Diagenetic significance of carbon, oxygen and strontium isotopic compositions in the Aptian-Albian Mural Formation in Cerro Pimas, northern Sonora, Mexico (original) (raw)
Related papers
1999
Our current understanding of mid-Cretaceous global change is largely based on investigations of pelagic sections from southern Europe and deep sea drilling sites. Much less information exists from other continents and from hemipelagic sections deposited on continental margins. This investigation seeks to broaden our understanding of mid-Cretaceous global change by focusing on the record from hemipelagic sections deposited along the continental margin of northeastern Mexico. The major goals are to compare the record, timing, and extent of the Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) in Mexico and other areas, and to determine the relationship between these events and the global burial of organic material using carbon isotopes.
Climate variability is driven by a complex interplay of global-scale processes and our understanding of them depends on sufficient temporal resolution of the geologic records and their precise inter-regional correlation, which in most cases cannot be btained with biostratigraphic methods alone. Chemostratigraphic correlation based on bulk sediment carbon isotopes is increasingly used to facilitate high-resolution correlation over large distances, but complications arise from a multitude of possible influences from local differences in biological, diagenetic and physico-chemical factors on individual δ13C records that can mask the global signal. To better assess the global versus local contribution in a δ13C record it is necessary to compare numerous isotopic records on a global scale. As a contribution to this objective, this paper reviews bulk sediment δ13Ccarb records from the Late Cretaceous in order to identify differences and similarities in secular δ13C trends that help establish a global reference δ13C record for this period. The study presents a global-scale comparison of twenty δ13C records from sections representing various palaeo-latitudes in both hemispheres and different oceanic settings from the Boreal, Tethys, Western Interior, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, and with various diagenetic overprinting. The isotopic patterns are correlated based on independent dating with biostratigraphic and paleomagnetic data and reveal good agreement of the major isotope events despite offsets in absolute δ13C values and variation in amplitude between the sites. These differences reflect the varying local influences e.g. from depositional settings, bottom water age and diagenetic history, whereas the concordant patterns in δ13C shifts might represent δ13C fluctuations in the global seawater dissolved inorganic carbon. The latter is modulated by variations in organic matter burial relative to re-mineralization, in the global-scale formation of authigenic carbonate, and in partitioning of carbon between organic carbon and carbonate sinks. These variations are mainly controlled by changes in climate and eustasy. Additionally, some globally synchronous shifts in the bulk δ13Ccarb records could result from parallel variation in the contribution of authigenic carbonate to the sediment. Formation of these cements through biologically mediated early diagenetic processes is related to availability of oxygen and organic material and, thus, can be globally synchronized by fluctuations in eustasy, atmospheric and oceanic oxygen levels or in large-scale oceanic circulation. Because the influence of early diagenetic cements on the bulk δ13Ccarb signal can, but need not be synchronized, chemostratigraphy should not be used as a stand-alone method for trans-continental correlation, and especially minor isotopic shifts have to be interpreted with utmost care. Nevertheless, the observed consistency of the δ13C correlations confirms global scale applicability of bulk sediment δ13C chemostratigraphy for the Late Cretaceous, including sediments that underwent lithification and burial diagenesis such as the sediments from the Himalayan and Alpine sections. Limitations arise from increased uncertainties (1) in sediments with very low carbonate content, (2) from larger δ13C variability in sediments from very shallow marine environments, (3) from unrecognized hiatuses or strong changes in sedimentation rates, and (4) in sections with short stratigraphic coverage or with few biostratigraphic marker horizons. The combination of chemostratigraphy with biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy substantially increases the precision and temporal resolution of inter-regional correlations and helps overcome problems that arise from differences in biostratigraphic schemes, facies or provincialism of key fossils. By using an iterative approach to stepwise increase precision of the correlations, isochroneity of first and last occurrences of marker species versus chemostratigraphy is tested, which helps to improve biostratigraphic zonations, to assess zonal boundary ages and to identify useful criteria for defining Late Cretaceous stage boundaries, many of which are still not formally defined. The presented correlations indicate a consistent position for most planktic foraminifer zonal boundaries relative to corresponding isotope shifts during the mid-Cretaceous sea-level high, whereas diachroneity appears to be more pronounced during the Late Campanian and Maastrichtian global sea-level fall. A similar pattern is observed for trans-continental consistency in the δ13C shifts. Graphic correlation of isotopic shifts, magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic events among the compared sections is used to detect hiatuses or relative changes sediment accumulation rates and visualizes consistency or offsets of individual biostratigraphic markers relative to chemo- and magnetostratigraphy. Finally, an attempt of a global average δ13C stack is presented for the Turonian through Maastrichtian.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2006
In order to improve our understanding of the relationships between the late Hauterivian oceanic anoxic Faraoni event, contemporaneous platform drowning along the northern Tethyan margin and global environmental change in general, we established high-resolution δ 13 C and δ 18 O curves for the late Hauterivian and the entire Barremian stage. These data were obtained from whole-rock carbonate samples from the Veveyse de Châtel-Saint-Denis section (Switzerland), the Fiume-Bosso section and the nearby Gorgo a Cerbara section (central Italy), and the Angles section (Barremian stratotype, France).
