Astronomical calibration of the middle Cambrian in Baltica: global carbon cycle synchronization and climate dynamics

[en] The Alum Shale Formation of Baltica preserves one of the most continuous and fossil-rich records for the Cambrian Period. Thus, the Alum Shale is a key sedimentary archive for refining global chronostratigraphy, reconstructing carbon cycle perturbations, and assessing astronomical forcing of high-latitude systems during an early Palaeozoic greenhouse world. Here we present a high-resolution cyclostratigraphic and multiproxy study of the middle Cambrian succession from the Albjära-1 drill core (southern Sweden), anchored by a high-precision U–Pb age. Integration of our astronomical time scale with carbon isotope data and refined biostratigraphy places the Albjära-1 core as a global reference record. This framework provides numerically constrained ages and durations for the Drumian Carbon Isotope Excursion (DICE), enabling worldwide synchronization of biostratigraphy and carbon cycle events. Coupled elemental geochemistry and time calibration reveal that obliquity- and orbital eccentricity-driven climate oscillations modulated sea-level and dust fluxes, highlighting the sensitivity of Earth’s early Paleozoic greenhouse systems to astronomical forcing.

Disciplines :

Earth sciences & physical geography

Author, co-author :

Jamart, Valentin ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Geology

Pas, Damien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Sedimentology, Cycles and paleo-Climate (SediCClim)

HINNOV, Linda A.

SPANGENBERG, Jorge E.

ADATTE, Thierry

NIELSEN, Arne T.

SCHOVSBO, Niels H.

THIBAULT, Nicolas

Arts, Michiel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de géologie > Sedimentology, Cycles and paleo-Climate (SediCClim)

DALEY, Allison C.

Language :

English

Title :

Astronomical calibration of the middle Cambrian in Baltica: global carbon cycle synchronization and climate dynamics

Publication date :

13 March 2026

Journal title :

Nature Communications

eISSN :

2041-1723

Publisher :

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70651-5

Funders :

SNF - Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung

Funding number :

193520

Funding text :

This work is supported by an Ambizione fellowship awarded by the Swiss National Science Foundation to D.P. (grant n°193520). L.A.H. was generously supported by the Heising-Simons Foundation (Grant No. 2021-2796). We are grateful to Thomas Weidner, Denmark, for his help in the agnostoid identification.

Available on ORBi :

since 14 March 2026

Statistics

Number of views

368 (2 by ULiège)

Number of downloads

178 (1 by ULiège)

