Possible origin of stromatactis-like cavities in Upper Jurassic sediments from the Wielkanoc quarry near Gołcza (Kraków–Częstochowa Upland, southern Poland)—experimental studies

Abstract

Isolated stromatactis-like cavities were found in a microbial-sponge buildup exposed in the Wielkanoc quarry (eastern part of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland). The cavities are filled with several generations of carbonate cements and with internal sediments. The top surfaces of internal sediments are flat or wavy, whereas the roofs of cavities are arcuate. The origin of cavities from the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland is difficult to constrain. It seems that the stromatactis-like cavities from the Wielkanoc quarry resulted, at least partly, from remodeling of open spaces left after dissolution of corals in incompletely lithified sediment. Dissolution of corals disturbed the primary stress field within the carbonate buildup and generated the secondary stress characterized by the appearance of compressional forces in the walls of cavities and tensional forces in their roofs. Thus, the lack of support of sediments over roofs of cavities after dissolution of corals resulted in their instability and collapse triggered by vibrations caused by various factors. One of such triggers might have been the rejuvenation of the Kraków-Lubliniec Fault Zone in the Late Jurassic or the collapse of reticular framework within the buildup. The material falling down from the roofs was deposited at the bottoms of cavities as an internal sediment.Results of experimental studies demonstrate that the arcuate shapes of the roof surfaces of cavities are related to compressional stress in the walls and tensional stress in their roofs.

Commensal symbiosis between agglutinated polychaetes and sulfate‐reducing bacteria

“…The discontinuous fossil record of terebellids goes back at least to the Triassic (Campbell & Campbell, 1970). They are widespread in microbial carbonate crusts in cavities of Jurassic coral reefs at several localities in Europe, often associated with sponges, serpulids, bryozoans and foraminifers (Leinfelder et al, 1993;Dupraz & Strasser, 1999;Olivier et al, 2003;Reolid et al, 2005;Olchowy, 2011). Also in the Jurassic, along the northern shelf of Western Tethys, a 'Tubiphytes'-Terebella facies developed in association with siliceous sponges in carbonate platform talus in deep-water low-energy environments (Brachert, 1986;Nose, 1995;Schlagintweit & Ebli, 1999;Schlagintweit & Gawlick, 2008), probably reflecting dysaerobic conditions (Leinfelder et al, 1993).…”

Late Jurassic facies architecture of the Złoczew Graben: implications for evolution of the tectonic-controlled northern peri-Tethyan shelf (Upper Oxfordian–Lower Kimmeridgian, Poland)

“…The debrites and calciturbidites (FT 4) deposited in the marginal zone of the Złoczew Graben reflect its tectonic activity. This suggestion is supported by the presence of stromatactis-like cavities, which were interpreted as products of synsedimentary tectonic movements by Matyszkiewicz (1997a) and Olchowy (2011). Material laid down as the gravity flow deposits were derived mostly from areas of FT 1-3, whereas fine-grained calciturbidites were derived from FT 5.…”

“…The origin of the cavities here is related to remodeling of initial open spaces in an inhomogeneous, partly lithified sediment (cf. Matyszkiewicz 1997a; Neuweiler et al 2001;Olchowy 2011). Such open spaces might have formed at the contacts of loose particles (ooids, oncoids, bioclasts, or intraclasts) and partly lithified microbial crusts during sedimentation (cf.…”

“…According to Schmid et al (2001), the presence of small-scale discontinuities within sediment together with an unstable shelf position may led to gravitational slumping. The factor disturbing the stability of sediment with initial open spaces might have been synsedimentary tectonics responsible for generation of stress within the rocks (Matyszkiewicz 1997a;Olchowy 2011). …”

“…Indirect support of this concept is provided by the results of studies on Upper Oxfordian coral facies from central and southern Poland (Roniewicz and Roniewicz 1971;Roniewicz 2004), where coral facies are dominated by platy coral colonies of Microsolena, which grew in a mid-ramp, low-light and low-energy setting, below fair-weather wave base (Insalaco 1996;Leinfelder et al 1996;Olivier et al 2011). Corals described from the sites in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland most commonly occur together with the Crescentiella-dominated facies (e.g., Olchowy 2011). …”