Abstract
Petrographic and calcrete carbon isotope data from seasonally waterlogged Upper Silurian (Pridoli) to Lower Devonian (Pragian) palaeo-Vertisols of the Old Red Sandstone, South Wales, UK, are presented. The delta C-13 values mostly range from -9 to -12% (VPDB), suggesting that the soils were inhabited by abundant vegetation that when oxidized (perhaps with microbial assistance) resulted in CO2-rich soils. Such soils would favour calcrete precipitation through equilibration of soil zone CO2 with the relatively lower atmospheric pCO(2). However, reliably estimating palaeoatmospheric pCO(2) using these carbon isotope data is a challenge.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 621-634 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of the Geological Society |
Volume | 171 |
Issue number | 5 |
Early online date | 7 Jul 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2014 |
Keywords
- Anglo-Welsh basin
- ridgeway conglomerate formation
- atmospheric CO2
- pedogenic carbonate
- SW Wales
- Paleozoic atmosphere
- Bloomsburg formation
- phanerozoic time
- vertic paleosols
- Townsend-Tuff
Profiles
-
Alexander Brasier
- School of Geosciences, Geology and Geophysics - Senior Lecturer
- Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
Person: Academic