Late Holocene microfaunal and nannofloral assemblages of the NW Black Sea

Abstract. This study describes the fluctuation pattern in Late Holocene microfaunal (i.e. foraminifera and ostracods) and nannofloral assemblages of two cores collected from the Romanian Black Sea shelf, at a water depth of 28 and 66 m, respectively. The lithology of the cores is mainly characterised by blackish muds, alternating with thin, centimetres-thick sand and coquina layers. The microfaunas are dominated by brackish foraminiferal and ostracod assemblages that are still common in the actual Black Sea communities, living nowadays at water salinity lower than 18 ‰. In the shallower water Site EF 08-01, the abundance ratio between Caspian and Mediterranean ostracods is 0.7, while in the deeper water Site BS 08-055, the abundance ratio between Caspian and Mediterranean ostracods is 0.01. These data argue for the dominance of Mediterranean ostracod fauna with lower abundance in shallower environments of the Black Sea and with a very high abundance in the deeper parts of the internal shelf, i.e., at a water depth of 66 m. Based on the calcareous nannoplankton fluctuation, four Nannofloral Intervals were identified, which indicate a gradual salinity increase of the surface waters during the deposition of the Late Holocene Shallow Unit. In the same interval, the benthic microfaunas (ostracods and foraminifers) argue for a more stable salinity environment in the two studied cores from the Black Sea inner shelf

First record of Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 in the Eastern Carpathians: implications for chemostratigraphic and biostratigraphic correlations

This study aims to investigate a marlstone and claystone succession located at the southern end of the Eastern Carpathians, a region where oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE2) has not been pointed out so far. Toward the upper half of this succession, a 17-cm-thick black shale was identified. The investigated depositional interval lies within the late Cenomanian–early Turonian, encompassing the UC3d up to UC7 nannofossil zones. The δ13C values fluctuated between 2.06‰ and 3.89‰, showing a positive isotope excursion that was assigned to OAE2. The δ13C isotope curve displays the following intervals: pre-excursion, first build-up, trough, second build-up, plateau, and post-excursion. Within the second build-up interval of OAE2, a substantial shift in CaCO3 values, accompanied by high concentrations of total organic carbon and a significant decline in the abundance and diversity of calcareous nannofossil assemblages, was observed. The nannofossil turnover related to OAE2 climax revealed predominance of Watznaueria barnesiae and temporary disappearance from the record of surface-water higher fertility taxa, such as Biscutum constans, Zeugrhabdotus erectus, and Discorhabdus ignotus. Above OAE2, peaks of Eprolithus floralis, followed by increased abundance of Eiffellithus turriseiffelii and Nannoconus spp., were identified. In the lower part of the studied succession (i.e., the upper Cenomanian UC3d nannofossil subzone), during the pre-excursion characterized by low δ13C values and less negative δ18O values, a small group of nannofossils more related to mid- and high-paleolatitudes, such as Crucibiscutum salebrosum, Repagulum parvidentatum, and Seribiscutum primitivum, is present, always showing a low abundance

The Messinian Salinity Crisis in the Dacic Basin (SW Romania) and early Zanclean Mediterranean-Eastern Paratethys high sea-level connection

International audienceNew field observations and fossil analyses complete and clarify the strong impact of the Mediterranean sea-level changes linked to the peak of the Messinian Salinity Crisis on the Dacic Basin in southwestern Romania. In addition to the Gilbert-type fan delta already evidenced along the Danube River in the area of Turnu Severin, a new Gilbert-type fan delta is described northward. Early Zanclean bottomset beds are evidenced and dated based on nannofossils at the junction of the two coalescing Gilbert-type fan deltas. A clear sedimentological, morphological and chronologic differentiation is established in the area between the Carpathians Late Miocene piedmont alluvial fans and the early Zanclean Gilbert-type fan deltas. The early Zanclean age of the Hinova clays, where the bottomset beds of the Gilbert-type fan deltas are mostly developed, is confirmed by the occurrence of nannofossil markers of Subzone NN12b and a Bosphorian mollusk macrofauna. Early Zanclean inflow of Mediterranean marine waters into the Dacic Basin is also supported by the record of planktonic foraminifers. In the Dacic Basin, the Messinian Salinity Crisis resulted in the cutting of the Iron Gates by a Carpathians river. Fluvial erosion also affected the residual Pannonian Basin and probably catched the paleo-Tisza River which contributed to the erosion of the Iron Gates and to the fluvial drainage of the partly desiccated Dacic Basin. Arguments are reinforced in favor of a marine gateway between the Mediterranean and Dacic Basin through the Balkans before and after the Messinian Salinity Crisis

