Sediment production and dispersal on foraminifera-dominated early Tertiary ramps: the Eocene El Garia Formation, Tunisia

Larger benthic foraminifera Nummulites are common within Eocene, circum-Tethyan limestones. Despite their importance as sediment producers, contradictions in the literature constrain current understanding about the location of the Nummulites‘factory’. The El Garia Fm was deposited on a ramp with localized palaeohighs, and whilst some authors suggested that the locus of Nummulites production was in shallow water across the palaeohighs, others concluded that production was significantly reduced over these palaeohighs, and concentrated in the surrounding deeper (30–60 m) water. There are also marked dissimilarities between recent models in terms of the continuity, correlation and resolution of depositional sequences. To assess these models, we integrate studies of the architecture and geometry of the El Garia Fm with detailed taphonomic, biometric, biofabric and palaeoecological characterization of Nummulites tests. We conclude that the highest rates of sediment production occurred in euphotic water over the palaeohighs and in nearshore environments. Nummulites on the palaeohighs were transported into the surrounding deeper water by oceanic and storm currents that swept the platform top, producing a nummulitic sediment package that thickened and became increasingly fine-grained and fragmented into outer ramp environments. This transport exerted a major control on development of the ramp-like geometries often seen at outcrop. Our findings question the validity of a recent sequence stratigraphic model that identifies decimetre-scale Milankovitch cycles, even in largely allochthonous, ‘bio-retextured’, mid/outer ramp sediments. Our findings also suggest that the thin packages of El Garia Fm on the palaeohighs, which have previously been interpreted as condensed sections that can be correlated with thicker, more distal accumulations, actually represent remnants of the sediment that was produced on the highs and ‘exported’ into the basin.     

Biotic effects of late Maastrichtian mantle plume volcanism: implications for impacts and mass extinctions

During the late Maastrichtian, DSDP Site 216 on Ninetyeast Ridge, Indian Ocean, passed over a mantle plume leading to volcanic eruptions, islands built to sea level, and catastrophic environmental conditions for planktic and benthic foraminifera. The biotic effects were severe, including dwarfing of all benthic and planktic species, a 90% reduction in species diversity, exclusion of all ecological specialists, near-absence of ecological generalists, and dominance of the disaster opportunist Guembelitria alternating with low O₂-tolerant species. These faunal characteristics are identical to those of the K–T boundary mass extinction, except that the fauna recovered after Site 216 passed beyond the influence of mantle plume volcanism about 500 kyr before the K–T boundary. Similar biotic effects have been observed in Madagascar, Israel, and Egypt. The direct correlation between mantle plume volcanism and biotic effects on Ninetyeast Ridge and the similarity to the K–T mass extinction, which is generally attributed to a large impact, reveal that impacts and volcanism can cause similar environmental catastrophes. This raises the inevitable question: Are mass extinctions caused by impacts or mantle plume volcanism? The unequivocal correlation between intense volcanism and high-stress assemblages necessitates a review of current impact and mass extinction theories.     

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages of late Aptian-early Albian black shale intervals in the Vocontian Basin, SE France

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages were analyzed from three black shale intervals in the upper Aptain to lower Albian of the Vocontian Basin, SE France based on Q-mode principal component analyses. Variations in the distribution patterns of benthic foraminifera around these events suggest differences in the origin of the black shales. Differences between faunas of bioturbated marly and laminated black shale facies have been observed in the Niveau Paquier, Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) 1b and Niveau Leenhardt. Here, the faunal composition and plankton/benthos ratios suggest eutrophic conditions during the deposition of organic-rich sediments leading to black shales. No major variations have been observed in black shales of the upper Aptain Niveau Jacob. Benthic assemblages and low plankton/benthos ratios indicate mesotrophic conditions. Third order sea-level changes are believed to control mainly the origin of the investigated black shale levels.     

Planktonic foraminiferal turnover across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the Vajont valley (Southern Alps, northern Italy)

Planktonic foraminiferal analysis of the Erto section in the Vajont valley (Southern Alps, northern Italy) reveals a relatively complete succession across the Cretaceous–Tertiary (K–T) boundary. The turnover of planktonic foraminiferal fauna was studied for a stratigraphic interval spanning theAbathomphalus mayaroensisZonep.p., Pseudotextularia deformisZone,Guembelitria cretaceaZone,Parvularugoglobigerina eugubinaZone,Eglobigerina eobullioidesSubzone, andParasubbotina pseudobulloidesZonep. p.The extinction of most large, ornate, late Maastrichtian species occurs below a black ‘boundary clay’ (2–4 cm thick); however, part of the Late Cretaceous species, mainly heterohelicidids and hedbergellids, were found over an interval of more than 100 cm above the boundary. Although a relatively high number of species occur for the last time in the main extinction phase, the abundance of these outgoing species is less than 20% of the total population; unkeeled or weakly keeled, simple-shaped forms (heterohelicids, globotruncanellids, hedbergellids) constitute the bulk of the planktonic foraminiferal population both in uppermost Maastrichtian and lowermost Danian beds. The first Tertiary species (‘Globigerina’minutulaand ‘Globigerina’fringa) appear just above the ‘boundary clay’;Parvularuglobigerina eugubinaoccurs a few centimeters above. A marked increase in abundance and diversity in the Tertiary planktonic foraminiferal population occurs at the base of theEoglobigerina eobulloidesSubzone.     

