Geochemical markers of paleoenvironments, weathering, and provenance in Permian–Triassic terrestrial sediments

This study compares several geochemical factors (major and minor rare earth elements, Ti/Al ratios, and chemical index of alteration, CIA, values) in the Early Triassic Canizar Formation (Fm) (Buntsandtein facies) of E Iberia with those of adjacent Middle Permian and Middle Triassic units (Alcotas and Eslida fms, respectively). According to significant differences detected, it seems that most geochemical perturbation occurred during the Early Triassic. Variations in Ti/Al ratios suggest changes in source areas between the studied units and even within the Canizar Fm. These provenance changes correlate with successive tectonic pulses during the opening and development of the Iberian Basin, as they can be linked to major sedimentary surfaces and unconformities, as well as major sedimentological variations. Ti enrichment in the lower and middle part of the Canizar Fm, together with high Sr and P concentrations, may be indicative of environmental alterations related to acid meteoric waters. Moreover, this acid alteration took place under arid conditions as reflected by CIA values, indicating that during the deposition of the Canizar Fm, variable but predominantly physical weathering prevailed in contrast to the chemical weathering that took place when the Alcotas and Eslida formations were deposited. Our data along with the known fossil record of the study area indicate that during the Middle–Late Permian and Early Triassic, conditions in this tectonically active area changed from humid to arid-acid, hampering biotic recovery. Then, during late Early–Middle Triassic times, the return of more humid and less acid environments promoted biotic development. Geochemical markers emerged as useful tools complementary to sedimentological, paleontological, and tectonic data for unveiling paleoenvironmental events, especially in a setting of significant regional change.

[1]  J. Alonso-Azcárate,et al.  Could acidity be the reason behind the Early Triassic biotic crisis on land? , 2019, Chemical Geology.

[2]  Ying Cao,et al.  Intensified chemical weathering during the Permian-Triassic transition recorded in terrestrial and marine successions , 2019, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.

[3]  José López-Gómez,et al.  Palynostratigraphy of the Middle Triassic (Anisian) Eslida Formation, SE Iberian Ranges, Spain , 2018, Palynology.

[4]  J. Alonso-Azcárate,et al.  Quantifying aluminium phosphate-sulphate minerals as markers of acidic conditions during the Permian-Triassic transition in the Iberian Ranges, E Spain , 2016 .

[5]  H. Bucher,et al.  Severest crisis overlooked—Worst disruption of terrestrial environments postdates the Permian–Triassic mass extinction , 2016, Scientific Reports.

[6]  L. Hinnov,et al.  Astronomical tuning of the end-Permian extinction and the Early Triassic Epoch of South China and Germany , 2016 .

[7]  D. Sánchez‐Fernández,et al.  Middle Triassic carbonate platforms in eastern Iberia: Evolution of their fauna and palaeogeographic significance in the western Tethys , 2015 .

[8]  José López-Gómez,et al.  Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the early Anisian from sedimentology and plant remains in the SE Iberian Range (E Spain) , 2014 .

[9]  Li Yang,et al.  Early Triassic stromatolites in a siliciclastic nearshore setting in northern Perth Basin, Western Australia: Geobiologic features and implications for post-extinction microbial proliferation , 2014 .

[10]  M. Benton,et al.  Impacts of global warming on Permo-Triassic terrestrial ecosystems , 2014 .

[11]  F. Perri,et al.  Paleoclimatic conditions and paleoweathering processes on Mesozoic continental redbeds from Western-Central Mediterranean Alpine Chains , 2014 .

[12]  J. Alonso-Azcárate,et al.  Palaeoenvironmental implications of aluminium phosphate-sulphate minerals in Early–Middle Triassic continental sediments, SE Iberian Range (Spain) , 2013 .

[13]  J. Alonso-Azcárate,et al.  Sources of Sr and S In Aluminum-Phosphate–Sulfate Minerals In Early–Middle Triassic Sandstones (Iberian Ranges, Spain) and Paleoenvironmental Implications for the West Tethys , 2013 .

[14]  C. Gale,et al.  First report of a Middle-Upper Permian magmatism in the SE Iberian Ranges: characterisation and comparison with coeval magmatisms in the western Tethys , 2013 .

[15]  B. Jones,et al.  Geochemical consequences of the Permian–Triassic mass extinction in a non‐marine succession, Sydney Basin, Australia , 2012 .

