Stratigraphic correlations using trace elements in apatite from Late Ordovician (Sandbian-Katian) K-bentonites of eastern North America

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2015 Stratigraphic correlations using trace elements in apatite from Late Ordovician (Sandbian-Katian) K-bentonites of eastern North America Bryan K. Sell; Bryan K. Sell § 1Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA †Current address: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 1100 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005, USA; [e-mail]. §E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Scott D. Samson; Scott D. Samson § 1Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA §E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Charles E. Mitchell; Charles E. Mitchell § 2Department of Geology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA §E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Patrick I. McLaughlin; Patrick I. McLaughlin § 3Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, 3817 Mineral Point Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA §E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alan E. Koenig; Alan E. Koenig § 4U.S. Geological Survey, Central Mineral and Environment Resources Science Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA §E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen A. Leslie Stephen A. Leslie § 5Department of Geology and Environmental Science, James Madison University, 395 South High Street, MSC 6903, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807, USA §E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Bryan K. Sell †Current address: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, 1100 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1005, USA; [e-mail]. § 1Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA Scott D. Samson § 1Department of Earth Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA Charles E. Mitchell § 2Department of Geology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, USA Patrick I. McLaughlin § 3Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, 3817 Mineral Point Road, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA Alan E. Koenig § 4U.S. Geological Survey, Central Mineral and Environment Resources Science Center, Denver, Colorado 80225, USA Stephen A. Leslie § 5Department of Geology and Environmental Science, James Madison University, 395 South High Street, MSC 6903, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807, USA §E-mails: [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]; [e-mail]. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 24 Aug 2014 Revision Received: 12 Dec 2014 Accepted: 17 Feb 2015 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2015 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2015) 127 (9-10): 1259–1274. https://doi.org/10.1130/B31194.1 Article history Received: 24 Aug 2014 Revision Received: 12 Dec 2014 Accepted: 17 Feb 2015 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Bryan K. Sell, Scott D. Samson, Charles E. Mitchell, Patrick I. McLaughlin, Alan E. Koenig, Stephen A. Leslie; Stratigraphic correlations using trace elements in apatite from Late Ordovician (Sandbian-Katian) K-bentonites of eastern North America. GSA Bulletin 2015;; 127 (9-10): 1259–1274. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B31194.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The early Late Ordovician sedimentary rocks of eastern North America contain a relatively large number (>100) of widespread heavily altered tephra layers (K-bentonites). These beds represent an intense period of subaerial volcanism that occurred from ca. 455 to 449 Ma. The sedimentary rocks that contain these K-bentonites display complex regional lithostratigraphic relationships ranging from clastic foreland basin facies to cratonic carbonate platform facies. Accurate correlation of these ancient ash-fall beds is essential for testing chronostratigraphic hypotheses that attempt to connect these different tectono-sedimentary provinces. Despite the relatively thorough study of a few of these K-bentonites over the past several decades, the full stratigraphic potential of these beds has yet to be realized. To test the utility of the apatite trace-element K-bentonite correlation method on a larger scale, we studied over 200 K-bentonite samples from the Mohawkian Stage of eastern North America and statistically compared our results with previous studies on the same suites of K-bentonites. Electron microprobe (EPMA) and laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) results show that apatite trace-element data provide unique bed discriminators. Each of the K-bentonite layers exhibits unique and reproducible trends in Mg, Cl, Mn, Fe, Ce, Y, and other trace-element concentrations in apatite. Statistical evaluation of results from our apatite analyses suggests correlations for 12 K-bentonite beds, providing a significant improvement in stratigraphic resolution. The stratigraphic relations indicated by these new K-bentonite fingerprints provide a rigorous means by which to evaluate some previous interpretations of biostratigraphic, chemostratigraphic, and sequence stratigraphic studies in eastern North America. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.