Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys

A. van der Boon; R. van der Ploeg; M. J. Cramwinckel; K. F. Kuiper; S. V. Popov; I. P. Tabachnikova; D. V. Palcu; W. Krijgsman

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109395

Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys

A. van der Boon^*, R. van der Ploeg, M. J. Cramwinckel, K. F. Kuiper, S. V. Popov, I. P. Tabachnikova, D. V. Palcu, W. Krijgsman

^*Corresponding author for this work

Earth Sciences

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Abstract

The sedimentary succession along the Belaya River (North Caucasus) provides a record of middle Eocene to Miocene sediments. This time interval is well known for its important climatic transitions (e.g., Middle Eocene Climate Optimum (MECO) and Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT)), and changes in basin configuration from Peri-Tethys to Paratethys. The Belaya section contains two intervals marked by oxygen-depleted sediments; the Eocene Kuma Formation of the Peri-Tethys and the Oligocene Maikop Group of the Paratethys. Both are considered important source rocks for hydrocarbon exploration in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. We present integrated stratigraphic results of the Belaya River section using calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating. Furthermore, we investigate the geochemical character of the sediments using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes. A middle Eocene age for the lower part of the succession is established from nannoplankton biostratigraphy. The Kuma Formation is dated between 42.1 and 38.4 Ma based on the assumption of constant sediment accumulation rates. A negative oxygen isotope excursion in the middle part of the Kuma Formation could be related to the MECO (~40 Ma). The onset of the Maikop Group is dated around the base of chron C13n at an age of ~33.7 Ma, close to the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. Based on geochemical results, we show that the Kuma Formation and Maikop Group correspond to two different episodes of intensified oceanic oxygen depletion in the succession. We hypothesise that oxygen-depletion as recorded in the Kuma Formation is linked to an increased nutrient input in the open marine Peri-Tethys due to widespread volcanism in the Neotethys subduction zone, while oxygen-depletion as recorded in the Maikop Group is linked to basin restriction caused by the eustatic sea-level fall straddling the Eocene – Oligocene boundary triggering stratified conditions in the semi-isolated Paratethys Sea.

Original language	English
Article number	109395
Pages (from-to)	1-16
Number of pages	16
Journal	Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Volume	536
Early online date	16 Oct 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109395
Publication status	Published - 15 Dec 2019

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) [grant 865.10.011 ] of WK and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 17-05-00047 ). We thank Michael Morton, Stephen Vincent, Sarah Davies, Larisa Golovina, Tatiana Pinchuk, Alexandra Rylova, Chris van Baak, Arjen Grothe, Suzhen Liu, Niels van Helmond and Kevin Vis for help in the field and valuable discussions. We thank Roel van Elsas for help with mineral separation for 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating, and Camille Chapeland for measuring XRF. We thank three anonymous reviewers and editor Thomas Algeo for their detailed comments that have greatly improved the manuscript. Appendix A

Funders	Funder number
Camille Chapeland for
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
Russian Foundation for Basic Research	17-05-00047
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	865.10.011

Keywords

Anoxia
Eocene-Oligocene Transition
Kuma Formation
Maikop
MECO
Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109395

Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia)Final published version, 5.82 MBLicence: Article 25fa Dutch Copyright Act

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van der Boon, A., van der Ploeg, R., Cramwinckel, M. J., Kuiper, K. F., Popov, S. V., Tabachnikova, I. P., Palcu, D. V., & Krijgsman, W. (2019). Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 536, 1-16. Article 109395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109395

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title = "Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys",

abstract = "The sedimentary succession along the Belaya River (North Caucasus) provides a record of middle Eocene to Miocene sediments. This time interval is well known for its important climatic transitions (e.g., Middle Eocene Climate Optimum (MECO) and Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT)), and changes in basin configuration from Peri-Tethys to Paratethys. The Belaya section contains two intervals marked by oxygen-depleted sediments; the Eocene Kuma Formation of the Peri-Tethys and the Oligocene Maikop Group of the Paratethys. Both are considered important source rocks for hydrocarbon exploration in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. We present integrated stratigraphic results of the Belaya River section using calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and 40Ar/39Ar dating. Furthermore, we investigate the geochemical character of the sediments using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes. A middle Eocene age for the lower part of the succession is established from nannoplankton biostratigraphy. The Kuma Formation is dated between 42.1 and 38.4 Ma based on the assumption of constant sediment accumulation rates. A negative oxygen isotope excursion in the middle part of the Kuma Formation could be related to the MECO (~40 Ma). The onset of the Maikop Group is dated around the base of chron C13n at an age of ~33.7 Ma, close to the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. Based on geochemical results, we show that the Kuma Formation and Maikop Group correspond to two different episodes of intensified oceanic oxygen depletion in the succession. We hypothesise that oxygen-depletion as recorded in the Kuma Formation is linked to an increased nutrient input in the open marine Peri-Tethys due to widespread volcanism in the Neotethys subduction zone, while oxygen-depletion as recorded in the Maikop Group is linked to basin restriction caused by the eustatic sea-level fall straddling the Eocene – Oligocene boundary triggering stratified conditions in the semi-isolated Paratethys Sea.",

keywords = "Anoxia, Eocene-Oligocene Transition, Kuma Formation, Maikop, MECO, Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum",

author = "{van der Boon}, A. and {van der Ploeg}, R. and Cramwinckel, {M. J.} and Kuiper, {K. F.} and Popov, {S. V.} and Tabachnikova, {I. P.} and Palcu, {D. V.} and W. Krijgsman",

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doi = "10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109395",

language = "English",

volume = "536",

pages = "1--16",

journal = "Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology",

issn = "0031-0182",

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van der Boon, A, van der Ploeg, R, Cramwinckel, MJ, Kuiper, KF, Popov, SV, Tabachnikova, IP, Palcu, DV & Krijgsman, W 2019, 'Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys', Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, vol. 536, 109395, pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109395

Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys. / van der Boon, A.; van der Ploeg, R.; Cramwinckel, M. J. et al.
In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Vol. 536, 109395, 15.12.2019, p. 1-16.

