Albian (Lower Cretaceous) carbon isotope chemozones, Texas Comanche Shelf and Mexican Chihuahua Trough: Implications for OAEs

Abstract

Organic-carbon-rich black shale beds that are associated with positive carbon isotope excursions and yield pelagic fossils are evidence of short-term changes in ocean water mass and are important chronostratigraphic correlation tools. Five recognized Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) are well documented in many basins on the Texas Comanche Shelf and the northern Mexico Chihuahua Trough: lower Aptian OAE 1a, Aptian-Albian OAE 1b, upper Albian OAE 1c, uppermost Albian OAE 1d, and Cenomanian-Turonian OAE 2. Two of these chemozones have previously been documented in Mexico and Texas, OAE 1b by a positive δ13C excursion of 2‰ and OAE 1d with a positive δ13C excursion of 1.6–1.9‰. Here we document for the first time OAE 1c in gray marine shale of the Boracho Formation in West Texas by a positive δ13C excursion of 1‰; the Boracho records the late Albian flooding of the Western Interior. On the interior shelf in shallow water carbonates the absence of carbon isotopic excursions suggests that dysaerobic waters did not affect the upper part of the water column. Review of biotic assemblages of each Gulf of Mexico Albian OAE suggests that water depths ranged from at least 300 m to just below storm wave base at about 15–30 m. These Albian OAEs were identified in the Mediterranean area and in the deep Atlantic Ocean and are recognized on the North American cratonic blocks, which supports the hypothesis that ocean/climate conditions favoring low-oxygen water masses were widespread although deposition was in local basins.