Mitochondrial ancestry of medieval individuals carelessly interred in a multiple burial from southeastern Romania

Abstract The historical province of Dobruja, located in southeastern Romania, has experienced intense human population movement, invasions, and conflictual episodes during the Middle Ages, being an important intersection point between Asia and Europe. The most informative source of maternal population histories is the complete mitochondrial genome of archaeological specimens, but currently, there is insufficient ancient DNA data available for the medieval period in this geographical region to complement the archaeological findings. In this study, we reconstructed, by using Next Generation Sequencing, the entire mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of six medieval individuals neglectfully buried in a multiple burial from Capidava necropolis (Dobruja), some presenting signs of a violent death. Six distinct maternal lineages (H11a1, U4d2, J1c15, U6a1a1, T2b, and N1a3a) with different phylogenetic background were identified, pointing out the heterogeneous genetic aspect of the analyzed medieval group. Using population genetic analysis based on high-resolution mitochondrial data, we inferred the genetic affinities of the available medieval dataset from Capidava to other ancient Eurasian populations. The genetic data were integrated with the archaeological and anthropological information in order to sketch a small, local piece of the mosaic that is the image of medieval European population history

Lago Mare and the Messinian Salinity Crisis: Evidence from the Alboran Sea (S. Spain)

International audienceThis paper provides a new environmental, sedimentological and stratigraphic context of the Lago Mare deposits from the North Alboran region and clarifies their chronologic location with respect to the Messinian Salinity Crisis. We present new micropaleontological data (dinoflagellate cysts, calcareous nannoplankton, planktonic foraminifers), correlated with field observations and offshore seismic interpretations. We show that the Lago Mare event known in three onshore localities (Río Mendelín near Malaga, Zorreras near Sorbas, Gafares near Níjar) follows the marine reflooding of the Mediterranean Basin which ended the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Chronologically, these Lago Mare deposits last from the latest Messinian to the early Zanclean. In fact, the first influx of Paratethyan- organisms is revealed by the dinoflagellate cyst record from near Malaga within a Gilbert-type fan delta overlying the Messinian Erosional Surface. Invading molluscs and/or ostracods may have persisted in lagoonal coastal areas more or less affected by discontinuous marine influxes (Sorbas and Níjar). The Malaga area is convenient for a paleogeographic and sedimentary reconstruction which shows the prevalent forcing of sea level changes during the time-interval 5.600-5.332 Ma at the difference of the usually solicited prevalent tectonics. The studied Lago Mare event is the third episode resulting in such a paleobiological assemblage in the Mediterranean region and corresponds to the final two-way water exchange at high sea level between the Mediterranean and the former Paratethys. It documents the onset of the modern marine circulation in the Mediterranean after the reflooding ending the Messinian Salinity Crisis

Quantum chemistry of quantum dots: Effects of ligands and oxidation

We report Gaussian basis set density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the structure and spectra of several colloidal quantum dots (QDs) with a (CdSe)(n) core (n=6,15,17), that are either passivated by trimethylphosphine oxide ligands, or unpassivated and oxidized. From the ground state geometry optimization results we conclude that trimethylphosphine oxide ligands preserve the wurtzite structure of the QDs. Evaporation of the ligands may lead to surface reconstruction. We found that the number of two-coordinated atoms on the nanoparticle\u27s surface is the critical parameter defining the optical absorption properties. For (CdSe)(15) wurtzite-derived QD this number is maximal among all considered QDs and the optical absorption spectrum is strongly redshifted compared to QDs with threefold coordinated surface atoms. According to the time-dependent DFT results, surface reconstruction is accompanied by a significant decrease in the linear absorption. Oxidation of QDs destroys the perfection of the QD surface, increases the number of two-coordinated atoms and results in the appearance of an infrared absorption peak close to 700 nm. The vacant orbitals responsible for this near infrared transition have strong Se-O antibonding character. Conclusions of this study may be used in optimization of engineered nanoparticles for photodetectors and photovoltaic devices

New Insights on the Sorbas Basin (SE Spain): the onshore reference of the Messinian Salinity Crisis

