ocean?Csea and ecosystem model. Total phosphorus burial rates were calculated from vertical profiles of total phosphorus in sediment and sediment accumulation rates. Recycling and burial efficiencies for phosphorus of 97 and 3%, respectively, were estimated for anoxic accumulation bottoms from a benthic mass balance, which was based on the measured effluxes and burial rates.     

Response of Reactive Phosphorus Burial to the Sedimentary Transition from Cretaceous Black Shales to Oceanic Red Beds in Southern Tibet

The mechanism of sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shales to the oceanic red beds is a new and important direction of Cretaceous research. Chemical sequential extraction is applied to study the burial records of reactive phosphorus in the black shale of the Gyabula Formation and oceanic red beds of the Chuangde Formation, Southern Tibet. Results indicate that the principal reactive phosphorus species is the authigenic and carbonate-associated phosphorus (CaP) in the Gyabula Formation and iron oxides-associated phosphorus (FeP) in the Chuangde Formation which accounts for more than half of their own total phosphorus content. While the authigenic and carbonate-associated phosphorus (CaP) is almost equal in the two Formations; the iron oxides-associated phosphorus is about 1.6 times higher in the Chuangde Formation than that in the Gyabula Formation resulting in a higher content of the total phosphorus in the Chuangde Formation. According to the observations on the marine phosphorus cycle in Modern Ocean, it is found that preferential burial and regeneration of reactive phosphorus corresponds to highly oxic and reducing conditions, respectively, leading to the different distribution of phosphorus in these two distinct type of marine sediments. It is the redox-sensitive behavior of phosphorus cycle to the different redox conditions in the ocean and the controlling effects of phosphorus to the marine production that stimulate the local sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shale to the oceanic red beds.     

Cycles of nutrient trace elements in the Phanerozoic ocean

Availability of nutrients in the ocean can be a major factor affecting bioproductivity, burial of carbon and release of oxygen. However, the nutrient trace element (TE) composition of the palaeo-ocean cannot be measured directly. Here we present a comprehensive global dataset on the TE content of marine sedimentary pyrite in black shales, dating back 700 million years, and demonstrate a systematic cyclic evolution of pyrite TE composition with time. The nutrient TE, molybdenum, selenium, cadmium and thallium measured in pyrite, and phosphorus measured on whole rock, rise sharply at 560 to 550 Ma followed by several cycles of TE variation through the Palaeozoic and into the Mesozoic. A number of factors could explain the trends. We suggest that variations in continental uplift, erosion and nutrient flux rates were possible drivers of the oceanic nutrient cycles. The cyclic patterns through the Phanerozoic suggest periods of nutrient-rich oceans that fostered key evolutionary events, followed by nutrient-poor oceans that encompass several major mass extinction events.     

白垩纪地球表层系统重大地质事件与温室气候变化研究

国家重点基础研究发展计划（973）项目“白垩纪地球表层系统重大地质事件与温室气候变化”，将以白垩纪与碳循环相关的重大地质事件和温室气候变化的关系为主线，以大洋缺氧事件—富氧作用转变过程和机制研究为突破口，进行海陆相整合研究，重点追溯东特提斯洋和我国大陆地球表层系统重大地质事件的记录，探讨这些事件与碳循环、快速气候变化的正/负反馈机制。项目将充分利用中国大陆发育完好的白垩纪海相、陆相地层及古生物记录，通过松辽盆地白垩系科学钻探全岩芯取样和多学科综合研究的途径，着眼于厘定反映地质事件和气候变化的层位及标志和时间格架，解决高分辨率海、陆相沉积事件的精确对比，分析地层记录中气候标志和古生物类群的地理分布，集中研究陆地和海洋环境对同一事件的响应机制，重溯白垩纪地球表层系统重大地质事件过程及成因，探究陆相烃源岩大规模形成、陆地生物群更替与温室气候变化和碳循环之间的正/负反馈关系和机制等科学问题，为预测全球长时间尺度上的气候变化趋势提供科学依据。     

