Interaction of tectonic and eustatic processes in the sedimentary record
Sedimentology and Luminescence keys to tune late Quaternary tectonic, climate and eustatic events
Professor Vincenzo Pascucci1, Professor Stefano Andreucci2, PhD Giulia Cossu1
1University of Sassari, Alghero, Italia, 2University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
The surface of our planet preserves extensive sedimentary archives recording the Quaternary evolution. Both natural such as subsidence, tectonics, sediment supply, oceanographic variables, climate and eustatic along with anthropogenic processes contribute to Earth changes. However, the lack of precise geochronological framework does not allow validating and fully understanding which processes played the most important role or how fast they occurred. Luminescence dates deposition back to 200,000 years or more and applications cover many siliciclastic to hybrid depositional environments (shallow and deep marine, coastal, aeolian, fluvial, alluvial, periglacial, etc.). It has made also significant contributions to the late Quaternary stratigraphy but also to the Paleolithic-Neolithic archaeology. Over the last 30 years, the method has seen significant extensions in datable minerals (quartz, feldspars), material sizes (silt, sand and cobble), procedures (single or multiple grains, polymineral, rock slices) and dating protocols (OSL, pIRIR, IRPL, pulsing, etc…). Furthermore, the ongoing advancements in surfaces dating techniques enable the determination of substrate exposure ages and modelling of uplift rates. These has allowed unravelling complicate patterns where, for instance, late Quaternary sedimentary eustatic related events were coupled, favoured or concealed by tectonics.
Contributions on latest research related to luminescence development and their application to stratigraphy, sedimentology with particular attention paid to tectonic issues are welcome.
Sedimentology of Black Shales through Phanerozoic: tectonics, sea level and climate change, economy
Professor Ismail Omer Yilmaz1, Professor Mihaela Melinte-Dobrinescu2, Professor Michael Wagreich3, Assoc. Professor. Amalia Spina4, Dr. Xi Chen5, Dr. Haijun Song5, Prof. Dr. Xiumian Hu6, Dr. Gabriele Gambacorta7, Dr. Zhen Qiu8
1Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, 2Institutul National de Geologie si Geo-ecologie Marina, Romania, 3University of Vienna, Austria, 4University of Perugia, Italy, 5China University of Geosciences, China, 6Nanjing University, China, 7University of Florence, Italy, 8PetroChina Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, China
Occurrence of shales through geological time periods can repeat in different order and durations. Global occurrences of black shale deposition coincide with important geological events such as occurred in Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian/Carboniferous, Carboniferous, Permian anoxic events, Jurassic, Cretaceous, Eocene anoxic events.
Black shales may also play important role in correlation within and between the basins as marker levels. In fore arc or back ack basins, flysch or turbidite deposits incorporate with shale occurrences in certain time intervals and can be used for understanding the evolution of basins.
Shale deposits can be controlled by the climate and sea level changes, especially wide black shale occurrence can be parallel with global transgressive phases and may also effect deep basin and even in continental or transitional settings shale occurrences due to ecological and nutrient control.
Oceanographic dynamic conditions and tectonic variations also control the type of shale deposits along the basin and between the basins. Especially thick shale deposits can be generated in active margins and even siliceous shale deposits can be deposited in elevated CCD. Oil and gas generation by the black shales are closely related to interplay between sea level, nutrient, productivity, climate, anoxic water column, and burial conditions in tectonically active basins.
Metalliferous black shales may host rich trace and REE elements due to volcanic, oceanic, climatic collaboration and may provide important critical elements for future energy transition and their industry in addition to oil and gas generation.
This session enlightens the importance of shale occurrence through geological time and emphasis the major controlling factors, such as: tectonics, paleogeography, climate, sea level and volcanic conditions allowing to decipher the economic significance of metalliferous shale content and source rock for future needs of the industry.