Biomarker paleo-reconstruction of the German Wealden (Berriasian, Early Cretaceous) in the Lower Saxony Basin (LSB)

Blumenberg, Martin; Zink, Klaus-Gerhard; Scheeder, Georg; Ostertag-Henning, Christian; Erbacher, Jochen

doi:10.1007/s00531-018-1651-5

Cited by 16 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…δ 13 C values of the higher plant-derived n-alkane n-C 31 (Eglinton et al, 1962) were also analyzed for the unconformity-bounded Units 1 and 2 (covering the PETM and ETM-2 intervals; see section Identification of Carbon Isotope Excursions along the Analyzed Section). Ground samples were extracted by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), separated into fractions of different polarity, and the hydrocarbon fraction was subsequently analyzed with gas chromatography-IRMS using a method described in Blumenberg et al (2019). Standard deviations were generally better than <0.5‰ (n = 2).…”

Section: Actual Land Surfacementioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical indications for the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM-2) hyperthermals in terrestrial sediments of the Canadian Arctic

et al. 2022

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During the late Paleocene to early Eocene, clastic fluvial sediments and coals were deposited in northern high latitudes as part of the Margaret Formation at Stenkul Fiord (Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada). Syn-sedimentary tectonic movements of the Eurekan deformation continuously affected these terrestrial sediments. Different volcanic ash layers occur, and unconformities subdivide the deposits into four sedimentary units. Rare vertebrate fossils indicate an early Eocene (Graybullian) age for the upper part of the Stenkul Fiord outcrop. Here, we present carbon isotope data of bulk coal, related organic-rich mud and siltstones, a plant leaf wax-derived alkane, and additional plant remains. These data provide a complete carbon isotope record of one stratigraphic section with defined unconformity positions and in relation to other Eurekan deformation features. A previously dated ash layer MA-1 provided a U-Pb zircon age of 53.7 Ma and is used as a stratigraphic tie point, together with a discrete negative carbon isotope excursion found above MA-1 in a closely sampled coal seam. The excursion is identified as the likely expression of the I-1 hyperthermal event. Based on our isotope data that reflect the early Eocene dynamics of the carbon cycle, this tie point, and previous paleontological constraints from vertebrate fossils, the locations of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM-2) hyperthermals and their extent along the complete section are herein identified. Within the intervals of the PETM and ETM-2 hyperthermal events, increasing amounts of clastic sediments reached the site toward the respective end of the event. This is interpreted as a response of the fluvial depositional system to an intensified hydrological system during the hyperthermal events. Our study establishes an enhanced stratigraphic framework allowing for the calculation of average sedimentation rates of different intervals and considerations on the completeness of the stratigraphic record. As one of the few high-latitude outcrops of early Eocene terrestrial sediments, the Stenkul Fiord location offers further possibilities to study the effects of extreme warming events in the Paleogene.

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Section: Actual Land Surfacementioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical indications for the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM-2) hyperthermals in terrestrial sediments of the Canadian Arctic

et al. 2022

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“…(found as telalginite in sample L8/42: Fig. 4c) represents planktonic green algae colonies that live only in fresh to brackish water settings and are common in terrestrial/lacustrine petroleum source rocks (Moldowan and Seifert 1980;McKirdy et al 1986a;Glikson et al 1989;Metzger and Largeau 2005;Blumenberg et al 2019). The input of such algae might augment the abundance of C 27 -C 31 n-alkanes (Moldowan et al 1985;Derenne et al 1988) which are more commonly attributed to land-plant input.…”

Section: Biological Precursors and Paleo-depositional Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Featuring a relatively dynamic and predominantly oxic fluvio-lacustrine paleo-depositional environment with sporadic blooms of fresh-water Botryococcus green algae, the Murta Formation represents the Australian example of common Early Cretaceous fluvio-lacustrine deposits such as the English Purbeckian and German Wealden facies (Blumenberg et al 2019). Since we found no evidence for deep-water/offshore sedimentation and marine transgression (compare Veevers et al 1991), we assign the investigated Murta Formation samples to the lower successions of the Murta Formation (Units 1 and 2 after Ambrose et al 1982Ambrose et al , 1986; see also Sect.…”

Section: Biological Precursors and Paleo-depositional Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Birkhead and Murta formations—organic geochemistry and organic petrography of Mesozoic fluvio-lacustrine source rocks in the Eromanga Basin, central Australia

