Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the basal Cretaceous vertebrate bearing beds in the Northern part of the Aquitaine Basin (SW France): sedimentological and geochemical evidence

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Facies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Purbeckian facies of the northern margin of the Aquitaine Basin is exposed in the Cherves-de-Cognac section (SW France), considered as basal Cretaceous in age. Two lithological units have been identified. The basal unit (U1) is composed of an alternation of gypsum and finely bedded black dolomitic marlstone, occasionally stromatolitic in nature. It represents mostly hypersaline, dolomitic tidal flat, lagoonal, and sabkha-type environments. The upper unit (U2) consists of variably fossiliferous limestone-marl alternations that contain a diverse fauna and flora. In the upper part of this unit, a 4-m-thick level has yielded a rich vertebrate fauna. The preservational quality of the vertebrate fossils varies within the section. On the basis of faunal, floral, sedimentological and mineralogical information the vertebrate remains accumulated in brackish water environments in which the influence of freshwater has progressively increased towards the top of the section. The close association of environments representing varying degrees of marine and continental influence suggest an estuarine setting.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen P (1998) Purbeck-Wealden (Early Cretaceous) climates. In: Proc. of the Geologist’s Association, vol. 109. Geologist’s Association, London, pp 197–236

  • Anderson FW (1985) Ostracod faunas in the Purbeck and Wealden of England. J Micropalaeontol 4(2):1–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson FW, Bazley RAB (1971) The Purbeck beds of the Weald (England). Bull Geol Surv GB 34:1–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett P (2000) Evolutionary consequences of dating the Yixian Formation. Tree 15(3):99–103

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bassiouni MAA (1974) Paranotacythere n.g. (Ostracoda) aus dem Zeitraum Oberjura bis Unterkreide (Kimmeridgium bis Albium) von Westeuropa. Geol Jahrb Aust 17:3–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Batten DJ (2002) Palaeoenvironmental setting of the Purbeck Limestone Group of Dorset southern England. Spec Pap Palaeontol 68:13–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Benton MJ, Cook E, Grigorescu D, Popa E, Tallodi E (1997) Dinosaurs and other tetrapods in an Early Cretaceous bauxite-filled fissure, northwestern Romania. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 130:275–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bornhold BD, Giresse P (1985) Glauconitic sediments on the continental shelf off Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. J Sediment Petrol 55:653–664

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bourgueil P, Hantzpergue P, Moreau P (1986) Notice explicative de la feuille Matha N° 684, au 1/50000. Bur. Rech géo. min, Bordeaux

  • Bremner JM, Wills JP (1993) Mineralogy and geochemistry of the clay fraction of the sediments from the Namibian continental margin and the adjacent hinterland. Mar Geol 115:85–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brenner P (1976) Ostracoden und Charophyten des nordspanischen Wealden. Palaeontographica 152:113–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Buffetaut E, Pouit D, Rigollet L, Archambeau JP (1989) Poissons et reptiles continentaux du Purbeckien de la région de Cognac (Charente). Bull Soc Géol Fr 5:1065–1069

    Google Scholar 

  • Chafetz HS, Reid A (2000) Syndepositional shallow-water precipitation of glauconitic minerals. Sediment Geol 136:29–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chamley H (1989) Clay sedimentology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 623 pp

  • Colin JP, Oertli HJ (1985) Purbeckien. In: Oertli HJ (ed) Atlas des ostracodes de France. Bull Centre Rech Explor Prod Elf-Aquitaine 9:147–161

  • Colin JP, Feist M, Grambast-Fessard N, Cherchi A, Schroeder R (1984) Charophytes and ostracods from the Berriasian (Purbeckian facies) of Cala d’Inferno (Nurra region, NW Sardinia). Boll Soc Paleontol Ital 23(2):345–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Colin JP, El Albani A, Fürsich F, Martín-Closas C, Mazin JM, Billon-Bruyat JP (2004) Le gisement “Purbeckien” de vertébrés de Cherves-de-Cognac, Charente (SW France): nouvelles données biostratigraphiques. CR Palevol 3:9–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coquand H (1858a) Description physique, géologique, paléontologique et minéralogique du département de la Charente. Bodivers, Paris, 236 pp

