Diagenesis, regular growth and records of seasonality in inoceramid bivalve shells from mid-Maastrichtian hemipelagic beds of the Bay of Biscay

2003 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.J. Gómez-Alday ◽  
J. Elorza

AbstractInoceramid bivalve shells from outcrops of mid-Maastrichtian deep-water carbonate, hemipelagic beds in the Bay of Biscay exhibit post-depositional diagenetic alteration. New data from isotopic analysis (carbon and oxygen), together with observations of the inoceramid shells and carbonate host-rock using cathodoluminescence (CL) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confirm a lateral, westerly increase in the degree of diagenesis, without any substantial textural changes in the alternating dark and clear growth lines of the shell microstructure. Under CL, a bright yellowish to red colour is observed in the most diagenetically altered inoceramid samples. Non-luminescent areas are restricted to the central parts of the less altered shells. A detailed geochemical analysis by electron microprobe, along intrashell profiles of the non-luminescent and luminescent zones has revealed that Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, Na/Ca, Fe/Ca and Mn/Ca ratios show oscillatory curves but behave differently. Fe/Ca, Mn/Ca and Na/Ca ratios are well correlated but usually show an opposite relationship when compared with the Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios of both luminescent and non-luminescent shell areas. Our findings have palaeoenvironmental implications in that the geochemistry of the regular, alternating dark and clear growth lines seems to be related to the input of seasonally controlled phytodetritus to the basin floor.

1998 ◽  
Vol 135 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. D. PRICE ◽  
B. W. SELLWOOD ◽  
R. M. CORFIELD ◽  
L. CLARKE ◽  
J. E. CARTLIDGE

Stable isotopic measurements have been made on both planktonic foraminifera and coccolithic matrix of Middle Cretaceous (Late Albian–Cenomanian) age from two Pacific low latitude sites. The degree of alteration of the foraminifera has been assessed through the application of chemical analyses, cathodoluminescence and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The rotaliporid foraminifera display an interspecies range of δ18O values from −2.29 to −3.01‰ at Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 463 and from −2.74 to −3.55‰ at DSDP Site 305. Hedbergellid foraminifera exhibit a δ18O interspecies variation of −2.52 to −3.02‰ at Site 305. Isotopic analysis of individual Hedbergella delrioensis and Rotalipora appenninica foraminifera from single samples shows H. delrioensis to have a surprisingly large spread of δ18O values (−2.492 to −3.097‰ from Site 463, −2.454 to −3.344‰ from Site 305), whilst δ13C values remain confined to a narrower range. Such a spread of oxygen values may be related to a number of factors, including subtle diagenetic alteration, a wide range of temperature-related depth habitats or growth related changes of primary skeletal calcite. The hedbergellids have consistently lighter oxygen and heavier carbon isotopic values than do the rotaliporid foraminifera and hence provide isotopically derived palaeotemperatures consistent with a thermally stratified ocean. At both sites the oxygen isotopic data are consistent with a gradual warming through Albian–Cenomanian time. However, the results suggest that Middle Cretaceous equatorial oceans were possibly only as warm as those of the present day (or slightly warmer), but did not reach the high temperatures claimed in older literature.


2020 ◽  
Vol 157 (8) ◽  
pp. 1281-1298
Author(s):  
Hang Li ◽  
Ming Wang ◽  
Xiao-Wen Zeng ◽  
An-Bo Luo ◽  
Yun-Peng Yu ◽  
...  

AbstractThe study of the petrogenesis of some magmatic rocks with special geochemical attributes provides effective information for us to explore the deep geodynamic background of their formation. A series of granitic porphyry dykes have been found in the mélange zone of the Asa region in southern Tibet, whose genesis may be closely related to the evolution of the Meso-Tethyan Ocean. Regional geodynamic evolution is investigated by whole-rock geochemical analysis, zircon U–Pb dating and Lu–Hf isotopic analysis of two porphyritic granites. The Asa porphyritic granites have high SiO2 (74.29–78.65 wt %) and alkalis (Na2O + K2O = 6.51–9.35 wt %) contents, and low Al2O3 (11.60–14.51 wt %), CaO (0.04–0.19 wt MgO (0.01–0.10 wt %) contents. They are enriched in Zr, Nb, Ce, Y and Hf and depleted in Ti, Ba, Sr and P, consistent with A-type granites. The samples are relatively rich in LREEs, with LREE/HREE ratios of 1.73–3.04. They display negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.24–0.28) and obvious Ce anomalies in some samples. Zircon U–Pb analyses show that the porphyritic granites formed in late Early Cretaceous time, 107.4 to 105.5 Ma. Zircon εHf(t) values are in the range of 6.9 to 12.0. These data indicate that the porphyritic granites were sourced from interaction between mantle-derived and juvenile lower crust-derived melts, with the addition of oceanic sediment-derived melts. This occurred when the subducting Bangong–Nujiang oceanic crust split to create a slab window. Rising asthenosphere triggered re-melting of lower crust basalts, resulting in the formation of the late Early Cretaceous A-type granites around Asa.