Röth

Baniasad

Froidl

et al. 2022

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

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Due to a historic focus on the underlying Cooper Basin and a growing demand for energy in Australia, a reassessment of the Eromanga Basin in central and eastern Australia is necessary, including a more detailed characterization of its Jurassic-Cretaceous petroleum system elements. The Jurassic Birkhead Formation and the Cretaceous Murta Formation are considered the most important source rocks of the Eromanga Basin. To study the petroleum generation potential of these two formations, a set of 55 rock cores from eight petroleum exploration wells was analysed. The sample set was subject to multiple-organic geochemical and petrographical analyses to evaluate organic richness, hydrocarbon potential (Rock–Eval S1 and S2), maceral composition, thermal maturity (e.g. vitrinite reflectance), and saturated and aromatic biomarker composition. The investigated fluvio-lacustrine siltstones and carbonaceous shales exhibit low to excellent total organic carbon (TOC) content, very low sulphur and low inorganic carbon content. Thermal maturity of both formations is at the onset of the oil window (immature to early mature). The Cretaceous Murta Formation shows good hydrocarbon generation potential and, in part, high production indices, while the Jurassic Birkhead Formation generally shows low kerogen to bitumen conversion and a good to very good hydrocarbon generation potential. Dispersed, rather coarse organic matter of terrigenous origin in fine-grained siliciclastic matrix with well-preserved plant remnants including “cutinite flames” is typical. Liptinite (mainly lamalginite) content is generally higher in the Murta Formation (including the occurrence of Botryococcus green algae), while vitrinite is clearly dominant in the Birkhead Formation. The Birkhead solvent extracts exhibit a more heterogeneous distribution of n-alkanes with distinct maxima in the long-chain range, whereas shorter-chain n-alkanes dominate the Murta extracts. Based on their quality and quantity of incorporated organic matter as well as thermal maturity, the petroleum generation potential of the Murta and Birkhead formations is discussed in detail.

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“…Reconstructing original TOC for these two mature/post-mature cores using the method of Jarvie (2012) yields calculated original TOCs in cores B and C before thermal maturation of around ∼16% and ∼19%, respectively, which is significantly higher than the average TOC value in core A (∼10%). This pattern of higher initial OM concentration in cores B and C could be With HI values around 600-750 and oxygen index (OI) values under 20 in core A (Figure 2), the Posidonienschiefer is a Type I/II kerogen (Figure S1 in Supporting Information S1, Espitalié et al, 1977) with a primary algal organic-matter-dominated maceral assemblage confirmed by organic geochemical and petrographic studies on these cores (Blumenberg et al, 2019;Celestino, 2019;Gorbanenko & Ligouis, 2014. These features are comparable to those in Toarcian sediments from other sections in the LSB and adjoining NW European basins (e.g., Littke et al, 1988Littke et al, , 1991Schwark & Frimmel, 2004;French et al, 2014;Song et al, 2017).…”

Section: Mercury Enrichment: Differences In Om Type and Original Depo...mentioning

confidence: 68%

Investigating the Behavior of Sedimentary Mercury (Hg) During Burial‐Related Thermal Maturation

Indraswari,

Frieling,

Mather

et al. 2024

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Understanding the behavior of mercury (Hg) in organic‐rich sediments as they undergo thermal maturation is important, for example, because enrichment of Hg in sedimentary deposits has become a widely used proxy for volcanism from Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs). In this study, we evaluate the effects of such processes on sedimentary Hg concentrations by investigating a common stratigraphic interval in three drill cores with different levels of thermal maturity (immature, mature and post‐mature) in Toarcian sediments (Posidonienschiefer Formation) from the Lower Saxony Basin, Germany. We present Hg concentrations, bulk organic geochemistry, and total sulfur data. Mercury concentrations in the mature and post‐mature sediments are increased >2‐fold relative to the immature material, which is greater than any potential differences in original Hg concentrations in the studied successions prior to burial. Organic‐carbon and host‐rock mass loss during thermal maturation may have concentrated Hg in the mature sediments to some extent, provided Hg is considered effectively immobile. The increased Hg, TOC‐normalized Hg, and TS‐normalized Hg are most likely linked to the “closed system” behavior of Hg in sedimentary basins and the relatively low temperatures (70–260°C) during maturation that resulted in limited Hg mobility. More speculatively, a certain degree of redistribution of Hg within the mature sediments is suggested by its enrichment in distinct stratigraphic levels. Regardless of the exact mechanisms at play, the elevated Hg concentrations in mature sediments amplify both Hg/TOC and Hg/TS, implying that thermal effects must be considered when using normalized Hg as a proxy for far‐field volcanic activity.

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Biomarker paleo-reconstruction of the German Wealden (Berriasian, Early Cretaceous) in the Lower Saxony Basin (LSB)

Cited by 16 publications

References 45 publications

Geochemical indications for the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM-2) hyperthermals in terrestrial sediments of the Canadian Arctic

Geochemical indications for the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM-2) hyperthermals in terrestrial sediments of the Canadian Arctic

The Birkhead and Murta formations—organic geochemistry and organic petrography of Mesozoic fluvio-lacustrine source rocks in the Eromanga Basin, central Australia

Investigating the Behavior of Sedimentary Mercury (Hg) During Burial‐Related Thermal Maturation

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