Paleoenvironments, origin, and relative maturity of organic matter in Barremian-Aptian limestones of the eastern Prada Quarry, Organyà Basin, NE Spain

Authors

Jose R. Llaguno, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Geosciences

First Advisor's Name

Florentin Maurrasse

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Laurel Collins

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Grenville Draper

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

Organyà Basin, Biomarker n-alkanes, Organic matter maturity, Redox conditions, Oxygen-deficient conditions, Barremian-Aptian

Date of Defense

11-16-2017

Abstract

This study is a multi-proxy analysis of a 30-m section of a Barremian-Aptian succession of interbedded, grayish black (N2) and black (N1) limestones from a quarry of the Sierra de Prada. Index taxa include planktic foraminifera Globigerinelloides blowi and Hedbergella sigali, which combined with δ¹³C data from Cresmina and Gorgo a Cerbara sections indicate a late Barremian to early Aptian age. The rocks are organic-rich with 0.67 - 3.10 wt% total organic carbon (TOC). A marlstone interval (~1m) at 2.24 m has a low bioturbation index (1), TOC ~6.66 wt%, framboidal pyrite, and enrichment spikes of major, biolimiting, and redox-sensitive trace elements (Al, Si, Ti, P, Fe, and Mo, Cr, Cu, V, Th), indicating an anoxic episode. Biomarker analyses show a predominance of n-alkanes (≤nC20) at this level, suggesting an in situ origin of organic matter from phytoplankton. Pr/Phy ratios below 2 imply that organic matter did not reach overmaturity.

Identifier

FIDC004053

Recommended Citation

Llaguno, Jose R., "Paleoenvironments, origin, and relative maturity of organic matter in Barremian-Aptian limestones of the eastern Prada Quarry, Organyà Basin, NE Spain" (2017). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3510.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3510