Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Upper Cenomanian-lower Turonian sea-level rise and its consequences on the Adriatic-Dinaric carbonate platform

  • Published:
Geologische Rundschau Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Adriatic carbonate platform existed throughout most of the Mesozoic as an isolated (‘intraoceanic’) carbonate platform. It is characterized by what has been traditionally labelled a ‘continuous’ shallow marine carbonate sedimentation, without terrigenous influences. However, global sea-level changes left unequivocal imprints in the ‘continuous’ carbonate record, thus proving that the carbonate platform sensitively responded to sea-level fluctuations. This paper focuses on the relatively short Cenomanian — Turonian drowning event, which temporarily submerged the platform below the euphotic zone, and which is related here to the well known global Cenomanian — Turonian sea-level highstand. This drowning episode is characterized by the abrupt disappearance of numerous shallow water benthic invertebrate taxa and by an abundant occurrence of planktonic organisms, including calcispheres and ‘primitive’ planktonic foraminifera. Near the middle of the Turonian, the platform regime was re-established, correlating with the global fall in sea level. The situation is different only at the south-west margin of the platform, where pelagic sedimentation, initiated near the end of the Cenomanian, continues into the Santonian and probably marks the Adriatic trough. The drowning began earlier (in the Middle Cenomanian) in those areas nearer to the north-east margin of the platform (the area of what is today central Croatia) and then progressed gradually towards the more interior areas of the platform (the middle Dalmatian islands), which were drowned near the end of the Cenomanian.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams TD, Khalili M, Khosrovi Said A (1967) Stratigraphic significance of some oligosteginid assemblages from Lurestan province, northwest Iran. Micropaleontology 13 (1): 55–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Arthur MA, Schlanger SO (1979) Cretaceous ‘oceanic anoxic events’ as causal factors in development of reef-reservoired giant oil fields. Am Assoc Petrol Geol Bull 63: 870–885

    Google Scholar 

  • Arthur MA, Schlanger SO, Jenkyns HC (1987) the Cenomanian — Turonian anoxic event, II. Palaeoceanographic controls on organic matter production and preservation. In: Brooks J, Fleet AJ (eds) Marine Petroleum Source Rocks. Spec Publ Geol Soc, London No 26: 401–420

  • Barron EJ, Washington WM (1982) Cretaceous climate: a comparison of athmospheric simulation with the geologic record. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 40: 103–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Barron EJ, Hay WW, Kauffman EG (1984) Cretaceous climates (Penrose conference report). Geology 12: 377–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Bilotte M (1986) Le Cretacé supérieur des plates-formes est-pyrenéenes. Strata, ser 2, vol 5: 1–438

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron M (1983) La spéciation chèz les Foraminifrès planctiques: une response adaptèe aux contraintes de l'environnement. Zitteliana 10: 671–676

    Google Scholar 

  • Caron M, Homewood P (1983) Evolution of early planktic foraminifers. Mar Micropaleontol 7: 453–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Chorowicz J (1977) Étude géologique des Dinarides le long de la structure transversale Split-Karlovac (Yougoslavie). Thèse, Univ Pierre et Marie Curie: 328 pp

  • Cooper MR (1977) Eustacy during the Cretaceous: its implications and importance. Palaegeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 22: 1–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Davey S, Jenkyns H (1991) Stable-isotope investigations of a Tethyan carbonate platform (Cenomanian-Turonian transition, Hvar and Dugi Otok, Yugoslavia). Abstracts, Second Int Symp Adriatic Carbonate Platforms, Zadar, 12–18 May 1991. Institute of Geology, Zagreb: 39–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Davey SD, Kennedy WJ, Simmons MD, Gušić I (1992) Late Turonian Ammonites and Microfossils from Dugi Otok, Croatia. N Jb Geol Palaontol Abh 186: 283–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Dercourt J, Zonenshain LP, Ricou LE, Kazmin VG, Le Pichon X, Knipper AL, Grandjacquet Cl, Sporschchikov IM, Geyssant J, Lepvrier C, Pechersky DH, Boulin J, Sibuet J, Savostin LA, Sorokhtin O, Westphal M, Bazhenov ML, Lauer JP, Biju-Duval B (1986) Geological evolution of the Tethys belt from the Atlantic to the Pamirs since the Lias. Tectonophysics 123: 241- 315 + 10 paleogoegr maps

