Carbonate Platform Deposits Research Articles

Evolution from syn‐rift carbonates to early post‐rift deep‐marine intraslope lobes: The role of rift basin physiography on sedimentation patterns

ABSTRACTThe stratigraphic architecture of Early Jurassic strata exposed along a >10 km long transect in the Chachil Graben, an exhumed marine rift depocentre in the Neuquén Basin (Argentina), provides insights into the sedimentological and stratigraphic expression of the syn‐rift to post‐rift transition. A change from syn‐rift intrabasinal carbonate to post‐rift extrabasinal siliciclastic sedimentation is recorded, as well as variations in sediment supply and dispersal patterns across rift‐related topography. The late syn‐rift was marked by a transgression and development of a shallow‐marine carbonate system, including carbonate platform deposits perched on fault‐block highs and periplatform deposits accumulated in fault‐block lows, which overlies continental volcano‐sedimentary syn‐rift deposits. Differential subsidence and basin deepening induced retrogradation of the carbonate system, which was progressively drowned and overlain by organic‐rich calcareous mudstone that draped across rift structures at the onset of the early post‐rift. The first extrabasinal siliciclastic influx led to progradation of an early post‐rift intraslope lobe complex into the graben, which is associated with kilometre‐scale clastic injectites. The depositional architecture, facies distribution and pinch‐out style of intraslope lobes record the effects of an inherited compaction hinge, which acted as an oblique counterslope to sediment gravity flows. The occurrence of combined‐flow bedforms, widespread erosion, and limited facies segregation across lobes bearing different hybrid event bed types, is in sharp contrast to sedimentological characteristics of existing intraslope lobe models. Documentation of the syn‐rift to post‐rift transition stratigraphy permitted identification of changes in thickness and facies resulting from the passive infill of inherited topography with early post‐rift differential compaction. This architecture contrasts markedly with those developed during syn‐rift normal faulting. Furthermore, the influence of local inherited topography on the development of early post‐rift lobes is key to improve subsurface prediction of sandstone distribution and quality during assessment of hydrocarbon reservoirs and carbon storage sites.

Biostratigraphic indices for Lower Jurassic carbonate-platform deposits (Perdido Group), Overthrust Terrane Association, Timor-Leste

Lower Jurassic carbonate-platform deposits in Timor-Leste have been subject to much controversy. The Perdido Group contains the Bahamian-type facies shallow-water limestone of the Lower Jurassic that had been mixed with an upper Oligocene–lowest Miocene carbonate unit in Audley-Charles's Cablac Limestone. Foraminiferal assemblages from five sites in the Perdido Group are used to confirm a Sinemurian–Pliensbachian age. Species recorded for the first time from Timor and from the broader region, are Biokovina sp., Bosniella oenensis Gušić, Endotriadella ifranensis Bassoullet, Boutakiout, Vachard, Lituosepta recoarensis Cati, Palaeocyclammina complanata Bassoullet, Boutakiout and Echarfaoui, Planisepta compressa (Hottinger), and Radoicicina ciarapicae Gale, Barattolo and Rettori. Previously Siphovalvulina spp. and Meandrovoluta asiagoensis Fugagnoli and Rettori were described from the group. These species allow distinction between the Perdido Group (part of the Overthrust Terrane Association in Timor-Leste) and the carbonate-platform Upper Triassic Bandeira Group (part of the East Gondwana Interior Rift Association). No equivalent facies coeval with the Perdido Group and with similar foraminiferal assemblages have been recognized in the Indonesian, Malayasian, Timor-Leste, or north-west Australian regions. The closest known Sinemurian–Pliensbachian occurrence containing some of the species found in the Perdido Group, is in Western Thailand, with a fauna including Lituosepta cf. recoarensis.

A reservoir model for geothermal energy production from the Middle Devonian Slave Point Formation

