New carbon isotope records from the Pliensbachian-Toarcian boundary interval in Germany

The Pliensbachian-Toarcian boundary interval has attracted great scientific interest over the last decade, because it comprises carbon cycle disturbances of magnitudes rarely observed else during the Phanerozoic, and because it is accompanied by well-documented biotic changes. This interval covers lithostratigraphically the basal part of the Posidonia Shale Formation and the top of the Amaltheen Clay Formation. The Posidonia Shale is one of the most pronounced black shales and hydrocarbon source rocks in western Europe and the North Sea. Carbon cycle changes have previously been recorded in organic and inorganic carbon isotope data from various terrestrial and marine settings.

In our contribution, we will present results from recent drill cores along (i) a SW-NE transect across the South German Basin and (ii) a NW-SE transect along the Hils Syncline in the Lower Saxony Basin. In addition to detailed sedimentary descriptions, all cores have been studied using high-resolution XRF core scanning and organic carbon isotope stratigraphy. These new results will be compared to the Mochras key site in Wales, as well as other records from Germany, in order to identify differences and potential stratigraphic gaps in the sedimentary successions.