More statistics

Scopus citations^®

Scopus citations^®
without self-citations

OpenAlex citations

Bibliography

Babcock LE et al. Global climate, sea level cycles, and biotic events in the Cambrian Period Palaeoworld 2015 24 5 15
Peng, S. C., Babcock, L. E. & Ahlberg, P. in Geological Time Scale 2020 Vol. 2 (eds F. M. Gradstein, J. G. Ogg, M. D. Schmitz, & G. M. Ogg) Ch. 19, 565-629 (Elsevier, 2020).
Landing, E., Webster, M. & Bowser, S. S. Terminal Ediacaran-Late Ordovician evolution of the NE Laurentia palaeocontinent: rift-drift-onset of Taconic Orogeny, sea-level change and ‘Hawke Bay’ onlap (not offlap). Geological Society, London, Special Publications 542, https://doi.org/10.1144/sp542-2023-4 (2023).
Jamart V et al. The Cambrian ROECE and DICE carbon isotope excursions in western Gondwana (Montagne Noire, southern France): Implications for regional and global correlations of the Miaolingian Series Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 2025 670 1 14
Zhu M-Y Babcock LE Peng S-C Advances in Cambrian stratigraphy and paleontology: Integrating correlation techniques, paleobiology, taphonomy and paleoenvironmental reconstruction Palaeoworld 2006 15 217 222
Sundberg FA et al. International correlation of the Cambrian Series 2-3, Stages 4-5 boundary interval Mem. Assoc. Australas. 2016 49 83 124
Babcock LE Robison RA Rees MN Peng S-C Saltzman MR The Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Drumian Stage (Cambrian) in the Drum Mountains, Utah, USA Episodes 2007 30 85 95
Li, D. et al. A paired carbonate-organic δ13C approach to understanding the Cambrian Drumian carbon isotope excursion (DICE). Precambrian Res.349, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2019.105503 (2020).
Zhang, J., Edwards, C. T., Diamond, C. W., Lyons, T. W. & Zhang, Y. Marine oxygenation, deoxygenation, and life during the Early Paleozoic: An overview. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 584, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110715 (2021).
Saltzman MR et al. A global carbon isotope excursion (SPICE) during the late Cambrian: relation to trilobite extinctions, organic-matter burial and sea level Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 2000 162 211 223
Landing E Keppie JD Keppie DF Geyer G Westrop SR Greater Avalonia—latest Ediacaran–Ordovician “peribaltic” terrane bounded by continental margin prisms (“Ganderia,” Harlech Dome, Meguma): Review, tectonic implications, and paleogeography Earth-Sci. Rev. 2022 224 1 49
Keppie, D.F., Keppie, J.D. & Landing E. A tectonic solution for the Early Cambrian palaeogeographic enigma. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 542, (2023).
Park, G. Ch 6 Neoproterozoic to Palaeozoic: Rodinia to Pangaea. In A Tectonic History of the Earth, Liverpool University Press, 90–116 (2025).
Nielsen AT Schovsbo NH The regressive early-mid Cambrian ‘Hawke Bay Event’ in Baltoscandia: Epeirogenic uplift in concert with eustasy Earth-Sci. Rev. 2015 151 288 350 2015ESRv.151.288N
Cohen K Haper D Gibbard P Car N The ICS international chronostratigraphic chart this decade Episodes 2025 48 105 115
Zhao, Z. F. et al. Synchronizing rock clocks in the late Cambrian. Nat. Commun.13, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29651-4 (2022).
Sørensen, A. L. et al. Astronomically forced climate change in the late Cambrian. Earth Planet. Sc. Lett. 548, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116475 (2020).
Nielsen AT Høyberget M Ahlberg P The Furongian (upper Cambrian) Alum Shale of Scandinavia: revision of zonation Lethaia 2020 53 462 485
Berger A Loutre MF Precession, eccentricity, obliquity, insolation and paleoclimates NATO ASI Ser. 1994 22 107 151
Hinnov LA New perspectives on orbitally forced stratigraphy Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2000 28 419 475 2000AREPS.28.419H 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXlsFOntL0%3D
Pas, D., et al Cyclostratigraphic calibration of the Famennian stage (Late Devonian, Illinois Basin, USA). Earth Planet. Sc. Lett. 488, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.02.010 (2018).
Arts, M., Corradini, C., Pondrelli, M., Pas, D. & Da Silva, A. C. Age and orbital forcing in the upper Silurian Cellon section (Carnic Alps, Austria) uncovered using the WaverideR R package. Front. Earth Sc. 12, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2024.1357751 (2024).
De Vleeschouwer D Percival LME Wichern NMA Batenburg SJ Pre-Cenozoic cyclostratigraphy and palaeoclimate responses to astronomical forcing Nat. Rev. Earth Env 2024 5 59 74
