The proposed research involves a multidisciplinary approach to the study of Aptian-Albian black shales: 1) Refinement of Aptian-Albian stratigraphy with development of an integrated higher resolution foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy is proposed, and 2) detailed sedimentologic and geochemical (organic; stable isotopic) studies of Aptian-Albian "black shale" sequences in order to document the stratigraphic sequence of anoxic vs. oxic conditions and resulting changes in type and/or preservation of organic matter. Our study will involve intensive investigation of selected land and DSDP/ODP sequences of Aptian-Albian age from a broad spread of paleolatitudes and paleoenvironments. The objectives are: 1) to improve the understanding of and better constrain models for the origin of organic carbon-rich strata of mid-Cretaceous age, which are a major portion of the hydrocarbon source best of the world; 2) to investigate the forcing of black shale deposition by tectonic, paleoceanographic, eustatic and climatic events; and 3) to understand the relationships between biotic evolution and formation of sedimentary (e.g. Mn) ore deposits to OAEs and OASEs.
