Stratigraphic transition and palaeoenvironmental changes from the Aptian oceanic anoxic event 1a (OAE1a) to the oceanic red bed 1 (ORB1) in the Yenicesihlar section, central Turkey

We performed a detailed study of the stratigraphic transition from the early Aptian oceanic anoxic event 1a (OAE1a) to the oceanic red bed 1 (ORB1) along the pelagic Yenicesihlar section in the Mudurnu region of central Turkey. The Selli-equivalent level of the OAE1a (approximately 2.1 m thick) consists of black to dark-grey shales interbedded with grey marlstones with total organic carbon contents up to 2.05%. The carbon isotopic record shows a negative excursion (C3 stage, 0.58 m in thick) at the bottom of the Selli-equivalent black shales and a stepwise positive excursion (C4 to C6 stages, 1.52 m in thick) within the Selli-equivalent black shales. The OAE1a-ORB1 transitional interval (∼20.3 m in thick) displays an alternation of light-grey limestones with grey marls or shales that links the anoxic environment of the Selli-equivalent black shales at the bottom and the highly oxic environment of the ORB1 at the top. The OAE1a-ORB1 transition corresponds to stable carbon isotopic C7 and C8 stages, and based on the cyclostratigraphy, the transition lasted for approximately 1.3 Myr, which is very close to the duration of the OAE1a (1.1–1.3 Myr). The δ18O values in the transitional interval are variable and generally show an increase towards the ORB1, when the climate became relatively cool.