Diagenetic and detrital influences on clay mineralogy and carbon isotope geochemistry of Campanian–Maastrichtian sediments in the Tremp-Graus Basin (southern Pyrenees, Spain)

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

A 1000 m-thick sequence of Upper Cretaceous sediments outcropping in the Isabena Valley (Tremp-Graus Basin, Spain) has been studied to explore the evolution of environmental conditions that prevailed in this basin. A biostratigraphic study based on calcareous nannofossils was carried out to better constraint the age of the deposits, supplemented by carbon isotope stratigraphy on bulk carbonates. Clay mineral assemblages were identified by X-Ray diffraction combined with organic matter (OM) characterisation by Rock–Eval pyrolysis. The Late Campanian Event and Campanian Maastrichtian Boundary Event are clearly identified from the new δ13Ccarb dataset. The clay assemblage is composed of a complex mixture of chlorite, illite, kaolinite and mixed-layers including illite–smectite and chlorite–smectite. A progressive illitisation of smectite is recorded from the top to the base of the section due to the increasing burial depth. This evolution is consistent with increasing Tmax values of OM evolving from 425 (immature OM) to 449 °C (mature OM) from the top to the base of the section. Thus, detrital minerals are preserved only in the upper part of the section. The clay sedimentation is dominated by smectites likely originating from the Ebro massif, while increasing proportions of kaolinite are recorded from the uppermost Campanian and during the Maastrichtian. This evolution of the clay mineral assemblage is interpreted as a result from a change of source from south to northeast, with contributions from kaolinite-rich weathering profiles (including bauxites) to the northeast of the study area, reflecting a more hydrolysing climate.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Iberian Geology
Vol/bind48
Sider (fra-til)29-43
ISSN1698-6180
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2022

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This research was funded by the ANR Anox-Sea ANR-12-BS06-0011 coordinated by E. Pucéat. We are grateful to Philippe Joseph and Emmanuelle Chanvry for their help in the field and Mathieu Thévenot for his help in laboratory. N. Thibault and M.J. Razmjooei acknowledge Carlsbergfondet grant CF16-0457. The constructive reviews by two anonymous reviewers and by the associate editor, Javier Luque, have greatly contributed to the study. We also thank them and Sebastien Potel for helpful suggestions about mineralogical expertise.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

    Forskningsområder

  • Clay minerals, Diagenesis, Late Cretaceous, Palaeoenvironment, Southern Pyrenees, Tremp-Graus Basin

ID: 345061352