2012 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 69-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth G. MacLeod

Oxygen isotopic analysis of the phosphate in bioapatite has become a standard paleoclimatological tool with results documented in a rapidly expanding literature. Phosphate-based measurements are particularly important for samples where carbonates preservation is suspect (as is the case for many Paleozoic sites). Important analytical and observational advances that have fueled the expansion of phosphate-based studies include: 1) Oxygen isotopic ratios of biogenic apatite can be measured on small enough samples (≥ ~300 μg), quickly enough, cheaply enough, and accurately enough to permit meaningful high resolution paleoclimatic studies of trends through time, along spatial transects, and/or among taxa, 2) biogenic apatite is precipitated in approximate equilibrium with ambient waters and thus records the interplay of temperature and the isotopic composition of the water in which a sample grew, 3) tooth enamel and conodont crown material are quite resistant to diagenetic alteration and are preferred targets for both paleotemperature and paleoecological studies, 4) Paleozoic conodont δ18O records seem to provide robust paleotemperature information on time scales ranging from thousands of years to 100's of millions of years, and generation of increasingly refined paleotemperature records from this diagenetically resistant phase is likely to continue to be a useful field of study, 5) paleoenvironmental variations in δ18O values of seawater have been documented (e.g., differences between glacial and interglacial oceans), but whether and by how much the δ18O value of the hydrosphere may have increased since the Cambrian remains unresolved, and 6) differences in δ18O values among conodont taxa are increasingly well documented and, coupled with the potential to study growth series using ion microprobe techniques, are providing novel perspectives on and important tests of conodont paleoecology.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 113-117
Author(s):  
HM Zakir Hossain ◽  
Md Sultan-Ul-Islam ◽  
John S Armstrong-Altrin ◽  
Alcides N Sial ◽  
Sabbir Ahamed ◽  
...  

Stable carbon (?13C) and oxygen (?18O) isotopes of bivalve shells and calcareous sediments of the Mio-Pliocene Nhila Anticline, southeast Bengal Basin, Bangladesh have been investigated to obtain information on paleoclimate and paleoenvironment conditions during deposition. The ?13CPDB, ?18OPDB and ?18OSMOW values in bivalve shell range from -2.81‰ to -1.56‰, -3.57‰ to -2.39‰ and 27.18‰ to 28.40‰ in bivalve shells and -13.90‰ to -1.75‰, -4.71‰ to -2.13‰ and 26.01‰ to 28.66‰ in calcareous sediments, respectively. The ?13CPDB values in bivalve shells are comparable to that of calcareous sediments (~ -1.75‰) in the upper section, but ?13CPDB values in calcareous sediments are more negative excursion towards lower section (up to -13.90‰). These results signify that salinity gradients could modified the isotope values and/or strong influence of freshwater conditions. The variable ?18OPDB values in both bivalve shell and calcareous sediment suggesting diagenetic alteration of carbonates and water temperature effects. The more negative ?18OPDB values imply humid paleoclimatic conditions during the Mio-Pliocene sedimentation. Therefore, the ?18OPDB values of the Mio-Pliocene sediments of Nhila Anticline are probably controlled by paleotemperature leading to intensification of high rainfall. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jles.v8i0.20155 J. Life Earth Sci., Vol. 8: 113-117, 2013


