Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (KPB) Fish Clay at Højerup (Stevns Klint, Denmark): Ni, Co, and Zn of the black marl

Authors

  • P.I. PREMOVIC Laboratory for Geochemistry, Cosmochemistry and Astrochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of NiˇsP.O. Box 224, 18000 Niˇs, Serbia.
  • B.Ž. TODOROVIĆ Laboratory for General Chemistry, Faculty of Technology, University of NiˇsP.O. Box 79,16000 Leskovac, Serbia.
  • M.N. STANKOVIĆ Laboratory for Geochemistry, Cosmochemistry and Astrochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of NiˇsP.O. Box 224, 18000 Niˇs, Serbia.

Keywords:

Geochemistry, Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, Fish Clay, Nickel, Cobalt, Zinc, Smectite

Abstract

The black marl of the Fish Clay at Højerup is mainly made up of biogenic calcite and cheto-Mg-smectite. We suggest that the formation of the smectite occurred during the latest Maastrichtian (or earlier) and that it represents a short period of rapid redeposition through coastal erosion occurring at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (KPB) sea level lowstand. The smectite of the black marl shows enhanced concentrations of Ni, Co, and Zn. The predominant source of these metals was probably the impact-ejecta fallout deposited on the top of nearby soil which was leached by the impact-induced-acidic surface waters. Most of the content of Ni and Co in the smectite is derived from the chondritic component of the fallout, but the ultimate origin of Zn may have been the impact-target rocks. Incorporation of the metals into the smectite took place during the KPB but before its redeposition at the Fish Clay site. The biogenic calcite-rich fraction of the black marl also shows high concentrations of Ni, Co, and Zn. The ultimate source of the metals was also probably the impact-ejecta fallout on the nearby soil at Stevns Klint. Enrichments of Ni in the biogenic calcite-rich/smectite fractions of the black marl represent the sudden input of the metal into the seawater at the KPB.
Any 2008 Vol.: 6 Núm.: 4

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Published

2009-04-28

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 4 (2008)

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