INVESTIGADORES
DAMBORENEA Susana Ester
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Los Molles Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina: A southern Hemisphere perspective on the Toarcian Anoxic Event
Autor/es:
AL-SUWAIDI, A.; DAMBORENEA, S.E.; HESSELBO, S.; JENKYNS, H.; MANCEÑIDO, M.O.; RICCARDI, A.C
Lugar:
Washington, USA
Reunión:
Jornada; Fall Meeting American Geophysical Union; 2008
Institución organizadora:
American Geopgysical Union
Resumen:
In the Early Jurassic, the Toarcian, Oceanic Anoxic Event (~180 m.a.) was
characterized by high sea surface temperatures (~6°C warmer than present), mass
extinction, large igneous province emplacement, and the deposition of sediments rich in
organic carbon. However, most studies of the event have focused on the northern
hemisphere sections, leading some researchers to question its global nature. Here we
report first results from a combined sedimentological, biostratigraphic and geochemical
study of a southern hemisphere Pliensbachian-Toarcian black shale succession, the Los
Molles Formation of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina, in order to assess the global extent
of the Oceanic Anoxic Event. Three sections along a N-S transect have been
investigated: Arroyo Lapa, Chacay Melehue, and Arroyo Serrucho. The sediments
comprise interbedded fine-grained sandstone and laminated dark shales, with localized
abundant reworked volcaniclastic material, and sporadic carbonate nodules. An
abundance of fossils includes hildoceratid and dactylioceratid ammonites and pectinoid
bivalves. Carbon-isotope analyses of terrestrial organic material from Arroyo Lapa
reveals fluctuations in values comparable to those previously reported from Western
Europe. The preliminary results support the hypothesis that Toarcian oceanic anoxia and
attendant carbon-cycle perturbation was a phenomenon of global signifcance.