Biostratigraphy,sedimentology and palaeobathymetry of Waulsortian buildups and peri-Waulsortian rocks during the late Tournaisian regression,Dinant area,Belgium

Recent revision of the biostratigraphy allows the recognition of a stratigraphic entity (here termed Freyrian) between the base of the Moliniacian stage and the base of the Viséan and simplifies sedimentological interpretation of late Tournaisian events around Dinant, in Belgium. Petrographic analysis of Freyrian rocks in Waulsortian buildups and peri-Waulsortian facies reveals a pattern of carbonate sedimentation related to the submarine topography developed by the buildups, and to sea-level changes. Graded beds and thin layers of grainstone in the predominantly fine-grained peri-Waulsortian sediments represent influxes derived mainly from nearby buildups during a period of shallowing. Using the sequence of foraminiferan assemblages which colonized the buildups as a stratigraphic scale, the earlier influxes are shown to have occurred only close to the presumed source, whereas later influxes extended further and marked the culmination of the shallowing phase. Deposition during the latter part of the Freyrian appears to have occurred in rather deeper, less disturbed water. The Moliniacian and Viséan boundary stratotypes, both in peri-Waulsortian facies, are critically assessed because almost all the stratigraphically useful foraminiferans occur in the rare grainstones resulting from sediment influxes. Tetrataxis was one of the few foraminiferans to colonize proximal peri-Waulsortian areas and appears to have ranged to a water depth of about 200 m. Downslope diachronism of colonization is interpreted as evidence of a sea-level fall of about 140 m and is used to draw a sea-level curve for this late Tournaisian regression. Using the same depth scale, microbial coating extended to about 300 m and its development appears to have been related to low sedimentation rates rather than photic conditions. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Depositional environments of well‐sorted detrital limestone from the Minatogawa Formation in the southern part of Okinawa Island,the Ryukyu Archipelago,Japan

Well‐sorted detrital limestone is one of the typical lithofacies of the latest interval of the Pleistocene Ryukyu Group, which is exposed in the Ryukyu Archipelago in southwestern Japan. The depositional environments of the limestone are interpreted to be extremely shallow and to include back‐reef lagoons or moats and subaerial sand dunes. However, detailed micropaleontological analyses have not been performed on this limestone. In this study, the interpretation of the depositional environments and paleo‐water depths was improved by quantitative examination of foraminiferal assemblages for the well‐sorted detrital limestone of the Minatogawa Formation in the southern part of Okinawa Island. Thin sections of limestone collected from the Minatogawa (Horikawa) quarry were subjected to sedimentological and foraminiferal analyses. Comparison with modern foraminiferal distribution within the Ryukyu Archipelago indicates that back‐reef and fore‐reef dwelling foraminifers characterize the fossil assemblages from the well‐sorted detrital limestone (bioclastic grainstone). Three ratios of indicator foraminiferal taxa (ratios of back‐reef to fore‐reef taxa, planktonic foraminifers to Amphistegina lobifera and Amphistegina lessonii, and Calcarina gaudichaudii to other Calcarina species), as well as multivariate analyses suggest that the well‐sorted detrital limestone was deposited in fore‐reef setting shallower than 40 m in water depth. A comparable depth range was reconstructed from the coral assemblage in the associated coral limestone, suggesting that the Minatogawa Formation was deposited in a gently inclined ramp setting with patch reefs and/or fringing reefs. Stratigraphic changes in paleo‐water depth, together with evidence of several unconformities associated with paleosol layers suggest that there were repeated transgressions and regressions, with an amplitude up to several tens of meters, when the Minatogawa Formation was deposited.     

