Timing of the deposition of the Claret Conglomerate correlated to the thermal maximum at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary, Southern Pyrenees -Spain

Timing of the deposition of the Claret Conglomerate correlated to the thermal maximum at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary, Southern Pyrenees -Spain

Anema, J.

Molengraaff Fonds

2017

As a result of the injection of massive amounts of carbon, the Paleocene-Eocene boundary is characterized by an abrupt rise in global temperature. The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is coincided with a drastic change in sediments and a negative Carbon Isotope Excursion (CIE). Given the recent issues of global warming, with a changing climate as a result of carbon injection, it is important to understand such changes and the reactions it causes.This research focusses on the Tremp-Graus Basin in the South-Pyrenean area. This area is interesting due to the particular terrestrial sediments that changed drastically at the boundary from alluvial deposits to thickly-bedded conglomerate, referred to as the Claret Conglomerate. The sedimentary structures from the Claret Conglomerate represent lateral fluvial deposition by a braided channeling of rivers that is migrating on an alluvial fan. The Claret Conglomerate is deposited by several events alternating between dry and stormy periods. Due to a low resolution, especially the lack of data from inside the striking Claret Conglomerate, stable isotope excursion the exact location of the onset of the CIE was unclear. We provided a stable isotope record, especially with a higher resolution inside the Claret Conglomerate. The stable isotope records from the Claret Conglomerate do not correspond to CIE values and some short-lived negative carbon isotope excursions of 2-3 h are present below and in the Claret Conglomerate. Therefore the CIE onset would be located above the Claret Conglomerate and the possibility for the presence of Pre-Onset Excursions (POE's) does exist.

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