Contribution to the sedimentology of the Messinian carbonates of the Chelif Basin (Boukadir, Algeria)

The Messinian (Upper Miocene) is characterized at the level of its marginal basins by the development of numerous carbonate platforms. This study concerns the Messinian platform of the Boukadir region in the south of the Chelif Basin in Algeria. It is composed of a lower prograding rimmed platform and an upper aggradational homoclinal ramp resting upon the Tortonian–Lower Messinian Blue Marl Formation, and its thickness reaches ~280 m in the Chelif Basin. The upper red-algae unit is uniform and subhorizontal with a minimum thickness of 90 m. Petrographic analysis of the upper ramp reveals three different microfacies, characterized by Lithothamnium, foraminifera, high porosity, and a microsparitic matrix. MF1 is a packstone, MF2 a packstone/bindstone deposited above the fair-weather wave base and MF3 is a wackestone to packstone deposited below this level. The upper unit is made up entirely of autochthonous biogenic elements without significant external fluvial contribution. It was formed in a shallow marine environment, with very high productivity and a significant export of the sediments produced. This aggradation was followed by a rapid exhumation (regression) transforming all the aragonite into calcite. The platforms correspond to the T2 complex reef formation (6.7–5.95 Ma) documented on the other Messinian carbonate platforms in the South of the Alboran Sea that formed just before the Messinian Salinity Crisis.

Occurrence of Zoophycos in the Ruteh Formation, Middle Permian (Guadalupian), Central Alborz, Iran: palaeoenvironmental and sequence stratigraphy implications

Zoophycos is widely distributed in the marine strata of the Middle Permian Ruteh For- mation in the Alborz Mountain, Iran. The investigation of the Zoophycos, along with environmental variables is a useful tool for interpretation of the palaeoenvironmental and sequence stratigraphy anal- ysis. The petrographic observations led to the identification of ten facies in four facies belts including tidal flat, lagoon, shoal, and open marine, deposited on a homoclinal ramp. Moreover, two third- order depositional sequences were recognized in response to the sea- level fluctuations within the Ruteh For - mation. Detailed studies of the sequence stratigraphy revealed a relationship between the occurrences of Zoophycos and changes in the hydrodynamic condition in the basin. It appears that Zoophycos has been influenced by the ecological and palaeoenvironmental parameters, such as sedimentation rate, nutrient supply, oxygen, wave base, and substrate in the shallow to deep environments. Based on the sedimentological and ichnological analysis, Zoophycos has been formed with various dimensions, morphology, fillings, and densities together with rising and falling in the sea-level. The trace- maker has followed an opportunistic strategy in the unstable conditions of shallow environments, whereas it has chosen a k-selected strategy in more stable deep environments. Additionally, variability in Zoophycos illustrates, how the trace- maker adopted itself with environmental sequences. This reason, owing to optimal conditions, has caused that the abundance of Zoophycos was high in the Transgres- sive System Tracts (TST). Evidence shows that the response of Zoophycos to the ecological properties of the environment usually has deposit- feeder and chemosymbiosis behaviours.

MICROFACIES AND GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE DALICHAI FORMATION: A CASE STUDY OF CENTRAL ALBORZ IN SEMNAN PROVINCE, NORTHERN IRAN

Top Bajocian progressive deposits are marly accumulation and limestone filled with ammonites and other marine fossils that are called ‘Dalichai formation’ with 1420m in thickness. There are erosion and inconsistent boundary that distinct Dalichai formation from Shemshak formation. The boundary of Dalichai and Lar formations is isocline and graded. The presence of Benthic foraminifera, sponge sparkles, and ammonites in the Sharaf section alludes the existence of shallow to deep open marine. Such diagenetic processes as cementation, micritization, porosity, accumulation, iron oxide and bioturbation are observed in Dalichai formation. The carbonates in this formation could have primary aragonitic composition according to the studies on main and secondary elements, carbon and oxygen isotopes, and drawing these values against each other. In such condition, non-marine diagenesis influenced the carbonates mostly. By comparing Sr/Ca and Mn, a semi-closed to open diagenetic environment can be suggested to have impacts on carbonates. Dalichai formation and Lar formation can identify a boundary in 1200m thickness since there are changes in Sr/Ca, Sr/Na, Sr, and carbon and oxygen isotopes to study. Dalichai formation limestone temperature was calculated 32.9 °C. Regarding lithology and analysis of Sharaf section microfacies, three microfacies are specified that appear as deposits in outer ramp. In this study, the model of Homoclinal ramp is suggested to utilize for such formation. Sharaf section Dalichai Formation entails aragonitic mineralogy composition on which burial diagenesis has substantially influenced.

