Latest Paleocene benthic extinction event on the southern Tethyan shelf (Egypt): Foraminiferal stable isotopic (δ13C, δ18O) records

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 1996 Latest Paleocene benthic extinction event on the southern Tethyan shelf (Egypt): Foraminiferal stable isotopic (δ13C, δ18O) records B. Schmitz; B. Schmitz 1Department of Marine Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, S-413 81 Göteborg, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. P. Speijer; R. P. Speijer 1Department of Marine Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, S-413 81 Göteborg, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M.-P. Aubry M.-P. Aubry 2Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université Montpellier II, Case 061, F-34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information B. Schmitz 1Department of Marine Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, S-413 81 Göteborg, Sweden R. P. Speijer 1Department of Marine Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, S-413 81 Göteborg, Sweden M.-P. Aubry 2Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Université Montpellier II, Case 061, F-34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1996) 24 (4): 347–350. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0347:LPBEEO>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation B. Schmitz, R. P. Speijer, M.-P. Aubry; Latest Paleocene benthic extinction event on the southern Tethyan shelf (Egypt): Foraminiferal stable isotopic (δ13C, δ18O) records. Geology 1996;; 24 (4): 347–350. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0347:LPBEEO>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The dramatic global extinction of 35%–50% of benthic foraminifera species in the deep sea in the latest Paleocene and associated negative excursions in δ13C and δ18O may be related to spreading of warm, saline bottom water from subtropical Tethyan shallow regions over the sea floor worldwide. Our study of neritic sections in Egypt shows that in the southern shallow Tethys, a prominent long-term change in bottom-water chemistry, sedimentation, and benthic foraminifera fauna was initiated at the time when the deep-sea benthic extinction event (BEE) took place. Bottom-water δ13C values on the Tethyan shelf show a sudden 3.0‰ negative shift at this event; however, contrary to the deep sea, in which the δ13C excursion was of short duration, Tethyan δ13C values did not fully return to preboundary values, but remained depressed by ∼1.5‰ for at least 1 m.y. The δ13C values at the Egyptian shelf during the BEE are much lower than would be expected if this was a source region for global deep water. The δ18O values indicate no significant change in bottom-water salinity or temperature at the BEE. The long-lasting environmental changes that began on the Egyptian shelf at the BEE may be related to, for example, gateway reorganization along the Tethyan seaway. Paleogeographic changes possibly also triggered a change in the loci of global deep-water formation; however, these loci must be sought in another part of the Tethys. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.