大火成岩省与大规模黑色页岩沉积的成因联系及其意义

大火成岩省对全球性大气-海洋环境的巨变及生物灭绝有非常重要的影响。已有研究结果表明,显生宙（即寒武纪以来）大火成岩省与全球大洋缺氧与生物灭绝有明显的成因联系,显生宙国际地质年代表中多个金钉子均与以大火成岩省、黑色页岩及生物灭绝为代表的全球性地质事件相对应。但由于对前寒武纪,特别是"地球中年期"（18~8亿年,"枯燥的10亿年"）大气氧浓度、海洋的氧化-还原状态及生物门类及演化认识的局限性,关于前寒武纪大火成岩省与环境的影响及其与黑色页岩沉积的成因联系一直很不清楚。通过对全球哥伦比亚（奴那）超大陆中约13.8亿年全球性大火成岩省及黑色页岩沉积时空分布的研究,发现这些大火成岩省及黑色页岩的分布有明显的规律。约13.8亿年大火成岩省广泛分布在北美、格陵兰、西伯利亚、波罗地、卡拉哈里、刚果、西非、亚马逊、南极及西澳大利亚等大陆上;而同期的黑色页岩在华北及北澳大利亚克拉通广泛分布,在西伯利亚、巴西及印度等克拉通也有分布。根据这些黑色页岩在超大陆重建图中的空间分布,提出了哥伦比亚（奴那）超大陆中这些广泛分布的约13.8亿年黑色页岩可能沉积于连通的大型海相盆地,而不是以往所认为的局部封闭的小盆地。通过约13.8亿年大火成岩省与黑色页岩内火山灰（斑脱岩）年龄的对比,进一步提出约13.8亿年存在一次与全球性大火成岩省有关的大洋缺氧事件,以此期大火成岩省与黑色页岩为代表的全球性地质事件为中元古代盖层系与延展系提供了精确的界限年龄为1383 Ma。初步的研究结果还显示,"地球中年期"可能还有多期的大火成岩省与黑色页岩沉积有时空联系,有望为晚前寒武纪地质年代表划分提供新的事件约束。      

Carbon, sulfur and O2 across the Permian–Triassic boundary

A model for the carbon and sulfur cycles across the Permian–Triassic boundary has been constructed from carbon and sulfur isotopic data. Results indicate a drop in global organic matter burial, the formation of an anoxic deep ocean, and a large drop in atmospheric oxygen over the time span 270 to 240 Ma. Much of these changes were probably due to a drop in terrestrial productivity and preservation and an increase in global aridity.     

Phosphorus recycling and burial in Baltic Sea sediments with contrasting redox conditions

In this study, redox-dependent phosphorus (P) recycling and burial at 6 sites in the Baltic Sea is investigated using a combination of porewater and sediment analyses and sediment age dating (²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs). We focus on sites in the Kattegat, Danish Straits and Baltic Proper where present-day bottom water redox conditions range from fully oxygenated and seasonally hypoxic to almost permanently anoxic and sulfidic. Strong surface enrichments of Fe-oxide bound P are observed at oxic and seasonally hypoxic sites but not in the anoxic basins. Reductive dissolution of Fe-oxides and release of the associated P supports higher sediment-water exchange of PO₄ at hypoxic sites (up to ∼800 μmol P m⁻² d⁻¹) than in the anoxic basins. This confirms that Fe-bound P in surface sediments in the Baltic acts as a major internal source of P during seasonal hypoxia, as suggested previously from water column studies. Most burial of P takes place as organic P. We find no evidence for significant authigenic Ca-P formation or biogenic Ca-P burial. The lack of major inorganic P burial sinks makes the Baltic Sea very sensitive to the feedback loop between increased hypoxia, enhanced regeneration of P and increased primary productivity. Historical records of bottom water oxygen at two sites (Bornholm, Northern Gotland) show a decline over the past century and are accompanied by a rise in values for typical sediment proxies for anoxia (total sulfur, molybdenum and organic C/P ratios). While sediment reactive P concentrations in anoxic basins are equal to or higher than at oxic sites, burial rates of P at hypoxic and anoxic sites are up to 20 times lower because of lower sedimentation rates. Nevertheless, burial of reactive P in both hypoxic and anoxic areas is significant because of their large surface area and should be accounted for in budgets and models for the Baltic Sea.     

