Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of the Thomel Level (OAE2) in the Lambruisse section, Vocontian Basin, southeast France

Abstract

The Thomel Level of the Lambruisse section in the Vocontian Basin (southeast France), which is marked by intercalations of black shales and organic-rich marls, accumulated during the oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE2) occurring in the Cenomanian-Turonian (C-T) boundary interval. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphic investigation of this interval revealed a total of five nannofossil zones, corresponding to the UC3-UC8 zones (Middle Cenomanian-Middle Turonian) as defined by Burnett. Biostratigraphically important taxa observed in the section include Cretarhabdus striatus, Axopodorhabdus albianus, Lithraphidites acutus, Corollithion kennedyi, Helenea chiastia, Quadrum gartneri, Q. intermedium, Eiffellithus eximius, Eprolithus octopetalus and E. eptapetalus. The two nannofossil events commonly used in the delineation of the C-T boundary, namely the LO of H. chiastia and the FO of Q. gartneri, occur less than 2 m apart in the studied section. These two bioevents define the limits of the UC6 nannofossil Zone and occur within the Whiteinella archaeocretacea foraminifer Zone. Previous litho- and chemostratigraphic analyses indicate that the δ 13C profile of the section corresponds well with changes in lithofacies and fluctuations in the total organic carbon (TOC) and calcium carbonate content of the section. Initial increase in the δ 13C values occurs within the UC3-UC4a undifferentiated zone, coinciding with the onset of the deposition of the organic-rich sediments of the Thomel Level and a drastic decline in the CaCO 3 values. The plateau of high δ 13C values, on the other hand, occurs within the UC5 zone, between the LO of C. kennedyi and the LO of H. chiastia (and FO of Q. gartneri). This interval of high δ 13C values also corresponds to the interval of high TOC and low CaCO 3 values. The integrated nannofossil, planktonic foraminifer and δ 13C data provide a precise biostratigraphic and chemostratigraphic framework of the C-T boundary in the Lambruisse section that can be used in future studies in the Vocontian Basin and allow correlations with other well-studied C-T boundary sections.