2004 ◽  
Vol 175 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Perrin

Abstract Early diagenetic changes occurring in aragonite coral skeletons were characterized at the micro- and ultra-structural scales in living and fossil scleractinian colonies, the latter of Pleistocene age. The skeleton of scleractinian corals, like all biomineralized structures, is a composite material formed by the intimate association of inorganic aragonite crystallites and organic matrices. In addition to its organo-mineral duality, the scleractinian skeleton is formed by the three-dimensional arrangement of two clearly distinct basic structural features, the centers of calcification and the fibers. The latter are typically characterized by a transverse micron-scale zonation revealing their incremental growth process. The size, geometry and three-dimensional arrangement of calcification centers and fibers are taxon-specific. The earliest diagenetic modifications of these skeletons have been clearly recognized in the older parts of living colonies. The first steps of diagenesis therefore take place only a few years after the skeleton had been secreted by the living polyps, and in the same environmental conditions. Comparisons with the uppermost living parts of the coral colonies clearly show that these first diagenetic changes are driven by the biological ultrastructural characteristics of these skeletons and are conditioned by the presence of organic envelopes interbedded with and surrounding aragonite crystallites. These first diagenetic processes induce the development of thin fringes of fibrous aragonite cements growing syntaxially on the aragonitic coral fibers, an alteration of the incremental zonation of coral fibers and also preferential diagenetic changes in the calcification centers, including dissolution of their minute internal crystals. Diagenetic patterns observed in Pleistocene coral colonies typically involve the same processes already recognized in the older skeletal parts of living colonies, suggesting that diagenesis occurs through continuous processes instead of clearly differentiated stages. Selective dissolution affects calcification centers and some growth increments of coral fibers. Alteration of the initial transverse zonation of coral fibers also occur through the development of micro-inclusions clearly seen in ultra-thin sections. Although usually thicker than those observed in the ancient skeletal parts of living colonies, syntaxial aragonite cements commonly occur in these fossil skeletons. These cements are often associated with gradual textural modifications of the underlying coral fibers, in particular the loss of the transverse micron-scale zonation. This suggests that the coral skeleton forming the substratum of diagenetic cements is progressively recrystallized in secondary aragonite. This recrystallization of coral aragonite begins at the external margin of the skeleton, just below the diagenetic cements and gradually moves towards the internal skeletal parts. Recrystallization takes place through concomitant fine-scale dissolution-precipitation processes and occurs with textural changes but no mineralogical change. The process of recrystallization is likely initiated by a biological degradation of organic skeletal matrices and can be also driven by thermodynamical constraints involving the lowering of surface free energies resulting from changes in crystal size. Alteration of skeletal organic matrix, textural changes in coral biocrystals through recrystallization and precipitation of secondary diagenetic aragonite may bias the original geochemical characteristics of coral skeletons. Although more work is needed to establish the influence of these early diagenetic processes on the geochemical signatures, it is already well known that the breakdown of organic skeletal envelopes and early recrystallization of shallow-water carbonates alter the stable isotopic composition. The widespread use of coral skeletons as environmental and climatic proxies makes strongly necessary a better understanding of these early diagenetic mechanisms and a precise characterization of the fine-scale diagenetic patterns of specimens for the optimization of geochemical interpretations. In particular, it cannot be assumed that an entire aragonitic composition can guarantee that there is no or slight diagenetic alteration.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominik Božič ◽  
Adrijan Košir ◽  
Maša Mušič ◽  
Marko Štrok

<p>Jurassic successions of the northern part of the Friuli (a.k.a. Dinaric or Adriatic) Carbonate Platform (hereinafter FAD) are best exposed along the Trnovski Gozd Plateau in SW Slovenia. A major stratigraphic unit, known as the Trnovo (Ternowaner) oolite has been considered as a classical, textbook example of a highly productive carbonate platform system exporting oolite sediments to the adjacent deep water depositional settings, producing massive bodies of resedimented oolite, such as the Vajont Limestone of the Belluno Basin. Whereas the stratigraphy of the basinal units in the eastern southern Alps and NW Dinarides is well constrained, coeval shallow marine depositional sequences of FAD Carbonate Platform lack a reliable chronostratigraphic framework.</p><p>We performed Sr isotope analysis of brachiopod shells and belemnite rostra from two stratigraphic levels at the base and above the Trnovo oolite unit (TOU). Suitability of the fossil material was controlled by selecting skeletal parts without fractures and lacking evidence of alteration due to diagenesis and weathering. The ultrastructure of specimens was inspected in resin-embedded polished thin sections under a petrographic microscope, supported by cathodoluminescence and SEM examination, including EDS semi-quantitative elemental analysis of skeletal parts in thin sections and slabs. For chemical analysis, powdered samples were drilled from thin section wafers and analysed for <sup>87</sup>Sr/<sup>86</sup>Sr (stratigraphy), d<sup>13</sup>C, d<sup>18</sup>O, Ca, Mg, Sr, Fe, Mn and Rb (diagenetic alteration control).</p><p>The elemental quantification was performed at Jožef Stefan Institute on an Agilent 8800 Triple-Quad Mass Spectrometer and Sr isotopic analysis on a Nu plasma II Multi-Collector MS. Additional <sup>87</sup>Sr/<sup>86</sup>Sr measurements were performed at UCM Madrid on a IsotopX TIMS. The numerical values were calculated from published Sr curves.</p><p>Brachiopod species from a lumachelle directly overlying a condensed interval in the base of TOU have been considered indicative for the early Toarcian. However, <sup>87</sup>Sr/<sup>86</sup>Sr values obtained from rynchonellid brachipod shells ranged from 0.707109 to 0.707122, corresponding to numerical ages of either 184.7 ± 0.4 Ma (late Pliensbachian) or 181.8 ± 0.5 Ma (early Toarcian). Belemnites from the Limestone with chert, an informal unit overlying TOU, yielded <sup>87</sup>Sr/<sup>86</sup>Sr values from 0.706838 to 0.706862, that fit two intervals of the Sr isotope curve, i.e., 162.5 ± 1.9 Ma (latest Callovian-early Oxfordian) and 159.4 ± 1.7 Ma (middle to late Oxfordian), respectively. In both cases, the duality in results is caused by their proximity to the Sr curve minima.</p><p>These ages open several important questions about the geometry and depositional history of the northern FAD platform system. Despite of a limited accuracy of our results, the age range for TOU clearly spans (at least) late Toarcian and almost whole middle Jurassic, while the age of the supposedly time-equivalent basinal unit, the Vajont Limestone, falls into the late Bajocian-Bathonian interval. Furthermore, our sedimentological re-examination of the classical TOU localities has not shown characteristics of in-situ oolite production environments but, on contrary, evidence of deeper marine deposition marked by beds of carbonate mudstone, including most typical rosso-ammonitico-type facies, associated with (resedimented) oolite and crinoidal facies, similar to parts of the succession of the Vajont Limestone.</p>