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuček L, Jelaska V, Gušić I, Prtoljan B, Oštrić N (1991) Turonian slope deposits in the Brbišnica Cove, Dugi Otok Island, Croatia. Geološki vjesnik, Zagreb 44: 55–67 [in Croat, with English summary]

    Google Scholar 

  • Graciansky PC de, Deroo G, Herbin JP, Jacquin T, Magniez F, Montadert L, Muller C, Ponsoi C, Schaaf A, Sigal J (1986) Ocean-wide stagnation episodes in the Late Cretaceous. Geol Rundsch 75: 17–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Gušić I, Jelaska V (1990) Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy of the island of Brač within the geodynamic evolution of the Adriatic carbonate platform Opera Academiae scientiarum et artium Slavorum meridionalium, Zagreb 69: 160 pp [in Croat and English]

  • Hancock JM, Kauffman EG (1979) The great transgressions of the Late Cretaceous. Geol Soc London 136: 175–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Haq BU, Hardenbol J, Vail PR (1987) Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic. Science 235: 1156–1167

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart MB (1980a) A water-depth model for the evolution of planktonic Foraminiferida. Nature 286: 252–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart MB (1980b) The recognition of Mid-Cretaceous sea-level changes by means of Foraminiferida. Cretaceous Res 1: 289–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart MB, Bailey WH (1979) The distribution of planktonic Foraminiferida in the Mid-Cretaceous of NW Europe. In: Wiedmann J (ed) Aspekte der Kreide Europas, IUGS Series A, 6, Schweizerbart, Stuttgart, pp 527–542

  • Hart MB, Leary PN (1989) The stratigraphic and palaeogeographic setting of the late Cenomanian ‘anoxic’ event. J Geol Soc London 146: 305–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Herak M (1985) On the relation of Adriatic and Dinaric structures. Razprave IV. razreda SAZU (Ljubljana), 26 (Ivan Rakovec vol): 401–414 [in Croat, with English summary]

  • Herak M (1986) A new concept of the geotectonics of the Dinarides. Acta geologica Jugosl akad znan umj Zagreb 16 (2) (Prirodosl istr 51): 1–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Herak M (1989) Relationship between Adriatic and Dinaric carbonate platforms. In: Carulli GB, Cucchi F, Pirini Radrizzani C (eds) Evolution of the Karstic Carbonate Platform: Relation with other Periadriatic Carbonate Platforms. Mem Soc Geol Ital No 40: 289–293

  • Jelaska V (1973) Paleogeographic and oil-geologic consideration of the west part of the Dinaride carbonate shelf. Geol vjesnik Zagreb 25: 57–64 [in Croat, with English summary]

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkyns HC (1991) Impact of Cretaceous sea level rise and anoxic events in the Mesozoic carbonate platform of Yugoslavia. Am Assoc Petrol Geol Bull 75: 1007–1017

    Google Scholar 

  • Kapović B, Bauer V (1970) Sedimentary, biofacial and environmental characteristics of the Upper Cretaceous sediments of the Premuda island and Dugi otok. Nafta (Zagreb) 21: 561–572

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauffman EG (1977a) Evolutionary rates and biostratigraphy. In: Kauffman EG, Hazel JE (eds) Concepts and Methods of Biostratigraphy. Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Stroudsburg: 109–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauffman EG (1977 b) Geological and biological overview: Western Interior Cretaceous Basin. In: Kauffman EG (ed) Cretaceous Facies, Faunas and Paleoenvironments across the Western Interior Basin. Mountain Geol 14(3/4): 75–99

  • Kauffman EG (1986) High-resolution event stratigraphy: Regional and global Cretaceous bio-events. In: Walliser OH (ed) Global Bio-Events: Lecture Notes in earth Sciences, 8. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York: 279–335