A CARBONATE RAMP EVOLUTION IN THE TRANSITION FROM THE APULIA PLATFORM TO THE IONIAN BASIN DURING EARLY TO LATE CRETACEOUS (NW GREECE)

Facies analysis of Cretaceous carbonate sequences from the external and central Ionian zone revealed a homoclinal ramp model of evolution. During Berriasian to Valanginian, the carbonate ramp was differentiated to an inner-mid and outer ramp environment, which corresponded to the external and central Ionian zone, respectively, while the main inner ramp environment is assumed that was located in the Pre-Apulian zone. The external Ionian zone (inner-mid ramp) is characterized by muds tones-wackes tones with fragmented echinoderms, bivalves, radiolarians and rare aptychus considered to be deposited below the fairweather wave base (FWWB). Locally, thin graded storm deposits intervene, indicating deposition above the storm weather wave base (SWB). Minor occurrences of packs tonesgrainstones, with fragmented echinoderms, calcareous algae, tubiphytes, lagenid foraminifera and rare ooids occur, as well, considered to be deposited at the lowermost part of the inner ramp, near the constantly agitated fairweather wave base (FWWB). The central Ionian zone (outer ramp) is mainly characterized by mudstones-wackestones with abundant radiolarians and rare calpionellids and calcispheres, considered to be deposited below the storm wave base (SWB). No talus or breccias deposits were observed, during the mentioned time interval, in any part of the studied area. From Hauterivian to Turonian, continual sea-level rise, led to establishment of outer ramp environment in the external Ionian zone, over the previous inner-mid ramp, and outer ramp-basin environment, over the previous outer ramp, in the central Ionian zone. The transition from shallower to deeper conditions is characterized by an overall deposition of mudstones-wackestones with abundant radiolarians rooted in pure micrite.

Sequence stratigraphy, basin morphology and sea-level history for the Permian Kapp Starostin Formation of Svalbard, Norway

Based on seven measured sections from Svalbard, the marine strata of the Permian Kapp Starostin Formation are arranged into seven transgressive–regressive sequences (TR1–TR7) ofc. 4–5 Ma average duration, each bound by a maximum regressive surface. Facies, including heterozoan-dominated limestones, spiculitic cherts, sandstones, siltstones and shales, record deposition within inner, middle and outer shelf areas. The lowermost sequence, TR1, comprises most of the basal Vøringen Member, which records a transgression across the Gipshuken Formation following a hiatus of unknown duration. Temperate to cold, storm-dominated facies established in inner to middle shelf areas between the latest Artinskian and Kungurian. Prolonged deepening during sequences TR2 and TR3 was succeeded by a long-term shallowing-upward trend that lasted until the latest Permian (TR4–TR7). A major depocentre existed in central and western Spitsbergen while to the north, Dickson Land remained a shallow platform, leading to a shallow homoclinal ramp in NE Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet. The Middle Permian extinction (late Capitanian) is recorded near the base of TR6 in deeper parts of the basin only; elsewhere this sequence is not recorded. Likewise the youngest sequence, TR7, extending to the upper formational contact of latest Permian age, is found only in the basin depocentre. Comparison with age-equivalent strata in the Sverdrup Basin of Canada reveals a remarkably similar depositional history, with, for example, two (third-order) sea-level cycles recorded in the Late Permian of both regions, in keeping with the global record. Sequence stratigraphy may therefore be a powerful correlative tool for onshore and offshore Permian deposits across NW Pangaea.

Sedimentary characterization of the carbonate source rock of Upper Kimmeridgian Parnac Formation of the Aquitaine Basin (Quercy area)

The main source rock (SR) of the Aquitaine Basin, the most important oil province in France, corresponds to organic-rich marine limestones of Upper Kimmeridgian age (Lons Formation in the Béarn area and Parnac Formation in the Quercy area). In order to better characterize their depositional environment, in particular the conditions of accumulation and preservation of organic-matter, a sedimentological, micropaleontological and geochemical study of the Crayssac section (Quercy) has been performed. Organic-rich sediments are argillaceous limestones (65 to 99% CaCO3) organized in repetitive beds of up to 1-m thickness. Their total organic matter content reaches up to 15 wt.%, and in this SR kerogen is type of II and immature. Microfauna content, the lack of barrier facies and the control of the wave action base over the depositional environments reflect deposition in an open marine type homoclinal ramp. Strong similarities with Kimmeridgian organic-rich limestones of the Middle East (Hanifa Formation) suggest that the Parnac Formation could act as an analogue of this prolific SR.

Insights into a million-year-scale Rhenohercynian carbonate platform evolution through a multi-disciplinary approach: example of a Givetian carbonate record from Belgium

In this paper we formulate answers to three important questions related to Givetian carbonate records and their use for reconstructing million-year-scale past palaeoenvironmental changes. First, we provide detailed illustrations of the fascinating diversity that shaped a significant shallow reefal platform during early to late Givetian time in the Rhenohercynian Ocean; secondly we improve the sedimentological model of the extensive Givetian carbonate platform in the Dinant Basin; and thirdly we evaluate the application of magnetic susceptibility as a tool for long-term trend correlations and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. These goals are reached by making a sedimentological, geophysical and geochemical study of the La Thure section. Through the early–late Givetian interval we discerned 18 microfacies ranging from a homoclinal ramp to a discontinuously rimmed shelf and then a drowning shelf. The comparison of these sedimentological results with those published for the south of the Dinant Syncline allowed us to provide an up to date model of the vertical and lateral environmental development of one of the largest Givetian carbonate platforms in Europe. This comparison also increased the knowledge on the distribution of facies belts in the Dinant Basin and allowed us to highlight the Taghanic Event. Palaeoredox proxies reveal a substantial change in the oxygenation level, from oxygen-depleted to more oxic conditions, between middle and late Givetian time. We demonstrated the relationship between variation in magnetic susceptibility values and proxies for siliciclastic input (such as Si, Al). The La Thure section is considered a key section for the understanding of internal shelf settings bordering Laurussia's southeastern margin.

