Guadalupian carbon isotope stratigraphy indicates extended interval of carbon cycle stability

Abstract

Stratigraphic variations in the carbon isotope composition of marine limestones (δ¹³C_carb) have been widely reported from the Guadalupian, particularly in the uppermost Capitanian, but the extent to which they reflect global carbon cycle dynamics remains in dispute. Resolving these uncertainties is critical for interpreting the dynamics of the carbon cycle during the Guadalupian as well as for testing hypothesized circumstances of the marine extinction event during the Capitanian (latest Guadalupian). To assess the local versus global causes of stratigraphic variations in δ¹³C_carb, here we report δ¹³C_carb values from Guadalupian strata in the Hambast Valley, Abadeh region, southwest Iran, in two sections. We then compare the data from the two sections (Abadeh-1 and Abadeh-2) to data from numerous other well-studied sections that were distant from central Iran at the time of deposition. In the Hambast sections, there are broad excursions of δ¹³C_carb, of up to 3‰. However, the δ¹³C_carb values do not show any remarkable shifts across the Wordian/Capitanian or Capitanian/Wuchiapingian boundaries in the Abadeh-1 section. An excursion occurs near the Capitanian/Wuchiapingian boundary in the Abadeh-2 section but is associated with elemental and oxygen-isotope evidence for diagenetic resetting. The lack of reproducibility in the δ¹³C_carb shifts between the two studied sections at Abadeh and evidence for diagenetic resetting in association with negative excursions are consistent with evidence from other, previously reported, study sites that negative excursions can be accounted for by local primary or diagenetic factors and do not require any global perturbation of the carbon cycle through this interval. When carbonate values are compared with previously published organic carbon isotope data and carbonate sections are compared for shared isotope features, the primary global signal that is supported by the data is one of stable and relatively heavy values of δ¹³C_carb in marine limestone during the Guadalupian.