Organic carbon deposition and phosphorus accumulation during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 in Tarfaya, Morocco

With a multi-proxy approach, an attempt was made to constrain productivity and bottom-water redox conditions and their effects on the phosphorus accumulation rate at the Mohammed Plage section on the Tarfaya coast, Morocco, during the Cenomanian-Turonian Anoxic Event (OAE 2). A distinct δ¹³C_org isotope excursion of +2.5‰ occurs close to the top of the section. The unusually abrupt shift of the isotope excursion and disappearance of several planktonic foraminiferal species (e.g. Rotalipora cushmani and Rotalipora greenhornensis) in this level suggests a hiatus of between 40–60 kyrs at the excursion onset. Nevertheless, it was possible to determine both the long-term environmental history as well as the processes that took place immediately prior to and during OAE 2. TOC% values increase gradually from the base of the section to the top (from 2.5% to 10%). This is interpreted as the consequence of a long-term eustatic sea-level rise and subsidence causing the encroachment of less oxic waters into the Tarfaya Basin. Similarly a reduction in the mineralogically constructed ‘detrital index’ can be explained by the decrease in the continental flux of terrigenous material due to a relative sea-level rise. A speciation of phosphorus in the upper part of the section, which spans the start and mid-stages of OAE 2, shows overall higher abundances of P_reactive mass accumulation rates before the isotope excursion onset and lower values during the plateau. Due to the probable short hiatus, the onset of the decrease in phosphorus content relative to the isotope excursion is uncertain, although the excursion plateau already contains lower concentrations. The C_org/P_total and V/Al ratios suggest that this reduction was mostly likely caused by a decrease in the available bottom oxygen content (probably as a result of higher productivity) and a corresponding fall in the phosphorus retention ability of the sediment. Productivity appears to have remained high during the isotope plateau possibly due to a combination of ocean-surface fertilisation via increased aridity (increased K/Al and Ti/Al ratios) and/or higher dissolved inorganic phosphorus content in the water column as a result of the decrease in sediment P retention. The evidence for decreased P-burial has been observed in many other palaeoenvironments during OAE 2. Tarfaya's unique upwelling paleosituation provides strong evidence that the nutrient recycling was a global phenomenon and therefore a critical factor in starting and sustaining OAE 2.     

Calcareous nannoplankton, planktonic foraminiferal, and carbonate carbon isotope stratigraphy of the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary section in the Ultrahelvetic Zone (Eastern Alps, Upper Austria)

Ultrahelvetic units of the Eastern Alps were deposited on the distal European continental margin of the (Alpine) Tethys. The Rehkogelgraben section (“Buntmergelserie”, Ultrahelvetic unit, Upper Austria) comprises a 5 m thick succession of upper Cenomanian marl-limestone cycles overlain by a black shale interval composed of three black shale layers and carbonate-free claystones, followed by lower Turonian white to light grey marly limestones with thin marl layers. The main biostratigraphic events in the section are the last occurrence of Rotalipora and the first occurrences of Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica and Quadrum gartneri. The thickest black shale horizon has a TOC content of about 5%, with predominantly marine organic matter of kerogen type II. Vitrinite reflectance and Rock-Eval parameter T_max (<424 °C) indicate low maturity. HI values range from 261 to 362 mg HC/g TOC. δ¹³C values of bulk rock carbonates display the well documented positive shift around the black shale interval, allowing correlation of the Rehkogelgraben section with other sections such as the Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) succession at Pueblo, USA, and reference sections at Eastbourne, UK, and Gubbio, Italy. Sediment accumulation rates at Rehkogelgraben (average 2.5 mm/ka) are significantly lower than those at Pueblo and Eastbourne.     

Geochemical environment of Cenomanian - Turonian black shale deposition at Wunstorf (northern Germany)

Major- and minor- element determinations were carried out on a high-resolution sample set obtained from a sediment drill core at Wunstorf (N. Germany). This study interval includes the black shale-bearing Hesseltal Formation associated with the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2), also referred to as Cenomanian-Turonian Boundary Event (CTBE). Seven black shale packages, each containing several black shale layers, were defined by elevated TOC values, with black shale packages 1-4 deposited during OAE 2. Packages 5-7 extend above the level of the positive carbon-isotope excursion defining OAE 2, indicating that conditions favouring organic carbon burial must have prevailed longer in the Wunstorf Basin than elsewhere. Geochemical analyses revealed no significant differences between black shale packages deposited during and after OAE 2. Enrichment patterns of sulphur, iron and redox-sensitive and sulphide-forming trace metals point to suboxic to anoxic conditions existing at the sediment-water interface during black shale deposition, whereas sulphidic conditions prevailed deeper in the sediment. Variations in element/Al ratios follow cyclic patterns which are interpreted to represent climatically-induced changes in sediment supply. Reduced vertical mixing led to water-column stratification and caused black shale deposition.     