Clarke Lake is a depleted gas field developed in carbonate platform deposits of the Slave Point Formation (Middle Devonian) in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The field displays anomalously high reservoir temperature (≥100 °C) and strong water drive, making it a candidate for repurposing as a source of geothermal power. Porous and permeable reservoir developed near the platform margin through the hydrothermal alteration of host limestone to dolomite. A depositional model provides a basis for mapping the dolomite reservoir properties. Facies analysis combined with porosity and permeability measurements are applied to flow simulations to test how reinjected water would affect geothermal power production.Nine depositional facies and two diagenetic facies are identified: the former based on bioclast assemblages, rock types, texture and composition; and the latter based on rock fabric and the extent of alteration to dolomite. These facies were deposited within lagoonal, reef-flat, shoal, reef margin and foreslope settings associated with a rimmed carbonate platform and can be separated into stratigraphic successions that influenced dolomitization: an initial shoal unit, S1, three subsequent reef units, R1, R2, R3, and terminal shoal units of D1, D2 and D3. Shoal units were deposited in the transgressive systems tracts, whereas reef growth units were deposited in the highstand systems tracts. Dolomitized lagoonal, reef flat, reef margin and shoal lithologies show enhanced porosity and permeability due to dissolution of stromatoporoid bioclasts, forming mouldic and vuggy porosity. Diagenetic facies show high permeability due to fractures but reduced porosity as a result of precipitation of porosity-occluding dolomite, fluorite, and sulphide minerals. High quality reservoir zones occur primarily at the reef margin, caused by fabric-selective hydrothermal alteration of carbonate sediments near the contact with shales of the Horn River and Muskwa formations.Numerical modelling of geothermal injection and production scenarios shows that thermal breakthrough from injection wells to producing wells presents a negligible risk to estimated power productions, with efficiencies being reduced by 10–15% compared to scenarios that assume no thermal breakthrough. Permeable, fractured diagenetic and reef front facies are suitable targets for geothermal fluid production.

Evaluating the segmented post-rift stratigraphic architecture of the Guyanas continental margin

Segmentation of the Guyanas continental margin of South America is inherited from the dual-phase Mesozoic rifting history controlling the first-order post-rift sedimentary architecture. The margin is divided into two segments by a transform marginal plateau (TMP), the Demerara Rise, into the Central and Equatorial Atlantic domains. This paper investigates the heterogeneities in the post-rift sedimentary systems at a mega-regional scale (>1000 km). Re-sampling seven key exploration wells and scientific boreholes provides new data (189 analysed samples) that have been used to build a high-resolution stratigraphic framework using multiple biostratigraphic techniques integrated with organic geochemistry to refine the timing of 10 key stratigraphic surfaces and three megasequences. The results have been used to calibrate the interpretation of a margin-scale two-dimensional seismic reflection dataset, and to build megasequence isochore maps, structural restorations and gross depositional environment maps at key time intervals of the margin evolution. Our findings revise the dating of the basal succession drilled by the A2-1 well, indicating that the oldest post-rift sequence penetrated along the margin is late Tithonian age (previously Callovian). Early Central Atlantic carbonate platform sediments passively infilled subcircular-shaped basement topography controlled by the underlying basement structure of thinned continental crust. Barremian–Aptian rifting in the Equatorial Atlantic, caused folding and thrusting of the Demerara Rise, resulting in major uplift, gravitational margin collapse, transpressional structures and peneplanation of up to 1 km of sediment capped by the regional angular Base Albian Unconformity. Equatorial Atlantic rifting led to margin segmentation and the formation of the TMP, where two major unconformities developed during the intra Late Albian and base Cenomanian. These two unconformities are time synchronous with oceanic crust accretion offshore French Guiana and in the Demerara–Guinea transform, respectively. A marine connection between the Central and Equatorial Atlantic is demonstrated by middle Late Albian times, coinciding with deposition of the organic-rich source rock of the Canje Formation (average total organic carbon 4.21%). The succession is variably truncated by the Middle Campanian Unconformity. Refining the stratigraphic framework within the context of the structural evolution and segmentation of the Guyanas margin impacts the understanding of key petroleum system elements. Supplementary material : Photographs of sandstone petrography thin sections (Fig. S1); calcareous nannofossil plates (Fig. S2); palynology reports for A2-1 and FG2-1 (Fig. S3); taxonomy description of new species; sample table and organic geochemistry results (Table S1); and nannofossil distribution charts (Table S2) are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5280490

Upper Triassic carbonate-platform facies, Timor-Leste: Foraminiferal indices and regional tectonostratigraphic association

