This past week at GSAConnects2024, I had the privilege of presenting a poster showcasing some exciting findings from my research on a sedimentary succession in Peña Blanca at Sierra de los Organos, Western Cuba. The 30-meter section we studied offers valuable insights into Early Cretaceous carbon cycle dynamics and environmental conditions in the Proto-Caribbean Basin at this time.
Our analysis focused on two key lithological units. The first, a 4-meter section of biomicritic limestones and chert-bearing marlstones, revealed biostratigraphic markers such as calcareous nannofossils and calpionellids, placing the sequence in the late Valanginian to Hauterivian. Isotopic data, including a prominent δ13Corg profile and δ13Ccarb values, highlight a carbon isotope excursion correlated with the "Weissert Event." The second unit, consisting of limestones and marlstones with siliceous layers, extends into the Aptian and potentially correlates with the Faraoni Event and Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE1a), all of which had a significant impact on global carbon cycles.
What makes this section particularly intriguing are the geochemical correlations between elements like aluminum, lithium, phosphorus, and titanium, which suggest the influence of terrigenous material. Additionally, enhanced concentrations of redox-sensitive trace elements, such as molybdenum and vanadium, point to dysoxic conditions that likely favored the preservation of organic matter. Together, these findings help us better understand how regional processes in the Proto-Caribbean contributed to global carbon sequestration during the Early Cretaceous.
Presenting this research and engaging with the geoscience community at #GSAConnects2024 was a fantastic experience. It was rewarding to discuss how these local records can provide broader insights into global environmental and climatic shifts during one of Earth's most dynamic periods.
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