Paleomagnetism and integrated stratigraphy of the Upper Berriasian hemipelagic succession in the Barlya section Western Balkan, Bulgaria: Implications for lithogenic input and paleoredox variations

• Late Berriasian magnetostratigraphy in the Western Balkan (Bulgaria)
• Integration with calpionellid, calcareous nannofossils and dinocysts stratigraphy
• Calibration of Upper Berriasian calcareous dinocysts with magnetostratigraphy
• Detailed, magnetostratigraphically calibrated carbon isotope data
• Paleoenvironmental changes: lithogenic influx, redox variations, sea-level changes

A continuous Late Berriasian sedimentary and stratigraphic record is here presented from a hemipelagic succession from the Western Balkan (Barlya section, Bulgaria). The section, 39-m-thick, was stratigraphically calibrated using a variety of methods: biostratigraphy (calpionellids, calcareous nannofossils and calcareous dinocysts), magnetostratigraphy and carbon isotope stratigraphy. Additionally, chemostratigraphy and rock magnetic stratigraphy were applied in order to identify major paleoenvironmental changes: lithogenic input and paleoredox variations. Polarity zones from M17r to M14r were identified from the uppermost Lower Berriasian up to the Berriasian/Valanginian boundary (Elliptica to Darderi calpionellid subzones and NK-1 to NK-3 nannofossil zones). Late Berriasian calcareous dinocyst zones of Stomiosphaerina proxima, Stomiosphaera wanneri and Colomisphaera conferta were correlated with magnetostratigraphy for the first time. A carbon isotope profile correlates very well with the δ13C records from SE France and the Western Atlantic, documenting some well-resolved minima and maxima in a generally decreasing trend. Magnetic susceptibility (MS) reveals a very good positive correlation with lithogenic elements (e.g., Al, Ti, Zr, Th and others) and is regarded as a reliable proxy of detrital input. Influx of fine grained terrigenous material increases in the Upper Berriasian up to the Berriasian/Valanginian boundary. A prominent MS increase takes place in the lowermost part of polarity zone M16n (close to the Simplex/Oblonga subzonal boundary). The MS event can be traced in the Central Carpathian, Apennine and SE France sections, exactly in the same stratigraphic position. It is coeval with an important climatic turnover in Western Tethys; however, it might have been strengthened by a general regression and regional tectonic events in the Carpatho–Balkan area. Two oxygen deficient intervals were documented: the first in the Lower Berriasian (M17r to M16r); the second one in the uppermost Upper Berriasian up to the boundary with Valanginian (M15r to M14r). Both intervals correlate with an elevated sea-level in the Western Tethys.