Timor is part of the non-volcanic Outer Banda Arc with chaotic geology in the late Neogene collision zone between Sundaland (Southeast Eurasia) and the Australian continent. Confusion in the distinction between Triassic, Jurassic and Cenozoic shallow-marine carbonate units has led to a lack of appreciation of the widespread extent of Triassic carbonate-platform facies, at least in Timor-Leste. It also resulted in misunderstanding the different tectonostratigraphic/palaeogeographic affinities of the shallow-water limestones. Foraminiferal assemblages are critical in stratigraphic discrimination of these units. This study records for the first time the foraminiferal microfauna of Upper Triassic shallow-water carbonate deposits in Timor. Many of the foraminiferal species are known from North Africa and Europe and date these units to the Carnian–Rhaetian. The Upper Triassic Bandeira Group represents extensive sheet-like carbonate-platform deposits (possibly on horst plateaus as well as shelf areas adjacent land in the intracratonic sea). Contacts between the hard limestone, forming fatus (limestone peaks) and ridges, and friable mud-dominated surrounding units are often obscured under deep tropical soil cover. At all localities the Bandeira Group is closely associated in outcrop with coeval basinal mud-dominated deposits (Babulu and Aitutu groups). With these it forms part of the East Gondwana Interior Rift Association (EGIRA), similar to the classical Dachstein Platform–Hallstatt Basin facies associations found in the European Alps. The basinal units contain turbiditic and debris-slide deposits that include clasts derived from the carbonate platform. Shallow-water carbonate facies attributed to EGIRA, are present throughout the East Gondwana Interior Rift from the Papuan Basin in the north to Exmouth Plateau, part of the Northern Carnarvon Basin, in the south. These were deposited before Gondwanan breakup along this rift system. The Triassic carbonate-platform deposits have a different dominant biogenic mineralogy (aragonite rather than calcite) and a different architecture to the bryozoan-crinoidal carbonate mounds present in the Permian of EGIRA in Timor-Leste. No Lower and Middle Triassic shallow-water carbonate-platform deposits have been recognized in Timor-Leste. The Bandeira Group, confined to the Upper Triassic, belongs to a stratigraphic association (EGIRA; autochthonous) different both in constituent units and outcrop coverage from that of the allochthonous Overthrust Terrane Association to which the Lower Jurassic carbonate-platform deposits (viz. Perdido Group) belong. The Bandeira Group has been confused not only with the Perdido Group but also with other shallow-water limestone units of the Permian and Miocene in some former studies of Timor. The distinction between these units solves a major tectonostratigraphic problem in Timor, and may apply elsewhere along the Outer Banda Arc.

Chromium isotope systematics and the diagenesis of marine carbonates

Stable chromium (Cr) isotopes have emerged as a new tool for tracking broad-scale changes in Earth's surface oxygen levels. Carbonates are one proposed sedimentary Cr isotope archive. In order to contribute to the development of a robust framework for interpreting carbonate Cr isotopic compositions and evaluating their ability to record the global redox state, we explored Cr isotope systematics of modern and Archean carbonate successions—representing end member oxic and anoxic Earth system states. We generated new data from carbonate platform sediments from the Great Bahama Bank with variable post-depositional histories to better understand the effects of diagenetic alteration on carbonate-bound Cr and its isotopic composition in a modern well-oxygenated ocean-atmosphere system. More specifically, we investigated the effects of dolomitization and aragonite-to-calcite neomorphism in marine and meteoric fluids. We also present δ53Cr values from three carbonate successions, the ∼3.0 Ga Chobeni Formation (South Africa), ∼2.8 Ga Mosher Carbonate Formation (Canada), and ∼2.65 Ga Cheshire Formation (Zimbabwe), that were deposited under an anoxic atmosphere. We find that modern Bahamian carbonates have a large range of almost exclusively positive δ53Cr values (from −0.04 to 2.88‰). The δ53Cr values appear to be altered during both meteoric diagenesis and dolomitization but there may also be instances of rock-buffered conditions that may best preserve depositional δ53Cr values. These observations provide a baseline for carbonate Cr isotope behavior in a well-oxygenated ocean-atmosphere system. Our Archean carbonate successions contain both positively fractionated and crustal δ53Cr values, ranging between −0.37 and 0.89‰. The Cr isotope fractionation observed in Archean strata is most plausibly linked to either non-redox dependent Cr isotope fractionation, local Cr redox cycling, late-stage diagenetic alteration, or some combination thereof. Given the significant effects of post-depositional alteration on the isotopic composition of carbonate-bound Cr, we suggest that Cr isotope values from ancient carbonate sediments should be generally interpreted with caution and cannot be straightforwardly linked to changes in atmospheric oxygen abundance.

Paleoenvironment, chemostratigraphy, and age of Pennsylvanian carbonate platform succession of the Amazonas basin, northern Brazil, Uruará region

