Geochemistry of the late Cenomanian-early Turonian chalks of the Paris Basin: Manganese and carbon isotopes in carbonates as paleooceanographic indicators

Abstract

In the North Atlantic DSDP/IPOD cores, carbon isotope data on the bulk carbonates show significant fluctuations. In sediments now exposed on land coeval fluctuations in the carbon isotope concentrations are also recorded in pelagic and epeiric facies. For instance, in the Upper Cretaceous chalks of the Paris Basin, there is a major break at the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary. At this time, the manganese content of the chalks was also at a maximum and consequently a positive relation can be demonstrated between δ 13C and manganese concentrations. The same positive correlation is also recorded in many pelagic limestones. In the North Atlantic cores, carbon isotope events are related to the black shale facies and to global oceanic anoxic events and one can suppose that in sediments deposited on the continental margins they are also related to mildly anoxic conditions. Considering the manganese geochemistry in carbonate rocks, a high manganese content in such a reducing environment can be found in the sediments only if the Mn concentration of the interstitial solutions are abnormally high. As a high Mn content in marine pore waters is believed to originate from hydrothermal process, Mn and δ 13C positive excursions are ultimately related to mid-oceanic ridge activity and to a closely connected phenomenon, the great transgressive pulses during which mid-depth waters may have been anoxic. Consequently, major Mn and carbon isotope events would seem to be useful tools in paleooceanographic reconstructions.