High-precision U-Pb calibration of Carboniferous glaciation and climate history, Paganzo Group, NW Argentina

• Published in: Geological Society of America Bulletin
• Main Authors: Gulbranson, Erik L., Montañez, Isabel P., Schmitz, M. D., Limarino, Carlos Oscar, Isbell, J. L., Marenssi, Sergio Alfredo, Crowley, J. L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Geological Society of America
• Subjects: Geochronology; Late Paleozoic; Western Gondwana; Argentina; Meteorología y Ciencias Atmosféricas; Ciencias de la Tierra y relacionadas con el Medio Ambiente; CIENCIAS NATURALES Y EXACTAS; Argentino; Blanco; Isbell; Dirección Nacional del Antártico; Instituto Antártico Argentino
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/68789

The duration and geographic extent of Carboniferous glacial events in southern Gondwana remain poorly constrained despite recent evidence for a more dynamic glacial history than previously considered. We report 10 high-precision (2σ ± <0.1%) U-Pb ages for the Permian-Carboniferous Paganzo Group, NW Argentina, that redefine the chronostratigraphy of the late Paleozoic Paganzo and Río Blanco Basins, and significantly refine the timing of glacial events and climate shifts in the western region of southern Gondwana. Radiometric calibration of the Paganzo Group indicates three pulses of Carboniferous glaciation in the mid-Visean, the late Serpukhovian to earliest Bashkirian, and between the latest Bashkirian to early Moscovian. An abrupt shift in depositional style from high-sinuosity single-storied fluvial deposits and clay-rich paleosols to low-sinuosity multistoried feldspathic fluvial deposits intercalated with eolianites and calcic paleosols is constrained to the latest Moscovian and earliest Kasimovian. These constraints indicate a relatively abrupt climate shift from humid-subhumid to nonseasonal semiarid regional climate conditions that occurred significantly earlier than previously inferred (Early Permian). This period of high-latitude aridity was contemporaneous with a shift to dryland depositional environments and a major vegetation regime shift documented throughout the Pangean paleotropics in the Pennsylvanian. Fil: Gulbranson, Erik L. University of California; Estados Unidos Fil: Montañez, Isabel P. University of California; Estados Unidos Fil: Schmitz, M. D. Boise State University; Estados Unidos Fil: Limarino, Carlos Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Geología; Argentina Fil: Isbell, J. L. University of Wisconsin; Estados Unidos Fil: Marenssi, Sergio Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina Fil: Crowley, J. L. Boise State University; Estados Unidos