黄陵背斜东南缘埃迪卡拉系碳稳定同位素组成特征及有机质发育关系讨论

通过在黄陵背斜东南缘部署实施的一口页岩气调查井(EYD5),获取了埃迪卡拉系碳同位素参数和相关有机碳数据,建立了该区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组-灯影组蛤蟆井段碳同位素曲线,在陡山沱组识别出4次负漂移,2次正漂移区间,在灯影组蛤蟆井段识别出1次负漂移,1次正漂移区间,并可在区域范围内有效对比。探讨了该区陡山沱组四段至灯影组蛤蟆井段在区域上的对比标志,明确了该区陡山沱组碳同位素异常与有机碳含量无相关性,碳同位素的正、负漂移区间均可发育富有机质层段,持续的δ~(13)C负值区间对应富有机质页岩层段发育。     

湖北峡东地区牛坪剖面埃迪卡拉系碳同位素组成及地质意义

对湖北宜昌埃迪卡拉系牛坪剖面碳酸盐岩进行了高精度的碳、氧同位素分析,微量元素测定。碳同位素演化趋势研究表明,牛坪剖面陡山沱组与灯影组下部存在2 次碳同位素负漂移和3 次显著的碳同位素正漂移。负漂移分别位于陡山沱组底部( EN1) 和陡山沱组中部( EN2) ,δ13C 值分别降低到－ 3. 6‰、－ 2‰。正漂移分别位于陡山沱组下部( EP1) 、上部( EP2) 以及陡山沱组和灯影组界线处( EP3) ,δ13C 分别上升到6. 7‰、7. 1‰、8. 2‰。牛坪剖面埃迪卡拉系δ13C 的演化趋势可与黄陵背斜周缘埃迪卡拉系碳同位素演化趋势对比,表明至少区域上碳同位素化学地层学在埃迪卡拉系划分和对比中具有重要意义。     

鄂西长阳ZK04钻孔埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组C同位素组成特征及其地层对比意义

对湖北长阳两河口ZK04钻孔岩心进行了详细的碳酸盐岩C、O同位素分析,识别了埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组4次明显的δ~(13)C负偏离,分别位于陡山沱组一段、二段中上部、二段上部和三段上部至四段。其中第1、2和4次δ~(13)C负偏离与黄陵背斜周缘的剖面能够很好地对应,具有重要的区域和全球地层对比意义。在第1次δ~(13)C正偏离区域内并未发现明显的δ~(13)C负偏,分析认为WANCE事件可能仅代表了峡东部分地区一次短暂的δ~(13)C降低事件。第3次δ~(13)C负偏离表现最显著,然而在秭归泗溪和青林口以外的其他地区未见报道,可能是由于水体较浅的区域发生了地层缺失,未能保存此次δ~(13)C负偏离。长阳ZK04孔陡山沱组顶部的第4次δ~(13)C负偏离表现较弱,考虑到陡山沱组四段的黑色页岩较少发育,推测长阳两河口地区在陡山沱晚期处于浅水台地或台地边缘。DOUNCE可能是地史时期最大的一次全球性C同位素负偏离事件,其与大型具刺疑源类化石群和埃迪卡拉生物群的发展演化有紧密的联系,对于全球埃迪卡拉纪统级地层对比具有重要的意义。     

峡东地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组碳同位素特征研究进展与国内外对比

本文重点通过研究峡东地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组碳同位素的变化规律, 来探讨其全球地层对比意义。峡东地区埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组经历了三次比较显著的碳同位素负漂移(EN1~EN3)和两次正漂移(EP1、EP2)。第一次碳同位素负漂移(EN1)发生在南沱冰期之后陡山沱组底部“盖帽碳酸盐岩”层位及其上部的白云岩, 与世界其他地区Marinoan冰期之后“盖帽碳酸盐岩”的碳同位素负漂移可进行对比; 第二次碳同位素负漂移(EN2)发生在陡山沱组中部; 第三次负漂移(EN3)发生在陡山沱组顶部, 是该地质历史时期持续时间最长的一期碳同位素负漂移, 同澳大利亚、阿曼、纳米比亚、加里福尼亚、西伯利亚、苏格兰等地碳同位素异常均可进行对比。两次正漂移(EP1、EP2)分别位于第二段中部和第三段的下部, 分别与陡山沱组所含的两个疑源类组合具有很好的对应关系; 而EN3则与陡山沱组上部所含的宏体化石组合(庙河生物群)相对应; 表明碳同位素的变化与生物演化具有一定的对应关系。研究表明, 利用碳同位素变化特征进行埃迪卡拉纪地层洲际对比是行之有效的手段之一。     

