Sea-level changes and ammonite faunal turnover during the Lias/Dogger transition in the western Tethys

2002 ◽  
Vol 173 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Sandoval ◽  
Luis O’Dogherty ◽  
Juan Antonio Vera ◽  
Jean Guex

Abstract The aim of this paper was to investigate the possible connections between ammonite faunal turnover and the eustatic events recorded in Tethyan sequences during the middle Toarcian/early Bajocian time interval. For this we have analysed the biostratigraphic ranges, at the subzone level, of approximately 600 ammonite species belonging to 160 genera from several selected sections of the western Tethys (Mediterranean and Submediterranean provinces). The analysis of taxon ranges enabled us to plot curves for ammonite faunal turnovers, inter-subzonal distance, and diversity. Comparing the mentioned curves with Tethyan sequences [Hardenbol et al., 1998], we find that sea-level changes correlate well with origination and extinction events and faunal diversity. Most of the faunal turnovers correlate with stratigraphic events. Extinction events with their corresponding decrease in diversity correlate with regressive intervals and with major or minor sequence boundaries. Origination events and their corresponding increase in diversity were clearly connected with transgressions in Tethyan sequences. In several cases, the major sequence boundary and the subsequent transgressive phase correlate with major ammonite faunal turnover, whereas minor or medium sequence boundaries generally gave rise to minor or medium turnovers.

2003 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 105-114
Author(s):  
T. Hansen ◽  
A.T. Nielsen

Over 5000 trilobites have been collected from Lower Ordovician rocks exposed at the Lynna River in the Volkhov region, east of St. Petersburg, Russia. Bed-by-bed sampling has been carried out through the upper part of Volkhov Formation (top of Jeltiaki Member and the entire Frizy Member), the Lynna Formation and the basal part of the Obukhovo Formation. This interval, which is 7.5 metres thick, correlates with the upper part of the Arenig Series, and presumably even ranges into the very base of the Llanvirn. A preliminary biostratigraphical investigation of top Jeltiaki Member (BIIβ), Frizy Member (BIIγ) and basal Lynna Formation (BIIIα) reveals a rather continuous faunal turnover lacking sharp boundaries, and the biostratigraphical zonation (BIIβ–BIIIα) is primarily defined by the index trilobite taxa. The trilobite ranges are generally in agreement with the pattern described by Schmidt in 1907. The abundance ratio between Asaphus and the ptychopygids seems to be related to changes in relative sea level with Asaphus preferring the most shallow water conditions. A tentative interpretation of sea-level changes suggests an initial drowning at the base of BIIγ, immediately followed by a lowstand that in turn was succeeded by a moderate sea-level rise and then a significant fall. The last marks the BIIγ/BIIIα boundary. Correlation with sections in Scandinavia suggests that the basal part of BIIγ is strongly condensed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Ajdanlijsky ◽  
André Strasser ◽  
Annette E. Götz

Abstract A cyclostratigraphic interpretation of peritidal to shallow-marine ramp deposits of the early Middle Triassic (Anisian) Opletnya Member exposed in outcrops along the Iskar River gorge, NW Bulgaria, is presented. Based on facies trends and bounding surfaces, depositional sequences of several orders can be identified. New biostratigraphic data provide a time frame of the studied succession with placement of the boundaries of the Anisian substages and show that the Aegean (early Anisian) substage lasted about 1.6 Myr. In the corresponding interval in the two studied sections, 80 elementary sequences are counted. Five elementary sequences compose a small-scale sequence. The prominent cyclic pattern of the Opletnya Member can thus be interpreted in terms of Milankovitch cyclicity: elementary sequences represent the precession (20-kyr) cycle and small-scale sequences the short eccentricity (100-kyr) cycle in the Milankovitch frequency band. Medium-scale sequences are defined based on lithology but only in two cases can be attributed to the long eccentricity cycle of 405 kyr. The transgressive-regressive facies trends within the sequences of all scales imply that they were controlled by sea-level changes, and that these were in tune with the climate changes induced by the orbital cycles. However, the complexity of facies and sedimentary structures seen in the Opletnya Member also implies that additional factors such as lateral migration of sediment bodies across the ramp were active. In addition, three major sequence boundaries have been identified in the studied sections, which can be correlated with the boundaries Ol4, An1, and An2 of the Tethyan realm.


1991 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 116 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.A. Duff ◽  
N.G. Groilman ◽  
D.J. Mason ◽  
J.M. Questiaux ◽  
D.S. Ormerod ◽  
...  