[16]  N. Sheldon,et al.  Paleoecological and paleoenvironmental changes during the continental Middle–Late Permian transition at the SE Iberian Ranges, Spain , 2012 .

[17]  M. Benton,et al.  The timing and pattern of biotic recovery following the end-Permian mass extinction , 2012 .

[18]  M. Marzo,et al.  Sedimentary evolution of the continental Early–Middle Triassic Cañizar Formation(Central Spain): Implications for life recovery after the Permian–Triassic crisis , 2012 .

[19]  A. Gerdes,et al.  U-Pb Ages of Detrital Zircons from the Permo-Triassic Series of the Iberian Ranges: A Record of Variable Provenance during Rift Propagation , 2012, The Journal of Geology.

[20]  H. Bahlburg,et al.  Chapter 6 A review of the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) and its application to the study of Neoproterozoic glacial deposits and climate transitions , 2011 .

[21]  Sampad Ghosh,et al.  Geochemistry of Permo-Triassic mudstone of the Satpura Gondwana basin, central India: Clues for provenance , 2010 .

[22]  M. Santosh.  Supercontinent tectonics and biogeochemical cycle： A matter of ‘life and death＇ , 2010 .

[23]  K. Goldberg,et al.  The applicability of the Chemical Index of Alteration as a paleoclimatic indicator: An example from the Permian of the Paraná Basin, Brazil , 2010 .

[24]  M. Benito,et al.  New ichnites from the Middle Triassic of the Iberian Ranges (Spain): paleoenvironmental and paleogeographical implications , 2010 .

[25]  V. Perrone,et al.  Depositional systems, composition and geochemistry of Triassic rifted‐continental margin redbeds of the Internal Rif Chain, Morocco , 2010 .

[26]  P. Renne,et al.  Magnetostratigraphic correlations of Permian-Triassic marine-to-terrestrial sections from China , 2009 .

[27]  J. Gaspar-Escribano,et al.  A comparison of the Iberian and Ebro Basins during the Permian and Triassic, eastern Spain: A quantitative subsidence modelling approach , 2009 .

[28]  J. Fernández-Lozano,et al.  Oblique strain partitioning and transpression on an inverted rift: The Castilian Branch of the Iberian Chain , 2009 .

[29]  M. Benito,et al.  Palaeoenvironmental significance of Late Permian palaeosols in the South‐Eastern Iberian Ranges, Spain , 2008 .

[30]  C. Virgili.  The Permian-Triassic transition: Historical review of the most important ecological crises with special emphasis on the Iberian Peninsula and Western-Central Europe , 2008 .

[31]  R. Hannigan,et al.  Sequencing events across the Permian-Triassic boundary, Guryul Ravine (Kashmir, India) , 2007 .

[32]  B. Hong,et al.  Sedimentology of Acid Saline Lakes in Southern Western Australia: Newly Described Processes and Products of an Extreme Environment , 2007 .

[33]  A. Brayard,et al.  Smithian-Spathian boundary event: Evidence for global climatic change in the wake of the end-Permian biotic crisis , 2007 .

[34]  A. Baud,et al.  The protracted Permo-Triassic crisis and multi-episode extinction around the Permian–Triassic boundary , 2007 .

[35]  F. Fluteau,et al.  The Permian-Triassic boundary and Early Triassic sedimentation in Western European basins: an overview , 2007 .

[36]  N. Sheldon.  Abrupt chemical weathering increase across the Permian-Triassic boundary , 2006 .

[37]  José López-Gómez,et al.  Sudden changes in fluvial style across the Permian−Triassic boundary in the eastern Iberian Ranges, Spain: Analysis of possible causes , 2005 .

[38]  E. Barrón,et al.  Late Permian flora and vegetation changes near the Permian–Triassic boundary in the Landete section of the Alcotas Formation (SE Iberian Ranges, Spain) , 2005 .

[39]  M. Marzo,et al.  Stratigraphical and palaeogeographical significance of the continental sedimentary transition across the Permian–Triassic boundary in Spain , 2005 .

[40]  J. Alonso-Azcárate,et al.  Late Permian continental sediments in the SE Iberian Ranges, eastern Spain: Petrological and mineralogical characteristics and palaeoenvironmental significance , 2005 .

[41]  G. Pe‐Piper,et al.  Early diagenetic origin of Al phosphate-sulfate minerals (woodhouseite and crandallite series) in terrestrial sandstones, Nova Scotia, Canada , 2005 .

