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A promising primary reference material for U–Pb laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) carbonate dating is analysed and reported here. The new reference material (RM) is a botryoidal cement (C1) from sample RA138. The sample was collected in outcrop strata of mid-Carboniferous age in northern Spain near La Robla, and multiple aliquots have been meticulously prepared for distribution. RA138 is characterized by variable U/Pb ratios (from ∼ 1 to ∼ 19) and a relatively high and homogeneous U content (∼ 4 ppm). This material exhibits a low age uncertainty (0.2 %, 2 s; unanchored; ID-TIMS), allowing for the establishment of a well-defined isochron, particularly when anchored to the initial Pb ratio using LA-ICP-MS. Isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) analyses of micro-drilled C1 cement (17 sub-samples) produce a lower-intercept age of 321.99 ± 0.65 Ma, an initial 207Pb/206Pb ratio of 0.8495 ± 0.0065, and a mean square weighted deviation (MSWD) of 5.1. The systematic uncertainty of 1.5 % observed in repeated LA-ICP-MS analyses challenges previous estimations of 2 %–2.5 % based on repeated analyses of ASH-15D and JT using WC-1 as primary reference material, underscoring the precision and reliability of RA138 for U–Pb dating applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A promising primary reference material for U-Pb LA-ICP-MS carbonate dating is analysed and reported here. The new RM is a botryoidal cement (C1) from sample RA138. The sample was collected in outcrop strata of mid-Carboniferous (Uppermost Mississippian, upper Serpukhovian) in northern Spain near La Robla, and multiple aliquots have been meticulously prepared for distribution. The RA138 is characterised by variable U/Pb ratios (from ~1 to ~19) and a relatively high and homogeneous U content (~4 ppm). This material exhibits a low age uncertainty (0.2 %, 2s; unanchored, ID-TIMS), allowing for the establishment of a well-defined isochron, particularly when anchored to the initial Pb ratio using LA-ICP-MS. ID-TIMS analyses of micro drilled C1 cement (17 sub-samples) produce a lower intercept age of 321.99 ± 0.65 Ma, an initial 207Pb/206Pb ratio of 0.8495 ± 0.0065, and a Mean Square of Weighted Deviations (MSWD) of 5.1. The systematic uncertainty of 1.5 % observed in repeated LA-ICP-MS analyses challenges previous estimations of 2–2.5 % based on repeated analyses of ASH-15D and JT using WC-1 as primary reference material, underscoring the precision and reliability of RA138 for U-Pb dating applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic-scale continuous exposures of an Upper Carboniferous (Bashkirian–Moscovian) carbonate platform (N Spain) provide detailed information about the lithofacies and stratal geometries (quantified with differential global positioning system measurements) of microbial boundstone-dominated, steep prograding and aggrading platform margins. Progradational and aggradational platform-to-slope transects are characterized by distinct lithological features and stratal patterns that can be applied to the understanding of geometrically comparable, high-relief depositional systems. The Bashkirian is characterized by rapid progradation at rates of 415–970 m My−1. Characteristic outer-platform facies are high-energy grainstones with coated intraclasts, ooids and pisoids, moderate-energy algal-skeletal grainstones to packstones and lower energy algal packstone and boundstone units. The Moscovian aggradational phase is characterized by aggradation rates of 108 m My−1. Coated-grain shoals are less common, whereas crinoidal bars nucleated in well-circulated settings below wave-base. Boundstones form a belt (30–300 m wide) at the platform break and interfinger inwards with massive algal-skeletal wackestones (mud-rich banks). The progradational phase has divergent outer-platform strata with basinward dips of 12° to 2°. Steep clinoforms with dips of 20–28° are 650–750 m in relief and possibly sigmoidal to concave in the lower part. The basinward-dipping outer-platform strata might be depositional for less than 6°, consistent with lithofacies deepening seaward. The basinward dip is attributed to the downward shift of upper-slope boundstone, forced by late highstand and relative sea-level fall, and to compaction-induced differential subsidence during progradation. The aggradational phase is characterized by horizontally layered platform strata. Clinoforms steepen to 30–45° reaching heights of 850 m and are planar to concave. The evolution from progradation to aggradation, at the Bashkirian–Moscovian boundary, is attributed to increased foreland-basin subsidence and decreased boundstone accumulation rates. Progradation was primarily controlled by boundstone growth rather than by highstand shedding from the platform top. Within the major phases, aggradational–progradational increments are produced by third- to fourth-order relative sea-level fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Positive shifts in global seawater δ[sup 13] C[sub DIC] are related to changes in the ratio of organic relative to inorganic carbon burial in oceanic basins, whereas factors such as climatic cooling and the accumulation of polar ice are known to cause positive shifts in δ[sup 18] O. Here, an alternative model is proposed for the formation of local positive isotope shifts in shallow-marine settings. The model involves geochemically altered platform-top water masses and the effects of early meteoric diagenesis on carbonate isotopic composition. Both mechanisms are active on modern (sub)tropical carbonate platforms and result in low carbonate δ[sup 13] C and δ[sup 18] O relative to typical oceanic values. During high-amplitude transgressive events, the impact of isotopically light meteoric fluids on the carbonate geochemistry is much reduced, and [sup 13] C-depleted platform-top water mixes with open oceanic water masses having higher isotope values. Both factors are recorded as a transient increase in carbonate [sup 13] C and [sup 18] O relative to low background values. These processes must be taken into consideration when interpreting the geochemical record of ancient epeiric seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A steep-margined carbonate platform is developed in the Carboniferous synorogenic foreland basin of northern Spain. Dips of 60–90° produced during Late Carboniferous thrusting enable cross-sections of a 4-km-wide portion of the marginal area of this platform (Las Llacerias outcrop) to be studied in aerial photographs at a seismic scale. Three stratal domains are observed: (1) a horizontal-bedded platform; (2) a clinoformal-bedded margin with a relief of up to 500 m; and (3) a low-angle toe-of-slope, where slope beds interfinger with basin sediments. The slope shows well-bedded sigmoidal clinoforms with depositional dips ranging from 15° to 32°. Based on lithology and stratal patterns, four facies groups have been recognized: (1) a flat-topped platform, in which thick algal boundstone, skeletal packstone–grainstone and peloidal micrite wackestone with a poorly rhythmic character prevail; (2) the platform margin and upper slope, characterized by microbial boundstone spanning a bathymetric range of ≈150 m measured from the break of slope; (3) a slope, predominantly composed of margin-derived rudstones and breccias; and (4) a toe-of-slope to basin zone, where a cyclic alternation of spiculitic siltstones, packstone to grainstone calciturbidites and rudstone/breccia is visible. Five successive stages of platform development are deduced: (1) Bashkirian: flooding of the pre-existing Serpukhovian platform giving rise to the nucleation of a low-angle ramp to the south-east of the study area with microbial mud-mound accumulations, and breccias and calciturbidites on the margins; (2) Early Moscovian: an influx of siliciclastic sediment buried part of the platform and reduced the area of carbonate sedimentation; (3) Moscovian: aggradation and progradation of the carbonate system produced an extensive steep-margined and flat-topped shallow-water platform (shelf system); (4) Latest Moscovian–earliest Kasimovian: drowning of the platform; and (5) Kasimovian: covering of the platform by marly calcareous ramp sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]