湖北宜昌茅坪泗溪剖面埃迪卡拉系岩石地层和碳同位素地层研究

华南埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组上部的δ13C巨大负异常事件(DOUNCE)是当前埃迪卡拉系研究最受关注的焦点之一。在对湖北宜昌茅坪泗溪剖面埃迪卡拉系开展高精度的岩石地层和碳氧同位素研究的基础上,通过与黄陵背斜周缘其他剖面的对比,表明峡区陡山沱晚期DOUNCE事件的δ13C值变化由下降—负漂移—短期正漂移—回升4个阶段构成,但DOUNCE事件在不同剖面上的表现存在明显差异。详细的沉积岩相分析和地层对比表明,各剖面δ13C演化差异是由岩相变化导致的岩石地层发育差异引起的。泗溪剖面DOUNCE事件主体部分缺失与该剖面位于台内盆地斜坡环境,发育多层滑塌构造造成的地层缺失有关。研究结果表明在缺乏生物地层控制的埃迪卡拉系,δ13C同位素地层是揭示沉积相变化造成的岩石地层差异和地层对比的重要手段。     

峡东埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组稳定碳同位素记录及其年代地层意义

基于峡东秭归青林口、泗溪和宜昌晓峰河埃迪卡拉系下部陡山沱组剖面岩石、层序和精细的碳同位素地层研究,在埃迪卡拉系下部陡山沱组底部、下部、中部、上部和顶部分别识别出5次以灰岩出现或黑色页岩增厚为标志的海侵事件,划分出5个可以进行区域对比的三级层序,自下而上分别命名为BDSS,LDSS,MDSS,UDSS和TDSS。以层序界面为对比标志,峡东埃迪卡拉纪不同古地理部位碳同位素组成变化的对比显示峡东埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组中内部发育5次可以进行区域乃至全球对比的碳同位素负异常,分别是分布在BDSS下部的SN1,LDSS上部的SN2,MDSS上部和顶部的SN3和SN4,以及分布在UDSS上部的SN5。其中SN1和SN4碳同位素负偏离最为明显,最小δ13C分别达到-4‰~-5‰和-9‰~-10‰,分别与Marinoan冰期上覆盖帽白云岩以及Gaskier冰碛沉积上、下地层中的碳同位素组成特点接近。SN4是埃迪卡拉系最晚冰期的产物。与SN1是埃迪卡拉系底界划分对比的标志相对比,SN4的出现应该是埃迪卡拉系内部再划分中另一个不可忽视的界线标志。     

湖北宜昌樟村坪地区陡山沱组地层划分与对比

华南峡东地区（黄陵隆起南缘）的陡山沱组是国际上埃迪卡拉纪地层和生物与环境事件的研究热点之一,但近在咫尺的黄陵北缘陡山沱组地层研究相对较少,已有的研究不足以反映黄陵北缘陡山沱组地层的特征,甚至与黄陵南缘地区未能建立起明确的对比关系.选取了黄陵北缘樟村坪及其周边地区的4个完整的陡山沱组剖面进行研究,以完整连续的钻孔剖面为依据,配合露头剖面的宏观沉积现象,对埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组进行详细的划分和对比.将樟村坪地区陡山沱组岩石地层划分出4个岩性段,并在层序地层学上划分出两个半三级层序,层序界面分别位于陡山沱组底界、陡山沱组第二段第二亚段顶界和陡山沱组第三段与第四段分界处.通过与黄陵隆起南缘陡山沱组各段岩性比较分析,建立了南、北缘地层对比联系,从而为黄陵北缘磷矿区的地层学研究奠定了基础.      

