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Authigenic siliceous-carbonate concretions in Cenomanian–Turonian carbonates of southern Croatia; geochemical and biotic record

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Abstract

Numerous regular and irregularly shaped concretions were discovered in southern Croatia within the Upper Cretaceous carbonate deposits, which consist mostly of bioclastic wackestones and packstones. The size of the concretions varies from 2 to 25 cm in diameter for the regular, and up to 40 cm in length for the irregular ones. The concretions have different internal structures and compositions, which vary from those of the host rocks. Some concretions are entirely siliceous, while others exhibit alternating opal silica and carbonate-rich zones. Silica is derived from opal-A secreting marine biota, mostly sponges, whose spicules can be found within the concretions and in the surrounding limestones. The regular shape and alterations of zones are the result of the diffusive supply and fast “consummation” of silica at the growth site. Determined fossil community and bitumen found in the surrounding limestones indicate deposition in the oxygen-depleted deep-marine environment of the Adriatic Carbonate Platform, which belongs to the Sveti Duh Formation (latest Cenomanian–Early Turonian). The carbon isotope composition of the concretions corresponds to the globally known Cenomanian–Turonian ‘Oceanic Anoxic Event’ (OAE 2).

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the first finder of this phenomenon M. Martinović, writer and journalist J. Divić from Vrgorac, Pojezerje municipality area and Public Institution for Management of Protected Natural Values in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County for bringing us closer to this phenomenon. Concretions are preserved ex situ by the Croatian Ministry of Environmental and Nature protection (former Ministry of Culture) by the Nature Protection Directorate since 2011. For help in analytical process, we would like to thank D. Kukoč (for Radiolaria) and Š. Aščić (calcareous nannoplankton) from University of Zagreb, and T. Troskot-Čorbić from INA d.d. (for biomarkers). To the University of Barcelona, we are thankful for providing the laboratory for stable isotope analyses. We are grateful to R. Koščal (University of Zagreb) for preparation of graphics. For language improvements, we would like to thank Dr. Robyn Pickering (Faculty of Science, University of Cape Town, South Africa). This study was supported by the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, project number 119-1951293-1162. We would like to thank Axel Munnecke, Editor-in-Chief, and two anonymous reviewers, for their constructive comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Croatian Geological Survey, Sachsova 2, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Hrvoje Posilović

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Karmen Fio Firi, Jasenka Sremac & Blanka Cvetko Tešović

  3. Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection, Radnička cesta 80, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia

    Marija Brajković

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  1. Hrvoje Posilović
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Correspondence to Karmen Fio Firi.

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Posilović, H., Fio Firi, K., Sremac, J. et al. Authigenic siliceous-carbonate concretions in Cenomanian–Turonian carbonates of southern Croatia; geochemical and biotic record. Facies 62, 28 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-016-0480-x

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