Carbon isotopic evidence for organic matter oxidation in soils of the Old Red Sandstone (Silurian to Devonian, South Wales, UK)

Brasier, Alexander T.; Morris, Jenny; Hillier, Robert D.

doi:10.1144/jgs2013-136

Cited by 13 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 73 publications

(112 reference statements)

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“…A general consideration about the early Devonian, Permian and Triassic as periods of hot and arid continental climate is partly connected to the abundance of contemporaneous CRBs. However, haematite enrichment and red colouration have been reported from intermittently wet‐and‐dry palaeo–vertisols in vegetated floodplains (Marriott & Wright, 1993; Brasier et al ., 2014), by processes of laterization promoting silicate weathering and precipitation of Fe‐oxyhydroxides under seasonally wet and dry tropical climate (Milnes et al ., 1987). It has also been suggested that haematite precipitation in red beds can occur during late diagenesis due to iron redistribution from primary biotite, chlorite and other Fe‐bearing minerals at the contact with oxidized groundwater (Walker, 1967; Bankole et al ., 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater red beds in Holocene fluvial sediments as a product of iron and manganese redox cycling; Morava River, Czechia

et al. 2023

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Modern fluvial deposits can be affected by early diagenetic element mobilization at redox boundaries between oxygenated and oxygen‐free zones near the groundwater level. The visible product of redox transformation of Fe is the sediment colour. Distinct red and black sediment layers have been studied in eight shallow (<4.2 m depth) sections in the floodplain of Morava River, Czechia. The aim was to investigate the composition, origin, rates of formation and stratigraphic significance of the red strata using bulk‐rock analytical methods, radiocarbon dating, optical and scanning electron microscopy coupled with in situ (energy‐dispersive X‐ray scanning electron microscopy and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) geochemistry. The coloured layers, in places well‐cemented, developed in permeable sands and gravels above the water table, close to the boundary with overlying less permeable floodplain sandy silts. Their colour is due to Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides (goethite, haematite, todorokite and birnessite) coatings of framework grains. Black, Mn‐rich layers occur stratigraphically higher than the red, Fe‐rich ones. The coatings are a few‐hundred microns thick at maximum, often botryoidal, composed of alternating Fe‐rich and Mn‐rich laminae enriched in As, Mo, Sb, P, Cu and U. The coatings formed under suboxic conditions due to Fe and Mn oxyhydroxide cycling, driven partly by microbial activity, at the groundwater‐related redox boundary which resulted in the distinct vertical arrangement of the black and red layers. Being markedly enriched in As bound to Fe‐oxyhydroxides and exposed to fluctuating redox conditions, the coloured strata can potentially release As to groundwater and represent serious environmental hazards. Radiocarbon ages suggest that the groundwater‐type red beds can occur extremely quickly, over a few hundred years. It is assumed that, under suitable circumstances, this reddening can be preserved in the rock record, and represent a specific model for the development of continental red beds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Groundwater red beds in Holocene fluvial sediments as a product of iron and manganese redox cycling; Morava River, Czechia

et al. 2023

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“…The expanded vegetation cover has also been linked to enhanced rates of pedogenesis (Allan, 1974;Algeo et al, 2001;Brasier, 2011), as plant growth and the incorporation of organic matter raised the concentration of CO2 in soils. Plant respiration and microbiobial decay facilitated the production of carbonic acid, which in turn dissolved limestone producing biocarbonate ions, which ultimately contributed to calcrete precipitation which is a characteristic of the ORS (Brasier et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Old Red Sandstone of Britain and Ireland — a review

Kendall

2017

Proceedings of the Geologists' Association

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The Old Red Sandstone (ORS) is an informal term which is given to continental, predominantly siliclastic, strata of late Silurian to early Carboniferous age which were deposited across the continent of Laurussia at sub-tropic to tropical latitudes. The coincidental development of land plants had a major impact on the atmosphere and global climate by lowering atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, which profoundly affected the style of alluvial sedimentation during this interval, by stabilising flood plains and facilitating the development of soils. The ORS also provides examples of syn-to post-orogenic deposition related to the Caledonian Orogeny, which was affected by synchronous tectonism and volcanism. The influence of Variscan tectonics on basin deformation and tectonism are also evident in the ORS sequence.In October 2014, a symposium was held, organised by the South Wales Geologists' Association, entitled The Old Red Sandstone: is it Old, is it Red and is it all Sandstone? The event consisted of talks and posters on topics associated with the Old Red Sandstone deposits, principally of Wales and the Welsh Borders and the Scottish Borders in the UK, and included a series of field trips. Seven of the speakers have contributed manuscripts which are presented in this volume. These include papers discussing fossil fish and plant assemblages, the Fforest Fawr Geopark, Old Red Sandstone building stones, and soft sediment deformation. A brief report on the event and acknowledgements is also included.

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The colonization of drylands by early vascular plants: Evidence from Early Devonian fossil soils and in situ plant traces from South China

Xue

Wang

Huang

et al. 2023

Earth-Science Reviews

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Carbon isotopic evidence for organic matter oxidation in soils of the Old Red Sandstone (Silurian to Devonian, South Wales, UK)

Cited by 13 publications

References 73 publications

Groundwater red beds in Holocene fluvial sediments as a product of iron and manganese redox cycling; Morava River, Czechia

Groundwater red beds in Holocene fluvial sediments as a product of iron and manganese redox cycling; Morava River, Czechia

The Old Red Sandstone of Britain and Ireland — a review

The colonization of drylands by early vascular plants: Evidence from Early Devonian fossil soils and in situ plant traces from South China

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