Seawater carbon and strontium isotope variations in the eastern Tarim Basin during the Cambrian: Implications for connection with the open ocean

Abstract

Cambrian was a critical period in Earth's history, marked by rapid diversification of early animals and significant changes in oceanic conditions. Marine sediments, particularly carbonates, have been used to study variations in the global carbon cycle, seawater redox, weathering input, etc. In search of new archives of Cambrian paleo-seawater chemistry, we conducted an integrated study of Cambrian C and Sr isotope stratigraphy using the carbonates of the Xingdi section in the Kruqtagh region of the eastern Tarim Basin. Based on reported paleontological data, the C isotope record is comparable to the Cambrian global seawater C isotope variation, providing a feasible stratigraphic framework for the Cambrian strata in the eastern Tarim Basin. A sharp δ13C increase at the top of the Xidasan Formation probably corresponds to the recovery of the Redlichiid–Olenellid Extinction C isotope Excursion. Additionally, a negative C isotope excursion in the lower part of the Mohuosan Formation and a positive C isotope excursion at the bottom of the Tuersaketagh Formation likely correspond to DrumIan Carbon isotope Excursion and Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion, respectively. However, the Sr isotope curve in the eastern Tarim Basin decoupled from global seawater Sr isotope variations during Cambrian Series 2–3 until Furongian, indicating that the eastern Tarim Basin was not well connected with the open ocean until Furongian. It also highlights a significant impact of paleogeographical connections of basins with the open ocean on their seawater Sr isotopic signal.