峡东地区上埃迪卡拉系岩石、生物、层序和碳同位素地层及其年代学意义

本文系统研究了峡东灯影峡上埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组上部至灯影组石板滩段及其区内与之同期不同相区(或古地理部位)地层岩石、生物、层序和碳同位素地层,结果发现峡东埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组—灯影组界线附近地层横向上存在台地相、高陡边缘台地边缘相和盆地相多种沉积相类型,灯影组的底界和内部划分明显受沉积相的制约,以白云岩出现为标志的灯影组底界是一个明显的穿时面。与灯影组中部存在的两次海进—海退旋回相对应不仅发生了两次δ13C的上升和下降,而且发生了两次重要的生物辐射事件,在石板滩段下部和上部分别出现了具有全球广泛对比意义的叶状埃迪卡拉动物和管状Cloudiniids动物。据此可以将峡东灯影组划分出两个可以进行全球对比的年代地层单位泗溪阶和龙灯溪阶。由于龙灯溪阶上部,继Cloudiniids消失之后,小壳化石出现之前发生了δ13C的震荡下降,并在灯影组白马沱段底部出现了最小δ13C达到-12‰的碳同位素强烈负偏离。因此,生物和碳同位素组成变化特点及其全球对比显示长江三峡地区寒武系的底界应大致与灯影峡剖面上灯影组石板滩段与白马沱段界线一致。     

华南埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱海洋中无机碳同位素组成变化

报道了贵州江口桃映深水相剖面陡山沱组碳酸盐岩δ13C值的变化特征,结合其他已报道的数据,分析了华南扬子地区埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱海洋不同沉积环境,包括盆地相、斜坡相、台地相、台地边缘相碳酸盐岩中δ13C变化趋势及绝对值的异同,发现浅水区剖面记录的δ13C漂移次数多于深水区剖面,且不同相区δ13C值也有差异。δ13C值的差异与埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱海洋的阶段性演化密切相关。基于不同相区的δ13C值变化,埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱海洋的演化历史可分为3个时期:1)陡山沱组1段盖帽白云岩沉积期华南扬子地区很可能为一个开阔台地,白云岩中δ13C值可能继承于幔源CO2的碳同位素特征,深水区和浅水区碳酸盐中δ13C值无显著差异;2)陡山沱组2段和陡山沱组3段下部沉积时期盆地深水区中δ13C值显著低于浅水区,且深水区δ13C值与陡山沱组1段时期无显著差异,浅水区的δ13C值则显著升高;3)陡山沱组3段上部和陡山沱组4段沉积时期陡山沱盆地中δ13C值均显著下降,且不同沉积环境中的δ13C值差异度降低。盖帽后埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱海洋阶段性演化主要与不同时期深水区DOC库的逐步氧化有关。     

峡东地区埃迪卡拉系黑色页岩的微量元素和Fe同位素特征及其古环境意义

通过分析宜昌峡东地区九龙湾剖面埃迪卡拉系陡山沱组黑色页岩的微量元素和Fe同位素组成,对埃迪卡拉纪海洋的氧化还原状态进行了制约。黑色页岩氧化还原敏感元素的富集系数以及U/Th、V/(V+Ni)、V/Cr值等在陡山沱期存在着明显的演化趋势。这些趋势显示陡山沱组二段下部水体处于氧化的状态,陡山沱组二段上部水体处于还原状态,陡山沱组四段黑色页岩发育在氧化环境中。同时,陡山沱组二段下部黑色页岩富集重的Fe同位素,表明黑色页岩来自于海水的铁主要是以Fe3+的氧化物或氢氧化物形式沉淀的,进一步说明这个时期的水体处于氧化状态。综合黑色页岩微量元素和Fe同位素信息,显示在埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱早期海水经历了先氧化后还原的过程,陡山沱晚期海水变得氧化了。这种特征与埃迪卡拉纪陡山沱期生物群的出现和演化相对应,说明海洋的氧化为埃迪卡拉纪生物的出现和演化提供了前提条件。     

Duration and synchroneity of the largest negative carbon isotope excursion on Earth: The Shuram/Wonoka anomaly

