The Cenomanian-Turonian Boundary Event (CTBE) in northern Lebanon as compared to regional data - Another set of evidences supporting a short-lived tectonic pulse coincidental with the event?

Abstract : Constrained by both foraminifera and isotope data, the Zeitoun and Nahr Ibrahim sections in northern Lebanon record a steady flooding of the Cenomanian carbonate platform during the uppermost Cenomanian-lower Turonian interval. The flooding began just before the inception of the CTBE delta C-13 positive shift. It is marked by the deposition of finely bedded to laminated, fine-grained limestone overlying platformal carbonates. This scenario is entirely different to what has been published in northern Israel, where repeated emergences are instead recorded during the event. A survey of published data from nearby Middle East countries to North Africa suggests that the CTBE is accompanied on a larger scale, especially along the Syrian Arc, by tectonic disturbances responsible for sequence stratigraphic heterogeneity and palaeogeographic changes. Detailed analysis of available data makes it possible to extract from the sedimentary record four sequence stratigraphic scenarios implying two phases of heterogeneity bounding the event, and responsible for the outphasing of relative sea level changes in some sensitive areas. These disturb a stepped early Cenomanian to early Turonian overall transgressive trend recorded in some large stable areas, often used to support the concept of Mesozoic eustasy. The discussion focuses on the global processes that are possibly involved. The hypothesized tectonic pulse does not explain the CTBE. It is just another set of data to be taken into account in the search for causes.