Zeebe RE Kocken IJ Applying astronomical solutions and Milanković forcing in the Earth sciences Earth-Sci. Rev. 2025 261 1 22
Laskar, J. in Geologic Time Scale 2020 (eds F. M. et al Ch. 4, 139-158 (Elsevier, 2020).
Zeeden, C., Laskar, J., De Vleeschouwer, D., Pas, D. & Da Silva, A. C. Earth’s rotation and Earth-Moon distance in the Devonian derived from multiple geological records. Earth Planet Sc. Lett. 621, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118348 (2023).
Sinnesael, M. et al. The Cyclostratigraphy Intercomparison Project (CIP): consistency, merits and pitfalls. Earth-Sci Rev.199, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2019.102965 (2019).
Meyers SR Cyclostratigraphy and the problem of astrochronologic testing Earth-Sci. Rev. 2019 190 190 223 2019ESRv.190.190M
Waltham D Milankovitch period uncertainties and their impact on cyclostratigraphy J. Sediment Res 2015 85 990 998 2015JSedR.85.990W
Wu, Y. J., Malinverno, A., Meyers, S. R. & Hinnov, L. A. A 650-Myr history of Earth’s axial precession frequency and the evolution of the Earth-Moon system derived from cyclostratigraphy. Sci. Adv.10, https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.ado2412 (2024).
Zhao, Z. F. et al. High-resolution carbon isotope chemostratigraphy of the middle Cambrian to lowermost Ordovician in southern Scandinavia: Implications for global correlation. Global Planet. Change209, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2022.103751 (2022).
Zhao, Z. F. et al. Dynamic oceanic redox conditions across the late Cambrian SPICE event constrained by molybdenum and uranium isotopes. Earth Planet Sc. Lett.604, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2023.118013 (2023).
Nielsen AT Schovsbo NH The lower Cambrian of Scandinavia: Depositional environment, sequence stratigraphy and palaeogeography Earth-Sci. Rev. 2011 107 207 310 2011ESRv.107.207N
Nielsen, A. T. & Schovsbo, N. H. The Cambro-Ordovician Alum Shale Fm og Scandinavia: Distribution, depositional environment and stratigraphy. 1–58 (2013).
Landing E The Bakken Model: Deposition of Organic-Rich Mudstones and Petroleum Source Rocks as Shallow-Marine Facies Through the Phanerozoic J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025 895 1 26
Schovsbo NH Nielsen AT The Albjära-1, Gislövshammar-2 and Fågeltofta-2 scientific wells, Scania, southern Sweden Biostratigraphy, log. correlation TOC Anal., Vol. 2012 55 1 61
Lauridsen, B. W. The Cambrian-Tremadoc interval of the Albjära-1 drill-core, Scania, Sweden (unpublished master’s thesis). University of Copenhagen (2000).
Peng SC et al. The Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Guzhangian Stage (Cambrian) in the Wuling Mountains, Northwestern Hunan, China Episodes 2009 32 41 55
Schöllhorn, I. et al. Pliensbachian environmental perturbations and their potential link with volcanic activity: Swiss and British geochemical records. Sediment. Geol.406, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2020.105665 (2020).
Krissansen-Totton J Buick R Catling DC A statistical analysis of the carbon isotope record from the Archean to Phanerozoic and implications for the rise of oxygen Am. J. Sci. 2015 315 275 316 2015AmJS.315.275K 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXptlKqtbg%3D
Sharp, Z. Principles of stable isotope geochemistry. 2nd edn, (University of New Mexico, 2017).
Buchardt B Lewan MD Reflectance of vitrinite-like macerals as a thermal maturity index for Cambrian Ordovician Alum Shale, Southern Scandinavia Aapg Bull. 1990 74 394 406 1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXlslGhsLo%3D
Sanei H Petersen HI Schovsbo NH Jiang C Goodsite ME Petrographic and geochemical composition of kerogen in the Furongian (U.Cambrian) Alum Shale, central Sweden: Reflections on the petroleum generation potential Int J. Coal Geol. 2014 132 158 169 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhsVKmsrfF
Hammer O Svensen HH Biostratigraphy and carbon and nitrogen geochemistry of the SPICE event in Cambrian low-grade metamorphic black shale, Southern Norway Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 2017 468 216 227
Irwin H Curtis C Coleman M Isotopic evidence for source of diagenetic carbonates formed during burial of organic-rich sediments Nature 1977 269 209 213 1977Natur.269.209I 1:CAS:528:DyaE1cXpt1Kluw%3D%3D
Kaufman AJ Knoll AH Neoproterozoic variations in the C-isotopic composition of seawater - stratigraphic and biogeochemical implications Precambrian Res 1995 73 27 49 1995PreR..73..27K 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXlvVWitLc%3D 11539552
