succession of west central Jordan - stratigraphy and crises
8. Conclusions
of these platform crisis markers, imply paleorelief differences. Therefore, we assume a minor transgression during middle Cenomanian times, that transported nutrient-rich water masses towards the coast. That resulted in increased productivity rates, and locally increased preservation of organic material, related to small-scale basinal structures, exhibiting deposition under dysoxic conditions.
Crisis 2. Similar lithological and faunal characteristics that are mentioned for crisis one also occur within the Cenomanian/Turonian-boundary interval (Unit 4, Figs.
18, 19b). In contrast to the first platform crisis, the second one is observable within the entire study area but indications for basinal deposition (BFA 4; I 2-I 4; Fig. 18) occur again only locally. In the Wadi Al Karak area (GM2) and further south (SI1+2, WB), dysoxic, deeper water conditions are reflected during upper Cenomanian times.
Furthermore, dark clays containing BFA 4 probably mark a depression in the area of Wadi Abu Kusheiba (MA3) during lower Turonian times. Therefore, a major transgression during upper Cenomanian-lower Turonian times is assumed and correlated with a eustatic sea-level rise (Haq et al., 1987) and with a regional deepening, referred from adjacent shelf areas (Israel, Sinai; compare Schulze et al., 2003). Furthermore, a shifting of the dysoxic, basinal facies towards the continent and back has been observed.
previously described assemblages of Jordan and adjacent areas of the southern Tethyan realm. OA2 indicates an uppermost Cenomanian to lower Turonian age and the composition regionally shows remarkable differences, caused by varying local/regional paleogeographical conditions and a global sea-level rise during the CT-boundary interval. Furthermore, five benthic foraminifer assemblages (BFA 1-5) have been established and represent a sensitive tool for paleoecological reconstructions.
Based on these data, five integrated stratigraphic units have been defined and provide a north to south correlation. The latter exhibits spatial and temporal paleoceanographic and environmental changes: a deepening, accompanied by high production rates (high surface water fertility) and dysoxic conditions in the central study area is evidenced for middle Cenomanian times. Moreover, a second major sea-level rise is observed within the entire study area during the CT-boundary interval.
These observations point to two main platform crises on the one hand. On the other hand, varying paleoecological conditions on the platform during these phases, mark paleorelief differences from north to south and that the dysoxic facies belt was shifting from central areas southward (uppermost Cenomanian) and back again to the central study area (lowermost Turonian).
Acknowledgements
Funding was provided by the German Science Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Ku 642/16, 1-4). We thank Z. Lewy for the fruitful co-operation during the fieldwork, the intensive discussions afterwards and for determination of the sampled ammonites. Furthermore, we thank the Natural Resources Authority (NRA) in Amman/Jordan for logistic and professional support.
Special thanks to A. Gharaibeh for his untiring help in the field and many fruitful discussions and to the other colleagues of the Mapping Division (NRA).
Moreover, Martina Bachmann, Robert Speijer, Sebastian Lüning, Jan Bauer, Christian Scheibner, Markus Geiger, Erna Friedel and Ralph Bätzel (all University Bremen) are kindly acknowledged for helpful discussions and technical assistance.
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