Paleocene

Koch, P.L., Zachos, J.C. and Gingerich, P.D. 1992 Correlation between isotope records in marine and continental carbon reservoirs near the Paleocene/Eocene boundary. Nature 358 319-322. 

Roberts, D.G., Mortin, A C. and Backmann, J. (1984) Late Paleocene-Eocene volcanic events in the northern North Atlantic ocean. Washington, D.C. U.S. Gov. Printing Office. Initial Report Deep Sea Drilling Project, 81, 913-923. 

Ravizza G, Norris RN, Blusztajn J, Aubry MP (2001) An osmium isotope excursion associated with the late Paleocene thermal maximum Evidence of intensified chemical weathering. Paleoceanogr 16 155-163 Raymo ME (1991) Geochemical evidence supporting Chamberlain, T. C., theory of glaciation. Geology 19 ... 

Paleocene eocene thermal maximum (PETM) A hyperthermal period, 55.8mybp, during which average global temperatures increased by 6°C for a period of 20,000 years. 

During the paleocene, the phosphatized basin was a marine gulf open to the sea on both sides of an emerging land mass, the Kasserine island (Cayeux 1896, 1941 Sassi 1974). 

The phosphatic series, about 50 m thick, and of Paleocene-Eocene age, consists of ten phosphatic layers (Sassi 1974) Interbedded with non- or poorly phosphatized strata with various facies... 

Sassi, S. 1974. La sedimentation phosphatee au Paleocene dans le sud et le centre-ouest de la Tunisia. These de Doctoral es-Sciences, Universite de Paris-Orsay, France. 

Abstract Chronological studies of kimberlite-host rocks in the diamondiferous Buffalo Head Hills kimberlite field of north-central Alberta facilitate new interpretation of the nature, timing and sequence of kimberlite eruptions in northern Alberta. Three different emplacement episodes are recognized in association with volcanic and intrusive activity Late Cretaceous ( 88-81 Ma) Smoky Group equivalent intra- and extra-crater facies, Late Cretaceous and Paleocene ( 81 and 64 Ma) intrusion of sills or dykes, and Paleocene ( 60 Ma) Paskapoo Formation equivalent intra-crater facies. These specific periods of magmatism correspond to characteristic intra-field features such as spatial distribution, rock classification and diamond content. 

These studies reported two distinctive events one broadly coeval Turonian to Campanian ( 88-81 Ma) volcanism-sedimentation, and the other, a younger Paleocene ( 64-60 Ma) emptive event. Three different emplacement settings are represented, the combination of which defines a complex kimberlite field characterized by tabular, often stacked kimberlite layers of varying ages (Fig. 2). 

Fig. 2. Cartoon cross-section to depict the complex relations between Late Cretaceous and Paleocene volcaniclastic and intrusive kimberlite in northern Alberta.

A much younger intrusive event is associated with the BM2 kimberlite, where Early Paleocene (6-fraction U-Pb perovskite weighted average of 63.5 0.7 Ma) hypabyssal kimberlite intruded into Albian and possibly Cenomanian host rocks. This interpretation is supported by... 

Paleocene Paskapoo Equivalent Intra-Crater Facies... 

The youngest eruptive event is of Paleocene age ( 60 Ma) whereas the youngest preserved host rocks capping the Buffalo Head Hills are of Campanian age ( 78 Ma). In this instance, the only record of now eroded latest Campanian through Paleocene host rocks is provided by sedimentary xenoliths preserved in the truncated intra-crater facies ultramafic bodies (e.g., K1 body). 

The oldest profile (CBAC 215) was preserved beneath Paleocene lake sediments. The least weathered saprock in this profile (59 m beneath the unconformity) has a REE pattern very similar to North American shale composite (NASC). The light REE show marked relative depletion in the upper part of the profile and enrichment near the weathering front. Cerium shows marked enrichment at depth (Fig. 2). 

Paleocene weathering profile preserved beneath Paleocene lake sediments. S is saprolite, SS is saprock. 

Wallace, W.K. Engebretson, D.C. 1984. Relationships between plate motions and Late Cretaceous to Paleocene magmatism in southwestern Alaska. Tectonics, 3, 295-315. 

As has been proposed by numerous studies (e.g., Rohl et al. 2000 Dickens 2003) the massive release of gas hydrates could modify climate. The best example for this hypothesis are sedimentary rocks deposited at around 55 Ma during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, where a decrease of 2-3%c in carbonate-carbon is interpreted as a consequence of an abrupt thermal release of gas-hydrate methane and its subsequent incorporation into the carbonate pool. 

Fig. 3.49 Global deep-sea isotope record from numerous DSDP and ODP cores. PETM Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (Zachos et al. 2001)...

Katz, M. E. Pak, D. K. Dickens, G. R. Miller, K. G. (1999). The source and fate of massive carbon input during the latest paleocene thermal maximum. Science, 286, 1531. 

Zachos, J. C. Lohmann, K. C. Walker, J. C. G. Wise, S. W. (1993). Abrupt climate change and transient climates during the paleocene a marine perspective. Journal of Geology, 101, 191. 

The transition temperature (150°C at 3.5Km depth) observed by Dunoyer de Segonzac (1969) in the Logbaba drill core is out of place even though the sequence is quite recent (Paleocene age). One possibility is that... 

Dickens, G.R., Modeling the Global Carbon Cycle with a Gas Hydrate Capacitor Significance for the Latest Paleocene Thermal Maximum. Natural Gas Hydrates Occurrence, Distribution, and Detection (Pauli, C.K., Dillon, W.P., eds.), AGU, Washington, DC, Geophys. Monogr. Ser. 124, pp. 19-38 (2001). 

In 1969 V. Likholetnikov together with A.Vasserman [5,6] identified the so-called trap types in Kolkheti central and eastern parts in Bajocian, Bathanian, Neocomian-Aptian, Cenomanian, Turonian-Paleocene sediments and also natural reservoirs - in Upper Cretaceous and Paleocene sediments. 

---