Paleoenvironmental and chemostratigraphic implications of variations in geochemical proxies across the Upper Jurassic–Lower cretaceous boundary: a case study from the Flemish Pass Basin

Abstract

The Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary is the only Phanerozoic period-level boundary that lacks a golden spike on the geological timescale despite significant global geological and environmental change during this time related to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. Paleoenvironmental proxy profiles (total organic carbon, δ34S, δ15N, Fe, Mn, Ce/Ce*, Th/U, δ13Corg, P, Ni, Zn, Cu, and B/Ga) for core 3 of the Baccalieu I-78 well in the Flemish Pass Basin, offshore eastern Canada, exhibit a geochemical anomaly between 3288.5 and 3289 m, overlapping with the biostratigraphic placement of the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary. Collectively the geochemical analyses are interpreted to indicate that the anomaly is associated with a fall in relative sea level, followed by a rise, which led to restricted circulation, stratification, and widespread anoxia. This anoxia, coupled with an arid climate, further resulted in reduced weathering, limited nutrient supply, and an overall reduction in primary productivity. The results of this study, in conjunction with previous biostratigraphic studies on core 3, suggest that the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary in Baccalieu I-78 likely falls within the geochemical anomaly, specifically between 3228.5 and 3288.85 m. Furthermore, the paleoenvironmental interpretations derived in this study agree with published reports on global sea level and climate trends around the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary, implying the influence of global, rather than regional, factors on deposition. This suggests that geochemical proxies may be useful in providing additional paleoenvironmental insights and helping to constrain stratigraphic boundaries, particularly in intervals that lack significant lithological or biological change.