The Albian to Turonian carbon isotope record from the Shilaif Basin (United Arab Emirates) and its regional and intercontinental correlation

The sedimentary record of the Arabian Shelf offers a unique opportunity to study the Cretaceous (Albian–Turonian) greenhouse climate from a palaeoequatorial perspective. In particular, hemipelagic to pelagic carbonate successions from the extensive Shilaif intra‐shelf basin have the potential to produce an excellent record of carbon cycle perturbations during this interval. This study presents a 269 m thick chemostratigraphic (carbonate δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O) record from the Middle Albian to Early Turonian of central Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), representing over 14 Myr of uninterrupted carbonate sedimentation. The Mauddud to Shilaif formations represent outer ramp to basinal intra‐shelf carbonates with variations from laminated organic‐rich to clean bioturbated intervals. Isotopic evidence of the latest Albian Anoxic Event (Oceanic Anoxic Event 1d), Middle Cenomanian Event I and the Cenomanian–Turonian Anoxic Event (Oceanic Anoxic Event 2) are confirmed and biostratigraphically calibrated by means of calcareous nannofossils. The carbon isotope record allows correlation with other regional records and well‐calibrated records across the Tethyan Ocean and represents a significant improvement of the chronostratigraphic framework of the United Arab Emirates (Shilaif) and Oman (Natih) intra‐shelf basins. The study further confirms that low carbon isotope values corresponding to the two source rock intervals in the Shilaif Formation clearly precede the isotopic expressions of Oceanic Anoxic Event 1d and Oceanic Anoxic Event 2.     

松辽盆地白垩系青山口阶缺氧事件层的有机地球化学特征

松辽盆地白垩系青山口阶下部广泛分布一套富含有机碳的黑色泥岩、页岩沉积,它具有干酪根碳同位素正偏、重排甾烷含量低,普遍存在伽马蜡烷生物标志化合物等有机地球化学特征,代表了白垩纪温室效应时间窗内古湖泊贫氧环境条件下的沉积产物。结合生物地层研究成果,认为青山口阶下部曾发生过古湖泊缺氧事件,其层位大体可与白垩纪古海洋Cenomanian-Turonian界线事件层进行对比,由此提出了松辽盆地青山口阶下部的时代归属于晚白垩世Cenomanian晚期—Turonian早期的新观点。     

黔北牛蹄塘组的地球化学特征及形成环境

贵州北部早寒武世的黑色岩系-牛蹄塘组。主要为黑色页岩,含浮游生物,其中产钼、钒等矿床。其具有独特的元素地球化学特征:K、Ti元素在黑色页岩中的含量高于底部硅质岩,而P元素的含量却相反,硅质岩中的含量显著高于其上覆的黑色页岩;岩孔和菜园两地的共同特点是V、Ba、U的含量明显偏高,富集系数在3以上,显著的差别是Ta元素,其在岩孔是亏损的,而在菜园却明显富集;西部岩孔的稀土总量高于东部菜园,稀土配分曲线形态近于水平或略向左倾,具弱的负Eu异常或不显异常。硅质岩较页岩的负Ce异常程度高。地层特征、元素地球化学特征及特征元素和比值,所反映的是下寒武统牛蹄塘组形成于缺氧的还原环境。     

藏北羌塘地区地层新资料

新的牙形石化石资料证实在羌塘北部地区有泥盆纪查桑组地层，它是该盆地保存的最古老海相沉积地层，羌塘地区中西部广大地区上侏罗统索瓦组顶部产有丰富的以Virgatosphinctes和Aulacosphinctes两属为主的菊石化石，可初步建立5个菊石组合，其中Berriasella和Blanfordiceras菊石的出现使最高海相层位上延至提塘阶顶部或贝利阿斯阶，而圆笠虫(Orbitolina)、似异卷虫（Heterohelix）出现可能反映有海相白垩纪地层的存在，在晚三叠世肖茶卡组中发现有Epigondolella牙形石动物群，这是我国晚三叠世最高位牙形石带又一产地，首次在双湖比隆组油页岩剖面顶部发现产Harploceras sp.菊石化石的层位，时代属早上托阿尔斯（Toarcian）。解决了这一特殊沉积地层单位长期争论的时代归属问题，并指出它与早侏罗世海侵高峰期全球缺氧事件有关。     

