Paleoclimate and extensional tectonics of short-lived lacustrine environments. Lower Cretaceous of the Panormide Southern Tethyan carbonate platform (NW Sicily)

Subaerial erosion and continental sedimentation interbedded with shallow-water carbonates are unequivocal stratigraphic records to evaluate paleoenvironmental and paleoclimate evolution of emerged landmass. Stratigraphic analysis of the Cretaceous Monte Gallo section of the Mesozoic Panormide carbon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine and petroleum geology 2017-12, Vol.88, p.428-439
Main Authors: Basilone, Luca, Perri, Francesco, Sulli, Attilio, Critelli, Salvatore
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Lacustrine clays
Lower cretaceous
Sicily
Uplift
Warm-humid paleoclimate
Weathering
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Summary:Subaerial erosion and continental sedimentation interbedded with shallow-water carbonates are unequivocal stratigraphic records to evaluate paleoenvironmental and paleoclimate evolution of emerged landmass. Stratigraphic analysis of the Cretaceous Monte Gallo section of the Mesozoic Panormide carbonate platform, in the northern side of the Palermo Mountains (NW Sicily) records a peculiar continental-derived clays that interrupted the shallow-water carbonate sedimentation. These clays rest, with lenticular geometries, above the tectonically-enhanced subaerial erosional unconformity of the Barremian-Lower Aptian Requienid limestones and are covered by the Upper Cretaceous Rudistid limestone. Sedimentological investigation combined with mineralogical and petrographic results reveal the occurrence of alkaline to saline lake clays deposition in pond-filling depositional environment recording stressed conditions (evaporation) especially in its final living phase. They were formed when a half graben/tilted-block tectonics produced footwall uplift of the Gallo faulted-blocks carbonate platform. Paleoclimate evaluations of the continental-derived clays highlighted that a period of warm-humid conditions, which favoured their formation, interrupted the uniform warm climate conditions highlighting a greenhouse climate phase. •Paleoectonic setting has controlled the paleotopography and sedimentary evolution.•The clays originate in a continental environment filling a pond by means of intermittent streams.•Paleoclimate evaluations highlighted that warm-humid conditions favoured the formation of continental-derived clays
ISSN:0264-8172
1873-4073
DOI:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2017.08.041