Facies and integrated stratigraphy of the Upper Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) Großberg Formation south of Regensburg (Bavaria, southern Germany)

ABSTRACT Niebuhr, B., Richardt, N. and Wilmsen, M. 2012. Facies and integrated stratigraphy of the Upper Turonian (Upper Cretaceous) Grosberg Formation south of Regensburg (Bavaria, southern Germany). Acta Geologica Polonica, 62 (4), 595-615. Warszawa. The Upper Turonian Grosberg Formation of the Regensburg area (Danubian Cretaceous Group, Bavaria, southern Germany) has a mean thickness of 20-25 m and consists of sandy bioclastic calcarenites and calcareous sandstones which are rich in bryozoans, serpulids and bivalves (oysters, rudists, inoceramids). Eight facies types have been recognized that characterize deposition on a southward dipping homoclinal ramp: the inner ramp sub-environment was characterized by high-energy sandwave deposits (sandy bioclastic rud- and grainstones, bioclastic sandstones) with sheltered inter-shoal areas. In mid-ramp settings, bioturbated, glauconitic, calcareous sand- and siltstones as well as bioturbated, bioclastic wacke- and packstones predominate. The carbonate grain association of the Grosberg Formation describes a temperate bryomol facies with indicators of warm-water influences. An inferred surplus of land-derived nutrients resulted in eutrophic conditions and favoured the heterozoan communities of the Grosberg Ramp. Carbon stable isotope geochemistry cannot significantly contribute to the stratigraphic calibration of the Grosberg Formation due to the depleted and trendless bulk-rock δ13 C values, probably resulting from a shallow-water aquafacies with depleted δ13 C DIC values and low δ13 C values of syndepositional and early diagenetic carbonate phases. However, strongly enriched skeletal calcite δ13 C values support a correlation of the Grosberg Formation with the mid-Late Turonian positive Hitch Wood isotope event (Hyphantoceras Event of northern Germany). This interpretation is supported by biostratigraphic data and a range from the Mytiloides striatoconcentricus Zone into the lower My. scupini Zone is indicated by inoceramid bivalves. Both the base and top of the Grosberg Formation are characterized by unconformities. Sequence boundary SB Tu 4 at the base is a major regional erosion surface (erosional truncation of the underlying Kagerhoh Formation in the Regensburg area, fluvial incision at the base of the Seugast Member of the Roding Formation in the Bodenwohr area towards the north and northeast). It is suggested that this unconformity corresponds to a major sea-level drop recognized in many other Cretaceous basins below the Hitch Wood or Hyphantoceras Event. The transgression and highstand of the Grosberg Formation is concomitant to the deposition of the fluvial Seugast Member and the onlap of the marginal-marine “Veldensteiner Sandstein” onto the Frankische Alb. The unconformity at the top of the Grosberg Formation (late Late Turonian SB Tu 5) is indicated by a ferruginous firm-/ hardground and an underlying zone of strongly depleted δ13 C values. The abrupt superposition by deeper marine marls of the lower Hellkofen Formation (uppermost Turonian-Lower Coniacian) may be connected with inversion tectonics at the southwestern margin of the Bohemian Massif.

Early diagenesis of Late Cretaceous chalk-chert-phosphorite hardgrounds in Jordan: Implications for sedimentation on a Coniacian-Campanian pelagic ramp

ABSTRACT Hardgrounds and omission surfaces are rare in the predominantly pelagic and hemi-pelagic chalk, chert and phosphorite lithofacies association that forms the Upper Cretaceous (Coniacian to Maastrichtian) Belqa Group succession in central Jordan. However, newly-described hardgrounds of regional extent at the base of the Dhiban Chalk Member (Campanian) in central and south Jordan reveal a complex history of sedimentation and early diagenesis. Following drowning of the Turonian carbonate platform during the Coniacian, the chalk-chert-phosphorite association was deposited on a pelagic ramp in fluctuating water depths. The Mujib Chalk and Dhiban Chalk members represent highstand sea levels, separated by a regressive, lowstand chert-rich unit (Tafilah Member). Hardground successions can be traced over 100 km, and show an early diagenetic history of phosphatisation and biogenic silica lithification from opal-A to opal-CT and quartz that resulted in penecontemporaneous chert deformation, followed by submarine bioerosion and colonisation by corals and/or bivalves. Subsequent deposition of detrital, remanié phosphatic chalk passing up into pelagic coccolith-rich ooze reflects a transgressive third-order sea-level rise during the Early Campanian. These events provide a time-frame for early silica diagenesis and subsequent hardground development. Regional variations in the hardground successions and their early diagenesis are attributed to their precursor host sediment and relative palaeogeographic position on a homoclinal ramp at the southern margin of the Neo-Tethys Ocean.