Organic matter of sediments of South Chukotka

Boris Aparin,Aleksandr Nikonorov,Elena Mingareeva,Elena Sukhacheva,Vitaly Terleev,Evgeny Shevchuk,Alexander Grabovsky,Svetlana Janson,Luka Akimov,S Kudriavtcev,V Murgul

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202015702016

Abstract

The article discusses data on paleosol, mineralogy, and paleobotany obtained as a result of studying material collected from the Maastricht-Early Paleocene sediments of the Tanyurer Formation of South Chukotka. The burial of organic matter in the sedimentary rock of the Tanyurer Formation is associated with deflationary processes during the period of activation of volcanic activity. On the drained volcanic plateau of soil formation, a sod humus-accumulative process prevailed under the steppe vegetation. Humic substance dispersed in sedimentary rock was represented by a group of humins resistant to microbial decomposition. As a result of exposure to high pressures and temperatures, the colloidal form of humus was transformed into kerogen. Organic compounds (cellulose, lignin) in the plant tissue of buried tree trunks were replaced by silicon compounds. Weathering processes have affected the thin surface layer of dense sedimentary rock. Under the influence of the temperature and humidity gradient, loosening of loose rock and disintegration of clots of colloidal forms of humus occurred.

Highlights

The remains of the fossil forest were found in the bay of the Anadyr estuary south and east from Cape Dionysius [1, 2]
Two locations were discovered with vertically standing trunks of fossil trees overlain by volcanic sedimentary deposits of the Tanyurer Formation, which dates from the Late Maastricht - Early Paleocene [1, 3, 4]
The burial of organic matter (OM) in the sedimentary rock of the Tanyurer Formation is associated with deflationary processes during the period of activation of volcanic activity

Summary

Introduction

The remains of the fossil forest were found in the bay of the Anadyr estuary south and east from Cape Dionysius [1, 2]. Two locations were discovered with vertically standing trunks of fossil trees overlain by volcanic sedimentary deposits of the Tanyurer Formation, which dates from the Late Maastricht - Early Paleocene [1, 3, 4]. This is the only find of petrified trees in the Arctic, buried in places of their original growth in sedimentary deposits. The objects of research are petrified wood and dispersed organic matter (OM) in hard and loose mineral deposits in which forest vegetation is buried

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Conclusion