MIS 6期以来西菲律宾海表层营养物质水平演化及其控制因素:浮游有孔虫Globigerinoides ruber的Cd/Ca证据

通过西菲律宾海MD06-3052孔浮游有孔虫Globigerinoides ruber的n(Cd)/n(Ca)[n(Cd)和n(Ca)分别指示Cd元素和Ca元素的物质的量]变化研究及其与陆源物质输入、海水结构以及海洋初级生产力等重建结果对比,从营养物质来源和利用两方面,探究了MIS6期以来该区域表层营养物质水平演化及其控制因素,从而为热带西太平洋生物泵作用和营养物质循环提供新思路和新证据。MIS6期以及MIS 2—3期研究区吕宋岛来源的陆源物质输入增多,导致了研究区MIS 6晚期、MIS 3早期和MIS2期浮游有孔虫G. ruber n(Cd)/n(Ca)的升高。而在MIS 3晚期,尽管陆源物质输入量大、次表层营养物质上涌,但初级生产力对于营养物质的利用量大于前两者营养物质输入量之和,最终形成研究区浮游有孔虫G. ruber n(Cd)/n(Ca)在MIS 3晚期呈现逐渐降低的趋势。海平面的迅速升高导致营养物质来源短期不足引起MIS 6/5冰消期浮游有孔虫G. ruber n(Cd)/n(Ca)呈现低值。而MIS 5e期研究区陆源物质输入的增多,又促使浮游有孔虫G. ruber n(Cd)/n(Ca)出现高值。此外, MIS 4—5d期,陆源物质输入较低、次表层营养物质仍受到阻碍,但研究区初级生产力在MIS4—5d期则逐渐升高,致使研究区浮游有孔虫G.rubern(Cd)/n(Ca)呈现下降趋势。研究结果反映不同时期浮游有孔虫G.rubern(Cd)/n(Ca)的受控因素不同,需要对其从营养物质来源和利用两方面因素加以考虑,才能获得更为准确的研究结果。总之,本文对西菲律宾海浮游有孔虫n(Cd)/n(Ca)指标的探究,不仅为该指标在热带西太平洋区域的古海洋学研究打下了基础,还为该指标在其他海域更为准确的探究提供了新的思路。     

热带西太平洋碳酸盐溶跃深度及其变化规律

碳酸盐的溶解与保存是全球碳循环的重要组成部分,研究碳酸盐溶解作用对探索碳循环机制、理解全球气候变化机理等具有重要意义。本文通过西太平洋暖池核心区雅浦海沟南部附近海域108个表层沉积物和3个柱状沉积物样品中浮游有孔虫、底栖有孔虫和碳酸钙含量等变化特征分析了海底碳酸盐溶跃深度、补偿深度及其自中更新世以来的变化规律。表层沉积物碳酸盐含量、浮游与底栖有孔虫丰度、底栖有孔虫占有孔虫全群比例、底栖有孔虫群中胶结质壳比例等多种指标变化表明,本区现代碳酸盐溶跃面(carbonate lysocline depth, CLD)位于水深3800m附近,碳酸盐补偿深度(carbonate compensation depth, CCD)约为4800m。柱状样有孔虫溶解指数(foraminifera dissolution index, FDX）的变化表明,冰期碳酸盐溶解作用减弱,碳酸盐溶跃面和补偿深度变深;冰消期碳酸盐溶解作用增强,溶跃面和补偿深度变浅。位于现代溶跃面附近的柱状岩心碳酸盐含量呈现冰期高、间冰期低的“太平洋型”旋回特征,同时古生产力替代性指标的变化曲线与碳酸盐含量没有明显的相关性,说明中更新世以来的碳酸盐含量变化主要受溶解作用的控制,特别是在冰期- 间冰期转换时期更为明显。     

The Maastrichtian-Danian in the SW Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt (S. Iran): An Integration of Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Gamma-Ray Spectrometry

In this study, the Maastrichtian-Danian boundary was measured and sampled in two stratigraphic sections, the north and south flanks of the Dehnow anticline in Coastal Fars, Southern Iran. This boundary was also investigated in the drilled exploratory well-1 in the same region. The lithology of the Maastrichtian-Danian deposits consists of glauconitic, phosphatic argillaceous limestones and marlstones. 30 genera and 77 species of planktonic foraminifera have been determined. The recognized biozones are the Gansserina gansseri Interval Zone, and the Contusotruncana contusa Interval Zone, which indicates latest Campanian to middle Maastrichtian age for the upper part of the Gurpi Formation. In addition, the Eoglobigerina edita (P1) Partial Range Zone, Praemurica uncinata (P2) Lowest Occurrence Zone, Morozovella angulata (P3) Lowest Occurrence Zone and Globanomalina psudomenardii (P4) Taxon Range Zone represent a Danian to Thanetian age for the lower part of the Pabdeh Formation. From the absence of the Abathomphalus mayaroensis Interval Zone, Pseudoguembelina hariaensis Interval Zone, Pseudotextularia elegans Interval Zone, Plummerita hantkeninoides Interval Zone, Guembelitria cretacea (P0) Partial Range Zone and Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina (Pα) Total Range Zone, it can be deduced that there is a paraconformity across the Maastrichtian–Danian boundary in the studied area, this hiatus encompassing the late Maastrichtian and the earliest Danian. Danian deposits from the study area contain reworked glauconitized macrofossils, planktonic and benthic foraminifera of the Cretaceous. The obtained surface gamma-ray spectrometry logs resemble the exploratory well-1 gamma-ray wireline log.     

北黄海表层沉积物中的底栖有孔虫分布与海洋环境

对2006年8月取自北黄海的302个表层沉积物样品中的底栖有孔虫群落进行了分析,结果表明:北黄海底栖有孔虫群落以适应低温、低盐的冷水种和广温、广盐种为主,胶结质壳底栖有孔虫含量明显高于我国其他海区。利用Q型因子分析提取了5个主因子,通过将主因子代表的底栖有孔虫组合与环境影响因子之间的对比印证,揭示了其内在联系,北黄海底栖有孔虫分布的决定性因素是表层沉积物的粒度,而温度和盐度则起到次要作用,该海区水深变化对底栖有孔虫分布的影响没有明显的规律性。