Origins and maturity of organic matter in mid-Cretaceous black shales from ODP Site 1138 on the Kerguelen Plateau

We have conducted elemental, isotopic, and Rock-Eval analyses of Cenomanian–Santonian sediment samples from ODP Site 1138 in the southern Indian Ocean to assess the origin and thermal maturity of organic matter in mid-Cretaceous black shales found at this high-latitude location. Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations range between 1 and 20 wt% in black to medium-gray sediments deposited around the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary. Results of Rock-Eval pyrolysis indicate that the organic matter is algal Type II material that has experienced modest alteration. Important contributions of nitrogen-fixing bacteria to the amplified production of organic matter implied by the high TOC concentrations is recorded in δ¹⁵N values between −5 and 1‰, and the existence of a near-surface intensified oxygen minimum zone that favored organic carbon preservation is implied by TOC/TN ratios between 20 and 40. In contrast to the marine nature of the organic matter in the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary section, deeper sediments at Site 1138 contain evidence of contributions land-derived organic matter that implies the former presence of forests on the Kerguelen Plateau until the earliest Cenomanian.     

The sedimentary expression of oceanic anoxic event 1b in the North Atlantic

The Aptian/Albian oceanic anoxic event 1b contains the record of several perturbations in the global carbon cycle and multiple black shale levels, particularly in the Western Tethys. The local lithological expression of an oceanic anoxic event depends on palaeogeographical and depositional setting as well as on regional palaeoclimate. Marine sediments at a particular location may therefore be more or less organic‐rich (or not at all) and they may consist of different lithologies. In most studies, however, much of the lithological variability associated with oceanic anoxic events is left unaccounted for and, thus, the exact processes leading to the enrichment of organic matter in these marine sediments and their subsequent preservation in the geological record are unknown. This study focuses on the local sedimentary processes behind the deposition of organic‐rich sediments at Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 545 and Ocean Drilling Program Sites 1049 and 1276 in the North Atlantic during oceanic anoxic event 1b. Although specifically dealing with the sediments deposited during this particular event at these localities, it is expected that the same processes were responsible for determining the exact sedimentary products at localities in similar settings, as well as during other similar events in the Mesozoic. Here, it is shown that the deposition of organic‐rich sediments during oceanic anoxic event 1b was a consequence of the enhanced productivity favoured by upwelling and by riverine nutrient input, or aeolian fertilization of the euphotic zone depending on geographical location. Slope instability processes resulted in the transfer of part of these organic‐rich sediments from the shelf to deep sea depocentres as mud‐laden organic‐rich turbidites, especially in the northern North Atlantic. The so‐called ‘black shales’ are much more varied than their name implies. The end product of sedimentation during an oceanic anoxic event at a particular location is commonly the result of several equifinal processes acting on a local scale rather than the direct result of basinal or even global mechanisms.     

Calcareous nannofossil changes linked to climate deterioration during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum in Tarim Basin,NW China

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum(PETM) event was a dramatic global warming w55.93 Ma ago that resulted in biological extinction events, lithological changes, and major deviations in σ13 C and σ18 O.The southwestern Tarim Basin of China exposes successive Paleogene strata as a result of Tethys evolution and is considered an ideal region for PETM research.Based on calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy, we also used stable isotopes and XRD to analyse the Paleocene-Eocene transition in the Tarim Basin. At the Bashibulake Section, the PETM interval is characterized by(1) an abrupt negative shifts in σ13 C_(org), σ13 C_(carb) and σ18 O(-3%, -4.5% and -3%respectively);(2) an obvious negative correlation between the K-mode(Discoaster, Fasciculithus, Ericsonia, Sphenolithus and Rhomboaster) and r-mode(Biscutum, Chiasmolithus, Toweius) nannofossil taxa coincident with a robust Rhomboaster-Discoaster assemblage; and(3) a significant increase in the percentage of detrital input along with an increase in gypsum content. In the upper part of the Qimugen Formation Micrantholithus and Braarudosphaera are commonly found right up to the top where most of the nannofloras suffer a sharp decrease. In the overlying Gaijitage Formation, calcareous nannofossils disappear completely. These events indicate that the southwestern Tarim Basin was a warm shallow continental shelf during the deposition of the Qimugen Formation. From the early Eocene, the environment changed conspicuously. Evaporation increased and sea level fell, which led to an acid climate.This climate mode continued within the youngest unit studied, the Gaijitage Formation, characterized by the deposition of thick evaporates. Consequently, most of the marine plankton, i.e. calcareous nannoplankton, became disappear, because of the significant climate shift.     

