The carbon isotope record of dolostones as a stratigraphic tool: A case study from the upper cretaceous shelf sequence, Israel

Abstract

Accumulation of evidence on past global changes in carbon isotopes in marine carbonate rocks points to the usefulness of the carbon isotope record as a stratigraphic tool. This method will be important in sections with a poor representation of indicative fauna, such as dolostones. Isotope analyses of dolostone sequences from the Upper Cenomanian-Turonian sequence of Israel suggest that on the average a depletion of 1.1% in δ 13C ratio can be detected across the boundary. The Israeli trend agrees with the δ 13C record across this boundary reported from sections with detailed biostratigraphic records.