Extensive Pennsylvanian carbonate platforms are the main transgressive successions recorded on Laurasia and Gondwana continents. The western Gondwana was one of the important sites of these transgressive carbonate accumulation exposed on several basins in Amazonia. Carbonate platform successions are exceptionally preserved in the southern border of the Amazonas Basin, northern Brazil, represented by the Pennsylvanian Itaituba Formation, previously interpreted as tidal flat, lagoon, and carbonate subtidal deposits. Microfacies and petrographic analysis of ~32 m-thick succession of core F5 allowed the definition of nine microfacies grouped in three facies associations: lagoon (FA1), bioclastic bars (FA2) and open carbonate platform (FA3). The FA1 is composed by massive lime-mudstones and dolostones with silt to sand-size terrigenous grains, brachiopods, echinoderms, and rare foraminifers. The lagoon deposits represent a low energy environment with intense micrite precipitation, low diversity of fossils, but that indicates a marine connection, mainly because of the presence of echinoderm and brachiopods. The FA2 is composed of massive grainstone with ooids, intraclasts, brachiopods, echinoderms, corals, bivalves, and foraminifers cemented by granular calcite. The bioclastic bars are affected by wave actions and currents that reworked the carbonate substrate. The FA3 is composed of wackestone and lime-mudstone with micritic matrix, terrigenous, pyrite, brachiopods, bivalves, echinoderms, foraminifers, and ostracods. The Itaituba carbonate platform deposits indicate sedimentation under warm climate, normal salinity and were directly connected with the ocean by the record of benthic organisms. δ13C and δ18O, were obtained for these carbonate rocks and the determination of alteration degree was assisted by Rb/Sr, Fe/Sr, Ca/Mg, and Fe/Sr ratios assisted by digenetic indicators. The Ca and Mg become constant between 30 and 40% in the succession while the Si, Al, and Fe contents decrease upward coincident with the transgressive trend of the succession revealing low continental inflow. Diagenetic processes are represented mainly by stylolitization, cementation, micritization, dolomitization, fracturing, and pyritization that partially modify the framework of carbonate rocks, attesting low diagenetic alteration. The δ13C and δ18O range from +1.60‰ to +5.42‰, and −8.73‰ to +0.80‰ respectively. These values show wide dispersion (non-covariance), suggesting the circulation of diagenetic fluids through these rocks was not able to modify the original composition of δ13C. The carbon and oxygen data coincide with values obtained for carboniferous marine deposits, and the positive data of δ13C in FA2 and FA3 indicates intense organic productivity, similar to that recorded in transgressive deposits associated with the Panthalassa Ocean. The strontium ratios values vary from 0. 708466 ± 0. 000011 to 0. 708417 ± 0. 000009 with 30–299 μg/g in the carbonate platform and presents three age intervals of deposition with a range varying between 293 and 303 Ma (Bashkirian to Kasimovian stages). These data are analogous to the palynomorphs and conodonts ages from the Pennsylvanian of the Amazonas Basin positioned the basal part of the Pennsylvanian succession in the Bashkirian stage.

Petrographical and geochemical constraints on carbonate diagenesis in an epeiric platform deposit: Late Cretaceous Bagh Group in central India

A combined facies, petrography and isotope geochemistry reveal an extensive pedogenic alteration of platform carbonate deposits of the Upper Cretaceous Bagh Group in the western Narmada basin in central India. The highly fossiliferous carbonate sequence of the Bagh Group consists of two formations, the Nodular Limestone at the base, and the Bryozoan Limestone Formation at top. The Nodular Limestone Formation comprises primarily of mudstone and wackestone, with relics of bioclasts such as gastropods, echinoderms, molluscs, forams and calcispheres, reflecting a low-energy supratidal to upper intertidal environment of deposition. Prolonged pedogenesis leads to pervasive micritization, brecciation, desiccation and recrystallization. The overlying Bryozoan Limestone, dominated by packstone and planar laminated rudstone with bryozoans, gastropods, echinoderms/echinoid spines, and molluscs, indicates deposition within the lower intertidal environment with moderately high-energy conditions. Abundant meniscus cement and biomolds suggest meteoric vadose diagenetic modification, whereas, intense secondary micritization of sediments indicates prolonged calichification. The δ13C and δ18O ratios of both Nodular Limestone and Bryozoan Limestone formations are depleted than the normal marine values, indicating an extensive diagenetic resetting of the carbonates. While the meteoric cement is depleted in both δ13C and δ18O ratio, the burial cement shows a decrease of δ18O at constant δ13C. The pedogenetic horizons within the Bagh carbonates bear subtle evidence of subaerial exposures within the overall transgressive Bagh Group. A glauconite bed at the upper part of the Bryozoan Limestone Formation marks the top part of the transgressive deposit.

Lower Cambrian facies architecture and sequence stratigraphy, NW France: framework for evaluation of basin-wide processes of sedimentation