Carbonate δ¹³C values provide a useful monitor of changes in the global carbon cycle because they can record the burial ratio of organic to carbonate carbon. The most pronounced isotope excursions in the geologic record occur during the Neoproterozoic and have assumed a central role in the interpretation of biogeochemical events preceding the Ediacaran and Cambrian radiations. The most profound negative carbon isotope excursion is best recorded in the Ediacaran-aged Shuram Formation of Oman and has potential equivalents worldwide including the Wonoka Formation of South Australia and other sections in China, India, Siberia, Canada, Scandinavia and Brazil. All these excursions are less well understood than those in the Phanerozoic because of their unusual magnitude, long duration (> 1 Ma) and the difficulty in correlating Neoproterozoic basins to confirm independently that they do indeed record global change in the mixed ocean reservoir. Alternatively, these δ¹³C anomalies could reflect diachronous diagenetic processes. Currently none of these excursion are firmly time constrained and critical to their interpretation is a coherent reproducibility and synchroneity at the global ocean scale. Here we use available strontium isotope record as an independent chronometer to test the timing and synchroneity of the Shuram δ¹³C and its potential equivalents. The use of the ⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁷Sr ratio allows the reconstruction of a coherent, global δ¹³C record calibrated independently against time. The calibrated δ¹³C curve indicates that the Shuram negative anomaly spans several tens of millions of years and reaches values below −10‰. This carbon isotopic anomaly therefore represents a meaningful oceanographic event that fundamentally challenges our understanding of the carbon cycle as defined in the Phanerozoic.     

A pronounced negative δ13C excursion in an Ediacaran succession of western Yangtze Platform: A possible equivalent to the Shuram event and its implication for chemostratigraphic correlation in South China

A pronounced negative δ¹³C shift that can be potentially correlated with the Shuram excursion has been reported from middle Ediacaran strata in the Yangtze Gorges area of South China. Whether it represents a perturbation to the ocean carbon cycle or a record of post-depositional alteration is still open to debate. Resolving this controversy will help clarify if δ¹³C variations can be used for chemostratigraphic correlation of Ediacaran successions. To further understand the regional pattern of Ediacaran carbon isotopic excursions in the Yangtze platform, we carried out a detailed δ¹³C analysis of the Lianghong section in the western part of the Yangtze platform. The Ediacaran System at Lianghong is overlain by the Maidiping Formation yielding early Cambrian small shelly fossils and underlain by the Cryogenian Lieguliu Formation diamictite and tuffaceous siltstones. It comprises the Guanyinya and Hongchunping formations, which have been traditionally correlated with the Doushantuo and Dengying formations, respectively, in the Yangtze Gorges area. Two negative δ¹³C excursions occur in the Lianghong section. The lower one at the uppermost Guanyinya Formation, with a nadir at − 8.6‰, may be correlated with the pronounced negative δ¹³C shift (EN3) in the uppermost Doushantuo Formation in the Yangtze Gorges area and possibly with the well known Shuram event in Oman. The upper negative δ¹³C excursion occurs in the upper Hongchunping Formation and may be correlated with negative excursions (EN4) near the Ediacaran/Cambrian boundary. Other negative δ¹³C excursions (e.g., EN1 and EN2) are not expressed in the Lianghong section because the lower Guanyinya Formation is dominated by siliciclastic rocks. Combined with previously published Ediacaran δ¹³C profiles, our results indicate that the EN3 excursion (likely a Shuram equivalent) may occur widely in South China and can be a useful chemostratigraphic feature for regional and global stratigraphic correlation.     

C and Sr isotope chemostratigraphy of Vendian-Lower Cambrian carbonate sequences in the central Siberian Platform

