1. Orbital cycles in a Late Cretaceous shallow platform (Iberian Ranges, Spain)
- Author
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Gil, J., García-Hidalgo, J.F., Mateos, R., and Segura, M.
- Subjects
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CONTINENTS , *CRETACEOUS stratigraphic geology , *MILANKOVITCH cycles , *CYCLOSTRATIGRAPHY , *SEDIMENTATION & deposition , *EARTH'S orbit , *EARTH (Planet) - Abstract
Abstract: The late Turonian to early Coniacian 3rd-order sequence in the northern Iberian Range is composed of a thin-bedded, inner platform carbonate succession. Based on the vertical facies trend and on the recognition and correlation of internal discontinuities, up to 27 meter-scale 6th-order parasequences are recognised, each showing shallowing upwards trends. These parasequences are hierarchically grouped into 5th-order and 4th-order parasequences. This stratigraphical arrangement suggests the presence of cyclic processes that controlled the sedimentary record. The vertical lithofacies distribution is analysed in three different sections; the spectral analysis of these data, using the Lomb–Scargle algorithm, indicates the presence of three orders of cycles (12.76 to 14.05 m, 3.11 to 3.28 m and 1.32 to 1.53 m), very close to the mean thicknesses of the 4th-, 5th- and 6th-order parasequences, respectively. There is also a fourth prominent peak of 3.91 to 4.14 m, but it is not represented in the field successions as a distinct order of parasequence. The correlation with the orbital periodicities in the Milankovitch frequency band using relative ratio sets shows that the spectral periodicities can be related to the long eccentricity cycle of 400 ka, the short eccentricity cycle of 95 ka, and the obliquity cycles of 39 and 50.6 ka, respectively, whereas the 3.91 to 4.14 m spectral periodicites can be related to the short eccentricity cycles of 123 ka. Thus, it is suggested that orbital forcing acted as a major factor that controlled climate and sea-level, which in turn influenced the depositional environments in the late Turonian to early Coniacian of the Iberian Ranges. These high-frequency changes were superimposed on a long-term, 3rd-order evolution of the relative sea level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2009
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