Coupling textural and stable-isotope variations in fluvial stromatolites: Comparison of Pleistocene and recent records in NE Spain

Arenas, C. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Osácar, M.C. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Auqué, L. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Sancho, C. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Textural and stable isotopic features of two middle Pleistocene fluvial stromatolite profiles are compared to a recent stromatolite, both formed in the River Piedra system (NE Spain), to test the reliability of climatic, hydrologic and depositional information derived from ancient records. The Pleistocene stromatolites formed in a multi-domed, highly-inclined cascade-barrage. The recent stromatolite also formed in a highly-inclined cascade of the River Piedra, the sedimentary conditions of which were periodically examined between the years 2000 and 2012. The Pleistocene stromatolites are formed of an alternation of 1) thin large-crystal laminae (type A), with elongated crystals up to 1 mm long, and 2) thick small-crystal laminae (type B), consisting of cyanobacterial fan- and bush-shaped bodies. The textural and isotopic comparison with the recent stromatolite shows that each A–B couplet corresponds to one year. The type-A laminae are comparable to the macrocrystalline laminae that occur in the cool-period deposits of the recent stromatolite, and the type-B laminae are comparable to the warm-period deposits of the recent stromatolite. Water temperatures (Tw), calculated from d 18 O calcite and present measures of d 18 O water , were similar in the Pleistocene and recent specimens, and close to the measured river Tw. Thus, the Pleistocene stromatolites formed not far from isotopic equilibrium, as did the recent stromatolite. The Pleistocene d 18 O calcite biannual oscillation is wider in amplitude than in the recent stromatolite, which suggests larger differences in Tw through the year in the Pleistocene than at present. The Pleistocene d 13 C calcite does not show any pattern; and the values are slightly higher than the recent ones. The co-evolution of d 18 O and d 13 C is parallel in the Pleistocene stromatolites, matching the recent stromatolite behavior. These results and their comparison with other ancient examples prove that textural and isotopic features in ancient stromatolites are useful tools to infer past depositional, climatic and hydrological conditions. Moreover, interpretations from recent fluvial stromatolites can be extrapolated to past environments to help decipher patterns of past processes, in cases where both recent and ancient stromatolites can be compared within one environmental setting. Such comparisons may be used to help interpretations of ancient stromatolites where the modern ones are not available to study.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1186/s42501-019-0021-y

Año: 2019

Publicado en: Journal of Palaeogeography-English 8, 1 (2019), 13 [20 pp]
ISSN: 2095-3836

Factor impacto JCR: 2.02 (2019)

Categ. JCR: PALEONTOLOGY rank: 15 / 55 = 0.273 (2019) - Q2 - T1
Categ. JCR: GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY rank: 111 / 198 = 0.561 (2019) - Q3 - T2

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.68 - Geography, Planning and Development (Q1) - Paleontology (Q2) - Earth-Surface Processes (Q2)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E32-17R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/CGL2013-42867
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/CGL2009-09216-CLI

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Petrología y Geoquímica (Dpto. Ciencias de la Tierra)
Área (Departamento): Área Geodinámica Externa (Dpto. Ciencias de la Tierra)
Área (Departamento): Área Estratigrafía (Dpto. Ciencias de la Tierra)
Área (Departamento): Área Cristalografía Mineralog. (Dpto. Ciencias de la Tierra)