Organic-rich, fine-grained contourites in an epicontinental basin: The Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous Vaca Muerta Formation, Argentina

Dynamic environmental conditions recorded by the trace fossil Teichichnus and event beds during deposition of the basal Vaca Muerta Formation in the central Neuquén Basin (Argentina)

“…Layers rich in biogenic carbonate intercalated with muddy basin-interior deposits document such transport (Kietzmann et al, 2016(Kietzmann et al, , 2020Paz et al, 2022a). During dry periods, such an anti-estuarine circulation might have replaced the estuarine circulation established in humid periods (Paz et al, 2022a). In the transgression, the inflow of Palaeo-Pacific water probably prevailed to fill the still expanding and subsiding basin (Fig.…”

“…Because Teichichnus was produced during the still ongoing transgression of the Vaca Muerta Formation, this scenario is not unlikely because marine water definitely spilled over the arc to fill the subsiding and expanding basin. Storms reworking shallowwater areas could have transferred some coarse material basinward (e. g., Zeller et al, 2015;Kietzmann et al, 2016;Paz et al, 2022a).…”

“…Thus, an estuarine circulation very likely developed when freshwater discharge was high (cf. Paz et al, 2022a). Towards the north, increasing evaporation and decreasing precipitation might have favoured the formation of dense, saline, warm water that could sink to the basin floor, but its oxygen content would have been low because solubility of oxygen decreases with increasing temperature (e.g., Open University Course Team, 1995).…”

“…Towards the north, increasing evaporation and decreasing precipitation might have favoured the formation of dense, saline, warm water that could sink to the basin floor, but its oxygen content would have been low because solubility of oxygen decreases with increasing temperature (e.g., Open University Course Team, 1995). Layers rich in biogenic carbonate intercalated with muddy basin-interior deposits document such transport (Kietzmann et al, 2016(Kietzmann et al, , 2020Paz et al, 2022a). During dry periods, such an anti-estuarine circulation might have replaced the estuarine circulation established in humid periods (Paz et al, 2022a).…”

On depositional processes governing along‐strike facies variations of fine‐grained deposits: Unlocking the Little Ice Age subaqueous clinothems on the Adriatic shelf

“…These clinothems reflect the influence of coalescing Alpine and Apennine rivers and prograde on the continental shelf (Fig. 1; Cattaneo et al, 2003;Harris et al, 2008;Palinkas, 2009;Traykovski et al, 2007;Pellegrini et al, 2015Pellegrini et al, , 2021.…”