Evolution of the south-east Gippsland Basin since ca. 96 Ma has been governed by the interaction of three distinct processes:re-organisation of regional plate boundaries at 96, 80 and 50 Ma, registered as major angular unconformities or megasequence boundaries;intra-basin response of cover to basement-controlled deformational phases, registered as the sequence boundaries within these megasequences; andthe more subtle balance between regressive sedimentation associated with these phases and the transgressive deposition associated with longer-term eustatic sea level rises.The Golden Beach Megasequence (seismic sequences UK1 and UK2) accumulated syntectonically in an extensional setting characterised by an orthogonal array of north-northeast trending transfer faults and associated normal faults. Major compressional tectonism at ca. 80 Ma terminated this regime, initiating a modified mosaic of stratotectonic domains which controlled deposition of the Latrobe Megasequence.The seismic sequences within this megasequence display two types of cyclicity distinguishing intra-Campanian to Top Maastrichtian sequences (UK3-UK5) from early Tertiary sequences (PL1, PL2 and EO1). The sequence boundaries are considered to be the expression of recurrent compressive deformational phases. They are demonstrable as angular unconformities in transpressional and pull-apart structures in domains within which deformation was focused over the older extensional grain.The ca. 50 Ma Top Latrobe megasequence boundary appears to mark the transition from a basement-coupled deformational style characteristic of the Latrobe Megasequence, to a basement-decoupled inversion style of deformation during deposition of the Seaspray Megasequence (post-50 Ma).Seismic sequence boundaries, at least within basins such as the Gippsland, are therefore the stratigraphic expression of deformational phases rather than signatures of global sea-level changes. Eustacy is not invariably a shorter-term process than basin tectonism, nor is it the sole or main determinant of depositional style.


1976 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Partridge

In the non-marine to marginal marine environments of the Latrobe Group, distinct sedimentary sequences are recognised on seismic records and these sequences are often expressed in wells by palynological zones, changes in E-log character and lithology.The succession of sequences represents variations in sea level, many of which are interpreted aseustatic. Eustatic falls are represented by unconformities and channel formation along the seaward margin and by hiatuses (frequently with dolomite cementation of underlying sands) landward in deltaic and non-marine sections. Eustatic rises are represented by dinoflagellate ingressions over truncated surfaces at sequence boundaries, followed by outbuilding of deltaic environments at the stillstand towards the end of each cycle.During the Paleocene and Eocene very little sediment was deposited beyond the limits of the marginal marine environments except within channels where the Flounder and Turrum Formations are found. In this time interval they was an overall landward encroachment of successive sequences reflecting an overall sea level rise. The interaction of rising sea level and limited deposition beyond the marginal marine edge meant that successive sequences became more restricted seaward such that within the marine environment the area of non-deposition increased. The surface thus defined, modified locally by channel erosion, constitutes the unconformity at the top of the Latrobe Group. This unconformity surface was preserved when deposition of fine-grained open marine sediments of the Lakes Entrance Formation commenced in the Oligocene.In the Tasman Sea a succession of terrigenous silts and clays present in the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Site 283 can be correlated with periods when fine-grained sediments bypassed the Gippsland shelf. The stratigraphy of this site can be interpreted as a record of availability of sediment from the southeastern Australian continental shelf. The times of commencement and termination of stratigraphic units and disconformities at Site 283 correlate with timing of eustatic cycles. Thus the stratigraphy of Site 283 is a record, as is the Latrobe Group, of how eustacy interacts with basin morphology to modify distribution of sediments.


2016 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 865-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
LUKE E. FAGGETTER ◽  
PAUL B. WIGNALL ◽  
SARA B. PRUSS ◽  
YADONG SUN ◽  
ROBERT J. RAINE ◽  
...  

AbstractGlobally, the Series 2 – Series 3 boundary of the Cambrian System coincides with a major carbon isotope excursion, sea-level changes and trilobite extinctions. Here we examine the sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy and carbon isotope record of this interval in the Cambrian strata (Durness Group) of NW Scotland. Carbonate carbon isotope data from the lower part of the Durness Group (Ghrudaidh Formation) show that the shallow-marine, Laurentian margin carbonates record two linked sea-level and carbon isotopic events. Whilst the carbon isotope excursions are not as pronounced as those expressed elsewhere, correlation with global records (Sauk I – Sauk II boundary andOlenellusbiostratigraphic constraint) identifies them as representing the local expression of the ROECE and DICE. The upper part of the ROECE is recorded in the basal Ghrudaidh Formation whilst the DICE is seen around 30m above the base of this unit. Both carbon isotope excursions co-occur with surfaces interpreted to record regressive–transgressive events that produced amalgamated sequence boundaries and ravinement/flooding surfaces overlain by conglomerates of reworked intraclasts. The ROECE has been linked with redlichiid and olenellid trilobite extinctions, but in NW Scotland,Olenellusis found after the negative peak of the carbon isotope excursion but before sequence boundary formation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document