中更新世转型时期南海北部上层水体结构演化特征——ODP1146站浮游有孔虫稳定同位素记录

文章以南海北部ODP1146站沉积物岩芯为研究材料,利用浮游有孔虫次表层水种Pulleniatina obliquiloculata壳体的氧、碳稳定同位素,结合该站位浮游及底栖有孔虫氧碳同位素数据,分析中更新世以来南海北部上层水体结构的演化。1.2 Ma以来ODP1146站P.obliquiloculata壳体δ^18O的变化可分3个阶段:1)1.2~0.9 Ma,冰期-间冰期变化幅度较小、主导周期为41 ka斜率周期;2)0.9~0.6 Ma,冰期旋回变化幅度逐渐增强、100 ka偏心率周期开始强化;3)0.6 Ma以来,冰期旋回呈现稳定且幅度较大的100 ka周期变化。0.9 Ma以来南海北部上层海水δ^18O的冰期旋回变幅增强,可能反映东亚冬季风在0.9 Ma之后显著强化。其中,表层水体δ^18O只在冰期变幅增强,P.obliquiloculata所反映的次表层水体δ^18O的变化幅度在冰期和间冰期都显著增强。约0.9 Ma浮游和底栖有孔虫δ^18O的100 ka周期几乎同时显现;但在0.9~0.6 Ma时期P.obliquiloculata的δ^18O偏心率周期更为显著、斜率周期的强度也更高。因此,冰期旋回周期转型及幅度变化两方面的证据共同反映温跃层结构演化在南海北部中更新世转型(MPT)气候转变过程中的特殊性。1.2 Ma以来ODP1146站P.obliquiloculata的δ^13C在0.02 Ma、0.49 Ma和0.99 Ma左右呈明显的碳重值,同时表层种-次表层种之间的δ^13C差值减小到近于0,可以解读为碳重值事件期间南海北部生产力相对减弱。     

西藏南部中白垩世黑色页岩的碳氧同位素组成及大洋缺氧事件的讨论

本文对西藏南部中白垩世黑色页岩中的氧同位素组成特征和两次大洋缺氧事件的形成、发展过程作了较为详细的分析讨论。西藏南部中白垩世期内,在仲玛期及其稍后的沉积时期存在两次大洋缺氧事件,定两次缺氧事件在时间上可与国际上的Ｃｅｎ－Ｔｕｒ和Ｃｏｎ－Ｓａｎｔ时期的全球大洋缺氧事件相对应;该区这两闪大洋缺氧事件的形成、发展,是与当时全球特定的的生态环境和全球性的地壳构造运动、大规模的海侵、火山喷发等重大地质灾变事     

Oceanographic and eustatic control of carbonate platform evolution and sequence stratigraphy on the Cretaceous (Valanginian–Campanian) passive margin,northern Gulf of Mexico

An integrated sequence stratigraphic study based on outcrop, core and wireline log data documents the combined impact of Cretaceous eustacy and oceanic anoxic events on carbonate shelf morphology and facies distributions in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The diverse facies and abundant data of the Comanche platform serve as a nearly complete global reference section and provide a sensitive record of external processes affecting Cretaceous platform development. Regional cross‐sections across the shoreline to shelf‐margin profile provide a detailed record of mixed carbonate–siliciclastic strata for the Hauterivian to lower Campanian stages (ca 136 to 80 Ma). The study window on the slowly subsiding passive margin allows the stratigraphic response to external forcing mechanisms to be isolated from regional structural processes. Three second‐order supersequences comprised of eight composite sequences are recognized in the Valanginian–Barremian, the Aptian–Albian and the Cenomanian–Campanian. The Valanginian–Barremian supersequence transitioned from a siliciclastic ramp to carbonate rimmed shelf and is a product of glacial ice accumulation and melting, as well as variable rates of mid‐ocean ridge volcanism. The Aptian–Albian supersequence chronicles the drowning and recovery of the platform surrounding oceanic anoxic events 1a and 1b. The Cenomanian–Campanian supersequence similarly documents shelf drowning following oceanic anoxic event 1d, after which the platform evolved to a deep‐subtidal system consisting of anoxic/dysoxic shale and chalk in the time surrounding oceanic anoxic event 2. Each period of oceanic anoxia is associated with composite sequence maximum flooding, termination of carbonate shelf sedimentation and deposition of condensed shale units in distally steepened ramp profiles. Composite sequences unaffected by oceanic anoxic events consist of aggradational to progradational shelves with an abundance of grain‐dominated facies and shallow‐subtidal to intertidal environments. Because they are products of eustacy and global oceanographic processes, the three supersequences and most composite sequences defined in the south Texas passive margin are recognizable in other carbonate platforms and published eustatic sea‐level curves.