Álvaro JJ Bauluz B Subias I Pierre C & Vizcaïno, D. Carbon chemostratigraphy of the Cambrian-Ordovician transition in a midlatitude mixed platform, Montagne Noire, France Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 2008 120 962 975 2008GSAB.120.962A
Zhang XL et al. Challenges in defining the base of Cambrian Series 2 and Stage 3 Earth-Sci. Rev. 2017 172 124 139 2017ESRv.172.124Z 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2sXhtlShu7%2FP
Sundberg FA et al. Asynchronous trilobite extinctions at the early to middle Cambrian transition Geology 2020 48 441 445 2020Geo..48.441S 1:CAS:528:DC%2BB3cXhvVKrurvI
Landing E Geyer G Brasier MD Bowring SA Cambrian evolutionary radiation: Context, correlation, and chronostratigraphy-overcoming deficiencies of the first appearance datum (FAD) concept Earth-Sci. Rev. 2013 123 133 172 2013ESRv.123.133L 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXptFOjtrg%3D
Charbonnier G et al. Obliquity pacing of the hydrological cycle during the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 Earth Planet Sc. Lett. 2018 499 266 277 2018E&PSL.499.266C 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC1cXhsVGku73J
Shembilu, N. & Azmy, K. Carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the middle-upper Cambrian in eastern Laurentia: Implications for global correlation. Mar. Petrol. Geol.128, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2021.105052 (2021).
Gomez FJ Astini RA Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy from a mixed (carbonate-siliciclastic) rift to passive margin transition: The early to middle Cambrian of the Argentine Precordillera Sediment Geol. 2015 316 39 61 2015SedG.316..39G
Schmid S Chemostratigraphy and palaeo-environmental characterisation of the Cambrian stratigraphy in the Amadeus Basin, Australia Chem. Geol. 2017 451 169 182 2017ChGeo.451.169S 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2sXhvV2nt74%3D
Shabanov, Y. Y., Korovnikov, I. V., Pereladov, V. S., Pak, K. L. & Feflov, A. F. in Cambrian sections of the Siberian Platform—stratotype candidates for an international stratigraphic scaling (Stratigraphy and Palaeontology). Material of the 13th international field conference of the Cambrian subdivision working group, Yakutia 60–70 (2008).
Wu YS et al. Evolution patterns of seawater carbon isotope composition during the Cambrian and their stratigraphic significance Geol. J. 2021 56 457 474 2021GeolJ.56.457W 1:CAS:528:DC%2BB3MXpt1Grsw%3D%3D
Zuo J Zhu X Chen Y Zhai W Carbon isotope from shallow marine system in North China: Implications for stratigraphical correlation and sea-level changes in Cambrian J. Earth Sci.-China 2023 34 1777 1792 1:CAS:528:DC%2BB3sXis1SgsrfN
Howley RA Jiang G The Cambrian Drumian carbon isotope excursion (DICE) in the Great Basin, western United States Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 2010 296 138 150
Pas D et al. Millenial-scale climate cycles modulated by Milankovitch forcing in the middle Cambrian (ca. 500 Ma) Marjum Formation, Utah, USA Geology 2024 52 605 609 2024Geo..52.605P 1:CAS:528:DC%2BB2cXisF2jtLnE
Muller, R. A., MacDonald, G. J. Ice ages and astronomical causes: Data, spectral analysis and mechanisms. (Springer: Berlin, Heidelberg, 2000).
Boulila S et al. Towards a robust and consistent middle Eocene astronomical timescale Earth Planet Sc. Lett. 2018 486 94 107 2018E&PSL.486..94B 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC1cXhvFClt7s%3D
Spiering, B. R. et al. Initial cyclostratigraphy of the middle Nama Group (Schwarzrand Subgroup) in southern Namibia. Precambrian Res.397, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2023.107200 (2023).
Landing E Geyer G Buchwaldt R Bowring SA Geochronology of the Cambrian: a precise Middle Cambrian U-Pb zircon date from the German margin of West Gondwana Geol. Mag. 2015 152 28 40 2015GeoM.152..28L 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXitVCku7bO
Palacios T et al. Acritarch-based chronostratigraphic and radiometric calibration of the Cambrian volcanosedimentary Vallehondo and Playón formations in the Cambrian Ossa-Morena Rift, Spain Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 2021 565 1 32
Landing, E., Schmitz, M. D., Westrop, S. R. & Geyer, G. New Middle Cambrian (Drumian) U-Pb age of Cape Breton Island volcanism and Cambrian–lowest Ordovician stratigraphic reevaluation confirm the Bourinot belt (southern “Bras d’Or terrane”) is Avalonian. Can. J. Earth Sci. 63, https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2025-0044 (2025).
Landing E Schmitz MD Westrop SR Geyer G U-Pb volcanic zircon dates from New Brunswick constrain the Middle Cambrian Drumian Stage and trans-Avalonian green–black boundary Geol. Mag. 2025 162 1 14
