Geochemical environment of Cenomanian - Turonian black shale deposition at Wunstorf (northern Germany)

Major- and minor- element determinations were carried out on a high-resolution sample set obtained from a sediment drill core at Wunstorf (N. Germany). This study interval includes the black shale-bearing Hesseltal Formation associated with the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2), also referred to as Cenomanian–Turonian Boundary Event (CTBE). Seven black shale packages, each containing several black shale layers, were defined by elevated TOC values, with black shale packages 1–4 deposited during OAE 2. Packages 5–7 extend above the level of the positive carbon-isotope excursion defining OAE 2, indicating that conditions favouring organic carbon burial must have prevailed longer in the Wunstorf Basin than elsewhere. Geochemical analyses revealed no significant differences between black shale packages deposited during and after OAE 2. Enrichment patterns of sulphur, iron and redox-sensitive and sulphide-forming trace metals point to suboxic to anoxic conditions existing at the sediment–water interface during black shale deposition, whereas sulphidic conditions prevailed deeper in the sediment. Variations in element/Al ratios follow cyclic patterns which are interpreted to represent climatically-induced changes in sediment supply. Reduced vertical mixing led to water-column stratification and caused black shale deposition.

► We present a high-resolution elemental geochemical data set for Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2).
► Enrichment of redox-sensitive and sulphide-forming trace metals point to suboxic to anoxic conditions.
► Reduced vertical mixing led to water-column stratification and caused black shale deposition.
► Variations in element/Al ratios follow cyclic patterns representing climatically-induced changes in sediment supply.
► Enrichment of redox-sensitive and sulphide-forming trace metals at Wunstorf is compared to other C/T sections.