AbstractA correlation and interpretation of the sequence stratigraphy of the lower Cambrian strata of NW France is presented and used to characterize basin-wide controls on processes of sedimentation. Deposition occurred in two basins, as two third-order stratigraphic sequences. A northern basin in the Cotentin was dominated by deposition of marine siliciclastic sediments of Sequence 1 (Cambrian Stages 2–3). The primary sediment input was from the NW at La Hague. A middle Normandy basin, SW of Caen, was characterized by deposition of platform carbonates and fine-grained, offshore siliciclastics in Sequence 1 and fluvio-deltaic and marine siliciclastics in Sequence 2 (Cambrian Stages 3–4). Major sediment input points lay to the west in Brittany and to the NE of Caen (in Sequence 2). Lowstand and transgressive systems tract strata dominate both sequences, with local preservation of highstand deposits in basin-centre locations. Fluvial deposits occur at basin margins and display sandstone-dominated facies typical of prevegetation systems. Two styles of fluvially dominated siliciclastic delta are recognized, which show delta-front strata composed of fluvial channels overlying either wave-formed deposits or hyperpycnites. The former formed on shallow shelves, whereas the latter formed where basin bathymetry was steeper and commonly fault controlled. Fossil microbial life forms are conspicuous in Sequence 1, as are intervals of low-diversity bioturbation. The balance of life forms is consistent with the punctuated replacement of algal matgrounds with mixgrounds during early Cambrian time. Super-mature quartz arenites were formed by high-energy wave processes on slowly aggrading basin flanks following marine transgression.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE UPPER CRETACEOUS CORAL-RUDIST FACIES OF OSTUNI (SOUTH-EASTERN MURGE, APULIA)

The Upper Cretaceous carbonate platform deposits of Ostuni have been studied from a stratigraphical, palaeontological and palaeoecological point of view.
 ln the sequence studied two parts can be distinguished: the Iower one consists of stratified biomicritic limestones with clusters of rudists, other pelecypods and microfauna, represented by ostracods algae and benthonic foraminifers; the upper one consists of a sequence of coral—rudist buildups with banks of calcarenites and calcirudites characterized by trace fossil assemblages, gastropods, rudists, other pelecypods and benthonic and planktonic foraminifers.

Palaeoenvironments of northwestern Bulgaria and northeastern Serbia during the Jurassic

Jurassic rocks in the Danube Region of northwestern Bulgaria and northeastern Serbia have been the subject of numerous earlier studies that have shown notable similarities between their sedimentary facies and depositional environments. In terms of regional palaeotectonic zonation, this area represents the westernmost parts of the Vidin Early–Middle Jurassic Complex Horst and the Mihaylovgrad Early–Middle Jurassic Graben in NW Bulgaria, as well as the easternmost part of the Lower Danubicum in NE Serbia, which collectively take part of the Jurassic Moesian Platform. For compiling an overall conception of the palaeoenvironments that existed during the Jurassic, nine palaeoenvironmental sketch maps, from the Aalenian to the late Tithonian, have been composed in this study, based on reinterpretation of the data borrowed from previous literature. It became evident that the Middle Jurassic sedimentary successions of the Danube Region record an evolution from an initially isolated lacustrine-palustrine depositional setting (Aalenian) to rapidly expanding shallow to moderately deeper-marine sandy-calcareous setting (late Bajocian–early Callovian). From the middle Callovian and onwards, during the Late Jurassic, the region became an area of laterally extensive pelagic and platform carbonate deposition. This interpretation is consistent with the available earlier data, but it links the facies and their respective settings from NW Bulgaria to NE Serbia, which has not been made to date and will be of benefit for future regional correlations.

Numerical stratigraphic forward models as conceptual knowledge repositories and experimental tools: An example using a new enhanced version of CarboCAT

A new, enhanced version of the CarboCAT numerical stratigraphic forward model includes additional cross-platform and down-slope, event-based sediment transport, pelagic carbonate production and deposition, wave-energy calculations and facies sensitivity, and fault-controlled tectonic subsidence. Simple testing of this new version against observed and conceptual models of fault-controlled carbonate platform deposition suggests that the new model formulation is both realistic and useful for either data-constrained best-fit modelling or numerical experiments to explore how carbonate depositional systems produce strata.

Tectono‐sedimentary evolution of transverse extensional faults in a foreland basin: Response to changes in tectonic plate processes

AbstractLate Paleocene to Middle Eocene strata in the easternmost part of the Southern Pyrenees, up to 4 km thick, provide information on tectono‐sedimentary evolution of faults transversal to the Pyrenean chain. To know how changes in tectonic plate processes control the structural evolution of transverse faults and the synchronous thickness and lithological distribution of sedimentary strata in a foreland basin, field observations, interpretation of 2D seismic lines tied to lithostratigraphic data of exploration wells and gravity modelling constrains were carried out. This resulted in the following two tectono‐sedimentary phases in a foreland basin: first phase, dominated by transverse extensional faulting, synchronous with deposition of marine carbonates (ca. 57 to 51 Ma); and second phase, characterized by transverse contractional faulting, coeval to accumulation of marine and transitional siliciclastics (51 to 44 Ma). During the first phase, Iberia and Adria were moving to the east and west respectively. Therefore, lithospheric flexure in the easternmost part of the Iberian plate was developed due to that Sardinia was over‐thrusting Iberia. Consequently, activation of E‐dipping normal faults was generated giving rise to thick‐deep and thin‐shallow carbonate platform deposits across the hanging walls and footwalls of the transverse structures. During the second phase, a shearing interaction between Iberia and Sardinia prevailed re‐activating the transverse faults as contractional structures generating thin‐shelf and thick‐submarine fan deposits across the hanging walls and footwalls of the transverse structures. In the transition between the first and second phases, evaporitic conditions dominated in the basin suggesting a tectonic control on basin marine restriction. The results of our study demonstrate how thickness and lithology distribution, controlled by transverse faulting in a compressional regimen, are influenced by phases related to processes affecting motions and interactions between tectonic plates and continental blocks.