The Sorbas Basin is the land reference of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) that affected the Mediterranean Sea in the latest Miocene. Its stratigraphy has been re-visited using calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifers, which provide a reliable biostratigraphic frame and lead to particularly specify the relationships between the Sorbas and Zorreras members with Yesares evaporites. The evaporites overlie a shallowing upward sequence ending with the deposition of the Reef Unit and Terminal Carbonate Complex (TCC) on the periphery of the basin. The reefal carbonates of the TCC are overlain by clastic deposits that are foreset beds of post-MSC Gilbert-type fan deltas developed on the northern edge of the basin. These sedimentary structures are separated from reefal carbonates and the Reef Unit by the Messinian Erosional Surface (MES). The various facies of the Sorbas Member have been correlated with the bottomset beds of the Gilbert-type fan deltas despite some differences in palaeobathymetry. In the southeastern periphery of the basin, the MES separates the Sorbas Member from the Yesares gypsums. In the central part of the basin, a hiatus characterizes the contact between these members. The Zorreras Member postdates the MSC and entirely belongs to Zanclean. Its white "Lago Mare" layers are lagoonal deposits, the fauna of which is confirmed to result from Mediterranean-Paratethys high sea-level exchange after the post-MSC marine reflooding of the Mediterranean Basin. This study allows to re-assert the two-step scenario of the MSC (Clauzon et al., 1996) with the following events: - at 5.971-5.600 Ma, minor sea-level fall resulting in the desiccation of this peripheral basin with secondary fluctuations; - at 5.600-5.460 Ma, significant subaerial erosion (or lack of sedimentation) caused by the almost complete desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea; - instantaneous marine reflooding, accepted at 5.460 Ma, followed by continuing sea-level rise

New insights on the Sorbas Basin (SE Spain): the onshore reference of the Messinian Salinity Crisis

International audienceThe Sorbas Basin is the land reference of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) that affected the Mediterranean Sea in the latest Miocene. Its stratigraphy has been re-visited using calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifers, which provide a reliable biostratigraphic frame and lead to particularly specify the relationships between the Sorbas and Zorreras members with Yesares evaporites.The evaporites overlie a shallowing upward sequence ending with the deposition of the Reef Unit and Terminal Carbonate Complex (TCC) on the periphery of the basin. The reefal carbonates of the TCC are overlain by clastic deposits that are foreset beds of post-MSC Gilbert-type fan deltas developed on the northern edge of the basin. These sedimentary structures are separated from reefal carbonates and the Reef Unit by the Messinian Erosional Surface (MES). The various facies of the Sorbas Member have been correlated with the bottomset beds of the Gilbert-type fan deltas despite some differences in palaeobathymetry. In the southeastern periphery of the basin, the MES separates the Sorbas Member from the Yesares gypsums. In the central part of the basin, a hiatus characterizes the contact between these members. The Zorreras Member postdates the MSC and entirely belongs to Zanclean. Its white “Lago Mare” layers are lagoonal deposits, the fauna of which is confirmed to result from Mediterranean–Paratethys high sea-level exchange after the post-MSC marine reflooding of the Mediterranean Basin.This study allows to re-assert the two-step scenario of the MSC (Clauzon et al., 1996) with the following events:- at 5.971–5.600 Ma, minor sea-level fall resulting in the desiccation of this peripheral basin with secondary fluctuations;- at 5.600–5.460 Ma, significant subaerial erosion (or lack of sedimentation) caused by the almost complete desiccation of the Mediterranean Sea;- instantaneous marine reflooding, accepted at 5.460 Ma, followed by continuing sea-level rise

Review: Short-term sea-level changes in a greenhouse world - A view from the Cretaceous

© 2015. This review provides a synopsis of ongoing research and our understanding of the fundamentals of sea-level change today and in the geologic record, especially as illustrated by conditions and processes during the Cretaceous greenhouse climate episode. We give an overview of the state of the art of our understanding on eustatic (global) versus relative (regional) sea level, as well as long-term versus short-term fluctuations and their drivers. In the context of the focus of UNESCO-IUGS/IGCP project 609 on Cretaceous eustatic, short-term sea-level and climate changes, we evaluate the possible evidence for glacio-eustasy versus alternative or additional mechanisms for continental water storage and release for the Cretaceous greenhouse and hothouse phases during which the presence of larger continental ice shields is considered unlikely. Increasing evidence in the literature suggests a correlation between long-period orbital cycles and depositional cycles that reflect sea-level fluctuations, implying a globally synchronized forcing of (eustatic) sea level. Fourth-order depositional sequences seem to be related to a ~. 405. ka periodicity, which most likely represents long-period orbital eccentricity control on sea level and depositional cycles. Third-order cyclicity, expressed as time-synchronous sea level falls of ~. 20 to 110. m on ~. 0.5 to 3.0. Ma timescales in the Cretaceous, are increasingly recognized as connected to climate cycles triggered by long-term astronomical cycles that have periodicity ranging from ~. 1.0 to 2.4. Ma. Future perspectives of research on greenhouse sea-level changes comprise a high-precision time-scale for sequence stratigraphy and eustatic sea-level changes and high-resolution marine to non-marine stratigraphic correlation