Regional palaeoenvironmental influence on organic matter sequestration and characteristics of carbon isotope segment C5 in a hemipelagic sequence, Organyà Basin, northeast Spain

Abstract The Cretaceous marine sedimentary record is punctuated by episodes of unusually high rates of organic carbon burial termed oceanic anoxic events. The El Pujal Section archives the response to perturbations of the global carbon cycle associated with Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a in a hemipelagic s...

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Main Authors: Jander Socorro, Florentin J‐M. R. Maurrasse
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-09-01
Series:The Depositional Record
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/dep2.111
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author Jander Socorro
Florentin J‐M. R. Maurrasse
author_facet Jander Socorro
Florentin J‐M. R. Maurrasse
author_sort Jander Socorro
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The Cretaceous marine sedimentary record is punctuated by episodes of unusually high rates of organic carbon burial termed oceanic anoxic events. The El Pujal Section archives the response to perturbations of the global carbon cycle associated with Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a in a hemipelagic setting of the Organyà Basin. Here, the aim is to understand the lithological and geochemical responses to changing palaeoenviromental conditions associated with carbon isotope segment C5 of Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a. A multi‐proxy approach is applied to characterize how regional factors influenced the accumulation of organic‐rich sediments during this period of severe oceanic oxygen deficiency. Source specific biomarkers demonstrate that the bulk organic matter derives from in‐situ production, with lesser inputs from allochthonous sources. High‐resolution stable carbon isotope data (δ13Corg) were used to establish the refined details of segment C5. Pulses of fluvial fluxes associated with climate fluctuations supplied variable quantities of terrestrial organic matter with more negative isotopic values, which left their intrinsic signature superimposed on the global δ13Corg signal of segment C5 as minor negative spikes. Primary production sustained by fluvial inputs of biolimiting elements provided abundant labile organic matter conducive to oxygen‐deprived conditions as attested by concomitant peaks in total organic carbon, relatively lower benthic faunal counts, lower bioturbation index, higher concentration of pyrite and enrichments in redox sensitive trace elements. However, organic matter preservation was not chiefly controlled by redox conditions as physical encapsulation by clay minerals probably played a significant role. In addition, coincident inputs of terrestrial organic matter with more inert properties and prone to be bound to clay minerals supplemented the accumulation of organic matter, especially during intervals of enhanced terrigenous fluxes. The combined results underscore how despite sharing common global forcing factors, regional palaeoenvironmental conditions are more important in determining the sedimentary expression of Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a.
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spelling doaj.art-80c893efd5be4b308c72deb68c63aed72022-12-22T00:17:21ZengWileyThe Depositional Record2055-48772020-09-016355258010.1002/dep2.111Regional palaeoenvironmental influence on organic matter sequestration and characteristics of carbon isotope segment C5 in a hemipelagic sequence, Organyà Basin, northeast SpainJander Socorro0Florentin J‐M. R. Maurrasse1Department of Earth and Environment Florida International University Miami FL USADepartment of Earth and Environment Florida International University Miami FL USAAbstract The Cretaceous marine sedimentary record is punctuated by episodes of unusually high rates of organic carbon burial termed oceanic anoxic events. The El Pujal Section archives the response to perturbations of the global carbon cycle associated with Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a in a hemipelagic setting of the Organyà Basin. Here, the aim is to understand the lithological and geochemical responses to changing palaeoenviromental conditions associated with carbon isotope segment C5 of Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a. A multi‐proxy approach is applied to characterize how regional factors influenced the accumulation of organic‐rich sediments during this period of severe oceanic oxygen deficiency. Source specific biomarkers demonstrate that the bulk organic matter derives from in‐situ production, with lesser inputs from allochthonous sources. High‐resolution stable carbon isotope data (δ13Corg) were used to establish the refined details of segment C5. Pulses of fluvial fluxes associated with climate fluctuations supplied variable quantities of terrestrial organic matter with more negative isotopic values, which left their intrinsic signature superimposed on the global δ13Corg signal of segment C5 as minor negative spikes. Primary production sustained by fluvial inputs of biolimiting elements provided abundant labile organic matter conducive to oxygen‐deprived conditions as attested by concomitant peaks in total organic carbon, relatively lower benthic faunal counts, lower bioturbation index, higher concentration of pyrite and enrichments in redox sensitive trace elements. However, organic matter preservation was not chiefly controlled by redox conditions as physical encapsulation by clay minerals probably played a significant role. In addition, coincident inputs of terrestrial organic matter with more inert properties and prone to be bound to clay minerals supplemented the accumulation of organic matter, especially during intervals of enhanced terrigenous fluxes. The combined results underscore how despite sharing common global forcing factors, regional palaeoenvironmental conditions are more important in determining the sedimentary expression of Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a.https://doi.org/10.1002/dep2.111Cretaceouslipid biomarkersOAE 1aoceanic anoxic eventsPerylene
spellingShingle Jander Socorro
Florentin J‐M. R. Maurrasse
Regional palaeoenvironmental influence on organic matter sequestration and characteristics of carbon isotope segment C5 in a hemipelagic sequence, Organyà Basin, northeast Spain
The Depositional Record
Cretaceous
lipid biomarkers
OAE 1a
oceanic anoxic events
Perylene
title Regional palaeoenvironmental influence on organic matter sequestration and characteristics of carbon isotope segment C5 in a hemipelagic sequence, Organyà Basin, northeast Spain
title_full Regional palaeoenvironmental influence on organic matter sequestration and characteristics of carbon isotope segment C5 in a hemipelagic sequence, Organyà Basin, northeast Spain
title_fullStr Regional palaeoenvironmental influence on organic matter sequestration and characteristics of carbon isotope segment C5 in a hemipelagic sequence, Organyà Basin, northeast Spain
title_full_unstemmed Regional palaeoenvironmental influence on organic matter sequestration and characteristics of carbon isotope segment C5 in a hemipelagic sequence, Organyà Basin, northeast Spain
title_short Regional palaeoenvironmental influence on organic matter sequestration and characteristics of carbon isotope segment C5 in a hemipelagic sequence, Organyà Basin, northeast Spain
title_sort regional palaeoenvironmental influence on organic matter sequestration and characteristics of carbon isotope segment c5 in a hemipelagic sequence organya basin northeast spain
topic Cretaceous
lipid biomarkers
OAE 1a
oceanic anoxic events
Perylene
url https://doi.org/10.1002/dep2.111
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