We propose a detailed δ¹³C curve for the Vendian and Lower Cambrian (Tommotian) strata of the central Siberian Platform. Two positive carbon isotope excursions identified near the base of the Yuryakh Formation (up to 5.5‰) and in the lower Bilir Formation (up to 5‰) are assigned to the lowermost and middle Tommotian, respectively. This correlation is supported by paleontological data, specific ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values (0.70845-0.70856), and similar C isotope record in coeval Early Cambrian basins. The documented minor vertical oscillations (a few meters) of these isotope excursions relative to the formation boundaries in remote boreholes is presumably caused by the spatiotemporal migration of facies. A high-amplitude negative δ¹³C excursion (-8 to -11‰) in the upper Nepa Regional Stage putatively corresponds to the global Shuram-Wonoka negative carbon isotope excursion (Middle Ediacaran). Carbonates of the lower Nepa Regional Stage (Besyuryakh Formation) demonstrate positive δ¹³C values (up to 5‰) and minimum ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70796-0.70832. The C and Sr isotope record of the Nepa Regional Stage provides its robust correlation with the Dal’nyaya Taiga and Zhuya Groups of the Patom Foredeep. Micropaleontological data herein reported and glacial diamictites documented at the base of the Vendian sedimentary cover both in the central Patom Foredeep and on its periphery suggest a full stratigraphic volume of the Ediacaran System in the most stratigraphically complete sections of the central Siberian Platform.     

Nitrogen isotope chemostratigraphy of the Ediacaran and Early Cambrian platform sequence at Three Gorges,South China

The appearance of multicellular animals and subsequent radiation during the Ediacaran/Cambrian transition may have significantly changed the oceanic ecosystem. Nitrogen cycling is essential for primary productivity and thus its connection to animal evolution is important for understanding the co-evolution of the Earth's environment and life. Here, we first report on coupled organic carbon and nitrogen isotope chemostratigraphy from the entire Ediacaran to Early Cambrian period by using drill core samples from the Yangtze Platform, South China. The results show that δ¹⁵N_TN values were high (~ + 6‰) until middle Ediacaran, gradually dropping down to − 1‰ at the earliest Cambrian, then rising back to + 4‰ in the end of the Early Cambrian. Organic carbon and nitrogen contents widely varied with a relatively constant C/N ratio in each stratigraphic unit, and do not apparently control the carbon and nitrogen isotopic trends. These observations suggest that the δ¹⁵N_TN and C/N trends mainly reflect secular changes in nitrogen cycling in the Yangtze Platform. Onset of the observed negative N isotope excursion coincided with a global carbon isotope excursion event (Shuram excursion). Before the Shuram event, the high δ¹⁵N probably reflects denitrification in a nitrate-limited oceanic condition. Also, degradation of dissolved and particulate organic matter could be an additional mechanism for the ¹⁵N-enrichment, and may have been significant when the ocean was rich in organic matter. At the time of the Shuram event, both δ¹³C_carb and δ¹⁵N_TN values were dropped probably due to massive re-mineralization of organic matter. This scenario is supported by an anomalously low C/N ratio, implying that enhanced respiration resulted in selective loss of carbon as CO₂ with recycled organic nitrogen. After the Shuram event, the δ¹⁵N value continued to decrease despite that δ¹³C_carb rose back to + 4‰. The continued δ¹⁵N drop appears to have coincided with a decreasing phosphorus content in carbonate. This suggests that ocean oxygenation may have generated a more nitrate-rich condition with respect to phosphorus as a limiting nutrient. Similar to the Shuram event, another negative δ¹³C_carb event in the Canglanpuan stage of the Early Cambrian is also characterized by carbon isotopic decoupling as well as the low C/N ratio. The results strongly support that the two stages of the decoupled negative δ¹³C_carb excursions reflect a disappearance of a large organic carbon pool in the ocean. The two events appear to relate with the appearance of new metazoan taxa with novel feeding strategies, suggesting a link between ocean oxygenation, nutrient cycling and the appearance and adaptation of metazoans. The nitrogen isotope geochemistry is very useful to understand the link between the environmental, ecological and biological evolutions.     

华北寒武系芙蓉统底界附近的碳同位素组成演化特征

为了确定我国华北寒武系苗岭统鼓山阶和芙蓉统排碧阶的底界,对豫北沙滩剖面碳酸盐岩碳同位素组成演化趋势进行了研究.结果表明寒武系δ13C演化表现出3次正漂移和2次负漂移,正漂移分布于张夏组下部、中部和炒米店组上部,δ13C分别达到最大值2.0‰、1.0‰和3.0‰;负漂移分布于张夏组底部和中下部,δ13C分别降到最低值-3.4‰和-1.0‰.炒米店组上部的δ13C正漂移起始于三叶虫Chuangia带底部,相当于美国、澳大利亚、西伯利亚及我国华南地区的芙蓉统排碧阶的SPICE正漂移.张夏组底部的δ13C负漂移对应于三叶虫Bailiella-Lioparia带,相当于鼓山阶底部的DICE负漂移.这2次δ13C漂移事件不仅可作为区域地层对比的依据,还可作为我国华北寒武系苗岭统鼓山阶和芙蓉统排碧阶底界确定的标志.寒武纪δ13C漂移事件与海平面变化、古生态环境演化密切相关,因海侵作用导致的古生态环境扩大及海洋初始生产力的繁盛可能是海相碳酸盐岩δ13C正漂移演化的主要原因.      

