Sequence stratigraphy of the ca. 1730 Ma Wollogorang Formation, McArthur Basin, Australia

Kunzmann, Marcus; Crombez, Vincent; Catuneanu, Octavian; Blaikie, Teagan; Barth, Gregor; Collins, Alan S.

doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2020.104297

Cited by 9 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The identification of widespread euxinia (anoxic seawater with free hydrogen sulfide), such as oceanic anoxic events, is achieved in Phanerozoic sections with biostratigraphy (Coccioni et al, 2006), which may be available in some Proterozoic successions, but is not refined enough for precise correlations. Just as in Phanerozoic strata, sequence stratigraphy can be used to precisely correlate sections across Proterozoic basins (Kunzmann et al, 2020), but as separate basins have different tectonic histories, stratigraphic sequences from two basins are unlikely to be precisely time equivalent (Catuneanu, 2019). If available, carbon isotopes can be very useful if significant isotopic variation is recorded in the studied succession.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gulf of Nuna: Astrochronologic correlation of a Mesoproterozoic oceanic euxinic event

Mitchell

Kirscher

Kunzmann

et al. 2020

Geology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ca. 1.4 Ga Velkerri and Xiamaling Formations, in Australia and the north China craton, respectively, are both carbonaceous shale deposits that record a prominent euxinic interval and were intruded by ca. 1.3 Ga dolerite sills. These similarities raise the possibility that these two units correlate, which would suggest the occurrence of widespread euxinia, organic carbon burial, and source rock deposition. Paleomagnetic data are consistent with Australia and the north China craton being neighbors in the supercontinent Nuna and thus permit deposition in a single large basin, and the putative stratigraphic correlation. However, lack of geochronological data has precluded definitive testing. The Xiamaling Formation has been shown to exhibit depositional control by orbital cycles. Here, we tested the putative correlation with the Velkerri Formation by cyclostratigraphic analysis. The Velkerri Formation exhibits sedimentological cycles that can be interpreted to represent the entire hierarchy of orbital cycles, according to a sedimentation rate that is consistent with Re-Os ages. Comparison of the inferred durations of the euxinic intervals preserved in both the Xiamaling and Velkerri Formations reveals a nearly identical ~10-m.y.-long oceanic euxinic event. This permits the interpretation that the two hydrocarbon-rich units were deposited and matured in the same basin of Nuna, similar to the Gulf of Mexico during the breakup of Pangea.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%