High-resolution carbon isotope records of the Aptian to Lower Albian from SE France and the Mazagan Plateau (DSDP Site 545): a stratigraphic tool for paleoceanographic and paleobiologic reconstruction

High-resolution carbon isotope stratigraphy is established for the Aptian to Lower Albian of the Vocontian Basin (SE France), and correlated to the carbon isotope record of the Mazagan Plateau (DSDP Site 545). The carbon isotope stratigraphy of the Vocontian Basin is proposed as a standard reference curve for the Aptian to Lower Albian, due to the completeness and high temporal resolution of the stratigraphic succession, the good biostratigraphical time control, and the frequent occurrence of regional to global black shale horizons including Oceanic Anoxic Events 1a (OAE 1a) of the Lower Aptian and OAE 1b of the Lower Albian. The carbon isotope record appears better suited for long-distance short-term correlation of different marine and terrestrial environments than biostratigraphy because of the synchroneity of carbon isotope signals in a range of sediment types. However, the combination of both biostratigraphy and carbon isotope stratigraphy provides an effective tool to reconstruct biotic change and paleoceanography, and to correlate regional to global black shale horizons in different marine environments. This combined approach allows us to ascertain the synchroneities or diachroneities of first and last appearances of biostratigraphic marker species. Based on the demonstrated diachroneity of important biostratigraphic markers of the Aptian/Albian boundary, the globally observed break point between the end of the uppermost Aptian positive carbon isotope excursion and the onset of the pronounced negative shift of δ13C values, is an alternative criterion. The distinctive structure and amplitudes of the carbon isotope record are observed in both the inorganic and organic carbon and can therefore be recognized in all marine and terrestrial environments of the Aptian to Lower Albian.