Belemnite-based strontium, carbon and oxygen isotope stratigraphy of the type area of the Maastrichtian Stage

Abstract

Belemnitellid cephalopods from the Maastrichtian stratotype area (southeast Netherlands) are shown to be comparatively well preserved. Although partial diagenetic alteration has been observed, micromilling techniques have permitted the extraction of pristine belemnite calcite, suitable for the reconstruction of strontium (Sr), oxygen (O) and carbon (C) isotope variation of Maastrichtian seawater. A distinct Sr isotope pattern in the Maastricht record can be matched stratigraphically with records from Hemmoor (northern Germany), El Kef (Tunisia) and ODP site 690 (Maud Rise, Antarctica), leading to a new chemostratigraphical age model for the Maastrichtian stratotype section. Our data improve currently applied strontium isotope stratigraphical reference curves by revealing an Sr isotope inflection pattern near the lower/upper Maastrichtian boundary that is a potentially diagnostic feature for intra-Maastrichtian stratigraphical correlation between distant sections. Belemnites further show significant stratigraphical oxygen isotope variation through the Maastrichtian. We interpret this variation to have resulted from palaeoceanographic reorganisations in the Atlantic Ocean during this time interval.