Although the Late Devonian extinctions were amongst the largest mass extinction events in the Phanerozoic, the causes, nature and timing of these events remain poorly restrained. In addition to the most pronounced biodiversity loss at the Frasnian-Famennian (F-F) boundary and the end Famennian, there were also less extensively studied extinction pulses in the Middle to Late Givetian and the Frasnian. Here we used a combination of palynological, elemental, molecular and stable isotope analyses to investigate a sedimentary record of reef-systems from this time period in the Canning Basin, Western Australia. The acquired data generally showed distinct variations between sediments from (i) the time around the Givetian-Frasnian (G-F) boundary and (ii) later in the Frasnian and indicated a distinct interval of biotic stress, particularly for reef-builders, in the older sediments. Alterations of pristane/phytane ratios, gammacerane indices, Chlorobi biomarkers, δD kerogen and chroman ratios describe the change from a restricted marine palaeoenvironment with an anoxic/euxinic hypolimnion towards a presumably open marine setting with a vertically mixed oxic to suboxic water column. Simultaneous excursions in δ 13 C profiles of carbonates, organic matter (OM) and hydrocarbons in the older sediments reflect the stratification-induced enhancement of OMrecycling by sulfate reducing bacteria. Alterations in sterane distributions and elevated abundances of methyltrimethyltridecylchromans (MTTCs) and perylene indicate an increased terrigenous nutrient input via riverine influx, which would have promoted stratification, phytoplankton blooms and the development of lower water column anoxia. The detected palaeoenvironmental conditions around the G-F boundary may reflect a local or global extinction event. Our data furthermore suggest a contribution of the higher plant-expansion and photic zone euxinia to the Late Devonian extinctions, consistent with previous hypotheses. Furthermore, this work might contribute to the understanding of variations in Devonian reef margin and platform-top architecture, relevant for petroleum exploration and development in the global Devonian hydrocarbon resources.
Six sequences, each with a distinct shape, stratal anatomy, bounding surfaces, lithofacies composition and stacking patterns, were identified in the Djebel Bou Dahar isolated carbonate platform which developed in a half‐graben in the High Atlas marine rift basin during the Early Jurassic. Sequences are believed to have a complex, multi‐process origin as the result of tectonic processes (regional subsidence and fault‐block rotation) overprinting the eustatic signal. In addition, changing carbonate producers with shifting centres of deposition and relative accumulation potential influenced the filling and anatomy of the accommodation space that had been created by the hybrid tectonic and eustatic processes. Sequences I and II are tabular in shape and interpreted to primarily reflect the combined processes of uniform tectonic subsidence and eustacy which resulted in a ramp to shelf carbonate system with lagoon and tidal flat lithofacies. Onset of a rifting episode around the base of the Lotharingian and fault block rotation were responsible for the development of the angular unconformity with the underlying Sequence II, and the progressive development of a shallow‐water isolated platform and the wedge‐shaped depositional Sequences III to VI during the Lotharingian and Pliensbachian. Concurrent variations in palaeoceanographic conditions and in the carbonate factory caused a shift towards a flat‐topped platform geometry with high‐energy coated grains and sub‐photic sponge‐microbial deposition around the margin. The aggradational to retrogradational character of Sequences III, IV and VI is inferred to be a result of the combined effect of in situ carbonate production coupled with high rates of creation of accommodation space in the hanging wall. Environmental effects on carbonate production were the most probable cause for drowning of the Djebel Bou Dahar platform during the Toarcian but also influenced the filling and geometry of Sequences IV to VI. This study suggests that the commonly accepted model of pulse‐driven sequence‐development in half‐grabens may not be fully applicable for the Djebel Bou Dahar, where a more continuous rotation at sequence scale, associated with subsidence pulses of the Djebel Bou Dahar block, seems to have interacted with eustacy and carbonate production to generate sequences. Continuous rotation is suggested by the presence of regular patterns of diverging strata and numerous minor exposure surfaces in lagoonal deposits of Sequences V and VI. In addition, this study demonstrates that eustacy and variations in the carbonate factory might be as significant as tectonics in sequence development and platform drowning in carbonate platforms within rift basins. This observation could imply that the effects of eustacy and the carbonate factory might not have been correctly recognized in other similar carbonate platforms due to a tectonic‐biased interpretation.
High-resolution, time-significant correlations are integral to meaningful stratigraphic frameworks in depositional systems but may be difficult to achieve using traditional sequence stratigraphic or biostratigraphic approaches alone, particularly in geologically complex settings. In steep, reefal carbonate margin-to-slope systems, such correlations are essential to unravel shelf-to-basin transitions, characterize strike variability, and develop predictive sequence stratigraphic models-concepts that are currently poorly understood in these heterogeneous settings. The Canning Basin Chronostratigraphy Project integrates multiple independent data sets (including biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, stable isotope chemostratigraphy, and sequence stratigraphy) extracted from Upper Devonian (Frasnian and Famennian) reefal platform exposures along the Lennard Shelf, Canning Basin, Western Australia. These were used to generate a well-constrained stratigraphic framework and shelf-to-basin composite reconstruction of the carbonate system.The resultant integrated framework allows for unprecedented analysis of carbonate margin-to-slope heterogeneity, depositional architecture, and sequence stratigraphy along the Lennard Shelf. Systems tract architecture, facies partitioning, and stacking patterns of margin to lower-slope environments were assessed for six composite-scale sequences that form part of a transgressive-to-regressive supersequence and span the Frasnian-Famennian (F-F) biotic crisis. Variations are apparent in margin styles, foreslope facies proportions, dominant resedimentation processes, downslope contributing sediment factories, and vertical rock successions, related to hierarchical accommodation signals and ecological changes associated with the F-F boundary. We present these results in the form of carbonate margin-to-basin sequence stratigraphic models and associations that link seismicscale architecture to fine-scale facies heterogeneity. These models provide a predictive foundation for characterization of steep-sided flanks of reefal carbonate platform systems that is useful for both industry and academia. This study emphasizes the utility of an integrated stratigraphic approach and the insights gained from better-constrained facies and stratal architecture analysis, insights that were not achievable with traditional sequence stratigraphic or biostratigraphic techniques alone.
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