1992 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 200-200
Author(s):  
David M. Martill ◽  
Keith L. Duff ◽  
Paul R. Bown

Conventional palaeontological methodology over the last one hundred years has revealed a complex and intricate food web in the Jurassic Lower Oxford Clay of central England; we are able to identify the top carnivores (pliosaurs) down to the primary producers (coccolithophoroids) within the water column. In some cases it is even possible to identify individual prey preferences for different taxa.What conventional palaeontology cannot do satisfactorily is determine the quantities of food processed through the food web, the source of the nutrients, and how much and where recycling of nutrients took place. Consequently we here combine the results of extensive fossil collecting, begun in the 1890s, with data obtained from organic geochemical analysis and isotopic analysis of Oxford Clay sediment and its preserved biota (shells and bones). Examples follow:Palaeotemperatures derived from vertebrates show that ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs and crocodiles were calcifying in waters with temperatures in the range (190 – 220). In addition, the giant filter feeding fish Leedsichthys also yields palaeotemperatures in this range, suggesting that it was a pelagic filter feeder exploiting a rich surface plankton source.Direct evidence for tetrapod diet in the form of preserved stomach contents indicates that hookleted cephalopods formed an important food source for macrovertebrates (Martill 1986). Isotopic data indicate that belemnites (believed to have been hookleted) were living in the lower water column (T = 150). We suggest that perhaps belemnites migrated to surface waters for feeding (probably at night) where they were predated upon by marine reptiles.Duff (1978) suggested that the bivalves Bositra and Meleagrinella lived attached to seaweed rather than living directly on a dysoxic, probably soupy, sea floor. Isotopic data gives palaeotemperatures from these bivalves in the range 16-18 C, comparable with the range 15-18 C derived from the definitely benthic bivalve Gryphaea. Clearly if Meleaqrinella and Bositra lived attached to seaweed then the bottom of the Oxford Clay Sea lay within the photic zone. Organic geochemical analysis indicates high nutrient input, and this is reflected in an extremely high abundance, and diversity peak, for Boreal Jurassic nannofossils.


2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 739-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica Mitrovic ◽  
Natasa Djokovic ◽  
Dragana Zivotic ◽  
Achim Bechtel ◽  
Olga Cvetkovic ◽  
...  

Four lignite lithotypes (matrix coal, xylite-rich coal, mixture of matrix and mineral-rich coal and mixture of matrix and xylite-rich coal), originating from the Kovin deposit, were investigated in detail. The paper was aimed to determine the main maceral, biomarker and isotopic (?13C) characteristics of investigated lithotypes. Based on these results the sources and depositional environment of organic matter in 4 lithotypes were established. These samples were also used as substrates for investigation of the influence of diagenetic alteration on ?13C signatures of biomarkers, as well as for assessment of the most convenient utilization for each lithotype. The investigated lithotypes differ in accordance with the composition of huminite macerals. Xylite-rich coal notably distinguishes from other lithotypes beacuse of the highest content of conifer resins vs. epicuticular waxes. The mixture of matrix and mineral-rich coal is characterised by the greatest contribution of algae and fungi and the most intense methanotrophic activity at the time of deposition. In all coal lithotypes diagenetic aromatisation influenced isotopic composition of individual biomarkers. Xylite-rich coal has the poorest grindability properties. However, this coal lithotype is the most suitable for fluidized bed gasification, whereas the mixture of matrix and mineral-rich coal has the lowest applicability for this process. The calorific value decreases in order: xylite-rich coal > matrix coal > mixture of matrix and xylite-rich coal > mixture of matrix and mineral-rich coal. The increase of organic carbon content and calorific value is controlled by the increase of contribution of wood vegetation vs. herbaceous peat-forming plants, as well as by stability of water table during peatification.


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