Geological Magazine, 2006
Carbon stable-isotope variation through the Cenomanian-Santonian stages is characterized using data for 1769 bulk pelagic carbonate samples collected from seven Chalk successions in England. The sections show consistent stratigraphic trends and δ 13 C values that provide a basis for highresolution correlation. Positive and negative δ 13 C excursions and inflection points on the isotope profiles are used to define 72 isotope events. Key markers are provided by positive δ 13 C excursions of up to + 2 ‰: the Albian/Cenomanian Boundary Event; Mid-Cenomanian Event I; the Cenomanian/Turonian Boundary Event; the Bridgewick, Hitch Wood and Navigation events of Late Turonian age; and the Santonian/Campanian Boundary Event. Isotope events are isochronous within a framework provided by macrofossil datum levels and bentonite horizons. An age-calibrated composite δ 13 C reference curve and an isotope event stratigraphy are constructed using data from the English Chalk. The isotope stratigraphy is applied to successions in Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Correlation with pelagic sections at Gubbio, central Italy, demonstrates general agreement between biostratigraphic and chemostratigraphic criteria in the Cenomanian-Turonian stages, confirming established relationships between Tethyan planktonic foraminiferal and Boreal macrofossil biozonations. Correlation of the Coniacian-Santonian stages is less clear cut: magnetostratigraphic evidence for placing the base of Chron 33r near the base of the Upper Santonian is in good agreement with the carbon-isotope correlation, but generates significant anomalies regarding the placement of the Santonian and Campanian stage boundaries with respect to Tethyan planktonic foraminiferal and nannofossil zones. Isotope stratigraphy offers a more reliable criterion for detailed correlation of Cenomanian-Santonian strata than biostratigraphy. With the addition of Campanian δ 13 C data from one of the English sections, a composite Cenomanian-Campanian age-calibrated reference curve is presented that can be utilized in future chemostratigraphic studies.
We used petrofacies analysis and stable isotope data to interpret the isotopic variations in the marine carbonate succession of the Early Cretaceous Mural Formation of northeastern Sonora (Pitaycachi section), Mexico. The petrographic study reveals a range of lithofacies from bioclastic mudstones to boundstones. Allochems consist of corals, algae, rudists, echinoids, sponge spicules, radiolarians, foraminifera and calpionellids. Samples analyzed for stable isotope are significantly depleted with δ 18 O values of -15.19‰ to -6.32‰ and exhibit positive δ 13 C values ranging from 2.91‰ to 4.39‰. The lack of correlation between δ 13 C and δ 18 O values also supports a primary marine origin for the δ 13 C values of limestones from the Pitaycachi section. In the δ 13 C profile, the Cánova Member shows an upward increasing trend from 3.09‰ to 4.36‰ interpreted to indicate an increase in the rate of marine organic production and/or organic burial in the basin during early Albian time. The abrupt increase in carbon isotope values in the lower part of the section correlates with OAE1b. The shape of the C-isotope curve of the present study is similar to other C-isotope curves from Mexico and other continents (e.g., Vacontian basin, France) indicating that OAE1b may have been global in extent.