Chert geochemistry, depositional setting, stratigraphic and structural significance for the Permian Nong Pong Formation, Khao Khwang Fold and Thrust Belt, Saraburi, Thailand

The deepwater chert-shale-limestone-tuff Permian Nong Pong Formation (NPF) of the Saraburi Group is a major unit within the Triassic (Indosinian Orogeny) Khao Khwang Fold and Thrust Belt (KKFTB). Whether the NPF was deposited in a continental margin or ocean basin remains uncertain and impacts structural, sedimentary and stratigraphic interpretations of the KKFTB. This study investigates chert geochemistry from a 60 m section of the formation, near Muak Lek town, to determine its depositional environment. Radiolarian fauna from the chert beds includes Follicucullus porrectus Rudenko, (probable late Guadalupian, late middle Permian), indicating the NPF is time-equivalent to adjacent carbonate platform deposition (Khao Khwang and Khao Khad formations). High ratios of SiO2/(SiO2 + Al2O3 + Fe2O3) and Fe-Al-Mn plots indicate a biogenic origin (radiolarians, sponge spicules) for the cherts, far from a hydrothermal source. Trace element ratios for U/Th, Sc/Th and Sr/Ba and Ce anomalies in the NASC-normalized REE distribution are ambiguous, and range between shallow to deep ocean basin, and continental margin settings. Major elements analysis of cherts show: (1) high ratios of SiO2/(SiO2 + Al2O3 + Fe2O3), range: 0.60–0.82 (0.76 average), (2) Al/(Al + Fe + Mn), range: 0.67–0.82 and (3) average MnO/TiO2 = 0.14. The MnO/TiO2 and Al2O3/(Al2O3 + Fe2O3) ratio, 100 × Fe2O3/SiO2 vs. 100 × Al2O3/SiO2 and Fe2O3/(100-SiO2) vs. Al2O3/(100-SiO2) diagrams indicate deposition on a continental margin. The Lan/Cen versus Al2O3/(Al2O3 + Fe2O3) discrimination diagram indicates a pelagic, continental margin setting. Combined geochemical, structural and sedimentary facies analyses suggests the NPF was deposited in a deep marine, normal fault-bounded basin on a rifted, ribbon continent margin where carbonate platforms grew on structural highs.

Facies control on selective dolomitization and its impact on reservoir heterogeneities in the Samana Suk Formation (middle Jurassic), Southern Hazara Basin (NW Himalaya, Pakistan): an outcrop analogue

This studied rocks form part of the southern Hazara basin in the NW Himalayan Fold and Thrust belt, Pakistan. Thick inner to mid ramp carbonate platform deposits of Samana Suk Formation (Bajocian-Callovian) mostly composed of medium to thick bedded limestone with occasional dolostone beds are exposed in various localities. In the present studies, attempt has been made to understand degree of diagenetic alterations (i.e., dolomitization) within various limestone facies due to fluid-rock interaction phenomenon, and its impact on the reservoir behavior of altered rocks based on field investigations, petrographic studies, stable isotope signatures and porosity/permeability analysis. Field observations revealed various limestone types (oolitic, burrowed, fossiliferous, micritic and sandy), whereas dolomite occurs as completely replacive phase (Dol-I), and partially replacive patchy bodies (Dol-II) respectively. Petrographic studies showed various limestone and dolomite facies, which include: (i) Grainstone facies (bioclastic grainstone, peloidal grainstone, ooidal grainstone and pel-bioclastic grainstone), (ii) Packstone facies (bioclastic packstone and peloidal packstone), (iii) Wackestone facies (bioclastic wackestone), (iv) Mudstone facies (lime mudstone, and (v) Dolomite facies (coarse crystalline strata-bound Dol-I, and fine crystalline patchy Dol-II) respectively. O/C isotope analysis revealed that Dol-I shows signatures of δ18O (−5.84 to −3.91‰ V-PDB), and δ13C (+0.6 to +2.37‰ V-PDB) are within the limit of the carbonate marine seawater signatures, hence originated from sea-water or modified sea-water, whereas Dol-II exhibited depleted δ18O values (−6.88 to −5.87‰ V-PDB) and slightly depleted δ13C signatures (+0.968 to +1.85‰ V-PDB), indicating high temperature dolomitizing fluids. During early stage of marine diagenesis, which resulted in the cementation of pores within the grainstone-packstone facies, whereas mudstone-wackestone facies remained unaltered due to low porosity and permeability. Late stage dolomitization caused partial to complete alteration of mudstone-wackestone facies, in contrast grainstone-packstone facies are not affected by dolomitizing fluids due to the fact that the pore network of these coarser facies had already been occluded by the preceding marine cementation event. Porosity and permeability analyses revealed relatively high porosity values (4–8%) and permeability values (11.5 mD) in the dolomitized facies, whereas unaltered limestone facies showed considerably low porosity/permeability values (> 1%). In conclusion, less porous/permeable fine-grained facies evolved into more porous and permeable units due to the interaction of dolomitizing fluids of hydrothermal origin, which confirms that the original sedimentary texture of rock has implications on the selectivity of any diagenetic alteration.

