Geochemical disturbance and paleoenvironmental changes during the Early Toarcian in NW Europe.

• Published in: Chemical Geology
• Main Authors: Lézin, Carine, Andreu, Bernard, Pellenard, Pierre, Bouchez, Jean-Luc, Emmanuel, Laurent, Fauré, Philippe, Landrein, Philippe
• Other Authors: Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UT3), Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées (OMP), Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Météo France-Centre National d'Études Spatiales Toulouse (CNES)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Biogéosciences UMR 6282 Dijon (BGS), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris (iSTeP), Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle de Toulouse, Agence Nationale pour la Gestion des Déchets Radioactifs (ANDRA), Study funded by GNR FORPRO.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2013
• Subjects: Early Toarcian; Oceanic anoxic event; Paleoenvironment; Trace metals; Productivity; Paris Basin; geo; envir; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2013.01.003; https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00789112

International audience The Early Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (OAE) is associated with a rapid and severe environmental change whose causes are still a matter of debate. A new paleoenvironmental interpretation is proposed, based on a multidisciplinary dataset (chemical, mineralogical and paleontological) obtained from a borehole drilled by Andra (French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency) in the Lower Toarcian of the eastern Paris Basin (France). During the earlymost Toarcian (TenuicostatumZone), the presence ofwell oxygenated sea-water is reflected by an abundant and diverse fauna, alongwith paleoredox proxies (U/Al, Mo/Al and V/Al) typical of oxidizing conditions, associated with predominant mechanical weathering on the continent. At the base of the Serpentinum Zone, an important paleoenvironmental change is marked by an initial phase of organic matter enrichment (~12% TOC) during the negative shift of δ13C (Carbon Isotope Excursion: CIE). Euxinic/anoxic conditions, indicated by cobalt enrichment and the development of framboidal pyrite, lead to the disappearance of the benthic and pelagic fauna and alloworganic matter to be preserved in the sediments. At this time, the lowconcentration of paleoproductivity proxies (Cd, P, Ni and Zn) suggests weak chemical weathering on the continent due to a rather arid climate. Low concentrations of Sr and coccoliths are due to an input of fresh water probably coming from the Arctic through the Laurasian seaway. Thus, the isolation of the Paris Basin from the Tethyan realm and the influx of freshwater favour haline stratification and the preservation of organic matter. Following the CIE, oxygen concentration gradually increases up to amaximumflooding surface dated as coevalwith the Serpentinum Zone, Elegantulum Subzone. Paleoproductivity proxies indicate a weak primary productivity. The top of the Lower Toarcian is characterized by a second enrichment in organic matter (~12% TOC) due to an important input of nutrients. This enhanced primary production generates ...