  • Coquand H (1858b) Description, géologique de l’étage purbeckien dans les deux Charentes. Bull Soc Geol Fr 15:578–620

    Google Scholar 

  • Cudzil MR, Dreise S (1987) Fluvial, tidal and storm sedimentation in the Chilhowee Group (Lower Cambrian), northeastern Tennessee, USA. Sedimentology 34:861–883

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuny G, Buffeteau E, Cappetta H, Martin M, Mazin JM, Rose JM (1991) Nouveaux restes de vertébrés du Jurassique terminal du Boulonnais (Nord de la France). Neus Jharb Geol Paläontol Abh 180(3):323–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Davey RJ (1982) Dinocyst stratigraphy of the latest Jurassic to Early Cretaceous of the Haldanger No. 1 borehole, Danemark. Geol Surv Den 6:1–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Deak MH, Combaz A (1967) “Microfossiles organiques” du Wealdien et du Cénomanien dans un sondage de Charente-Maritime. Rev Micropaléontol 10(2):69–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean WE, Anderson RY (1982) Continuous subaqueous deposition of the Permian Castile evaporites, Delaware Basin, Texas and New Mexico. In: Handford CR, Loucks RG, Davies GR (eds) Depositional and diagenetic spectra of evaporites, vol 3. Core Workshop, SEPM, Tulsa, pp 324–253

  • Détraz H, Mojon PO (1989) Evolution paléogéographique de la marge jurassienne de la Téthys du Tithonique-Portlandien au Valanginien: corrélation biostratigraphique et séquentielle des faciès continentaux. Eclogae Geol Helv 82:37–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Dias JMA, Nittrouer CA (1984) Continental shelf sediments of northern Portugal. Cont Shelf Res 3:147–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donze P (1964) Ostracodes berriasiens des Massifs subalpins septentrionaux (Bauges et Chartreuse). Trav Lab Géol Fac Sci Lyon 11:103–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Dott RH, Bourgeois J (1982) Hummocky stratification: significance of it variable bedding sequences. Bull Geol Soc Amer 93:663–680

    Google Scholar 

  • Feist M, Schudack M, Martin-Closas C (1998) Cretaceous biochronostratigraphy, Chart 5. In: de Graciansky PC, Hardenbol J, Jacquin T, Vail PR (eds) Mesozoic and Cenozoic Sequence Stratigraphy of European Basins. SEPM Spec Publ 60:4–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Fourcade E, Azema J, Cecca F, Bonneau M, Peybernes B, Dercourt J (1991) Essai de reconstitution cartographique de la paléogégraphie et des paléoenvironnements de la Téthys au Tithonien supérieur (138 à 135 Ma). Bull Soc Géol Fr 162(6):1197–1208

    Google Scholar 

  • Fourcade E, Azema J, Cecca F, Guiraud R, Sandulescu M, Ricou LE, Vrielynck B, Petzold M, Cotereau N (1993) Late Tithonian (138 to 135 Ma). In: Dercourt J, Ricou LE and Vrielynck B (eds) Atlas of Tethys Palaeoenvironmental Maps. Villars, Paris, pp 113–1134

  • Fürsich FT (1994) Palaeocology and evolution of the Mesozoic salinity-controlled benthic macroinvertebrate associations. Lethaia 26:327–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Fürsich FT, Werner W (1986) Benthic associations and their environmental significance in the Lusitanian Basin (Upper Jurassic, Portugal). Neues Jharb Geol Paläontol Abh 172:271–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabilly J, Brillanceau A, Cariou E, Ducloux J, Dupuis J, Hantzpergue P, Moreau P, Santallier P, Ters M (1978) Poitou, Vendée, Charentes: guides géologiques régionaux. Masson, Paris, 200 pp

