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Sequence stratigraphy, chemostratigraphy and facies analysis of Cambrian Series 2 – Series 3 boundary strata in northwestern Scotland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 November 2016

LUKE E. FAGGETTER ,
PAUL B. WIGNALL ,
SARA B. PRUSS ,
YADONG SUN ,
ROBERT J. RAINE ,
ROBERT J. NEWTON ,
MIKE WIDDOWSON ,
MICHAEL M. JOACHIMSKI  and
PAUL M. SMITH
LUKE E. FAGGETTER*
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
PAUL B. WIGNALL
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
SARA B. PRUSS
Affiliation:
Smith College, Department of Geosciences, Northampton, Massachusetts 01063, USA
YADONG SUN
Affiliation:
GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossgarten 5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany State Key Laboratory of Geobiology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, P.R. China
ROBERT J. RAINE
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Ballymiscaw, Belfast, BT4 3SB, United Kingdom
ROBERT J. NEWTON
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
MIKE WIDDOWSON
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences (GEES), University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom
MICHAEL M. JOACHIMSKI
Affiliation:
GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schlossgarten 5, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
PAUL M. SMITH
Affiliation:
Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PW, United Kingdom
*
†Author for correspondence: ee08lef@leeds.ac.uk
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Abstract

Globally, the Series 2 – Series 3 boundary of the Cambrian System coincides with a major carbon isotope excursion, sea-level changes and trilobite extinctions. Here we examine the sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy and carbon isotope record of this interval in the Cambrian strata (Durness Group) of NW Scotland. Carbonate carbon isotope data from the lower part of the Durness Group (Ghrudaidh Formation) show that the shallow-marine, Laurentian margin carbonates record two linked sea-level and carbon isotopic events. Whilst the carbon isotope excursions are not as pronounced as those expressed elsewhere, correlation with global records (Sauk I – Sauk II boundary and Olenellus biostratigraphic constraint) identifies them as representing the local expression of the ROECE and DICE. The upper part of the ROECE is recorded in the basal Ghrudaidh Formation whilst the DICE is seen around 30m above the base of this unit. Both carbon isotope excursions co-occur with surfaces interpreted to record regressive–transgressive events that produced amalgamated sequence boundaries and ravinement/flooding surfaces overlain by conglomerates of reworked intraclasts. The ROECE has been linked with redlichiid and olenellid trilobite extinctions, but in NW Scotland, Olenellus is found after the negative peak of the carbon isotope excursion but before sequence boundary formation.

Keywords

Durness GroupROECEDICEtrilobite extinctionScotland
Type
Original Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 155 , Issue 4 , May 2018 , pp. 865 - 877
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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