Palaeoenvironmental analysis of Cenomanian-Turonian dinocyst assemblages from the Castilian Platform (Northern-Central Spain)

The palynological assemblages from three Cenomanian-Turonian sections from the Castilian Platform are described. The 49 levels analysed yielded a well-diversified palynological content including dinoflagellate cysts, acritarchs, prasinophytes and miospores. The comparison of the terrestrial and marine assemblages from these three sections reveals significant differences that are mainly related to their relative palaeogeographical locations. The quantitative study performed on dinocyst assemblages suggests an association interpreted as inner neritic including Xenascus ceratioides, Cribroperidinium exilicristatum, Canningia reticulata and Kallosphaeridium? ringnesiorum. On the contrary, the group inferred to show outer neritic preferences is integrated by Palaeohystrichophora infusorioides, Spiniferites spp., Odontochitina spp., Trichodinium castanea and Impletosphaeridium polytrichum. In the Castilian Platform, the Cenomanian-Turonian Boundary Event (CTBE) may be manifested by a higher proportion of Cyclonephelium spp. in the distal dinocyst assemblages.     

Oceanic events and biotic effects of the Cenomanian-Turonian anoxic event, Tarfaya Basin, Morocco

Profound biotic changes accompanied the late Cenomanian δ¹³C excursion and OAE2 in planktic foraminifera in the Tarfaya Basin of Morocco. Planktic foraminifera experienced a severe turnover, though no mass extinction, beginning with the rapid δ¹³C excursion and accelerating with the influx of oxic bottom waters during the first peak and trough of the excursion. Species extinctions equaled the number of evolving species, though only the disaster opportunists Guembelitria and Hedbergella thrived along with a low oxygen tolerant benthic assemblage. The succeeding δ¹³C plateau and organic-rich black shale deposition marks the anoxic event and maximum biotic stress accompanied by a prolonged drop in diversity to just two species, the dominant (80–90%) low oxygen tolerant Heterohelix moremani and surface dweller Hedbergella planispira. After the anoxic event other species returned, but remained rare and sporadically present well into the lower Turonian, whereas Heterohelix moremani remained the single dominant species. The OAE2 biotic turnover suggests that the stress to calcareous plankton was related to changes in the watermass stratification, intensity of upwelling, nutrient flux and oxic levels in the water column driven by changes in climate and oceanic circulation. Results presented here demonstrate a 4-stage pattern of biotic response to the onset, duration, and recovery of OAE2 that is observed widely across the Tethys and its bordering epicontinental seas.     

Litho- and biostratigraphy,facies patterns and depositional sequences of the Cenomanian-Turonian deposits in the Ksour Mountains (Saharan Atlas,Algeria)

The Cenomanian-Turonian deposits exposed in the Ksour Mountains, western part of the Saharan Atlas (Algeria), document marine shelf environments that had been thriving on the North African passive margin, connected northwards to the Tethys Ocean, and fringed southwards by the Saharan craton. Their lithological, palaeontological, and sedimentological characteristics have been investigated to provide new insights into the biostratigraphy, palaeo-environmental evolution and sea-level changes in this western part of the Saharan Atlas. Three formations are recognized, from base to top of the studied succession: 1. The El Rhelida Formation comprising two informal units: the mixed siliciclastic-carbonate unit deposited under different flow regime conditions, from shoreline to backshore environments, and the limestone–claystone unit including coastal mudflat deposits prone to storm events. The early Cenomanian age of the El Rhelida Formation is supported by vertebrate assemblages. 2. The Mdaouer Formation comprising two units: the evaporitic unit dominated by claystone and evaporite alternations deposited on a flat coastal sabkha with occasional storms, and the marlstone–limestone unit formed in a peritidal-lagoonal environment. The Mdaouer Formation is of early-middle Cenomanian age. 3. The Rhoundjaïa Formation comprising three units: the lower limestone unit consisting of relatively homogeneous fossiliferous limestones; the middle marly unit composed of marlstone and bioclastic limestones, and the upper limestone unit consisting of carbonates showing vertical variations in faunal content and stratonomy. The Rhoundjaïa Formation was deposited in homoclinal ramp setting. Ammonite data indicate an early late Cenomanian to early Turonian age for this interval. Within an overall transgressive trend, the Cenomanian-Turonian deposits of the Ksour Mountains record three third-order depositional sequences bounded each by regional discontinuities.     