  • Giresse P, Lamboy M, Odin GS (1980) Evolution géométrique des supports de glauconitisation, application à la reconstitution du paléoenvironnement. Oceanol Acta 3:251–260

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hallam A (1984) Continental humid and arid zones during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 47:195–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallam A (2001) A review of the broad pattern of Jurassic sea-level changes and their possible causes in the light of current knowledge. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 167:23–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hantzpergue P (1979) Biostratigraphie du Jurassique supérieur nord-aquitain. Bull Soc Géol Fr 21(6):715–725

    Google Scholar 

  • Hervat P, Hervat M (1993) Découverte de Polyacrodus parvidens (Woodward 1916) (Elasmbranchii, Hybotontoidea) dans un facies purbeckien (Tithonien supérieur) de Charente (France). Cossmanniana 2:43–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Horne DJ (1995) A revised ostracod biostratigraphy for the Purbeck-Wealden of England. Cretaceous Res 16:639–663

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horne DJ (2002) Ostracod biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of the Purbeck Limesone group in southern England. Spec Pap Palaeontol 68:53–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Hughes AD, Whitehead D (1987) Glauconitization of detrital silica substrates in the Barton Formation (upper Eocene) of the Hampshire Basin, southern England. Sedimentology 34:825–835

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacquin T, Rusciadelli G, Amedro F, de Graciansky PC, Magniez-Jannin F (1998) The northern Atlantic cycle: an overview of 2nd order transgressive/regressive facies in the Lower Cretaceous of Western Europe. In: de Graciansky PC, Hardenbol J, Jacquin T, Vail PR (eds) Mesozoic and Cenozoic Sequence Stratigraphy of European Basins. SEPM Spec Publ 60:397–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasprzyk A (1995) Gypsum to anhydrite transition in the Miocene of southern Poland. J Sediment Res 65:348–357

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall A (1984) Evaporite. In: Walker RG (ed) Facies models. Geosci Can 1:259–296

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall AC, Harwood GM (1996) Marine evaporites: arid shorelines and basins. In: Reading HG (ed) Sedimentary environments processes: faciesand stratigraphy. Blackwell, London, pp 281–324

  • Le Loeuff J, Buffetaut E, Merser C (1996) Découverte d’un dinosaure sauropode tithonien dans la région de Cognac (Charente). Géol Fr 2:79–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Logvinenko NV (1982) Origin of glauconite in the recent bottom sediments of the ocean. Sediment Geol 31:43–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malz H (1958) Die Gattung Macrodentina und einige andere Ostracoden-Arten aus dem Oberen Jura von NW-Deutschland, England und Frankreich. Abh Senckenb Natf Ges 497:1–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-Closas C, Grambast-Fessard N (1986) Les charophytes du Crétacé inférieur de la région du Maestrat (Chaîne Ibérique, Catalanides, Espagne). Paléobiol Continent 15:1–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-Closas C, Schudack ME (1996) Oxfordian-Turonian biozonation. In: Riveline J, Berger JP, Feist M, Martín-Closaz C, Schudack M.E, Soulié-Marsche I (eds) European Mesozoic-Cenozoic charophyte biozonation. Bull Soc Géol Fr 167(3):453–468

  • Meunier A (2003) Argiles. Gordon and Breach, Paris, 421 pp

  • Mojon PO (1989) Polymorphisme ecophenotypique et paléoécologique des Porocharcées (Charophytes) du Crétacé Basal (Berriasien) du Jura Franco Suisse. Rev Paléobiol 2:505–524

    Google Scholar 

  • Mojon PO (2002) Les formations mésozoïques à charophytes (Jurassique moyen-Crétacé inférieur) de la marge téthysienne nord-occidentale (S.E. de la France, Suisse occidentale, N.-E. de l’Espagne). Sédimentologie, micropaléontologie, biostratigraphie. Géol Alp Mém HS 41:1–386

  • Monteil E (1990) Revision and emendation of dinocyst genus Amphorula Dodekova 1969. The concept of morphostratigraphy. Bull Centre Rech Explor Prod Elf-Aquitaine 14(2):597–609