Reticulotaberina n. gen. jahrumiana n. sp., a new soritoidean (Praerhapydioninidae) from the Eocene of Iran

A new porcelaneous larger benthic foraminifer, Reticulotaberina jahrumiana new genus and new species, from the latest middle Eocene shallow-water carbonate platform deposits of SW Iran (Jahrum Formation, Zagros Mountains) is described. Its structure is characterized by the development of a thin alveolar layer (exoskeleton) in the marginal area of the chamber lumen and by septula and interseptal pillars (endoskeleton) in the central area. The septula build a network, whereas the interseptal pillars rise from its intersections. The intercameral foramina are concentrically arranged and are intercalated with septula. R. jahrumiana n. sp. displays a strong dimorphism: A-form has a planispiral-uncoiling subcylindrical morphology, whereas the B-form presents a flared shape with oval or compressed outline. The new taxon is included in the Praerhapydioninidae family and is so far known from the south-west of Iran. The age is late Bartonian.

Dispersed Geoheritage Points of the Lagonaki Highland, SW Russia: Contribution to Local Geoheritage Resource

Dispersed geoheritage points, which are small-sized and low-unique localities, manifest local geoheritage and, thus, may be useful for its comprehensive understanding. Field studies in the Lagonaki Highland (Western Caucasus, southwestern Russia) have permitted to find four geoheritage points that are described with argumentation of their importance to scientists, educators, and/or tourists. These points, none of which can be defined as a ‘traditional’ geosite, provide some precious sedimentary, palaeontological, and mineralogical information that improves perception of the local geoheritage landscape dominated by the Late Jurassic carbonate platform deposits. The studied localities are constituents of the local geoheritage resource because of their utility to three main categories of potential users. Scientists may be interested in these dispersed geoheritage points because of the need to collect massive geological data from big areas. Educators and tourists may appreciate these points because of their location along principal roads, i.e., their good accessibility.

The armored burrow Nummipera eocenica from the upper Eocene San Jacinto Formation, Colombia: morphology and paleoenvironmental implications

The ichnospecies Nummipera eocenica occurs in thick-bedded, tabular bioclastic massive sandstone of the upper Eocene San Jacinto Formation in the San Jacinto Fold Belt Basin, Colombia. Nummipera eocenica is a vertical to oblique burrow locally displaying a conical shape. The lining structure of the specimens studied consists of uniformly distributed lepidocyclinids and operculinids, with tests typically dipping towards the burrow wall, and well-compacted lining. The burrow infill is identical to the host rock, a bioclastic sandstone with abundant bivalve fragments. The diagnosis of Nummipera is emended to include as components of burrow lining all representatives of the Subclass Rotaliana characterized by being lenticular to discoidal in shape. In the San Jacinto Formation, Nummipera eocenica is present in the transition between deltaic mouth-bar and carbonate platform deposits.

Late Oligocene–early Miocene transformation of postcollisional magmatism in Tibet

Abstract Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau is thought to be one of the most important orogenic and climate forcing events of the Cenozoic Era, associated with geodynamic changes related to India-Asia collision and subsequent continental lithosphere subduction. However, the fate and scale of the subducted continental lithosphere segments remain highly controversial. Using a comprehensive compilation of the spatiotemporal distribution of postcollisional magmatic rocks across Tibet, together with new geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data and modeling simulations, we propose a holistic, two-stage evolutionary model to explain the link between genesis of the magmas and continental subduction. The magmatism prior to 25 Ma resulted from continuous upwelling of a carbonate-rich upper-mantle plume induced by northward underthrusting of Indian oceanic and continental lithosphere with its cover of Tethyan platform carbonate sediments, whereas magmatism after 25 Ma was related to opposing north-directed and south-directed continental subduction. Our model indicates a transformation in the distribution and nature of the magmatism in Tibet at ca. 25 Ma, which reflects a significant change in the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen and associated mantle dynamic processes in the early Miocene. Understanding this transformation could have important implications for the utility of the Himalayan-Tibetan system as a modern analogue for ancient orogens.

