Marl-limestone bedding and sea level change, Upper Cretaceous of Alabama coastal plain

Conference · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:6700049

King, Jr, D T ^[1]

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1. Auburn Univ., AL (USA)

Primary Upper Cretaceous marl-limestone sequences in Alabama are superficially similar to sequences interpreted as orbitally forced (Milankovitch) cycles with apparent 100,000 yr periodicity. However, key petrographic and stratigraphic observations cast doubt on a Milankovitch interpretation of the Alabama sequences. These observations include (1) varying thickness from less than 1 m to several meters within marl-limestone sequences, (2) fining upward among the coarse clastic grain sizes within each marl-limestone sequence, and (3) switching the primary mode of biochemical deposition between the marl and limestone beds (e.g., the limestone bed in each marl-limestone sequence contains abundant benthic algal grains (over 50%), whereas the marl contains only pelagic nannofossils). Periodicity is not supported by observed thickness variations and the other petrographic and stratigraphic observations previously noted are inconsistent with cyclic (Milankovitch) productivity/dilution genesis of bedding. In Alabama, marl-limestone sequences and correlative coeval prograding clastic barrier-shoreline facies comprise the upper 20 m of a highstand systems tract within the lower Campanian Mooreville-Demopolis depositional sequence. A sequence-bounding (type 2) stratigraphic break, which has been biostratigraphically correlated with the global sea level drop at 80 Ma occurs at the top of the 20 m marl-limestone interval. Tectonic effects related to the early stages of the Laramide orogeny (about 80 Ma) affected short-term relative sea level thus producing the marlstone sequences. In this hypothesis, the marl-limestone sequences reflect either short-term buildup and relaxation of intraplate stresses or short-term eustatic changes that resulted from slight variations in Farallon spreading rates.

• OSTI ID: 6700049
• Report Number(s): CONF-900605--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Journal Volume: 74:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ALABAMA
CARBONATE ROCKS
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
DEPOSITION
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGY
LEVELS
LIMESTONE
MESOZOIC ERA
NORTH AMERICA
PETROGRAPHY
ROCKS
SEA LEVEL
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS
USA