[en] Middle Cambrian offshore deposits of the Marjum Formation, Utah, USA, are characterized by four scales of superimposed cyclicity defined by varying fine siliciclastic versus limestone abundances; these include limestone-marl couplets (rhythmites; 5–10 cm), which are bundled into parasequences (1–2 m) and small-scale (5–10 m) and large-scale (20–40 m) sequences. Time series analysis of SiO2 and lithologic rank stratigraphic series reveal cycles consistent with Milankovitch periods corresponding to Cambrian orbital eccentricity (20 m, 405 k.y.; 6 m, 110 k.y.), obliquity (1.8 m, 30 k.y.), climatic precession (1.15 m, 18 k.y.), and half-precession (0.64 m, 7 k.y.). Astronomical calibration of the lithologic rank series indicates that the main sub-Milankovitch cycle at 0.065 m represents ∼1 k.y. and corresponds to the basic rhythmite couplet. All scales of cyclicity are interpreted as the result of wet versus dry monsoonal climate oscillations controlling the abundance of fine siliciclastic sediment influx to the basin. A plausible millennial-scale climate driver is solar activity. These results describe one of the oldest known geological candidates for solar-influenced climate change modulated by Milankovitch forcing.
Disciplines :
Earth sciences & physical geography
Author, co-author :
Pas, Damien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Pétrologie sédimentaire ; Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Elrick, Maya; Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, United States
Silva, Anne-Christine Da; Laboratoire de Pétrologie Sédimentaire, Département de Géologie, Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium
Hinnov, Linda; Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Earth Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, United States
Jamart, Valentin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Geology ; Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Thaureau, Marion; Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
D. Pas acknowledges the Swiss National Sciences Foundation grant PZ00P2-193520. L. Hinnov was partially supported by Heising Simons Foundation grant 2021\u20132796. A.C. Da Silva is thankful for the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique grants J.0037.21, T.0051.19, T.0037.22, and R.5541-J-F-B. This is a contribution to UNESCO Project IGCP 652. Grant T.0051.19 supported M. Arts. We are grateful to Sebastien Wouters for field assistance. We thank Kathleen Benison for her editorial work, and David De Vleeschouwer and two anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful reviews.D. Pas acknowledges the Swiss National Sciences Foundation grant PZ00P2-193520. L. Hinnov was partially supported by Heising Simons Foundation grant 2021-2796. A.C. Da Silva is thankful for the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique grants J.0037.21, T.0051.19, T.0037.22, and R.5541-J-F-B. This is a contribution to UNESCO Project IGCP 652. Grant T.0051.19 supported M. Arts. We are grateful to Sebastien Wouters for field assistance. We thank Kathleen Benison for her editorial work, and David De Vleeschouwer and two anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful reviews.
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