The correlation potential of magnetic susceptibility and outcrop gamma-ray logs at Tournaisian-Viséan boundary sections in western Europe.

Abstract

We have measured five deep-water carbonate and carbonate-siliciclastic sections at the Tournaisian-Viséan (Tn/V) boundary in western Europe, using petrophysical outcrop logging techniques (gamma-ray spectrometry /GRS/ and magnetic susceptibility /MS/). The aim was to trace correlatable log patterns across the flanks of the London-Brabant Massif from eastern Ireland to western Germany. Both GRS and MS logging proved useful for long-distance (up to ~1000 km) correlation. The log patterns can be interpreted in terms of sea-level fluctuations. A late Tournaisian regression, a sequence boundary at the Tn/V boundary, early Viséan lowstand systems tract and an overlying transgressive to regressive succession can be identified from the GRS and MS logs. The Tn/V sequence boundary can be correlated with exposure features and karstic surfaces in the up-dip shallow-water settings at the boundary between sequence 4 and 5 of Hance et al. (2001, 2002). This indicates that sea-level fluctuations around the Tn/V boundary were synchronous and traceable on the flanks of the London-Brabant Massif. The GRS-based logging has a greater correlation potential than MS as it can be applied in a broad spectrum of facies and depositional settings. In certain sections, the MS signal shows an increasing trend during transgression and a decreasing during regression, which is opposite to the MS paradigm from shallow-water carbonate platform settings. These trends are assumed to result from landward/basinward facies shifts of a low-productivity carbonate ramp system. Lowstand shedding of carbonate tempestites and turbidites results in low MS values while during sea-level rise the ramp systems backstep, developing a retrograding facies succession in its distal parts, which is associated with upward-increasing MS values.