[42]  T. Sanfeliu,et al.  Origen de la asociación de minerales de la arcilla del Permo-Triásico del Desert de les Palmes (Castellón).: Relación con la alteración del zócalo hercínico , 2005 .

[43]  J. López-Gómez,et al.  Caracterización de la unidad Conglomerados de Valdemeca en la transición Pérmico-Triásico de la Cordillera Ibérica centro- oriental. , 2005 .

[44]  H. Dill.  The geology of aluminium phosphates and sulphates of the alunite group minerals: a review , 2001 .

[45]  B. Bauluz,et al.  Geochemistry of Precambrian and Paleozoic siliciclastic rocks from the Iberian Range (NE Spain): implications for source-area weathering, sorting, provenance, and tectonic setting. , 2000 .

[46]  R. L. Cullers.  The geochemistry of shales, siltstones and sandstones of Pennsylvanian-Permian age, Colorado, USA : implications for provenance and metamorphic studies , 2000 .

[47]  José López-Gómez,et al.  Tectonic and geomorphic controls on the fluvial styles of the Eslida Formation, Middle Triassic, Eastern Spain , 1999 .

[48]  H. Ishiga,et al.  Geochemistry of Permian–Triassic shales in the Salt Range, Pakistan: implications for provenance and tectonism at the Gondwana margin , 1999 .

[49]  M. Wilson,et al.  The origin and formation of clay minerals in soils: past, present and future perspectivesd , 1999, Clay Minerals.

[50]  G. M. Young,et al.  Processes controlling the distribution of Ti and Al in weathering profiles, siliciclastic sediments and sedimentary rocks , 1998 .

[51]  K. Bjørlykke,et al.  Clay mineral diagenesis in sedimentary basins — a key to the prediction of rock properties. Examples from the North Sea Basin , 1998, Clay Minerals.

[52]  J. Alonso-Azcárate,et al.  Palaeogeographical significance of clay mineral assemblages in the Permian and Triassic sediments of the SE Iberian Ranges, eastern Spain , 1997 .

[53]  José López-Gómez,et al.  Origin of the Permian-Triassic Iberian Basin, central-eastern Spain , 1996 .

[54]  L. E. Mordberg.  Geochemistry of trace elements in Paleozoic bauxite profiles in northern Russia , 1996 .

[55]  G. M. Young,et al.  Unraveling the effects of potassium metasomatism in sedimentary rocks and paleosols, with implications for paleoweathering conditions and provenance , 1995 .

[56]  José López-Gómez,et al.  Sequence stratigraphic analysis and paleogeographic interpretation of the Buntsandstein and Muschelkalk facies (Permo-Triassic) in the SE Iberian Range, E Spain , 1993 .

[57]  D. K. McDaniel,et al.  Geochemical approaches to sedimentation, provenance, and tectonics , 1993 .

[58]  D. Gómez-Gras.  El Permotrías de las Baleares y de la vertiente mediterránea de la Cordillera Ibérica y del Maestrat: Facies y Petrología Sedimentaria (Parte II) , 1993 .

[59]  R. E. Wilson,et al.  Recent chemical weathering of basalts , 1992 .

[60]  José López-Gómez,et al.  Paleogeographical significance of the Röt (Anisian, Triassic) Facies (Marines clays, muds and marls Fm.) in the Iberian ranges, eastern Spain , 1992 .

[61]  José López-Gómez,et al.  Pollen and spores from the Permian and Triassic sediments of the Southeastern Iberian ranges, Cueva de Hierro (Cuenca) to Chelva-Manzanera (Valencia-Teruel) region, Spain , 1990 .

[62]  C. Spötl.  Authigenic aluminium phosphate-sulphates in sandstones of the Mitterberg Formation, Northern Calcareous Alps, Austria , 1990 .

[63]  Scott M. McLennan,et al.  Rare earth elements in sedimentary rocks; influence of provenance and sedimentary processes , 1989 .

[64]  J. Middelburg,et al.  Chemical processes affecting the mobility of major, minor and trace elements during weathering of granitic rocks , 1988 .

[65]  G. M. Young,et al.  Early Proterozoic climates and plate motions inferred from major element chemistry of lutites , 1982, Nature.

[66]  H. Nesbitt,et al.  Chemical processes affecting alkalis and alkaline earths during continental weathering , 1980 .

[67]  H. Nesbitt.  Mobility and fractionation of rare earth elements during weathering of a granodiorite , 1979, Nature.