Diagenetic and detrital influences on clay mineralogy and carbon isotope geochemistry of Campanian-Maastrichtian sediments in the Tremp-Graus Basin (southern Pyrenees, Spain)

A 1000 m-thick sequence of Upper Cretaceous sediments outcropping in the Isabena Valley (Tremp-Graus Basin, Spain) has been studied to explore the evolution of environmental conditions that prevailed in this basin. A biostratigraphic study based on calcareous nannofossils was carried out to better constraint the age of the deposits, supplemented by carbon isotope stratigraphy on bulk carbonates. Clay mineral assemblages were identified by X-Ray diffraction combined with organic matter (OM) characterisation by Rock-Eval pyrolysis. The Late Campanian Event and Campanian Maastrichtian Boundary Event are clearly identified from the new delta C-13(carb) dataset. The clay assemblage is composed of a complex mixture of chlorite, illite, kaolinite and mixed-layers including illite-smectite and chlorite-smectite. A progressive illitisation of smectite is recorded from the top to the base of the section due to the increasing burial depth. This evolution is consistent with increasing T-max values of OM evolving from 425 (immature OM) to 449 degrees C (mature OM) from the top to the base of the section. Thus, detrital minerals are preserved only in the upper part of the section. The clay sedimentation is dominated by smectites likely originating from the Ebro massif, while increasing proportions of kaolinite are recorded from the uppermost Campanian and during the Maastrichtian. This evolution of the clay mineral assemblage is interpreted as a result from a change of source from south to northeast, with contributions from kaolinite-rich weathering profiles (including bauxites) to the northeast of the study area, reflecting a more hydrolysing climate.

Automated summary

A study on a 1000 m-thick sequence of Upper Cretaceous sediments in the Isabena Valley in Spain revealed the evolution of environmental conditions in the basin. Through biostratigraphy, carbon isotope stratigraphy, X-Ray diffraction, and organic matter characterization, changes in the clay mineral assemblage source from south to northeast were identified. The study also showed a progressive illitisation of smectite and increasing proportions of kaolinite throughout the section.