    Google Scholar 

  • Monteil E (1992) Kystes de dinoflagellés index (Tithonique–Valanginien) du Sud-Est de la France. Proposition d’une nouvelle zonation palynologique. Rev Paléobiol 11(1):299–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Monteil E (1993) Dinoflagellate cyst biozonation of the Tithonian and Berriasian of south-east France: correlation with the sequence stratigraphy. Bull Centre Rech Explor Prod Elf-Aquitaine 17(1):249–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Moreau P (1980) Purbeckien gypseux, Turonien, Coniacien. In: Klingebiel A, Gabilly J (eds) Evolution paléogéographique de la marge continentale aquitaine durant le Mésozoïque et le Cénozoïque. Bull Centre Rech Explor Prod Elf-Aquitaine 3:252–253

  • Nelson CH (1982) Modern shallow-water graded sand layers from storm surges, Bering Shelf: a mimic of Bouma sequences and turbidite systems. J Sediment Petrol 52:537–545

    Google Scholar 

  • Néraudeau D, Allain R, Perrichot V, Videt B, de Broin BFL, Guillocheau F, Philippe M, Rage JC, Vullo R (2003) Découverte d’un dépôt paralique à bois fossiles, ambre insectifère et restes d’Iguanodontidae (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) dans le Cénomanien inférieur de Fouras (Charente-Maritime, Sud-Ouest de la France). CR Palevol 2(3):221–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien GW, Milnes AR, Veeh HH, Heggie DT, Riggs SR, Cullen DJ, Marshall JF, Cook PJ (1990) Sedimentation dynamics and redox iron-cycling: controlling factors for apatite-glauconite association on the West Australian continental margin. In: Notholt AJG, Jarvis I (eds) Phosphorite research and development. Geol Soc Spec Publ 52:61–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Odin GS (1988) Green marine clays. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 445 pp

  • Odin GS, Matter A (1981) De glauconarium origine. Sedimentology 28:611–624

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Odin GS, Gupta BKS (1988) Geological significance of the verdine facies. In: Odin GS (ed) Green marine clays: oolithic ironstone facies, verdine facies, glaucony facies and celadonite-bearing facies a comparative study. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 205–219

  • Oertli HJ (1963) Faunes d’ostracodes du Mésozoïque de France. Masson, Paris, 57 pp

  • Philippe M (1993) Nomenclature générique des tracheidoxyles mesozoïques à champs araucarioides. Taxon 42(1):74–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Poyato-Ariza FJ, Talbot MR, Fregenal-Martinez, MA, Melendez N, Wenz S (1998) First isotopic and multidisciplinary evidence of nonmarine coelacanths and pycnodontiform fishes: palaeoenvironmental implications. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Paleoecol 144:65–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao VP, Lamboy M, Dupeuble PA (1993) Verdine and other associated authigenic (glaucony, phosphate) facies from the surficial sediments of southwestern continental margin of India. Mar Geol 111:133–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rouchy JM, Bernet-Rolande MC, Maurin AF (1994) Descriptive petrography of evaporites: application in the field, subsurface and laboratory. In: Evaporitic sequences in petroleum exploration. Blackwell, London, pp 70–123

  • Saxov S, Nieuwenhuis JK (1982) Marine slides and others mass movements. Plenum, New York, 353 pp

  • Schudack U (1989) Zur Systematik der oberjurassischen Ostracodengattung Cetacella Martin, 1958 (Syn. Leiria Helmdach, 1971). Berl Geowiss Abh 106(A):459-471

    Google Scholar 

  • Schudack ME (1993a) Die Charophyten in Oberjura und Unterkreide Westeuropas Mit einer phylogeneitsichen Analyse der Gesamtgruppe. Berl Geowiss Abh 8(E):1–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Schudack ME (1993b) Möglichkeiten palökologischer Aussagen mit Hilfe von fossilen Charophyten. In: Festschrift Prof. W. Krutzsch. Museum für Narturkunde, Berlin, pp 39–58

