Did Major Impacts Affect Sedimentologic/Sequence-Analytical Pattern of the Early Palaeozoic Sedimentary Systems of Jordan, Arabian Plate?

Abstract

Based on profound sequence-analytical data of the early Palaeozoic sedimentary systems of Jordan, Arabian Plate, a correlation attempt is proposed with regard to possible major impact events after Price [10]. His methodological concept tells that abrupt 441 Ma. Referring to the fact that major impacts may trigger, respectively influence, exogenic and endogenic processes on an over-regional, even global, extent, this paper put the “sensitive” geological setting of Jordan at the Arabian Platform’s margin into focus. That mainly concerns the early Palaeozoic coastlines as to sea level change as well as the Jordan Valley Rift as being possibly to susceptible for tectonic re-activation changes of both direction and speed of plate motions would indicate such convulsive processes as occurred on: 550 Ma, 526.5 Ma, 514 Ma, 502 Ma, 456/455.4 Ma, and following triggering of magmatism at the Precambrian/Cambrian boundary. The following phenomena are taken into account: Faulting and magmatism triggered along the Jordan Valley Rift (Wadi Araba) in connection with the Pan-African Orogeny, anoxic sediments, temporary high detrital input onto the adjoining stable platform from Gondwana hinterlands, and significant chemical weathering in the Gondwana source areas by intensive acid (nitric) rain directing mineral content variation in the “Nubian Sandstones” (e.g. feldspar, kaolinite/dickite, tourmaline)

End-Cretaceous Quartz Arenite Formation in an Estuarian Environment under Brine Influence, N. Germany; Linked to both Deccan Volcanism and Chicxulub Impact Degassing during Climate Change

“…A recent paper [20] submits similar results by application of boron isotope analysis of planctic and benthic foraminifera showing kill mechanism for ecologic collapse in global marine realm by impact-induced ocean water acidification (pH-drop) as well as the recovery of marine carbon recycling after the W. Schneider, E. Salameh Hence, the clue of our paper tells: if such highly acidic mixtures generated by both volcanism and major impacting attack clastic sediments through a certain time-span in a suitable geologic setting of arkosic/subarkosic deposits (stable platforms, rim synclines as trap), mature quartz arenite may be the final product in paragenesis with neoformed kaolinite [15] [16].…”

How to Trace out Impact-Triggered Effects Globally Scattered around Formation Boundaries: Case Uhry, North Germany (Eocene/Oligocene Boundary)

“…As also discussed for the Early Paleozoic DISI F., Jordan, Arabian plate, it cannot be excluded that heavy acid rain may descend as vadose pore water into siliciclastic deposits to dissolve feldspar initiating herewith kaolinite neoformation [39] that might also be relevant for the Maastrichtian Uhry glass sand. The Rupelian transgression started during flash flooding.…”

“…However, it should be stressed that megavolcanoes and hot spot-directed Trapp basalt effusions may generate similar effects except Iridium anomalies and tektites, and that in connection with synchronous mass extinction (See also studies on the Early Paleozoic System of Jordan [39]). …”

The Permian-Triassic Transitional Zone: Jordan, Arabian Plate; Linked to Siberian Large Igneous Province and Neo-Tethys Breakup Degassing via Climate Forcing, Atmospheric Hazard and Metal Toxicity

“…One subject concerned Early Paleozoic and Lower Cretaceous quartz arenite fining upward cyclothems (FUC) on the Jordanian platform [4] [5], and another one focuses on end-Cretaceous transitional quartz arenite deposited in N Germany, northern Harz-foreland with regard to Deccan volcanism, India, Chicxulub impact, Mexico and volcanic arc origination (Lesser Antilles, Seychelles, Scotia) [6]; furthermore, at the latter locality (Uhry, Braunschweig County), the Eocene/Oligocene boundary in connection with both impact cratersPopigai, Russia and Chesapeake, USA [7].…”