Spectral filtering as a method of visualising and removing striped artefacts in digital elevation data

Spectral filtering was compared with traditional mean spatial filters to assess their ability to identify and remove striped artefacts in digital elevation data. The techniques were applied to two datasets: a 100 m contour derived digital elevation model (DEM) of southern Norway and a 2 m LiDAR DSM of the Lake District, UK. Both datasets contained diagonal data artefacts that were found to propagate into subsequent terrain analysis. Spectral filtering used fast Fourier transformation (FFT) frequency data to identify these data artefacts in both datasets. These were removed from the data by applying a cut filter, prior to the inverse transform. Spectral filtering showed considerable advantages over mean spatial filters, when both the absolute and spatial distribution of elevation changes made were examined. Elevation changes from the spectral filtering were restricted to frequencies removed by the cut filter, were small in magnitude and consequently avoided any global smoothing. Spectral filtering was found to avoid the smoothing of kernel based data editing, and provided a more informative measure of data artefacts present in the FFT frequency domain. Artefacts were found to be heterogeneous through the surfaces, a result of their strong correlations with spatially autocorrelated variables: landcover and landsurface geometry. Spectral filtering performed better on the 100 m DEM, where signal and artefact were clearly distinguishable in the frequency data. Spectrally filtered digital elevation datasets were found to provide a superior and more precise representation of the landsurface and be a more appropriate dataset for any subsequent geomorphological applications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sr Isotope and Trace Element Studies of the Great Dyke and Bushveld Mafic Phase and their Relation to Early Proterozoic Magma Genesis in Southern Africa

New Rb-Sr and trace element data are reported for the GreatDyke and Bushveld Mafic Phase layered intrusions. It is arguedthat geochemical characteristics, such as ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios andR.E.E. distribution patterns have been little modified by crustalcontamination. Rb-Sr data for whole-rocks of the Great Dyke yield an age of2514±16 m.y. and an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio of 0.70261±4.Mineral data are consistent with these results. The low errorson the results indicate no significant variation of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Srratios of successive magmatic influxes emplaced in differentmagma chambers. Earlier Great Dyke magmas were highly Mg-richand represent extensive partial melts of the source material.One such influx is shown to have a high Rb/Sr ratio (0.25) anda fractionated R.E.E. pattern (Ce_N/YB_N 12). These ratios areconsidered to approximate those of the source region. The Bushveld Mafic Phase has been dated accurately for the firsttime and has a Rb-Sr age of 2095±24 m.y. Initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Srratios increase in a stepwise manner upwards in the intrusionfrom 0.70563±2 to 0.70769±6. Each increase isabrupt and occurs at a horizon also characterized by a suddenirregularity in cryptic variation. The Mafic Phase was emplacedas a succession of magmatic influxes each of which had higher⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio than its predecessor. The first magma was both Mg-rich (MgO 21.5 per cent) and SiO₂-rich(50–55 per cent SiO₂) and was derived by extensive partialmelting of a shallow level upper mantle source. This sourcewas characterized by trace element abundance ratios (e.g. Rb/Sr 0.25; K/Rb 90; Ce_N/Yb_N 11), similar to those of kimberlitesand some potassic lavas and comparable with those deduced forthe Great Dyke source region. It is postulated that when the Rhodesian and Kaapvaal cratonsstabilized, underlying refractory mantle became fixed theretoto form a proto-lithosphere. Shortly afterwards, at about 2800m.y. ago, this proto-lithospheric mantle was enriched by passagethrough it of fluids with kimberlitic trace element chemistry.This sub-cratonic mantle thereafter evolved with a relativelyhigh Rb/Sr ratio. Magmas derived from it have anomalous chemicalcharacteristics with respect to those of ocean-floor basalts,reflecting major differences in the evolution of their respectivesource regions.     

The Campos Sales meteorite from Brazil: A lightly shocked L5 chondrite fall

Abstract— The Campos Sales meteorite fell close to the town of Campos Sales in the northeastern Brazilian state of Ceará (7°2′ S, 40°10′ W) on 1991 January 31 at 10:00 P.M. (local time). Several fragments were recovered from an area estimated to be 1 × 3 km. The stone is an ordinary L5 chondrite (Fa_25.0 and FS_21.6) and is lightly shocked (S1). Metal phases present are kamacite, tetrataenite, and antitaenite. Noble gases He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe have been analyzed in two bulk samples of Campos Sales. All exposure ages based on determination of cosmogenic ³He, ²¹Ne, ³⁸Ar, ⁸³Kr, and ¹²⁶Xe abundances and on the cosmogenic ⁸¹Kr/⁸³Kr ratio agree well, which suggests no gas loss during cosmic-ray exposure. The cosmic-ray exposure age is 23.3 ± 1.0 Ma, which falls in the range observed for L5 chondrites (20–30 Ma). The gas-retention ages indicate He loss that must have occurred prior to or during ejection from the L-chondrite parent body.     

Tharsis province of Mars: Geologic sequence,geometry, and a deformation mechanism

The early history of Mars included two large-scale events of great significance: (1) the lowering and resurfacing of one-third of the crust, followed closely by (2) evolution of the Tharsis bulge. Tharsis development apparently involved two stages: (1) an initial rapid topographic rise accompanied by the development of a vast radial fault system, and (2) an extremely long-lived volcanic stage apparently continuing to the geologic present. A deformational model is proposed whereby a first-order mantle convection cell caused early subcrustal erosion and foundering of the low third of the planet. Underplating and deep intrusion by the eroded materials beneath Tharsis caused isostatic doming. Minor radial gravity motions of surficial layers off the dome produced the radial fault system. The hot underplate eventually affected the surface to cause the very long-lived volcanic second stage. Deep crustal anisotropy associated with the locally NE-trending boundary between the highland two-thirds and the lowland one-third caused the NE elongation of many features of Tharsis.