Palaios, 1986
Carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of 240m of Upper Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary limestones and marlstones from Zumaya, Spain, has revealed 3 distinct, negative carbon isotope excursions of up to 2 per mil, occurring both before and during the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) transition. Ammonite and inoceramid macrofossils disappear in this section 12.5 and 120m below the K/T boundary, coincident with 2 distinct episodes of negative delta 13C values. These may reflect localized paleoceanographic or ecological changes. The last and largest of the isotope excursions corresponds with the K/T boundary marl and mass extinctions of calcareous plankton. The K/T boundary carbon isotope excursion is one of 3 that took place during the last 1Ma of the Cretaceous, each one possible being associated with biotic changes in the oceanic realm. The K/T boundary excursion coincides with iridum concentraion and spherules of unidentified origin, perhaps indicating that paleoceanographic change coincided with either extra-terrestrial impacts or volcanic events that amplified their effects and accelerated biotic changes during times of stressed oceanic ecosystems.-from Authors
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2000
We investigated Valanginian–Hauterivian bulk rock and belemnite samples from Vocontian Basin sections in southeastern France for their stable carbon and oxygen isotope signature. Firstly, because these sections permit calibration with high-resolution biostratigraphy based on ammonites and secondly because detailed isotope studies for the Hauterivian are lacking. The results show that δ13C values for bulk rock decrease during the late Valanginian–early Hauterivian with 1‰ and increase again during the late Hauterivian with 1‰. The δ18O signal for bulk rock samples is mostly disturbed by diagenesis. The belemnites show carbon and oxygen isotope values that are lower and higher than bulk rock samples respectively. We explain this as the result of the belemnites recording a deeper water signal with lighter δ13C values and heavier δ18O values, implicating colder water at greater depth. The overall preservation of the belemnites is very good and permits the construction of a paleo-temperature trend. This trend shows warm deeper water temperatures during the late early Valanginian (15°C) and progressively cooler temperatures during the late Valanginian and early Hauterivian (11°C). During the late Hauterivian temperatures increase again (13°C). We relate this cooling trend for deeper water to a second order sea level rise, which allowed for the exchange of cold Boreal and warm Tethyan water masses. The influx of cold nutrient rich water had a profound effect on carbonate producing biota along the northern margin of the Tethys during the Hauterivian leading to prolonged phases of condensation and platform destruction. During the early Hauterivian the carbonate system along the northern Tethyan margin shifted into a ‘green water’ mode of carbonate production. High rates of carbonate production under mesotrophic conditions, also observed in other parts of the world, meant that the global carbon cycle became buffered shown by the stable trends in carbon isotopes.
AAPG Bulletin, 1980
Significant short-term carbon isotope fluctuations are present in Cretaceous pelagic limestones from widely distributed onshore sections in the Circum-Atlantic-western Tethyan region. More than 1,000 closely spaced samples were analyzed during this study. At least seven major S^^C excursions can be correlated from section to section. The most important "heavy events" occur near the Aptian-Albian and Cenomanian-Turonian boundaries, whereas "light events" are near the Jurassic-Cretaceous, Albian-Cenomanian, Turonian-Coniacian, and Cretaceous-Tertiary boundaries. The association of "events" with stage boundaries and the consistent correlation of "events" between stratlgraphic sections provides a significant new tool for time-rock correlation independent of standard biostratigraphic techniques. The temporal association of these carbon isotope events with stage boundaries (faunal and floral events), global eustatic sea-level variations, and oceanic "anoxic events" demonstrates the potential usefulness of carbon isotope studies in interpreting variations in paleo-oceanic circulation. Furthermore, the association of carbon isotope variations with anoxic events is potentially useful for evaluation of the precise timing and the magnitude of preservation of organic matter in deep-sea and continental-margin sediments. Thus, isotopic studies may aid in estimating potential hydrocarbon resources In largely unexplored oceanic basins or along continental margins.