Time dependence of organic matter decay and mixing processes in Framvaren, a permanently anoxic fjord in South Norway

Three different layers have been identified in Framvaren, which has a maximum water depth of 184 m. One oxic layer above the redoxcline at 18–20 m. One anoxic layer from 20 to 100 m which is occasionally ventilated by a flow over the sill (which has a depth of 2.5 m), and finally a stagnant layer below 100 m. Using the release rate of silica from the bottom and measurements of the concentration of HTO it is possible to make some calculations on the annual volume of interleaving in the layers 25–50 m, 50–75 m, and 75–100 m together with the advective flows. Reliable values of the sulfide concentration were obtained by precipitating and weighing HgS together with careful protection of all anoxic water samples with argon. The light yellow color of the precipitate in the depth range 25 to 80 m indicates that the occasional ventilation will cause such reactions as 0.50₂ + H₂S S(colloidal) + H₂O. The elemental sulfur, being stabilized with HS^–, is set free upon the precipitation of HgS. The new data for the concentration of sulfide give an acceptable stoichiometry for the decay reaction of organic matter. This is not the case with the data of Yao and Millero. The mean values for the concentrations of ammonium and phosphate agree with the new data of Yao and Millero. The mol/mol C/N ratio of 10.1 found in trapped material by Naess and coworkers (1988) agrees with the stoichiometry of the dissolved constituents, i.e. C/N = 9.92 ± 0.45. A denitrification reaction is suggested to explain the high values of C/N. The vertical diffusion coefficient at 100 m calculated from the depth profile of silica was 0.92 × 10^–6 m² s^–1 which lies in the range of values given by Fröyland. Finally, the ¹⁴C age of the total dissolved inorganic carbon (Ct) in the water below 90 m was about 1600 years indicating a bioproduction in the period 8000 years B.P. to A.D. 1853 when a channel was opened between the fjord outside (Helvikfjord) and Framvaren.     

Carbon isotope records of the early Albian oceanic anoxic event (OAE) 1b from eastern Tethys (southern Tibet,China)

The early Albian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE), i.e., OAE1b, is well documented in western Tethys and in the primary North Atlantic Ocean, but has not yet been reported from eastern Tethys. In this paper, we present bulk carbon isotope data of hemipelagites to examine if it was recorded in eastern Tethys. Samples were taken from the upper Chuangdepu Member (nannofossil zone CC8) of the lower Gyabula (former Shadui) Formation at the Bangbu section, Qonggyai, southern Tibet of China. The δ¹³C values mainly range from −0.6‰ to 1.8‰ with a maximum of 1.87‰ and a minimum of −0.69‰. Three stages of carbon isotope evolution were distinguished with three boundaries. By the constraint of the stratigraphic sequence and nannofossil biostratigraphic zone CC8, the rapid δ¹³C change and correlation with western Tethys and Atlantic Ocean together suggest that these three boundaries of the carbon isotope evolution probably correspond to three subevents of the early Albian OAE1b, and the subevent levels of upper Kilian, Paquier, and Leenhardt are recorded in eastern Tethys (southern Tibet). The fact that the amount of δ¹³C shift is less by ∼1.5–2.0‰ in eastern Tethys than in western Tethys and Atlantic Ocean is interpreted as a result of possible cool sea surface (∼14–16 °C) of the southeastern Tethys (northern Indian passive margin of Greater India), which was probably located in a medium–high latitude during the Albian, leading to low primary productivity. The recognition of OAE-1b from Tethys Himalaya can improve our understanding of the Tethys and global paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic changes during the mid-Cretaceous.     

