Fertilization of the northwestern Tethys (Vocontian basin, SE France) during the Valanginian carbon isotope perturbation: Evidence from calcareous nannofossils and trace element data

A high resolution calcareous nannofossil study associated with a geochemical analysis (major, trace elements, and carbon and oxygen isotope stratigraphies) was carried out in the Angles section (hemipelagic setting of the Vocontian basin, SE France) during the Valanginian positive carbon isotope excursion. The behaviour of calcareous nannofossil taxa in relation to fertility conditions was studied to elaborate new nutrient indices in this environment: a high nutrient index based on Biscutum spp., Discorhabdus rotatorius, Zeugrhabdotus fissus, (high fertility indicators) and Watznaueria barnesae (low fertility indicator); and a medium nutrient index based on Lithraphidites carniolensis (medium fertility indicator) and W. barnesae (low fertility indicator). These two indices show a major fertilization from the Stephanophorus ammonite Zone to the Trinodosum ammonite Zone, with a maximum during the positive carbon isotope excursion.Since high values of the nutrient indices are in phase with high values of chemical elements related to terrigenous material and low values of the coccolith total abundance, it is proposed that pulses of detrital inputs into the basin triggered the nutrification which, in turn, caused a biocalcification crisis of the calcareous nannofossils. Nutrification is also responsible for the reef demise in the surrounded platforms, as indicated by the increased Sr/Ca seawater ratio at that time.The intensification of the Paranà–Etendeka volcanic activity, triggering CO2 excess in the atmosphere, is probably responsible for an acceleration of the hydrological cycle, the increased weathering, and the subsequent higher terrigenous and nutrient transfer from continents to the Vocontian basin. In such a scenario, nutrification is a dominant factor controlling neritic and hemipelagic biocalcification. However, one cannot exclude that the global increase of atmospheric CO2 could generate chemical changes of the sea-surface waters, acting with the nutrification, to modify the biocalcification of the carbonate producers.