Evolution of the Urgonian shallow-water carbonate platform on the Helvetic shelf during the late Early Cretaceous

Urgonian platform carbonate (Cretaceous; Barremian, Aptian) forms an important lithostratigraphic unit in the Helvetic fold- and thrust unit of the northern Swiss Alps. Its widespread distribution and ubiquity allow for an integrated high-resolution study of macro- and microfacies, benthic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, and carbon-isotope and phosphorus records. The resulting data confirm the importance of environmental forcing and sea level change on the style of carbonate production and accumulation along the margin of the northern Tethys during the late Early Cretaceous. Stratal geometries, the succession of microfacies, the identification of major emersion surfaces, and biostratigraphy observed and analysed in twelve sections through the inner, middle, and outer platform, and in the panorama of the Churfirsten range, permit subdivision of the analysed succession into eight depositional sequences. The succession starts with a phase of sedimentary condensation (Altmann Member (Mb); late Hauterivian – late early Barremian; sequences H7, H8, and B1), followed by the deposition of hemipelagic sediments (Drusberg Mb; restricted to sequence B2 of the late early Barremian on the inner platform; and covering the late early Barremian to the middle late Barremian on the outer platform, and to the early Aptian on the outer shelf, thereby showing an important diachroneity of its upper boundary related to the inception and progradation of the Urgonian platform), and the development of predominantly lagoonal carbonate (Schrattenkalk Formation (Fm); early late Barremian – early Aptian; sequences B3, B4, B5, and A1). The Schrattenkalk Fm documents important progradation and aggradation of the carbonate platform, and the change from a ramp-like to flat-topped geometry. The oldest, allochthonous remains of the shallow-water carbonate platform were identified intercalated in and on top of the lower Barremian Drusberg Mb (sequence B2). Sequence boundary (SB) B3 resulted from an important regressive phase near the early-late Barremian boundary, which led to the emersion of the hemipelagic sediments of the Drusberg Mb in the inner part of the shelf and to the deposition of a lowstand systems tract at the base of the Lower Schrattenkalk Mb (late Barremian; sequences B3–5) in intermediate and distal domains. Deposition of in-situ platform carbonate started during the following transgressive phase in the middle late Barremian, which flooded the entire investigated area. The associated faunal assemblages and phosphorus contents indicate a concomitant increase in nutrient input, which led to a mixed photozoan-heterozoan platform association dominated by annelids and flat orbitolinids, and the formation of a condensed phosphate-rich bed on the outer shelf (Chopf Bed; middle late Barremian). The subsequent sea-level highstand allowed for the deposition of the first typical Urgonian carbonates rich in corals and rudists. This depositional sequence (B3) terminated by the important infilling of accommodation space combined with sea-level fall of at least 15 m. Later on, close to the Barremian-Aptian boundary, a further, major emersion phase (SB A1) was triggered by sea-level fall, estimated here as at least 16 m, which terminated this first phase in the deposition of rudist and coral-rich platform carbonates covering the middle late to latest Barremian (B3–B5). The overlying Rawil Mb (lowermost Aptian; transgressive systems tract A1) resulted from progressive deepening and document a phase of increasing eutrophication of the depositional environment, resulting in a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate platform build-up, characterized by sea-grass facies and the massive occurrence of Palorbitolina lenticularis. The overlying Upper Schrattenkalk Mb (lower Aptian; highstand systems tract A1) records recovery of the rudist-rich photozoan Urgonian platform. Its subsequent demise occurred well before the Selli oceanic anoxic episode (OAE 1a). It was initiated by emersion of the platform due to high-amplitude sea-level fall (SB A2), followed by eutrophication during the subsequent transgressive phase.The carbon-isotope records show an increase towards more positive values during the Lower Schrattenkalk Mb and the base of the Rawil Mb, interrupted in most sections by an excursion to lower values near the Barremian–Aptian boundary. A shift to lower values occurred also in the uppermost part of the Rawil Mb, followed by variable trends in the Upper Schrattenkalk Mb. These long-term trends are well correlated with the basinal record (Angles, La Bédoule). Deviations in the correlations are related to the influence of facies and microfacies, primary mineralogy, emersion phases, and post-depositional alteration.