Darwin C An account of the fine dust which often falls on vessels in the Atlantic Ocean Quaterly J. Geol. Soc. 1846 2 26 30
Windom HL Eolian contributions to marine sediments J. Sediment Pet. 1975 45 520 529 1:CAS:528:DyaE2MXls1Kqs70%3D
Zhang Q Liu QS Li JH Sun YB An integrated study of the eolian dust in pelagic sediments from the North Pacific Ocean based on environmental magnetism, transmission electron microscopy, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy J. Geophys Res-Sol. Ea 2018 123 3358 3376 2018JGRB.123.3358Z
Davies NS Gibling MR Cambrian to Devonian evolution of alluvial systems: The sedimentological impact of the earliest land plants Earth-Sci. Rev. 2010 98 171 200 2010ESRv..98.171D
Fan JF et al. Statistical physics approaches to the complex Earth system Phys. Rep. 2021 896 1 84 2021PhR..896..1F 33041465
Adler RF Gu GJ Sapiano M Wang JJ Huffman GJ Global precipitation: Means, variations and trends during the Satellite Era (1979-2014) Surv. Geophys 2017 38 679 699 2017SGeo..38.679A
Manabe S Climate and the ocean circulation. I. The atmospheric circulation and the hydrology of the Earth’s surface Mon. Weather Rev. 1969 97 739 774 1969MWRv..97.739M
Cutting G Simulating Cambrian climate: The significance of atmospheric CO2 concentration and continental position Ursidae: Undergrad. Res. J. Univ. North. Colo. 2021 10 1 24
Scotese, C. R. Atlas of Cambrian and Early Ordovician paleogeographic maps (Mollweide Projection), Maps 81-88, Volumes 5, The Early Paleozoic, PALEOMAP Atlas for ArcGIS, PALEOMAP Project, Evanston, IL. (2014).
Masters J The Jet Stream is getting weird Sci. Am. 2014 311 69 75
Orme LC et al. Past changes in the North Atlantic storm track driven by insolation and sea-ice forcing Geology 2017 45 335 338 2017Geo..45.335O
Lee, S. et al. On the future zonal contrasts of equatorial Pacific climate: Perspectives from observations, simulations, and theories. Npj Clim. Atmos. Sci.5, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-022-00301-2 (2022).
Calvert SE Pedersen TF Elemental proxies for palaeoclimatic and palaeoceanographic variability in marine sediments: Interpretation and application Dev. Mar. Geol. 2007 1 567 644
Wichern NMA et al. Astronomically paced climate and carbon cycle feedbacks in the lead-up to the Late Devonian Kellwasser Crisis Clim. Past 2024 20 415 448
Li, M. S., Hinnov, L. A., Huang, C. J. & Ogg, J. G. Sedimentary noise and sea levels linked to land-ocean water exchange and obliquity forcing. Nat. Commun. 9, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03454-y (2018).
Zhang, T. et al. Orbitally-paced climate change in the early Cambrian and its implications for the history of the Solar System. Earth Planet Sci. Lett.583, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2022.117420 (2022).
Sames B Wagreich M Conrad CP Iqbal S Aquifer-eustasy as the main driver of short-term sea-level fluctuations during Cretaceous hothouse climate phases Cretac. Clim. Events Short.-Term. Sea-Lev. Chang. 2020 498 9 38
Scotese CR An atlas of Phanerozoic paleogeographic maps: The seas come in and the seas go out Annu Rev. Earth Pl. Sc. 2021 49 679 2021AREPS.49.679S 1:CAS:528:DC%2BB3MXmvFOnt7w%3D
Behar F Beaumont V Penteado HLDB Rock-Eval 6 technology: Performances and developments Oil Gas. Sci. Technol. 2001 56 111 134 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXktlertro%3D
Spangenberg JE Herlec U Hydrocarbon biomarkers in the Topla-Mezica zinc-lead deposits, northern Karavanke/Drau Range, Slovenia: Paleoenvironment at the site of ore formation Econ. Geol. 2006 101 997 1021 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xhtlejs73J
Spangenberg JE Bulk C, H, O, and fatty acid C stable isotope analyses for purity assessment of vegetable oils from the southern and northern hemispheres Rapid Commun. Mass Sp. 2016 30 2447 2461 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC28XhsVOqtrzL
Moore, D. M. & Reynolds, R. J. X-ray Diffraction and the Identification and Analysis of Clay Minerals. 332, https://doi.org/10.1346/CCMN.1990.0380416 (1989).
Thomson DJ Spectrum estimation and harmonic-analysis Proc. IEEE 1982 70 1055 1096 1982IEEEP.70.1055T
Torrence C Compo GP A practical guide to wavelet analysis B. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 1998 79 61 78 1998BAMS..79..61T
Meyers SR Sageman BB Quantification of deep-time orbital forcing by average spectral misfit Am. J. Sci. 2007 307 773 792 2007AmJS.307.773M
Taner MT Koehler F Sheriff RE Complex seismic trace analysis Geophysics 1979 44 1041 1063 1979Geop..44.1041T