The Devonian–Carboniferous boundary in the stratotype area (SE Montagne Noire, France)

• Published in: Palaeobiodiversity and palaeoenvironments Vol. 101; no. 2; pp. 295 - 311
• Main Authors: Feist, Raimund, Cornée, Jean-Jacques, Corradini, Carlo, Hartenfels, Sven, Aretz, Markus, Girard, Catherine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-06-2021; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Bathymetry; Biodiversity; Biofacies; Carbonates; Carboniferous; Devonian; Domains; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Marine invertebrates; Offshore; Oolites; Original Paper; Paleontology; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Sciences of the Universe; Sedimentary facies; Sedimentary rocks; Sedimentation; Sedimentation & deposition; Shale; Shallow water; Shorelines; Montagne Noire; Devonian–Carboniferous boundary; Sedimentary dynamics; Bathymetric trends; Nearshore–offshore correlation; Biostratigraphy; bathymetric trends; Devonian-Carboniferous boundary; near-shore -off-shore correlation; biostratigraphy; sedimentary dynamics
• ISSN: 1867-1594; 1867-1608
• DOI: 10.1007/s12549-019-00402-6

Sections with continuous sedimentation across the Devonian–Carboniferous (D-C) boundary in the Montagne Noire allow to build a virtual transect from shoreline to deep basin. Nearshore facies characterise the D-C boundary stratotype and neighbouring sections at La Serre in the Cabrières klippen domain, and offshore facies are present at the Col de Tribes and Puech de la Suque sections in the Mont Peyroux nappe domain. Both domains exhibit equivalents of the Hangenberg Black Shale (HBS). At La Serre, an initial regressive trend is indicated by the presence of oculated trilobites in the topmost pre-HBS
Wocklumeria
Limestones. Above the HBS level, regressive depositional conditions characterise oolitic deposits that comprise lithic erosional flows with an admixture of transported shallow-water biotas. Maximum regression is recognised with the deposition of coarse breccias and local features of emergence prior to the first appearance of
Protognathodus kockeli.
The oolites are superseded by the transgression of outer shelf deposits. In the nappe domain, the HBS is intercalated in outer ramp nodular limestones, and it exhibits detrital elements pointing to its regressive nature. The regressive trend culminates than reverses when post-HBS carbonate sedimentation resumes.
Protognathodus kockeli
appears in the post-HBS carbonates. Associated oculated trilobites indicate shallower bathymetric conditions then those of the pre-HBS
Wocklumeria
Limestones. Thereafter, replacement of sighted trilobites by blind ones and the protognathodid biofacies by facies dominated by siphonodellids indicate a deepening trend. The near- and offshore sites of the D-C transition permit correlation of short-term bathymetric fluctuations with faunal turnovers and entries of biostratigraphic markers.