湖南会同寒武纪早期有机碳同位素地层学研究

寒武纪早期是地球海洋环境与生命演化的关键时期,但目前扬子东南缘深水相区的早寒武纪地层尚缺乏系统、精确 的地层对比工作。该文选取湖南省怀化地区会同钻孔剖面（深水相区） 的留茶坡组硅质岩、小烟溪组黑色页岩为研究对 象,进行了高分辨的有机碳同位素（δ13Corg） 地层对比,结果在会同剖面自下而上识别出四个正漂移（P1、P2、P3和P4） 与两个负漂移（N1和N2）,结合其他剖面的生物化石记录和锆石U-Pb年龄资料,将会同剖面有机碳同位素与湖南其他 剖面,以及和云南和三峡等地浅水相区剖面的有机碳、无机碳同位素曲线进行对比,认为扬子东南缘埃迪卡拉系-寒武 系界线在湖南深水相区可放置于留茶坡组上部较大的有机碳同位素负漂移（Basal Cambrian Carbon isotope Excursion, BACE） 出现的位置,但由于钻孔深度不够,所以该负漂移未在会同剖面获得,而P1、P2和P3分别对应于寒武系的ZHUCE （ZHUjiaqing Carbon isotope Excursion,第二阶）、CARE （Cambrian Arthropod Radiation isotope Excursion,第三阶） 和MICE（MIngxinsi Carbon Isotope Excursion,第四阶） 正漂移,N1 和N2 分别对应于寒武系的SHICE （SHIyantou Carbon isotope Excursion,第二阶） 和AECE（Archaeocyathid Extinction Carbon isotope Excursion,第四阶） 负漂移,因此会同剖面留茶坡组顶部至小烟溪组底部属于寒武系第二阶,小烟溪组下部属于寒武系第三阶,而小烟溪组中-上部属于寒武系第四阶,而顶 部是否达到第四阶顶部尚无法确认。碳同位素的负漂移可能是海侵时期上升流水体将底层富含12C还原水体带至浅水地区所 致,并分别与埃迪卡拉动物群、小壳化石动物群和古杯动物的灭绝密切相关;而在生物繁盛时期,海洋初级生产力升高, 有机质埋藏增加,导致碳同位素的正漂移。     

The room for the Vendian in the International Chronostratigraphic Chart

The Vendian was proposed by B.S. Sokolov as a stratigraphic subdivision comprising the last of the Proterozoic glacial periods (the Laplandian Glaciation) and the overlying strata delineated by a full stratigraphic range of fossil soft-bodied organisms. For over three decades the Vendian had been an informal part of the Standard Global Chronostratigraphic Chart, until 2004, when it gave place to the new Ediacaran System. Further research has shown that the Ediacaran System significantly exceeds the stratigraphic range of the Vendian in Sokolov’s definition and includes stratigraphic analogs of the Laplandian Glaciation in sections across North America, Australia, Newfoundland, Scotland, Ireland, Chinese Tien Shan Range, and Tasmanian microcontinent. Carbon isotope variations in carbonates provide criteria for subdivision of the Ediacaran into two series. If a relationship between the Laplandian Glacial Period (600–580 Ma) and the negative excursions EN2 and EN3 on the 5¹³C curve for the Doushantuo Formation of China is established, the Vendian might take its place in the Standard Global Chronostratigraphic Chart as a formal upper series of the Ediacaran System. The Vendian Series, in turn, might be further subdivided into the Laplandian, Redkinian, Belomorian, and Kotlinian stages typified by regional stages of the Vendian of the East European Platform.     

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.