Multi-proxy study of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary in deep-sea turbiditic sediments in the Uzgruň section (Outer Flysch Carpathians, Czech Republic)

The composite profile, with 4 studied sections, is located near the Uzgruň village (Czech Republic) next to a small stream. The profile is composed of Late Maastrichtian to Palaeocene flysch sediments and the K-Pg boundary is set in claystones within this turbiditic setting. Ongoing research of local paleoenvironment and stratigraphy is based on paleo- and rock-magnetic methods, micropaleontology and geochemistry to obtain more detailed view of the local situation during the K-Pg extinction event. Based on biostratigraphy, two dinocyst zones (Bubík et al., 2002): Palynodium grallator and Carpatella cornuta (first occurrence in the Danian), two calcareous nannofossil zones in the Upper Maastrichtian, and the agglutinated foraminifer zone Rzehakina fissistomata in the Paleogene were distinguished. Biostratigraphic data support the K-Pg boundary interval. The uppermost Maastrichtian is indicated by nannofossil species Micula prinsii, UC26d^TP zone. Basal Paleogene non-calcareous strata contain dinocyst Carpatella cornuta and agglutinated foraminifers of Rzehakina fissistomata zone. The presence of low-latitude nannofossil taxa M. prinsii and Ceratolithoides kamptneri show input of warm waters during the uppermost Maastrichtian. Several rock-magnetic methods, such as acquisition of Isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), acquisition of Anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM), Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), Field dependence of magnetic susceptibility (HD) and Frequency dependence of magnetic susceptibility (FD), were applied to estimate behaviour and origin of magnetic particles. Natural remanent magnetization (NRM) values of samples range from 0.09 to 2.48 mA/m. Volume normalized magnetic susceptibility (MS) show values from 130 up to 1197 SI*10-6. There is no increase observed in MS across stratigraphic boundary due to turbiditic evolution of sediment. Due to character of sediments, we applied alternating field (AF) demagnetization and used principal component analysis (PCA; Kirschvink, 1980) for estimation of characteristic remanent component. Most of the K/Pg sections worldwide have well documented Iridium anomaly. In Uzgruň, the preliminary results show that although the values are not as pronounced, the Ir at K-Pg boundary is still higher than in surrounding sediments. For tracing of Deccan traps effect we plan to apply mercury (Hg)/total organic carbon (TOC) stratigraphy. TOC content of 20 pilot samples is low, but not under detection limit of the instrumentation (mean value 0.92 wt%). One sample reached value 4.41 wt% of TOC. Sulphur contents are reaching 1 wt%, but several samples were under detection limit of the instrumentation. Sulphur concentrations suggest more reduction conditions of burial.

Current research is supported by Czech Science Foundation project no. 19-07516S and is in accordance with research plan no. RVO67985831.

Bubík, M., Adamová, M., Bąk, M., Franců, J., Gedl, P., Mikuláš, R., Švábenická, L., & Uchman, A. (2002). Výsledky výzkumu hranice křída/terciér v magurském flyši u Uzgruně. Geologické výzkumy na Moravě a ve Slezsku, 9, 18–22

L. Kirschvink (1980), The least-squares line and plane and the analysis of palaeomagnetic data, Geophysical Journal International, 62(3), 699–718, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.1980.tb02601.x