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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T1 - Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia)

T2 - Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys

AU - van der Boon, A.

AU - van der Ploeg, R.

AU - Cramwinckel, M. J.

AU - Kuiper, K. F.

AU - Popov, S. V.

AU - Tabachnikova, I. P.

AU - Palcu, D. V.

AU - Krijgsman, W.

PY - 2019/12/15

Y1 - 2019/12/15

N2 - The sedimentary succession along the Belaya River (North Caucasus) provides a record of middle Eocene to Miocene sediments. This time interval is well known for its important climatic transitions (e.g., Middle Eocene Climate Optimum (MECO) and Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT)), and changes in basin configuration from Peri-Tethys to Paratethys. The Belaya section contains two intervals marked by oxygen-depleted sediments; the Eocene Kuma Formation of the Peri-Tethys and the Oligocene Maikop Group of the Paratethys. Both are considered important source rocks for hydrocarbon exploration in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. We present integrated stratigraphic results of the Belaya River section using calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and 40Ar/39Ar dating. Furthermore, we investigate the geochemical character of the sediments using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes. A middle Eocene age for the lower part of the succession is established from nannoplankton biostratigraphy. The Kuma Formation is dated between 42.1 and 38.4 Ma based on the assumption of constant sediment accumulation rates. A negative oxygen isotope excursion in the middle part of the Kuma Formation could be related to the MECO (~40 Ma). The onset of the Maikop Group is dated around the base of chron C13n at an age of ~33.7 Ma, close to the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. Based on geochemical results, we show that the Kuma Formation and Maikop Group correspond to two different episodes of intensified oceanic oxygen depletion in the succession. We hypothesise that oxygen-depletion as recorded in the Kuma Formation is linked to an increased nutrient input in the open marine Peri-Tethys due to widespread volcanism in the Neotethys subduction zone, while oxygen-depletion as recorded in the Maikop Group is linked to basin restriction caused by the eustatic sea-level fall straddling the Eocene – Oligocene boundary triggering stratified conditions in the semi-isolated Paratethys Sea.

AB - The sedimentary succession along the Belaya River (North Caucasus) provides a record of middle Eocene to Miocene sediments. This time interval is well known for its important climatic transitions (e.g., Middle Eocene Climate Optimum (MECO) and Eocene-Oligocene Transition (EOT)), and changes in basin configuration from Peri-Tethys to Paratethys. The Belaya section contains two intervals marked by oxygen-depleted sediments; the Eocene Kuma Formation of the Peri-Tethys and the Oligocene Maikop Group of the Paratethys. Both are considered important source rocks for hydrocarbon exploration in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. We present integrated stratigraphic results of the Belaya River section using calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy and 40Ar/39Ar dating. Furthermore, we investigate the geochemical character of the sediments using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and stable carbon and oxygen isotopes. A middle Eocene age for the lower part of the succession is established from nannoplankton biostratigraphy. The Kuma Formation is dated between 42.1 and 38.4 Ma based on the assumption of constant sediment accumulation rates. A negative oxygen isotope excursion in the middle part of the Kuma Formation could be related to the MECO (~40 Ma). The onset of the Maikop Group is dated around the base of chron C13n at an age of ~33.7 Ma, close to the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. Based on geochemical results, we show that the Kuma Formation and Maikop Group correspond to two different episodes of intensified oceanic oxygen depletion in the succession. We hypothesise that oxygen-depletion as recorded in the Kuma Formation is linked to an increased nutrient input in the open marine Peri-Tethys due to widespread volcanism in the Neotethys subduction zone, while oxygen-depletion as recorded in the Maikop Group is linked to basin restriction caused by the eustatic sea-level fall straddling the Eocene – Oligocene boundary triggering stratified conditions in the semi-isolated Paratethys Sea.

KW - Anoxia

KW - Eocene-Oligocene Transition

KW - Kuma Formation

KW - Maikop

KW - MECO

KW - Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum

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van der Boon A, van der Ploeg R, Cramwinckel MJ, Kuiper KF, Popov SV, Tabachnikova IP et al. Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 2019 Dec 15;536:1-16. 109395. Epub 2019 Oct 16. doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2019.109395

Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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Data for: Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): intermittent oxygen depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys

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Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): Intermittent oxygen-depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Persistent URL (handle)

Other files and links

Fingerprint

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Data for: Integrated stratigraphy of the Eocene-Oligocene deposits of the northern Caucasus (Belaya River, Russia): intermittent oxygen depleted episodes in the Peri-Tethys and Paratethys

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