The geochemistry of iron and manganese in the waters and sediments of Bolstadfjord,S.W. Norway

The distributions of dissolved and solid phase Fe and Mn have been variously determined in vertical profiles through the water column and sediments at three stations in Bolstadfjord, S.W. Norway. Elevated concentrations of dissolved and suspended particulate Fe and Mn are associated with restricted deep waters as a result of redox reactions and with river discharge. The basin sediments are anoxic throughout but because of the greatly restricted circulation, remobilized Fe and Mn appear to remain predominantly trapped within the fjord. Differentiation of Fe and Mn occurs to the extent that Fe sulphide precipitation is ubiquitous in the sediments whereas the entrapment of Mn, probably through Mn carbonate precipitation, is found only in the sediments of the more seaward basin (maximum Mn content of 1·5% by weight).     

Organic matter characterisation of the Selli Level (Umbria-Marche Basin, central Italy)

The Selli Level is a marker-bed in the Umbria-Marche Apennines that represents the regional sedimentary expression of the Lower Aptain Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a. This one to three-metre-thick interval shows a remarkable uniformity on a regional scale, with a green to grey marly lower part overlain by black shales. Bulk geochemical studies and an examination of palynofacies were carried out on three sections in order to characterise the distribution and nature of the organic matter in the Selli Level which has been poorly known hitherto. The organic content is medium (0.5 to 2.9% TOC) in the basal part and higher (4.5% on average, and up to 18% TOC) in the black shales. Pyrolysis and palynological data indicate that the organic matter is mainly of marine origin. The geochemical characteristics of the Selli Level are compared to other, more or less organic-rich marker-beds in the Cretaceous succession of the Umbria-Marche Apennines.

Abstract

Le Niveau Selli est un niveau-repère des Apennins d'Ombrie-Marches qui correspond à l'enregistrement régional de l'événement anoxique océanique 1a. Ce niveau, épais de un à trois mètres, présente une remarquable uniformité à l'échelle régionale avec une partie inférieure argileuse, verdâtre à grise, surmontée par des black shales. Des analyses géochimiques et l'examen des palynofacies ont été entreprises sur trois coupes afin de caractériser le contenu en matière organique du niveau Selli, jusqu'à présent mal connu. Les teneurs en carbone organique sont moyennes (0,5 à 2,9% COT) dans la partie basale et élevées (4,5% en moyenne et jusque 18% COT) dans les black shales. Les résultats de pyrolyse et des observations palynologiques indiquent que la matière organique est essentiellement d'origine marine. Les caractéristiques géochimiques du niveau Selli sont comparées aux autres niveaux repères, plus ou moins riches en carbone organique, qui émaillent la série du Crétacé du basin d'Ombrie-Marches.     

The radiolarian assemblages of the Bonarelli Horizon in the Umbria-Marche Apennines and Southern Alps, Italy

The Bonarelli Horizon is an important regional marker level in the Umbria-Marche Apennines. It is characterized by consisting of black bituminous shales that yield a distinctive radiolarian fauna. Black shales referable to the Bonarelli Horizon are also present in the Southern Alps. The horizon is of uniform lithology and contains radiolarian assemblages of late Cenomanian-early Turonian age throughout both the Umbria-Marche Apennines and Southern Alps. Several new radiolarian taxa have been recognised and described from the Bonarelli Horizon of both areas. Two new species are defined in this paper, namelySethocapsa bossoensisandXitus picenus.     

Analysis of the water column oxic/anoxic interface in the Black and Baltic seas with a numerical model

A 1D hydrophysical-biogeochemical model was developed to study the cycling of the main elements in the pelagic redox layer in seas with anoxic conditions. The formation and decay of organic matter; the reduction and oxidation of nitrogen, sulfur, manganese, and iron species; and the transformation of phosphorus species were parameterized. Temporal and spatial developments of the model's variables were described by a system of horizontally integrated vertical diffusion equations for non-conservative substances. The calculated spatial and temporal distributions of the above-mentioned parameters were in good agreement with observed vertical distribution patterns of these processes.