Pseudorhapydionina bilottei sp. nov., an endemic foraminifera from the post-Cenomanian/Turonian boundary (Pyrenees,NE Spain)

A new species of the foraminiferal genus Pseudorhapydionina is reported from the Santonian shallow-water carbonate and mixed deposits of La Cova Unit, in the Montsec and Pedraforca thrust sheets (Southern Pyrenees, NE Spain). Pseudorhapydionina bilottei sp. nov. differs from the Cenomanian species of the genus in its larger test size and the number of chambers in its early planispiral-involute stage. The discovery of P. bilottei sp. nov in the Santonian indicates that the genus Pseudorhapydionina escaped extinction during the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary (CTB) event in the Pyrenean bioprovince. A new subfamily Pseudorhapydionininae is described.     

ASTURIAS地区森诺曼—土仑期沟鞭藻及古环境分析

研究剖面位于西班牙西北部ASTURIAS地区 ,该区富含沟鞭藻化石 ,共发现沟鞭藻 4 5属 114种 ;在森诺曼 土仑 (Cenomanian Turonian)界线附近沟鞭藻的丰度、分异度显著降低 ,所作的指示环境的其他半定量数据在此也均有变化。通过研究对沟鞭藻所反映的古环境变迁进行了详细分析 ,证实在森诺曼 土仑期本区明显受到了全球缺氧事件的影响。     

Cenomanian-Turonian high-resolution biostratigraphy of north-eastern Mexico and its correlation with the GSSP and Europe

Thin-bedded and millimetrically laminated platy marly limestone quarried near Vallecillo, north-eastern Mexico, contains abundant excellently preserved marine fossils. Planktic foraminifers, inoceramids, and ammonites occur throughout the 7.7-m-thick section of this plattenkalk and provide a precise and detailed biostratigraphic zonation from the uppermost Cenomanian to early Turonian, with a mixed assemblage of Tethyan and Western Interior Seaway faunal elements. Five species of inoceramids are present and described herein: Inoceramus pictus pictus, Mytiloides hattini, M. puebloensis, M. goppelnensis, and M. kossmati. The faunal characteristics of the Vallecillo fossil assemblage combined with the monotonous lithology are favourable attributes for correlation with the GSSP at Pueblo, Colorado, and the Eastbourne section in southern England. The first appearances (FAs) of Watinoceras and Mammites nodosoides are considered approximately isochronous and thus suited for long-distance correlation. In contrast, the FAs of Pseudaspidoceras flexuosum, Fagesia catinus, and Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica are clearly diachronous. The range of M. kossmati needs further evaluation.     

藏南白垩系泥、页岩微量、稀土元素特征及氧化-还原环境分析

为了解藏南定日-岗巴盆地和江孜盆地白垩纪沉积时底层水体的氧化一还原环境,采用ICP-MS方法进行微量元素及稀土元素测试分析.结果表明:研究区微量元素在时空上均发生了变化,这与各元素对沉积水体的氧化一还原敏感程度有关.元素Al标准化后变化趋势也不尽相同,其垂向上的变化反映了沉积物底层水体氧化-还原状况、生物产率等沉积环境,与海平面升降、陆源碎屑输入、成岩作用再活化及沉积后氧化作用等多因素有关.V/(V+Ni)、U/Th、V/Cr、Ni/Co、Re/Mo、Uau及δU比值表明早白垩世及晚白垩世中、晚期藏南地区盆地内底层水体环境总体上为中等分层的含氧环境,但定日一岗巴盆地内晚白垩世早期Cenomanian-Turonian界线附近微量元素发生突变,显示为强烈的还原环境.稀土元素球粒陨石标准化后均表现为轻稀土富集的右倾型,LREE/HREE介于7.42～14.80之间,LaN/YbN变化范围为7.93～18.54,δEu负异常,δCe异常不明显,表明为含氧环境.因此微量、稀土元素微观分析与野外宏观露头观察相结合,不但可以作为地层划分对比的直接依据,且能更准确、有效地判断地层沉积时底层水体的环境状况.