The Toarcian in the Subbetic basin (southern Spain): Bio-events (ammonite and calcareous nannofossils) and carbon-isotope stratigraphy

A detailed carbon-isotope stratigraphic study for the uppermost Pliensbachian‒lowermost Aalenian interval in the Median Subbetic palaeogeographic domain (External zones of the Betic Cordillera, southern Spain) has been carried out. During the Early Jurassic, the Median Subbetic, which represents a typical basin of the Hispanic Corridor connecting the Tethys and the Eastern Pacific, was located in the westernmost Tethys. The analyzed sections encompass the entire Toarcian stage as represented in the southern Iberian palaeomargin. Rocks are mainly rhythmic sequences of grey marls and marly limestones containing a rich ammonite fauna, nannofossils, and benthic foraminifers—all these provide an accurate biostratigraphic control. The lower and upper Toarcian boundaries are well represented in some of these sections and therefore represent optimal sites to link the carbon-isotope curves to ammonite zones, and to nannofossil events. δ13C values of bulk carbonates from the different localities of the Subbetic basin have similar variations from the uppermost Pliensbachian to the lowermost Aalenian, suggesting changes in the original DIC carbon isotope composition along the Hispanic corridor. The transition from Pliensbachian to Toarcian is marked by increasing δ13C values from ~ 1.2 to 2.0‰, interrupted in the Serpentinum Zone by a negative shift concomitant with the Toarcian oceanic anoxic event (T-OAE), with the major ammonite extinction event of the Toarcian, and an important turnover of calcareous nannoplankton. The negative shift observed in the Serpentinum Zone confirms the global perturbation of the carbon cycling documented along the Tethys and the palaeo-Pacific in organic material and in marine carbonates. However, the amplitude of the negative excursion (~ − 1. 5‰) is not compatible with an isotopic homogeneous seawater DIC and/or CO2 atmospheric reservoirs. The interval from the middle to the top of the Toarcian δ13C shows relatively constant values, minor ammonite turnovers, and is associated with increasing diversity of calcareous nannoplankton.

► The analyzed sections encompass the entire Toarcian stage.
► A detailed δ13C curve is presented for the uppermost Pliensbachian-lowermost Aalenian.
► The transition from Pliensbachian to Toarcian is marked by increasing δ13C values.
► The chronological allocation of the T-OAE is Serpentinum Chronozone.
► There is a close relation between ammonite turnover and isotopic fluctuations in δ13C.