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy WJ, Garrison RE (1975) Morphology and genesis of nodular chalks and hardgrounds in the Upper Cretaceous of southern England. Sedimentology 22: 320–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Leary PN, Carson GA, Cooper MKE, Hart MB, Horne D, Jarvis I, Rosenfeld A, Tocher BA (1989) The biotic response to the late Cenomanian oceanic anoxic event; integrated evidence from Dover, SE England. J Geol Soc London 146: 311–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Lučić D, Benić J, Stanković D, Miletić D (1993) The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the Koraljka-1 off-shore well (SW of Zadar, Adriatic Sea). Geol Croat 46/1: 41–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters BA, Scott RW, (1978) Microstructure, affinities and systematics of Cretaceous Calcispheres. Micropaleontology 24: 210–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Meischner KD (1964) Allodapische Kalke, Turbidite in riffnahen Sedimentationsbecken. In: Bouma A, Brouwer A (eds) Turbidites. Developments in Sedimentology, 3. Elsevier, Amsterdam: 156–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Monty C (1977) Evolving concepts on the nature and ecological significance of stromatolites: a review. In: Flügel E (ed) Fossil Algae — Recent Results and developments. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: 15–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Polšak A (1965) Géologie de l'Istrie méridionale specialement par rapport à la biostratigraphie des couches crétacées. Geol vjesnik (Zagreb) 18: 415–509

    Google Scholar 

  • Polsâk A (1967) Macrofaune crétacée de l'Istrie méridionale, Yugoslavie. Palaeontol jugoslav 8: 1–219, 85 plates

    Google Scholar 

  • Polsâk A, Bauer V, Slišković T (1982) Stratigraphie du Cretace superieur de la plate-forme carbonatee dans les Dinarides Externes. Cretaceous Res 3: 125–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Radovčić J (1975) Some new Upper Cretaceous Teleosts from Yugoslavia, with special reference to localities, geology and paleoenvinmoent. Palaeontol jugoslav 17: 1–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Radovčić J, Tišljar J, Jelaska V (1983) Upper Cretaceous fishbearing platy limestones in central Dalmatia. In: Babić Lj, Jelaska V (eds) Contributions to Sedimentology of some Carbonate and Clastic Units of the Coastal Dinarides. Excursion Guidebook, 4 IAS Regional Meeting, Split, 1983: 79–85

  • Sartorio D, Tunis G, Venturini S (1992) Open circulation facies in the Cenomanian of the northeastern margin of the Friuli Platform: the Iudrio Valley Case (NE Italy). Geol Croat 45: 87–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlanger SO (1986) High-frequency sea level fluctuations in Cretaceous time: an emerging geophysical problem. In: Mesozoic and Cenozoic Oceans, Geodynamics Series 15. American Geophysical Union: 16–74

  • Schlanger SO, Arthur MA, Jenkyns HC, Scholle PA (1987) The Cenomanian — Turonian anoxic event, I. Stratigraphy and distribution of organic carbon-rich beds and the marine 13C excursion. In: Brooks J, Fleet AJ (eds) Marine Petroleum Source Rocks, Spec Publ Geol Soc London No 26: 371–399

  • Scholle PA (1974) Diagenesis of Upper Cretaceous chalks from England, Northern Ireland and the North Sea. In: Hsü KJ, Jenkyns HC (eds) Pelagic Sediments on Land and Under the Sea, Int Assoc Sedimental Spec Publ No 1: 177–210

  • Scholle PA, Arthur MA, Ekdale AE (1983) Pelagic environments. In: Scholle Pa, Bebout DG, Moore CH (eds) Carbonate Depositional Environments. Am Assoc Petrol Geol Mem No 33: 620–691

  • Velić I, Tišljar J, Sokač B (1979) Stratigraphy and depositional environments of the Lower Cretaceous in the Karst region of the outer Dinarides (Yugoslavia). Géobios Mém spéc 3 (Coll Urgonien Pays Méditerranéens, Lyon): 245–252

    Google Scholar 

  • Velić I, Tišljar J, Sokač B (1989) The variability of thickness of the Barremian, Aptian and Albian carbonates as a consequence of changing depositional environments and emersion in western Istria (Croatia, Yugoslavia). Mem Soc geol Ita160 (Proc Int Symp Evolution of the Karstic Carbonate Platform: Relation with others Periadriatic Carbonate Platforms): 209–218

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Paleontology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Ulica kralja Zvonimira 8, P.p. 153, 41000, Zagreb, Croatia

    I. Gušić & V. Jelaska

Authors
  1. I. Gušić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. Jelaska
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gušić, I., Jelaska, V. Upper Cenomanian-lower Turonian sea-level rise and its consequences on the Adriatic-Dinaric carbonate platform. Geol Rundsch 82, 676–686 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191495

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191495

Key words

Search

Navigation