Abstract
A high-resolution analysis of the distribution of major and trace elements across a Cretaceous/Paleogene
boundary (KPgB) was done using Laser Ablation-Inductivity Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)
and was compared with traditional distinct sampling and analysis. At the Agost site (SE Spain) a 22-cm-long core
containing the KPgB was recovered using a Rolatec RL-48L drill. Within this interval, the lowermost 5 cm
correspond to the Maastrichtian and the uppermost 17 cm to the Danian. The core section was resin-embedded
under O2-free conditions, cut and polished for LA-ICP-MS continuous measurements with 10 μm increments and
a laser-beam of 80 μm. Elemental concentrations in discrete samples taken prior to embedding from the same
core interval were determined by Inductivity Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The LAICP-
MS analyses in continuous mode considerably improve the resolution of geochemical profiles, allowing the
compositional variability at a micrometer scale within the ejecta layer to be detected. In this study, we obtained
profiles with 255 data points for the ejecta layer interval compared to 3 data points obtained by traditional
manual sampling and ICP-OES analyses. Yet our recovered core section showed a rather limited preservation of
the ejecta layer. This paper focuses on the presentation of LA-ICP-MS analysis as a particularly useful tool to
investigate paleoenvironmental changes associated with bio-events. Additionally, the high-resolution of major
and trace elemental distribution made it possible to study remobilization across thin but distinct boundaries such
as the KPgB.
boundary (KPgB) was done using Laser Ablation-Inductivity Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS)
and was compared with traditional distinct sampling and analysis. At the Agost site (SE Spain) a 22-cm-long core
containing the KPgB was recovered using a Rolatec RL-48L drill. Within this interval, the lowermost 5 cm
correspond to the Maastrichtian and the uppermost 17 cm to the Danian. The core section was resin-embedded
under O2-free conditions, cut and polished for LA-ICP-MS continuous measurements with 10 μm increments and
a laser-beam of 80 μm. Elemental concentrations in discrete samples taken prior to embedding from the same
core interval were determined by Inductivity Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The LAICP-
MS analyses in continuous mode considerably improve the resolution of geochemical profiles, allowing the
compositional variability at a micrometer scale within the ejecta layer to be detected. In this study, we obtained
profiles with 255 data points for the ejecta layer interval compared to 3 data points obtained by traditional
manual sampling and ICP-OES analyses. Yet our recovered core section showed a rather limited preservation of
the ejecta layer. This paper focuses on the presentation of LA-ICP-MS analysis as a particularly useful tool to
investigate paleoenvironmental changes associated with bio-events. Additionally, the high-resolution of major
and trace elemental distribution made it possible to study remobilization across thin but distinct boundaries such
as the KPgB.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | From 128 to 138 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |
| Volume | 497 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Feb 2018 |