Weak and intermittent anoxia during the mid-Tournaisian (Mississippian) anoxic event in the Montagne Noire, France

The mid-Tournaisian black radiolarian cherts of the Lydiennes Formation are exposed in deep-shelf successions of the Puech de la Suque and Col des Tribes sections of the Mont Peyroux Nappe area in the Montagne Noire, southern France. This interval represents the mid-Tournaisian anoxic event that is also termed the Lower Alum Shale Event. This event is associated with a global marine transgression that was characterized by increased productivity and drastic facies changes from pelagic carbonate sedimentation to the widespread deposition of black organic-rich siliceous shales and radiolarites in many parts of the world. In the present study, high-resolution inorganic geochemistry and framboidal pyrite analyses were employed to decipher changes in depositional conditions during the mid-Tournaisian anoxic event in the Montagne Noire. The results show that the total organic carbon contents of sediments associated with the Lower Alum Shale Event vary from 0.09 to 1.9 wt %. These low to moderate total organic carbon contents, high U/Th, low C-org/P and intermediate V/Cr ratios, enrichment in redox-sensitive trace elements, such as U, Mo and V, as well as varying sizes of pyrite framboids, indicate periodic dysoxic to anoxic bottom-water conditions during deposition of the studied sediments. Anomalous Hg spikes (>500 ppb) are also reported in the mid-Tournaisian deep-water marine succession of the Montagne Noire in the present study, which confirm a possible influence of increased regional volcanic activity during this environmental turnover.

Automated summary

The mid-Tournaisian black radiolarian cherts of the Lydiennes Formation in the Montagne Noire, southern France, reveal the occurrence of the mid-Tournaisian anoxic event, also known as the Lower Alum Shale Event. This event is associated with global marine transgression and is characterized by changes in sedimentation from pelagic carbonate to black organic-rich siliceous shales and radiolarites. In this study, high-resolution inorganic geochemistry and framboidal pyrite analyses were performed to understand the depositional conditions during this event. The results indicate periodic dysoxic to anoxic bottom-water conditions and a possible influence of increased regional volcanic activity.