  • Shearman DJ (1985) Syndepositional and late diagenetic alteration of primary gypsum to anhydrite. In: Schreiber BC, Harner H (eds) Sixth International Symposium on Salt. May 1985, Toronto, pp 41–50

  • Singer A, Galan E (1984) Palygorskite–Sepiolite: occurrence, genesis and uses. In: Developments in sedimentology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 352 pp

  • Sladen CP, Batten DJ (1984) Source-area environments of Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous sediments in southeast England. In: Proc. of the Geologist’s Association, vol 95. Geologist’s Association, London, pp 149–163

  • Smith JB, Lamanna MC, Lacovara JK, Dodson P, Smith JR, Pool JC, Giegengack R, Attia Y (2001) A giant sauropod dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous mangrove deposit in Egypt. Science 292:1704–1706

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson G, Hower J (1975) The mineralogy of glauconite. Clays Clay Miner 23:289–300

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vignaud P, De Broin F, Brunet M, Cariou E., Hantzpergue P, Lange-Badre B (1994) Les faunes de vertébrés jurassiques de la bordure nord-orientale du bassin d’Aquitaine (France): biochronologie et environnements. Geobios 17:493–503

    Google Scholar 

  • Vigneaux M (1975) Aquitaine occidentale: guides géologiques régionaux. Masson, Paris, 223 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker RG (1984) Shelf and shallow marine sands. In: Walker RG (ed) Facies models, 2nd edn. Geological Association of Canada, St. John’s, New Foundland, pp 141–170

  • West IM (1975) Evaporites and associated sediments of the basal Purbeck Formation (Upper Jurassic) of Dorset. In: Proc. of the Geologist’s Association, vol 86. Geologist’s Association, London, pp 205–225

  • Ziegler P (1988) Evolution of the Arctic-North Atlantic and Western Tethys. Amer Assoc Petrol Geol Mem 43:197

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation, which we gratefully acknowledge. We are also grateful to F. Rassineux, A. Decarreau, D.J. Horne, H. Malz, I Wilkinson and M. Philippe for helpful discussions. We would like to thank C. Fontaine, N. Dauger, V. Bellefet and S. Galaup for technical support, A. Duban, B., Greselle, T. Lenglet and the Garandeau company for field assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR 6532 Hydrasa, UFR SFA Bât. Sciences Naturelles, Université de Poitiers, 40 avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, Poitiers, France

    Abderrazzak El Albani & Alain Meunier

  2. Institut für Paläontologie der Universität Würzburg, Pleicherwall 1, 97070 , Würzburg, Germany

    Franz T. Fürsich

  3. 3 Impasse des Biroulayres, 33610 , Cestas, France

    Jean-Paul Colin

  4. Paläontologisches Institut, Universität Zürich, Karl Schmid-Strasse 4, 8006, Zürich, Switzerland

    Peter Hochuli

  5. Departament de Geologia Dinàmica, Geofísica u Paleontologie Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona, 08071 , Barcelona, Spain

    Carles Martín-Closas

  6. UMR 6046 Hydrasa, UFR SFA Bât. Sciences Naturelles, Université de Poitiers, 40 avenue du Recteur Pineau, 86022 Poitiers Cedex, Poitiers, France

    Jean-Michel Mazin

  7. Section de Paléontologie, Office de la culture, République et Canton du Jura, Hôtel des Halles, 2900 , Porrentruy, Switzerland

    Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat

Authors
  1. Abderrazzak El Albani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Franz T. Fürsich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jean-Paul Colin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alain Meunier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Peter Hochuli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Carles Martín-Closas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Jean-Michel Mazin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abderrazzak El Albani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

El Albani, A., Fürsich, F.T., Colin, JP. et al. Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the basal Cretaceous vertebrate bearing beds in the Northern part of the Aquitaine Basin (SW France): sedimentological and geochemical evidence. Facies 50, 195–215 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-004-0017-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-004-0017-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation