See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/335211382

Short-term variation of ooid mineralogy in the Triassic-Jurassic boundary

interval and its environmental implications: Evidence from the equatorial
Ghalilah Formation, United Arab...

Article  in  Global and Planetary Change · August 2019

DOI: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.103006

CITATIONS READS

0 78

6 authors, including:

Yuzhu Ge Aisha Al Suwaidi

Ruhr-Universität Bochum Khalifa University
4 PUBLICATIONS   1 CITATION    32 PUBLICATIONS   296 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Meng Shi Thomas Steuber

Khalifa University Khalifa University
4 PUBLICATIONS   1 CITATION    103 PUBLICATIONS   2,631 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

T-J boundary View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Yuzhu Ge on 22 August 2019.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Global and Planetary Change

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/gloplacha

Research article

Short-term variation of ooid mineralogy in the Triassic-Jurassic boundary T

interval and its environmental implications: Evidence from the equatorial
Ghalilah Formation, United Arab Emirates
⁎
Yuzhu Ge , A.H. Al-Suwaidi, Meng Shi, Qian Li, Sadoon Morad, Thomas Steuber
Department of Earth Sciences, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, PO Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

A R T I C LE I N FO A B S T R A C T

Keywords: In the Triassic-Jurassic (T-J) interval, only a few continuous carbonate sections have been reported, and detailed
Ooid studies about ooids and their significance are scarce. This study focuses on abundant ooids in potentially con-
Microfabric tinuous T-J carbonate sections representing equatorial, shallow marine environments. Mineralogical changes of
Mineralogy ooids are proposed as a marker for transitional marine chemistry including carbonate saturation after ocean
Geochemistry
acidification and provide information about crisis and recovery scenarios for the initial CIE (carbon isotope
T-J boundary interval
excursion) and subsequent positive CIE. In the Ghalilah Formation, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Sakhra
Member is deposited immediately above the T-J boundary. Based on field work and thin section observation, the
Sakhra Member can be divided into three coarsening-upward cycles (in ascending order, named C1–C3), each of
which consists of peloidal mudstone/wackestone in the lower part and oolitic packstone/grainstone in the upper
part. Petrological observation (thin section, SEM), stable isotope (inorganic carbon and oxygen) and elemental
analysis suggest temporal change of original mineralogy from C1 to C3 ooids: from high-Mg calcite in C1 ooids to
aragonite in C2 and C3 ooids. The mineralogical change of ooids is possibly related to variations in seawater
carbonate saturation. The lower carbonate saturation indicated by C1 ooids reflects a transitional period before
recovery from ocean acidification due to massive and rapid release of acidic gases (CO2 and SO2) by CAMP
eruptions. Subsequently, from C1 to C3 ooids, seawater gradually experienced increasing carbonate saturation
and increasing microbial carbonate precipitation. Increased microbial activities combined with elevated ter-
restrial influx may have significantly reduced the atmospheric CO2 concentration and restored carbonate sa-
turation, which laid the foundation for full biotic recovery.

1. Introduction
During the Triassic-Jurassic (T-J) boundary interval, major changes
severely affected contemporary environments and biota, leading to the
T-J mass extinction, one of the big five Phanerozoic mass extinction
events (e.g., Pálfy et al., 2007; Van de Schootbrugge et al., 2007; 2008).
The mass extinction was accompanied by severe and rapid perturba-
tions in atmosphere and ocean, as reflected by sediments and geo-
chemical proxies in the stratigraphic record (Galli et al., 2005; Ruhl and
Kürschner, 2011; Korte et al., 2019). Volcanic eruptions of the Central
Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) have been proposed as the trigger
for the T-J mass extinction event, given their time equivalence and the
related rapid release of large amounts of CO2 and SO2 (Deenen et al.,
2010; Schoene et al., 2010). As a result, seawater pH decreased due to
the release of H+ from carbonic and sulfuric acid, and CO32– was
transformed into HCO3– via reaction with CO2 and water, reducing
carbonate saturation (Kump et al., 2009; Greene et al., 2012). These
processes, known as ocean acidification, are believed to have inter-
rupted T-J marine carbonate production and sedimentation, leading to
widespread sedimentary hiatus or lithological changes from carbonate
to siliciclastic rocks (Greene et al., 2012). The scarcity of continuous T-J
carbonate sections hinders detailed understanding of crisis and re-
covery processes in the T-J boundary interval.
This study focuses on continuous T-J carbonate sections exposed in
the Musandam Mountains, United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Al-Suwaidi
et al., 2016; Ge et al., 2018). These T-J sections represent shallow
marine sedimentation at equatorial latitude (0–5°S) (Al-Suwaidi et al.,
2016; Hönig et al., 2017). In the studied sections, ooids with various
mineralogies are found in the Sakhra Member immediately overlying
the T-J boundary. At the Permian-Triassic boundary, abundant oolites

⁎
Corresponding author at: Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany.
E-mail addresses: Yuzhu.Ge@ruhr-uni-bochum.de (Y. Ge), aisha.alsuwaidi@ku.ac.ae (A.H. Al-Suwaidi), sadoon.morad@ku.ac.ae (S. Morad),
thomas.steuber@ku.ac.ae (T. Steuber).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2019.103006
Received 13 February 2019; Received in revised form 7 August 2019; Accepted 14 August 2019
Available online 16 August 2019
0921-8181/ © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Y. Ge, et al. Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006

Fig. 1. Geological and geographical background of the study area. (A) Location of the studied sections indicated by red arabic numbers in white circles (modified
from Maurer et al., 2008). (B) Lithostratigraphic units of the Ghalilah Formation (adapted from Maurer et al., 2008); (C) View of outcrop of Wadi Ghalilah exposing
Sakhra and Shuba members; (D) View of outcrop of Wadi Naqab exposing Sumra, Sakhra and Shuba members. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this
figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)

were deposited worldwide and serve as a good indicator to explore
details of environmental changes related to biotic crisis (Li et al., 2015).
However, studies of ooids at the T-J boundary and related paleoenvir-
onmetal implications are scarce (Hesselbo et al., 2004; Tomašových,
2004; Jadoul and Galli, 2008; Vulpius and Kiessling, 2018). This study
aims to characterize diverse types of ooids by petrography and geo-
chemistry, discuss possible triggers of mineralogical changes in ooids
and outline their environmental implications for the T-J boundary in-
terval.
2. Geological setting
In the northeastern part of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (Fig. 1A), the
Musandam Mountains were part of the southern margin of Tethys
Ocean during the early Mesozoic (Hönig et al., 2017). At the T-J
boundary, the area was tectonically inactive and an equatorial shallow
marine carbonate platform developed (Ziegler, 2001; Maurer et al.,
2008). Paleogeographical reconstructions postulate an open marine
carbonate shelf to the east and a shallow-marine coastal area with
mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sediments to the west of the platform
(Ziegler, 2001). The T-J Ghalilah Formation on the platform is divided
into four members: Asfal, Sumra, Sakhra, and Shuba in ascending order
(Maurer et al., 2008; Fig. 1B, C, D). The Asfal and Sumra Members are
dominated by bioclastic limestone with diverse and abundant biota
indicating a normal marine environment, the Sakhra Member was de-
posited in an ooid-shoal setting and consists mainly of interbedded
oolitic packstone/grainstone and peloidal mudstone/wackestone with
scarce fossils, and the Shuba Member is dominated by peritidal sedi-
ment consisting mainly of peloidal and quartz-bearing wackestone to
packstone with few fossils (Ge et al., 2018; Fig. 2). The T-J boundary is
defined at the base of the Sakhra Member, coincident with sudden
disappearance of abundant bioclasts (Figs. 1B, 2). The Asfal Member
contains the ammonite Neotibetites and the hydrozoan Heterastridium,
indicating a Norian (Late Triassic) age, whereas the Shuba Member
contains the foraminifer Orbitopsella suggesting a Liassic (Early Jur-
assic) age (Maurer et al., 2008). More available biostratigraphic data of
the Ghalilah Formation are discussed in detail in Ge et al. (2018).
Geochemical correlations based on carbon isotope and Sr content sup-
port the placement of the T-J boundary at the base of the Sakhra
Member (Al-Suwaidi et al., 2016; Ge et al., 2018).

2
Y. Ge, et al. Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006

Fig. 2. Stratigraphy, carbonate stable-isotope composition and average ooid-size change in the studied sections. Three types of limestone are found in the studied
sections (bioclastic limestone in the Sumra Member, oolitic limestone in the Sakhra Member and peritidal limestone in the Shuba Member). The oolitic limestone,
consisting of three sedimentary cycles, occurs in all the sections. The T–J boundary is exposed in the Wadi Milaha and Wadi Naqab sections but not in the Wadi
Ghalilah section.

Fig. 3. Sedimentary features of the Sakhra Member. (A) Cross lamination in the oolitic limestone, Wadi Naqab. (B) Oolitic limestone showing yellow weathering
color, Wadi Ghalilah. (C) T–J boundary in the Wadi Naqab section showing the transition from bioclastic limestone to oolitic limestone. Note the occurrence of
thrombolites (the level of red dot) between bioclastic limestone and oolitic limestone. The length of the hammer head is 17.5 cm. (D) Stromatolites at the base of C3
cycle, Wadi Naqab. The diameter of the coin is 2.3 cm. Note the different morphologies between stromatolites and the thrombolites in Fig. 3C. (For interpretation of
the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)

3
Y. Ge, et al. Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006

Fig. 4. Characteristic ooids and other grains from the C1 cycle. (A) Concentric-radial ooids showing good sorting, spherical shape, well-preserved microfabric and no
micritization, plane polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah. (B) The contrast between well preserved concentric-radial microfabrics and altered nuclei by calcite spars, plane
polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah. (C) Fibrous cements around ooids grains, plane polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah. (D) Empty voids (black area) in concentric-radial ooids
that are not filled, also occurring in the cement, cross polarized light, Wadi Milaha. (E) Calcitic bioclasts with well-preserved fabrics, plane polarized light, Wadi
Ghalilah. (F) Dolomitized grain filled with rhombic crystals, cross polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah.

Field work was conducted in Wadi Ghalilah, Wadi Milaha and Wadi Naqab section: a 4–6 cm thick bed of thrombolite (Fig. 3C) with clotted
Naqab (Fig. 1C, D) with good outcrops of the earliest Jurassic Sakhra and non-laminated fabric is observed at the base of the Sakhra Member
Member, the focus of this study. The Sakhra Member is composed extending laterally for about six meters, and a 6–7 cm thick stromatolite
mainly of oolitic limestone interbedded with carbonate mudstone. lens with wavy lamination (Fig. 3D) occurs in the upper Sakhra
Fossils, mainly mollusks, are scarce or absent, normally < 5% of the Member.
modal composition. The oolitic limestone displays parallel and cross
lamination in Wadi Ghalilah (Fig. 3A), and only cross lamination in
3. Methodology
Wadi Milaha and Wadi Naqab. In Wadi Ghalilah, the oolitic limestone
was heavily discolored by iron staining and has a red-yellowish colour
Petrological and geochemical analyses were performed on the
on weathered surfaces (Fig. 3B). The base of the Sakhra Member is well
Sumra, Sakhra and Shuba Member in Wadi Ghalilah, Wadi Milaha and
exposed in Wadi Naqab, and clearly shows the disappearance of bio-
Wadi Naqab (Ge et al., 2018). Field information was obtained about
clastic components and transition to oolitic limestone (Figs. 2, 3C). The
lithology, sedimentary structures, macrofossils and bedding patterns. A
mudstone is typically massive without any laminations, with the ex-
high-resolution sampling method was adopted with a sampling interval
ception of thin to medium bedded carbonate mudstone with mm-scale
of 20–50 cm. Thin sections were stained with potassium ferricyanide
horizontal lamination in the lower part of the Sakhra Member in Wadi
and Alizarin Red to recognize sediment compositions and microfabrics.
Ghalilah. Notably, two microbialite intercalations are found in the Wadi
In thin sections, the diameter of 3369 ooids was measured (1918 from

4
Y. Ge, et al. Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006

Fig. 5. Characteristic ooids from the C2 cycle. (A) Abundant oomoldic pores, plane polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah. The moldic pores are filled by calcite but the
outline of ooids can be seen. (B) Ooid moldic pores infilled by later calcite cements, plane polarized light, Wadi Milaha. (C) Deformed ooid grains, plane polarized
light, Wadi Ghalilah. (D) Ooid grains show break-up and micritization, plane polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah. (E) Aggregated grain, plane polarized light, Wadi Naqab.
(F) Ooids with mixed cortex layers (inner concentric-radial layers and outer diagenetically altered layers), plane polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah.

Wadi Naqab, 950 from Wadi Milaha and 501 from Wadi Ghalilah). The
microfabrics and mineralogies of ooids were analyzed using scanning
electron microscopy (SEM) (FEI Quanta 200, ThermoFisher) in con-
junction with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and back-
scattered electron (BSE) imaging at the Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi.
For isotope analysis, 0.2 to 0.5 mg powder was drilled from fresh
surfaces of samples. Firstly, the powders were reacted completely with
anhydrous phosphoric acid at 25.00 ± 0.01 °C to produce CO2. Then,
the CO2 gas was introduced into a Thermo Advantage Isotope Ratio
Mass Spectrometer at Elemtex Ltd., UK to obtain δ13Ccarb and δ18Ocarb
values using standard materials (NBS-18 and NBS-19) to express the
values relative to the V-PDB standard.
A hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrument equipped with a
wavelength-dispersive spectrometer (OLYMPUS InnovX Delta XRF) was
used for detecting the major and minor element concentrations of 146
samples using homogenized rock powders (ca. 300–500 mg). The re-
corded elemental concentrations are transferred to a personal computer
via the Innov-X Delta Advanced PC Software. The materials used for
calibration processes include a calcite in-house standard, pure SiO2,
NIST 2710a and NIST 2711a.
4. Results
4.1. Sedimentary cycles
Based on field study and thin section analysis, three sedimentary
cycles were recognized in the Sakhra Member, and labeled as C1, C2
and C3 from bottom to top (Fig. 2). Each cycle is coarsening-upward in
average grain size and consists of peloidal mudstone/wackestone in the
lower part and oolitic packstone/grainstone in the upper part. The
thickness of the three cycles is variable in the studied sections (Fig. 2):
C1, 0.2–4 m; C2, 5–8 m; C3, 3–17 m. The base of C1 is not exposed in
Wadi Ghalilah, and C3 is only partly exposed in Wadi Milaha (Fig. 2).
Although the three cycles are not fully exposed in each section, it seems

5
Y. Ge, et al.
that C1 has the largest thickness (ca. 4 m) in Wadi Ghalilah, and C2 and
C3 have the largest thickness (about 8 and 17 m, respectively) in Wadi
Naqab. C1 in Wadi Naqab shows the smallest thickness (0.2–0.3 m) and
contains large oolitic intraclasts (up to 8 cm in length) at the base.
Compared with C2 and C3, C1 is underlain by nodular bioclastic
limestone, shows thrombolites at the base and laminated mudstone in
the lower part, and displays more prominent and diverse cross lami-
nation in the oolitic limestone.
4.2. Description of ooids in cycles C1–C3
Different types of ooids occur in the oolitic limestone of C1–C3,
distinguished by morphologies and microfabrics observed under the
microscope and SEM. There are mainly concentric-radial ooids in C1,
diagenetically altered ooids in C2 and micritic ooids in C3. The change
in predominance of ooid types from C1 to C3 is gradual rather than
sharp, and various ooid types can coexist in the same cycle.
4.2.1. Microscopic observations
4.2.1.1. Concentric-radial ooids in C1. Concentric-radial ooids are
spheroidal and relatively large (400–800 μm in diameter, mostly
500–600 μm; Fig. 4A–D). The microfabrics of ooid cortices are well
preserved and are characterized by radially oriented crystals confined
by concentric layers. Ooid nuclei consist mainly of calcite spar
(5–300 μm in diameter; Fig. 4B), as well as bioclasts (bivalves,
echinoids and gastropods), peloids and small radial ooids. The
boundaries between cortices and nuclei are always sharp and well
defined (Fig. 4B). Cortices are in optical continuity with echinoids as
nuclei. Ooid grains show no borings, deformation or break-up, and
isopachous radial cement rims commonly occur around the ooid grains
(Fig. 4C). Sorting is moderate to good. In one sample from Wadi Milaha,
ooid grains show some voids (shown by black colour), but the voids also
occur in the adjacent cement rimming ooid grains (Fig. 4D). In Wadi
Ghalilah, calcitic bivalves and dolomitized grains coexist with ooids
(Fig. 4E, F).
4.2.1.2. Diagenetically altered ooids in C2. Both the nuclei and cortices
of ooids are very poorly preserved in microfabrics, showing abundant
oomolds that are filled by coarse calcite spar (Fig. 5A, B). Many nuclei
are altered to blocky calcite. Borings around these ooids are common,
and some ooids show deformation (Fig. 5C) and break up (Fig. 5D).
Aggregate grains consisting of several ooids are also observed (Fig. 5E).
The sorting is poor with grain sizes ranging from 300 to 700 μm.
4.2.1.3. Micritic ooids in C3. The average size of micritic ooids is
normally small (100–200 μm in diameter) in Wadi Naqab (Fig. 6A)
and Wadi Milaha (Fig. 6B), but larger (200 to 500 μm in diameter) in
Wadi Ghalilah (Fig. 6C, D). The nuclei consist mainly of calcite spar and
peloids in Wadi Naqab and Wadi Ghalilah (Fig. 6A, C) but of quartz-
bearing lithoclasts in Wadi Milaha (Fig. 6B). The micritic cortices are
structureless (Fig. 6A), or show faint (Fig. 6C) or clear concentric layers
(Fig. 6D, E, F). In Wadi Milaha, the ooids have asymmetric and irregular
morphologies (Fig. 6E). Abundant micritic matrix fills the inter-ooid
pores (Fig. 6B). Borings, deformation and break-up are seen for many
ooids (Fig. 6F). Sorting of ooids is moderate to good in Wadi Milaha and
Wadi Naqab but poorer in Wadi Ghalilah.
4.2.1.4. Mixed-fabric ooids in C2 and C3. In C2 and C3, ooids with
mixed microfabrics are observed. In C2, ooids with strongly micritized
nuclei have mixed cortex microfabrics. In most cases, the outer cortex
layers have undergone dissolution and lost microfabrics, but the inner
cortex layers still preserve the radial microfabric (Fig. 5F). In C3, mixed
microfabrics in some ooids clearly show differential preservation
between inner radial and outer micritic cortices (Fig. 6D). The
abundance of mixed-fabric ooid decreases from C2 (typically, < 3–4%
of modal composition) to C3 (typically, < 1%).
6
Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006
4.2.2. SEM observations
SEM, EDS and BSE analyses were conducted on C1–C3 ooids. Under
SEM, in the C1 concentric-radial ooid cortices, the radial crystals con-
fined by concentric layers display irregular and porous morphologies
(Fig. 7A), and the BSE images show existence of micro-dolomite crystals
in both nuclei and cortices (Fig. 7B). The ooids of C2 and C3 under SEM
reveal subhedral and anhedral microspar in the cortices (Fig. 7C).
Calcite spar cuts across concentric lamination (Fig. 7D). The brightness
contrasts between ooid cortices and adjacent cement and diagenetically
altered nuclei are more obvious in C1 concentric-radial ooids than in C2
diagenetically altered and C3 micritic ooids (Fig. 7B, D). As shown by
EDS measurement, Mg is detected in C1 concentric-radial ooid cortices
but is below detection in C2 diagenetically altered and C3 micritic ooid
cortices (Fig. 7E, F).
4.3. Other allochems in the boundary interval
Coexisting with carbonate ooids, some other carbonate grains types
(e.g., bioclasts or lithoclasts) also deserve attention in C1–C3. In C1,
bivalve shells either have preserved fibrous microfabrics or are com-
pletely recrystallized with micritized rims (Fig. 8A). There are large
dolomitized lithoclasts (> 2 mm) with angular to sub-rounded shape
containing small shell bioclasts and quartz grains, and large re-
crystallized gastropods (2–3 mm) with micrite-filled chambers. Some
calcareous algae are observed in C1 (Fig. 8B). In C2, and especially in
C3, aggregate grains are abundant (up to 20% of modal composition).
In the lower part of C3, laminated stromatolites consist of light layers
with more cement and dark layers containing mainly micrite (Fig. 8C).
Echinoid and thin-shelled, diagenetically altered bivalve fragments are
rarely observed in all three cycles.
Compared with the Sakhra Member with few bioclasts (nor-
mally < 2–5% of modal composition), the underlying upper Sumra
Member (Rhaetian) contains diverse and abundant bioclasts (20–50%
of modal composition) including corals, sponges, echinoids, algae and
mollusks (Fig. 8D–F), which are mostly diagenetically altered. In the
boundary interval, the bioclastic limestone can be divided into three
main parts: bivalve-dominated in the lower (Fig. 8D) and upper parts
(Fig. 8F), and coral-dominated in the middle part (Fig. 8E). The lower
and upper parts are similar in composition but, in the upper part, the
size of bioclasts shows a significant decrease, whereas the abundance of
high-Mg calcite echinoids and algae increases. In the field, the reduc-
tion in bioclastic size is also obvious, and the limestone bedding pattern
becomes nodular in the uppermost Sumra Member.
4.4. Stable isotopes
Whole-rock stable isotope values (δ13Ccarb [VPDB] and δ18Ocarb
[VPDB]) were obtained for samples from the Sakhra Member (Fig. 2).
The δ13Ccarb values increase upward from 2‰ to 4–5‰, whereas the
δ18Ocarb values show more random fluctuations with no clear trend in
Wadi Ghalilah, but slightly increase upsection in Wadi Naqab and Wadi
Milaha (Fig. 2).
In the oolitic limestone (ooid content: 7–60%, mostly 10–20%) of
C1–C3, the δ18Ocarb values show similar ranges between −7‰ and
−3‰, and average values (C1, −5.22‰; C2, −5.10‰; C3, −5.28‰)
(Figs. 2, 9B). The ranges and average values of δ13Ccarb of C1–C3 oolitic
limestone are as follows: C1, 0.85–4.22‰, average 2.60‰; C2,
1.97–5.44‰, average 3.55‰; C3, 0.68–5‰, average 3.46‰ (Figs. 2,
9B). The δ13Ccarb values of C1 oolitic limestone are relatively lower
(about 1‰) in comparison with that of C2 and C3 oolitic limestone. The
correlation between δ13Ccarb and δ18Ocarb shows no clear relationship
for C1 oolitic limestone (r = 0.01), but increasing positive relationship
from C2 (r = 0.64) to C3 oolitic limestone (r = 0.84) (Fig. 9B).
Y. Ge, et al. Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006

Fig. 6. Characteristic ooids from the C3 cycle. (A) Micritic ooids showing micritic cortices and altered nuclei, plane polarized light, Wadi Naqab. The contact between
cortices and nuclei is regular. (B) Micritic ooids showing concentric cortices and quartz-bearing nuclei, plane polarized light, Wadi Milaha. (C) Micritic ooids with
faint concentric cortices where micro-crystals fill space between concentric laminae, plane polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah. (D) Concentric laminae of ooid cortices
showing dissolution and distortion, plane polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah. (E) Ooids showing irregular and asymmetric shapes, plane polarized light, Wadi Milaha. (F)
Ooids showing deformation and break-up, plane polarized light, Wadi Milaha.

4.5. Elemental analysis 5. Discussion

Elemental analysis was conducted for the Wadi Naqab section, in-
cluding the Sumra, Sakhra and Shuba members (Fig. 10). The Mn/Sr
ratios (0–2.3, mostly < 0.5) are lower than 3, indicating a good pre-
servation of geochemical signatures (Veizer and Hoefs, 1976). In the
measured elements, Si and Al inversely varies with carbonate-bound
elements (Ca, Mg and Sr). Siliceous bioclasts are not observed under
thin sections.
The increase of Ca/Si continues up to the top of the Sakhra Member.
Sr/Ca increases upwards almost to the top of the Sakhra Member and
decreases below the subaerial exposure surface at the top of the
member (Fig. 10). Mg/Ca ratios increase near the top of the Sumra
Member, reaching a peak below the T-J boundary, then decrease up-
ward in the lower Sakhra Member, and show a sharp increase in the
dolomitic limestones at the base of the Shuba Member.
5.1. Environmental analysis of sedimentary cycles
In each of the three cycles (C1–C3), laminated or structureless pe-
loidal mudstone/wackestone without subaerial exposure features in the
lower part indicate relatively low-energy and calm settings of deeper
water (below but near normal weather wave base), and cross-laminated
oolitic packstone and grainstone in the upper part suggest agitated and
shallow-marine settings (Simone, 1980; Li et al., 2015). C1–C3 are thus
proposed to represent three shallowing-upward cycles. What is different
is that C3 is capped by a subaerial exposure surface and subsequent
peritidal sediment (Fig. 2; Ge et al., 2018), while the lower two cycles
are not. As to different thickness of each cycle in the studied sections,
this may be related to topography and hydrodynamic levels. The rela-
tively low thickness of C1 in Wadi Naqab, for example, is possibly

7
Y. Ge, et al. Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006

Fig. 7. SEM-BSE-EDS photos of calcitic ooids and originally aragonitic ooids. (A) Radial crystals of C1 ooid cortices under SEM. The radial crystals do not cut cross
concentric laminae and the irregular morphologies indicate dissolution and corrosion, Wadi Ghalilah. (B) Micro-dolomite crystals (indicated by red circles) exist in
both cortices and nucleus of C1 ooid, and brightness contrast exists between cortices and cement/nuclei, BSE, Wadi Ghalilah. (C) Subhedral to anhedral calcite spar in
C2 and C3 ooid cortices, SEM, Wadi Ghalilah. (D) Concentric laminae of C2 and C3 ooid cortices, negligible contrast of brightness between cortices and cement, and
calcite spar cutting across the concentric laminae (indicated by red frame), BSE, Wadi Naqab. (E) EDS analysis of calcitic cortices, the same grain as in Fig. 7B. (F)
EDS analysis of originally aragonitic cortices, the same grain as in Fig. 7D. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to
the web version of this article.)

8
Y. Ge, et al. Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006

Fig. 8. Other carbonate grain types. (A) One large bioclast in C1 shows obvious dissolution-reprecipitation process while the associated ooids show well-preserved
fabrics, plane polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah. (B) calcitic algae (black arrows) in C1, plane polarized light, Wadi Ghalilah. (C) Stromatolites consisting of alternating
darker layers and lighter layers, Wadi Naqab. (D) Large diagenetically altered mollusk of Sumra Member (Rhaetian), plane polarized light, Wadi Naqab. (E)
Originally aragonitic coral of Sumra Member (Rhaetian), plane polarized light, Wadi Naqab. (D) Large and intact diagenetically altered mollusk of Sumra Member
(Rhaetian), plane polarized light, Wadi Naqab. (F) Small and fragmentary mollusk of Sumra Member (Rhaetian), plane polarized light, Wadi Naqab. Note the obvious
size reduction compared with Fig. 8D.

caused by submarine erosion and reworking, based on conspicuous
large oolitic intraclasts at the base and less micritic matrix (Fig. 2).
If the carbonate production is high enough, the oolitic sediment
should be covered directly by shallower peritidal limestone due to ac-
commodation consumption and sediment progradation, rather than
separated by deeper-water sediment (Osleger, 1991). The repetitively
cyclic sedimentation of C1–C3 may correspond to cyclic changes of
carbonate production ability (Palma et al., 2005). The ability of car-
bonate production possibly increases from C1 to C3, resulting in C3
with a larger thickness and being covered by peritidal sediment. In
addition, the change from upright-branched and mesoclotted throm-
bolites at the base of C1 (Fig. 3C) to wavy and laminated stromatolites
in C2 and C3 (Fig. 3D) may be another response to different rates of
sediment accumulation (Feldmann and McKenzie, 1998). It has been
reported that stromatolites have a higher tolerance to increasing
sediment accumulation than thrombolites (Olivier et al., 2006). No-
tably, microbial activity increases from C1 to C3, as implied by micritic
ooids, aggregated grains, stromatolites and micritization (Feldmann
and McKenzie, 1998; Li et al., 2015; Al-Suwaidi et al., 2016). The in-
volvement of microbial activity might have promoted carbonate pro-
duction to be high enough to terminate cyclic sedimentation of C1–C3.
In the study area, C1–C3 show meter-scale thickness, well-devel-
oped vertical cyclicity, similar composition and widespread distribu-
tion, which fit with the characteristics of allocyclic sedimentation of
Milankovitch control (Palma et al., 2005; Ruhl et al., 2010). The hot-
house world and strong monsoonal climate in the earliest Jurassic also
favor the formation of sedimentary cycles formed by Milankovitch
forcing (Ruhl et al., 2010). Driven by orbitally-controlled climate
change, high-frequency and low-amplitude eustatic fluctuations are
assumed for the formation of such meter-scale cycles within a stable

9
Y. Ge, et al.
Fig. 9. Petrographical and geochemical features of different ooid types. (A) Microscopic features, showing different microfabrics in different ooids. (B) Correlation
between inorganic carbon and oxygen isotope of C1–C3 ooids. The stable isotope data are collected from three sections (Wadi Ghalilah, Wadi Milaha and Wadi
Naqab). (C) The Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios of C1–C3 ooids from bottom to top. The Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca ratios are only measured in Wadi Naqab.
tectonic setting (Osleger, 1991).
The sediment intervals of C1–C3 correspond to a positive carbon
isotope excursion (CIE) between the initial and main CIEs that char-
acterize the T-J boundary interval (Hesselbo et al., 2002; Korte et al.,
2009; Ruhl and Kürschner, 2011). Marine-continental correlations
suggested a time span of ca. 80–120 kyr for the positive CIE, based on
cyclostratigraphy, paleomagnetism, geochemistry and palynology
(Deenen et al., 2010; Ruhl et al., 2010). Assuming the time of ~80–120
kyr is reasonable herein, each cycle of C1–C3 would span two preces-
sion cycles (~30–40 kyr) on average (Ruhl et al., 2010). The maximum
sedimentation rate can be roughly estimated for C1–C3: C1,
0.1–0.13 m/kyr; C2, 0.2–0.26 m/kyr; and C3, 0.4–0.52 m/kyr.
5.2. Original mineralogy of the main ooid types in C1–C3: aragonite vs.
calcite
The original mineralogies of carbonate ooids varied between ara-
gonite and calcite during geological time. These mineralogies can be
distinguished using evidence from petrology (e.g., fabric preservation,
diagenesis) and geochemistry (e.g., stable isotopes, Sr content)
(Sandberg, 1983; Vulpius and Kiessling, 2018). Some criteria used for
identifying original aragonite mineralogy include (1) relict aragonite;
(2) coarse calcite mosaics generally cross-cutting original structures; (3)
higher Sr content; and (4) dissolution or cement-filled molds. Criteria
for original calcite mineralogy include (1) good preservation of fine
fabrics; (2) lower Sr content; and (3) lack of diagenetic alteration
(Sandberg, 1983; Cantrell, 2006; Li et al., 2015; Vulpius and Kiessling,
2018). Although C1–C3 oolites show uneven thickness (e.g., especially
thin C1 in Wadi Naqab), the main ooid type of each cycle is very similar
and laterally well-correlated in the studied sections. Multiple types of
analyses (thin sections, SEM, EDS, stable isotopes, and XRF) are used to
assess the original ooid mineralogies.
In C1, the cortex microfabrics of spherical and large concentric-ra-
dial ooids are well preserved with negligible diagenetic alteration seen
in thin section, whereas nuclei and gastropods are always altered to
calcite spar (Fig. 4B). Under SEM, radial crystals with preserved fabrics
10
Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006
in the cortices are observed (Fig. 7A). The ooid cortices show low Sr
content (below detect limitation) and small amounts of Mg
(0.43–0.69 wt%) (Fig. 7E). The presence of dissolution of ooids in one
sample (Fig. 4D) also occurs in the surrounding calcite cement, in-
dicating calcite dissolution in a late diagenetic stage (Granier et al.,
2014), or artifacts of thin section preparation. The diagenetically al-
tered ooids in C2 and micritic ooids of C3, however, are poorly pre-
served, less spherical and smaller in diameter, and show deformation,
break-up and distinct evidence of moldic pores filled by later calcite
spar. Under SEM, the subhedral and anhedral microspars in cortices
show random distribution with no preservation of fabrics (Fig. 7C), and
can cut across concentric lamination (Fig. 7D). Dissolution, re-
crystallization and micritization herein collectively eliminated original
microfabrics in C2 and C3 ooids. No aragonite relicts were observed,
and both Sr and Mg content cannot be detected in the cortices by EDS
(Fig. 7F). The original mineralogy of calcite is inferred for C1 con-
centric-radial ooids based on good preservation of microfabrics, lack of
diagenetic alteration, low Sr content and higher Mg content, optical
continuity with echinoid nuclei, and associated diagenetically altered
aragonitic bioclasts (bivalves and gastropods) (Chatalov, 2005). Ori-
ginal aragonite mineralogy is proposed for C2 diagenetically altered
and C3 micritic ooids based on abundant moldic pores and calcite
mosaics cutting across original fabrics, indicating poor preservation of
microfabrics and obvious diagenetic alteration (Swirydczuk, 1988), as
well as low Mg content. Sr below detection of EDS for aragonitic ooids
is possibly due to diagenetic alteration, as evidenced by the positive
correlation between δ13Ccarb and δ18Ocarb (Fig. 9B). The mixed ooid
microfabrics in C2 (Fig. 5F) and C3 (Fig. 6D) are direct evidence to
show the change of mineralogy and differential ability of preservation
of cortex microfabrics. The ooids with mixed microfabrics are most
abundant in C2 and have been termed as bimineralic ooids in former
studies, consisting of both aragonite and Mg-calcite in cortex compo-
sition (Wilkinson et al., 1984; Chow and James, 1987; Major et al.,
1988).
Geochemical evidence also argues for mineralogical differences of
the main types of C1–C3 ooids. The correlation between δ13Ccarb and
Y. Ge, et al.
Fig. 10. Elemental analysis of the Wadi Naqab section. The T-J boundary is indicated by red line. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend,
the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
δ18Ocarb has been used to indicate the degree of diagenetic influences on
carbonate sediment (Prokoph et al., 2008; Dal Corso et al., 2015). The
calculated correlation coefficients suggest that diagenesis may have
influenced the original δ13Ccarb signals in C2 diagenetically altered and
C3 micritic ooids, but show little or no influence on C1 concentric-ra-
dial ooids. The approximate δ18Ocarb ranges indicate similar burial di-
agenetic effects, given similar tectonic and sedimentary environments
of C1–C3 ooids (Swart, 2015). Under similar diagenetic environments,
the differential ability to resist diagenetic alternation may be related to
different stability or diagenetic pathways of various carbonate minerals
in the primary sediment (Gavish and Friedman, 1969; Strasser, 1986;
11
Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006
Chow and James, 1987). The increasing Sr/Ca and decreasing Mg/Ca
ratios from C1 to C3 ooids (Fig. 9C) favor a mineralogical change from
calcite to aragonite (Jost et al., 2017), because aragonite prefers to
incorporate Sr but calcite prefers to incorporate Mg (Sunagawa et al.,
2007). However, the increase in Sr concentrations in the Sakhra
Member was interpreted to reflect a global seawater signal (Ge et al.,
2018), and it is difficult to evaluate, to what extent the original ara-
gonite mineralogy of ooids contributed to the elevated concentrations.
No correlation was observed between the percentage of ooids and the Sr
concentrations of oolites of the Sakhra Member. Fibrous cements
around C1 concentric-radial ooids (Fig. 4C) are another evidence of
Y. Ge, et al.
precursory mineralogy of high-Mg calcite (Wilkinson et al., 1984). The
fact that more calcite-shelled bivalves with preserved microfabrics are
present in C1 (Fig. 4E), but more diagenetically altered aragonite bi-
valve shells in C2 and C3, also reflects a change in the dominant mi-
neralogy.
Another important issue is whether the original mineralogy of C1
concentric-radial ooids is high-Mg (> 4 mol% MgCO3) or low-Mg
(< 4 mol% MgCO3) calcite. Some studies suggest that, during miner-
alogical stabilization in diagenesis, both high-Mg calcitic and aragonitic
ooids would lose their original fabric due to dissolution and re-
precipitation processes but low-Mg calcitic ooids would retain it
(Heydar and Moore, 1994; Vulpius and Kiessling, 2018). However,
high-Mg calcitic grains can stabilize into low-Mg calcitic grains with
preservation of microfabrics (Gavish and Friedman, 1969; Strasser,
1986; Chow and James, 1987). Therefore, the well-preserved cortex
microfabric of C1 ooids cannot serve as a conclusive indicator about the
original mineralogy, although the optical continuity with echinoids as
ooid nuclei and coexistence with dolomitized grains support high-Mg
calcite mineralogy (Simone, 1980). Under SEM, in the concentric-radial
ooid cortices, the irregular and porous morphologies of radial crystals
indicate dissolution or corrosion (Fig. 7A) and metastable precursory
mineralogy. The existence of micro-dolomite (Fig. 7B) favors high-Mg
calcitic cortex. The higher Mg content is also indicated by the bright-
ness contrasts between diagenetically altered nuclei and cortices
(Fig. 7B) in EDS analysis (Fig. 7E). The whole-rock Mg/Ca ratios are
overall low and decrease from C1 to C3 (Fig. 10). Furthermore, sub-
Recent concentric-radial calcitic ooids are exclusively of original high-
Mg calcite mineralogy (Simone, 1980). As a result, high-Mg calcite is
proposed as the original mineralogy of C1 concentric-radial ooids.
The Mg content of high-Mg calcite is of critical importance to
evaluate its stability when compared to aragonite, and Mg-calcite
with > 12 mol% MgCO3 was shown to have a higher solubility in
modern seawater than aragonite (Andersson et al., 2008). As only
slightly elevated Mg concentrations have been found in the lower part
of the Sakhra Member, and the amount of microdolomite is relatively
low, it is inferred that the Mg content of the original high-Mg calcitic
ooids was relatively limited. This is supported by the much lower Mg/
Ca ratio of seawater during the T-J boundary interval when compared
to modern seawater (Stanley and Hardie, 1998).
5.3. Implications for T-J paleoceanographic conditions
5.3.1. Marine carbonate saturation
As discussed above, the original mineralogy of ooids in the Sakhra
Fig. 11. Environmental change during the three sedimentary cycles and implications for the crisis-recovery scenarios in the Triassic-Jurassic boundary interval. The
red to blue colour within tapering triangles means a decreasing trend. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the
web version of this article.)
12
Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006
Member temporally varies from high-Mg calcite to aragonite (Fig. 11).
Marine inorganic carbonate mineralogy (high-Mg calcite vs. aragonite)
can be controlled by kinetic or thermodynamic mechanisms. In the
kinetic mechanism, the seawater is saturated with respect to both high-
Mg calcite and aragonite (Burton, 1993). The mineralogy of precipitates
depends on the interaction of inhibitors and promoters. High ion con-
centration (Ca2+ and, especially CO32-) (Given and Wilkinson, 1985),
high temperature (Higuchi et al., 2017), and high Mg/Ca ratio (Chave
and Suess, 1970; Riechelmann et al., 2014) favor aragonite rather than
calcite precipitation. Aragonite precipitation decreases with increasing
PO43−, and calcite precipitation decreases with increasing HPO42− and
PO43− (Burton and Walter, 1990). Dissolved sulfate ions facilitate
aragonite but inhibit calcite precipitation (Mucci et al., 1989). Dis-
solved organic matter can inhibit both calcite and aragonite precipita-
tion by binding free Ca2+ from seawater (Dupraz et al., 2009).
In the term of kinetic mechanism, aragonitic rather than calcitic
ooids are the first to be precipitated from seawater (Heydar and Moore,
1994). The formation of C1 calcitic ooids would imply inhibition of
aragonite precipitation, and this may be related to low Mg/Ca ratio, low
Ca2+ and CO32−concentrations, high PO43− concentration and high
concentration of organic matters. The C1 ooids, however, are pre-
cipitated from high-energy and shallow marine seawater where CO2
degassing is active, forming abundant CO32−. The concentration of
phosphate is commonly very low in the surface seawater (Burton and
Walter, 1990). Previous studies reported that aragonite precipitation
will be inhibited by the presence of organic matter (e.g., humic and
fulvic acids) which is, however, normally negligible in surface seawater
(Heydar and Moore, 1994). Although the Mg/Ca ratio of seawater in
the T-J boundary interval was much lower than in modern seawater
(Stanley and Hardie, 1998), slightly decreasing whole-rock Mg/Ca ra-
tios from C1 to C3 oolites are detected by the XRF analysis (Fig. 9).
Rapid changes of Mg/Ca ratios on the timescale considered here are
unlikely as the seawater Mg/Ca ratio is related to long-term plate tec-
tonics or large-scale Mg-bearing sedimentation (Sandberg, 1983;
Holland, 2005). In addition, Mg2+ has little inhibition on aragonite
precipitation (Chave and Suess, 1970; Heydar and Moore, 1994).
Alternatively, it is more likely that the short term (ca. 30–40 kyr)
mineralogical changes are caused by thermodynamic reasons (i.e.,
variation of seawater carbonate saturation) due to ocean acidification
(Burton, 1993). The carbonate saturation of surface seawater may have
been relatively low during formation of C1 calcitic ooids, but increased
to aragonite saturation during accumulation of C2 and C3 aragonitic
ooids (Fig. 11). Given the increasing carbonate saturation, however, the
decrease in ooid size from C1 to C3 is intriguing. In the physiochemical
Y. Ge, et al.
model, the ooid size will increase with low nuclei supply, high cortex
growth rate and long suspension time in the water column, which are
facilitated by increasing carbonate saturation and water agitation
(Sumner and Grotzinger, 1993; Trower et al., 2017; Diaz and Eberli,
2019). The decreasing ooid size from C1 to C3 may be related to in-
creasing nuclei supply from aeolian dust and lower water agitation
indicated by increasing abundance of matrix and micritization. It has
been suggested that micritic cortices are related to rapid carbonate
precipitation, and radial fabrics to slower precipitation (Strasser, 1986),
which reconcile with the increasing carbonate saturation from C1 to C3.
The bimineralic ooids in C2 and C3 record a gradual evolution of car-
bonate saturation from C1 to C3.
5.3.2. Implication for ocean acidification
Ocean acidification (more precisely drop in carbonate saturation)
has been suggested to have influenced the T-J surface-seawater carbo-
nate saturation and to have resulted in a scarcity of sections with
continuous carbonate sedimentation worldwide (Greene et al., 2012).
The UAE sections, however, have been shown to document continuous
carbonate sedimentation, based on gradual changes of geochemical
signals and no obvious sedimentary hiatus across the T-J boundary
interval (Ge et al., 2018). The continuous carbonate sections described
herein may be attributed to their paleogeographical position, i.e.,
shallow marine settings in the equatorial realm, where the seawater
carbonate saturation is typically higher than in higher latitudes (Orr
et al., 2005). Although carbonate production was not interrupted, the
influence of ocean acidification is indicated by C1 high-Mg calcitic
ooids following over bioclastic limestone of the Sumra Member. De-
creasing grain size (Fig. 8D, F), more high-Mg calcitic components and
nodular bedding pattern (Fig. 3C) in the bioclastic limestone of the
upper Sumra Member, and overlying high-Mg calcitic ooids are pro-
posed to reflect lower carbonate saturation at the boundary. Mg-calcitic
ooids herein serve as an expression of a transitional period before re-
covery from ocean acidification in the equatorial realm. The reduction
in carbonate supersaturation was likely caused by volcanic CO2 and SO2
(Greene et al., 2012; McRoberts et al., 2012) of the CAMP.
5.3.3. Long-term vs. short-term seawater chemistry change
Uncertainties still exist about the accurate timing of change of ocean
states from the Triassic aragonite to the Jurassic calcite sea, and lati-
tudinal gradients in saturation with respect to different carbonate mi-
nerals are also important (Tomašových, 2004; Vulpius and Kiessling,
2018). Rhaetian calcitic ooids have been observed (e.g., Tomašových,
2004) below the T-J boundary interval. However, by point-counting
ooids with different preservation in the oolitic limestone of the Trento
Platform, Italy, Vulpius and Kiessling (2018) concluded that Hettangian
and Sinemurian ooids show poor preservation with aragonite miner-
alogy, but Pliensbachian and Toarcian ooids show good preservation
with calcite mineralogy. In our study, the mineralogical changes of
aragonitic bioclasts of the Sumra Member to Mg-calcitic C1 ooids and
aragonitic C2 and C3 ooids are relatively rapid, multiple and coincident
with the T-J mass extinction event. This mineralogical change is more
prone to reflect short-term rather than secular variation of seawater
chemistry.
5.4. Global correlation and implications for T-J boundary interval
During the Permian-Triassic (P-T) mass extinction, oolites and mi-
crobialites were globally widespread after biotic crisis. Ooid abundance
and size increase have been interpreted as the result of enhanced
marine carbonate saturation, and the proliferation of ooids and mi-
crobialites acted as a positive feedback of carbonate saturation after
ocean acidification (Li et al., 2015, 2019). Compared with the P-T in-
terval, T-J ooids and microbialites are globally less abundant (Hesselbo
et al., 2004; Ibarra et al., 2016; Ge et al., 2018), and reasons for these
differences are still ambiguous and have to be evaluated in the context
13
Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006
of globally reduced carbonate sedimentation during the T-J boundary
interval.
Our sections can be correlated with the T-J boundary interval in the
upper Cotham Member, England, where calcitic ooids and microbialites
are abundant, immediately overlying the initial CIE (Hesselbo et al.,
2004; Ibarra et al., 2016). Similar to the UAE sections, the calcitic ooids
have radial-concentric microfabrics (Hesselbo et al., 2004), but the
meter-scale microbialites show a widespread distribution (> 2000 km2)
and consist of alternative layers of laminated stromatolites and den-
drolitic thrombolites (Ibarra et al., 2016). Originally aragonitic lime-
muds are reported from the Langport Member immediately overlying
the upper Cotham Member (Jones, 1981). Early Hettangian calcitic
ooids with preserved microfabrics also occurred abundantly following
disappearance of diverse biota in the Albenza Formation in the Lom-
bardy Basin, Italy (Jadoul and Galli, 2008). Aragonitic ooids showing
recrystallization and obliteration of microfabrics are reported from
higher Hettangian strata in the Trento Platform, immediately adjacent
to the Lombardy Basin (Vulpius and Kiessling, 2018). In the Lombardy
Basin sections, Jost et al. (2017) reported a similar T-J Sr curve that is
correlative with the Wadi Naqab section, but in carbonates without
ooids.
In the early Hettangian, the Italian and British sections were located
in the western Tethys Ocean (Greene et al., 2012), while the UAE
sections represent the southeastern margin of the Tethys Ocean
(Ziegler, 2001) (Fig. 12A). The correlation between these localities
based on lithology, mineralogy, stable isotopes and Sr concentrations
suggests that the Hettangian mineralogical changes are at least regional
rather than local events in the Tethys Ocean (Fig. 12C). Notably,
compared with the ooids in the eastern Tethys (UAE sections), calcitic
ooids occur in a higher geostratigraphic position in the western Tethys
Ocean (Italy and UK sections), representing a time-delay, which may
indicate more severe acidification conditions due to their higher lati-
tude. Furthermore, compared with other ooid-bearing strata, the rela-
tively high sedimentation rate and thickness in the UAE sections
(Fig. 12C) also support carbonate saturation less affected by acidifica-
tion in lower latitudes.
Detailed T-J crisis-recovery scenarios have been developed in the
Nevada sections (Fig. 12C), and have been roughly divided into three
intervals: extinction interval, depauperate interval and recovery in-
terval (Thibodeau et al., 2016). In this study, more details about the
extinction and depauperate intervals can be inferred from the Sakhra
and underlying Sumra members.
In the depauperate interval (Earliest Jurassic), with the beginning of
global warming, the marine carbonate factory changed from dom-
inantly aragonitic and biological to Mg-calcitic and abiotic production
in C1, which represents a transitional period before recovery from
ocean acidification. Terrestrial influx was greatly reduced, and a cli-
mate change from humid to arid has been proposed for the T-J
boundary interval (Quan et al., 2008). With the proliferation of mi-
crobial activity, increased primary productivity and resultant organic
burial led to a positive δ13Ccarb excursion (Kump and Arthur, 1999).
The microbial activity seems to play an important role in the
modulation of seawater carbonate saturation, atmospheric CO2 con-
centration and carbonate production. Following a sharp reduction in
skeletal carbonate production and ocean acidification, microbial ac-
tivity can promote marine carbonate saturation and carbonate pro-
duction increase by consumption of atmospheric CO2. These improve-
ments in paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic conditions may have
paved the way towards the full biotic recovery (Bartolini et al., 2012;
Thibodeau et al., 2016).
6. Conclusions
Immediately after the end-Triassic biotic crisis, the Sakhra Member
overlying the T-J boundary represents equatorial shallow-marine sedi-
ments along the southern shelf of the southeastern Tethys Ocean. Three
Y. Ge, et al. Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006

Fig. 12. T-J correlation between St. Audrie's Bay, Lombardy Basin, Ras Al Khaimah, and Nevada sections. (A) T-J paleogeographic locations of St. Audrie's Bay (green
dot), Lombardy Basin (red dot), Ras Al Khaimah (red star) and Nevada (black dot). (B) Early Hettangian calcitic ooids from the Albenza Formation (Lombardy Basin),
Cotham Member (St. Audrie's Bay) and Sakhra Member (Ras Al Khaimah). (C) Geochemical correlation between St. Audrie's Bay, Nevada, Lombardy Basin and Ras Al
Khaimah sections, and related T-J crisis-recovery scenario. The stratigraphic levels of calcitic ooids and microbialtes are indicated by black arrow. The paleography
map is modified from Greene et al., 2012; the ooid photographs are modified from Jadoul and Galli, 2008 (Albenza Formation), Hesselbo et al., 2004 (Cotham
Member). The sources of δ13C data is from: this study (Ras Al Khaimah), Hesselbo et al., 2004 (St. Audrie's Bay), Jost et al., 2017 (Lombardy Basin), Bartolini et al.,
2012 (New York Canyon), Thibodeau et al., 2016 (Muller Canyon). The Sr curve is from Jost et al. (2017). The crisis-recovery scenario is adapted from Thibodeau
et al., 2016. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)

sedimentary cycles (C1–C3) are recognized in the Sakhra Member, and
each consists of mudstone/wackestone in the lower part and oolitic
packstone/grainstone in the upper part. From C1 to C3, ooids vary in
microfabrics and mineralogies, showing evidence of increasing micro-
bial activity. Ooids show well-preserved microfabrics, no deformation,
no break-up and minor micritization in C1 but poorly-preserved mi-
crofabrics, deformation, break-up and obvious micritization in C2 and
C3. Microscopic inspection and geochemical analysis suggest different
original mineralogies of the ooids: Mg-calcite for C1 concentric-radial
ooids and aragonite for C2 diagenetically altered and C3 micritic ooids.
The mineralogical change can be correlated with coeval sediments in
the western Tethys Ocean, suggesting a global driving mechanism. The
three cycles are proposed to be Milankovitch-type subtidal cycles
(about 30–40 kyr each). In the first 30–40 kyr after T-J biotic crisis,
lower carbonate saturation in the shallow marine environment re-
presented a rebound stage after ocean acidification, which was caused
by significantly increasing atmospheric CO2 and SO2 concentration due
to CAMP eruptions; in the second and third cycle (c. 30–40 kyr each),
microbial activity increased and the shallow-marine surface seawater
became again aragonite saturated. Thriving microbial activity may
have improved atmospheric and oceanographic conditions before full
biotic recovery.
Acknowledgements
Support with experimental work by P. Thiyagarajan is gratefully
acknowledged. We would like to thank Dr. René Hoffmann and two
anonymous reviewers for constructive suggestions. The research was
funded by the Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, now part of Khalifa
University (LTR 15005).
References
Al-Suwaidi, A.H., Steuber, T., Suarez, M.B., 2016. The Triassic-Jurassic boundary event
from an equatorial carbonate platform (Ghalilah Formation, United Arab Emirates).
J. Geol. Soc. 173, 947–953.
Andersson, A.J., Mackenzie, F.T., Bates, N.R., 2008. Life on the margin: implications of
ocean acidification on Mg-calcite, high latitude and cold-water marine calcifiers.
Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 373, 265–273.
Bartolini, A., Guex, J., Spangenberg, J.E., Schoene, B., Taylor, D.G., Schaltegger, U.,
Atudorei, V., 2012. Disentangling the Hettangian carbon isotope record: Implications
for the aftermath of the end-Triassic mass extinction. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst.
13, 1–11.
Burton, E.A., 1993. Controls on marine carbonate cement mineralogy: review and re-
assessment. Chem. Geol. 105, 163–179.
Burton, E.A., Walter, L.M., 1990. The role of pH in phosphate inhibition of calcite and
aragonite precipitation rates in seawater. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 54, 797–808.
Cantrell, D.L., 2006. Cortical fabrics of Upper Jurassic ooids, Arab Formation, Saudi
Arabia: Implications for original carbonate mineralogy. Sediment. Geol. 186,
157–170.
Chatalov, A., 2005. Monomineralic carbonate ooid types in the Triassic sediments from
Northwestern Bulgaria. Geol. Balc. 35, 63–91.

14
Y. Ge, et al.
Chave, K.E., Suess, E., 1970. Calcium carbonate saturation in seawater: effects of dis-
solved organic matter. Limnol. Oceanogr. 15, 633–637.
Chow, N., James, N.P., 1987. Facies-specific, calcitic and bimineralic ooids from middle
and upper Cambrian platform carbonates, western Newfoundland, Canada. J.
Sediment. Petrol. 57, 907–921.
Dal Corso, J., Gianolla, P., Newton, R.J., Franceschi, M., Roghi, G., Caqqiati, M., Raucsik,
B., Budai, T., Hass, J., Preto, N., 2015. Carbon isotope records reveal synchronicity
between carbon cycle perturbation and the “Carnian Pluvial Event” in the Tethys
realm (Late Triassic). Glob. Planet. Chang. 127, 79–90.
Deenen, M.H.L., Ruhl, M., Bonis, N.R., Krijgsman, W., Kuerschner, W.M., Reitsma, M., van
Bergen, M.J., 2010. A new chronology for the end-Triassic mass extinction. Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett. 291, 113–125.
Diaz, M.R., Eberli, G.P., 2019. Decoding the mechanism of formation in marine ooids: a
review. Earth Sci. Rev. 190, 536–556.
Dupraz, C., Reid, R.P., Braissant, O., Decho, A.W., Norman, R.S., Visscher, P.T., 2009.
Processes of carbonate precipitation in modern microbial mats. Earth Sci. Rev. 96,
141–162.
Feldmann, M., McKenzie, J.A., 1998. Stromatolite-Thrombolite associations in a modern
environment, Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. Palaios 13, 201–212.
Galli, M.T., Jadoul, F., Bernasconi, S.M., Weissert, H., 2005. Anomalies in global carbon
cycling and extinction at the Triassic/Jurassic boundary: evidence from a marine C-
isotope record. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 216, 203–214.
Gavish, E., Friedman, G.M., 1969. Progressive diagenesis in Quaternary to Late Tertiary
carbonate sediments: sequence and time scale. J. Sediment. Res. 39, 980–1006.
Ge, Y.Z., Shi, M., Steuber, T., Al-Suwaidi, A.H., Suarez, M.B., 2018. Environmental change
during the Triassic-Jurassic boundary interval of an equatorial carbonate platform:
Sedimentology and chemostratigraphy of the Ghalilah Formation, United Arab
Emirates. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 502, 86–103.
Given, R.K., Wilkinson, B.H., 1985. Kinetic control of morphology, composition, and
mineralogy of abiotic sedimentary carbonates. J. Sediment. Petrol. 55, 109–119.
Granier, B., Barbin, V., Charollais, J., 2014. Significance of partial leaching in calcareous
ooids: the case study of Hauterivian oolites in Switzerland. Carnets de Geologie
(Notebooks on Geology) 14, 471–481.
Greene, S.E., Martindale, R.C., Ritterbush, K.A., Bottjer, D.J., Corsetti, F.A., Berelson,
W.M., 2012. Recognising ocean acidification in deep time: an evaluation of the evi-
dence for acidification across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. Earth Sci. Rev. 113,
72–93.
Hesselbo, S.P., Robinson, S.A., Surlyk, F., Piasecki, S., 2002. Terrestrial and marine ex-
tinction at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary synchronized with major carbon-cycle
perturbation: a link to initiation of massive volcanism? Geology 30, 251–254.
Hesselbo, S.P., Robinson, S.A., Surlyk, F., 2004. Sea-level change and facies development
across potential Triassic-Jurassic boundary horizons, SW Britain. J. Geol. Soc. Lond.
161, 365–379.
Heydar, E., Moore, C.H., 1994. Paleoceangraphic and paleoclimatic controls on ooid
mineralogy of the smackover formation, Mississippi Salt Basin: implications for Late
Jurassic seawater composition. J. Sediment. Res. 64, 101–114.
Higuchi, T., Shirai, K., Mezaki, T., Yuyama, I., 2017. Temperature dependence of ara-
gonite and calcite skeleton formation by a scleractinian coral in low Mg/Ca seawater.
Geology 45, 1087–1090.
Holland, H.D., 2005. Sea level, sediments and the composition of seawater. Am. J. Sci.
305, 220–239.
Hönig, M.R., John, C.M., Manning, C., 2017. Development of an equatorial carbonate
platform across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary and links to global palaeoenviron-
mental changes (Musandam Peninsula, UAE/Oman). Gondwana Res. 45, 100–117.
Ibarra, Y., Corsetti, F.A., Greene, S.E., Bottjer, D.J., 2016. A microbial carbonate response
in synchrony with the end-Triassic mass extinction across the SW UK. Sci. Rep. 6,
19808.
Jadoul, F., Galli, M.T., 2008. After the Triassic/Jurassic biocalcification crisis: the
Albenza Formation in the western Southern Alps. Riv. Ital. Paleontol. Stratigr. 114,
453–470.
Jones, D.G., 1981. Regional Studies in the Sedimentology, Mineralogy and Geochemistry
of the Penarth Group. Doctoral dissertation, University of Oxford.
Jost, A.B., Bachan, A., van de Schootbrugge, B., Brown, S.T., Depaolo, D.J., Payne, J.L.,
2017. Additive effects of acidification and mineralogy on calcium isotopes in Trassic/
Jurassic boundary limestones. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 18, 113–124.
Korte, C., Hesselbo, S.P., Jenkyns, H.C., Rickaby, R.E., Spötl, C., 2009.
Palaeoenvironmental significance of carbon-and oxygen-isotope stratigraphy of
marine Triassic–Jurassic boundary sections in SW Britain. J. Geol. Soc. 166, 431–445.
Korte, C., Ruhl, M., Pálfy, J., Ullmann, C.V., Hesselbo, S.P., 2019. Chemostratigraphy
across the Triassic–Jurassic Boundary. In: Sial, A.N., Gaucher, C., Ramkumar, M.,
Ferreira, V.P. (Eds.), Chemostratigraphy Across Major Chronological Boundaries.
AGU Geophysical Monograph Series,v 240. pp. 185–210.
Kump, L.R., Arthur, M.A., 1999. Interpreting carbon-isotope excursions: carbonate and
organic matter. Chem. Geol. 161, 181–198.
Kump, L.R., Bralower, T.J., Ridgwell, A., 2009. Ocean acidification in deep time.
Oceanography 22, 94–107.
Li, F., Yan, J.X., Chen, Z.Q., Ogg, J.G., Tian, L., Korngreen, D., Liu, K., Ma, Z.L., Woods,
A.D., 2015. Global oolite deposits across the Permian-Triassic boundary: a synthesis
and implications for palaeoceanography immediately after the end-Permian biocrisis.
Earth Sci. Rev. 149, 163–180.
Li, F., Gong, Q., Burne, R.V., Tang, H., Su, C., Zeng, K., Zhang, Y., Tan, X., 2019. Ooid
factories operating under hothouse conditions in the earliest Triassic of South China.
Glob. Planet. Chang. 172, 336–354.
Major, R.P., Halley, R.B., Lucas, K.J., 1988. Cathodoluminescent bimineralic ooids from
the Pleistocene of the Florida continental shelf. Sedimentology 35, 843–855.
Maurer, F., Rettori, R., Martini, R., 2008. Triassic stratigraphy, facies and evolution of the
15
View publication stats
Global and Planetary Change 182 (2019) 103006
Arabian shelf in the northern United Arab Emirates. Int. J. Earth Sci. 97, 765–784.
McRoberts, C.A., Krystyn, L., Hautmann, M., 2012. Macrofaunal response to the end-
Triassic mass extinction in the west-Tethyan Kössen Basin, Austria. Palaios 27,
607–616.
Mucci, A., Canuel, R., Zhong, S.J., 1989. The solubility of calcite and aragonite in sulfate-
free seawater and the seeded growth kinetics and composition of the precipitates at
25°C. Chem. Geol. 74, 309–320.
Olivier, N., Lathuilière, B., Thiry-Bastien, P., 2006. Growth models of Bajocian coral-
microbialite reefs of Chargey-lès-Port (eastern France): Palaeoenvironmental inter-
pretations. Facies 52, 113–127.
Orr, J.C., Fabry, V.J., Aumont, O., Bopp, L., Doney, S.C., Feely, R.A., Gnanadesikan, A.,
Gruber, N., Ishida, A., Joos, F., Key, R.M., 2005. Anthropogenic ocean acidification
over the twenty-first century and its impact on calcifying organisms. Nature 437, 681.
Osleger, D., 1991. Subtidal carbonate cycles: implications for allocyclic vs. autocyclic
controls. Geology 19, 917–920.
Pálfy, J., Demény, A., Haas, J., Carter, E.S., Görög, Á., Halász, D., Oravecz-Scheffer, A.,
Hetényi, M., Márton, E., Orchard, M.J., Ozsvárt, P., 2007. Triassic-Jurassic boundary
events inferred from integrated stratigraphy of the Csovar section, Hungary.
Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 244, 11–33.
Palma, R.M., Forte, G.L., Medhli, M., Piethé, R.D., 2005. High frequency subtidal-peritidal
cycles of the Callovian Calabozo Formation (Neuquén Basin, Western Argentina):
preliminary approach. Geol. Acta 3, 119–132.
Prokoph, A., Shields, G.A., Veizer, J., 2008. Compilation and time-series analysis of a
marine carbonate δ18O, δ13C, 87Sr/86Sr and δ34S database through Earth history.
Earth Sci. Rev. 87, 113–133.
Quan, T.M., van de Schootbrugge, B., Field, M.P., Rosenthal, Y., Falkowski, P.G., 2008.
Nitrogen isotope and trace metal analyses from the Mingolsheim core (Germany):
evidence for redox variations across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. Glob.
Biogeochem. Cycles 22, GB2014. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GB002981.
Riechelmann, S., Schröder-Ritzrau, A., Wassenburg, J.A., Schreuer, J., Richter, D.K.,
Riechelmann, D.F., Terente, M., Constantin, S., Mangini, A., Immenhauser, A., 2014.
Physiochemical characteristics of drip waters: Influence on mineralogy and crystal
morphology of recent cave carbonate precipitates. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 145,
13–29.
Ruhl, M., Kürschner, W.M., 2011. Multiple phases of carbon cycle disturbance from large
igneous province formation at the Triassic-Jurassic transition. Geology 39, 431–434.
Ruhl, M., Deenen, M.H.L., Abels, H.A., Bonis, N.R., Krijgsman, W., Kürschner, W.M.,
2010. Astronomical constraints on the duration of the early Jurassic Hettangian stage
and recovery rates following the end-Triassic mass extinction (St Audrie’s Bay/East
Quantoxhead, UK). Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 295, 262–276.
Sandberg, P.A., 1983. An oscillating trend in Phanerozoic non-skeletal carbonate mi-
neralogy. Nature 305, 19.
Schoene, B., Guex, J., Bartolini, A., Schaltegger, U., Blackburn, T.J., 2010. Correlating the
end-Triassic mass extinction and flood basalt volcanism at the 100 ka level. Geology
38, 387–390.
Simone, L., 1980. Ooid: A Review. Earth Sci. Rev. 16, 319–355.
Stanley, S.M., Hardie, L.A., 1998. Secular oscillations in the carbonate mineralogy of reef-
building and sediment-producing organisms driven by tectonically forced shifts in
seawater chemistry. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 144, 3–19.
Strasser, A., 1986. Ooids in Purbeck limestone (lowermost Cretaceous) of the Swiss and
French Jura. Sedimentology 33, 711–727.
Sumner, D.Y., Grotzinger, J.P., 1993. Numerical modeling of ooid size and the problem of
Neoproterozoic ooids. J. Sediment. Petrol. 63, 974–982.
Sunagawa, I., Takahashi, Y., Imai, H., 2007. Strontium and aragonite-calcite precipita-
tion. J. Mineral. Petrol. Sci. 102, 174–181.
Swart, P.K., 2015. The geochemistry of carbonate diagenesis: the past, present and future.
Sedimentology 62, 1233–1304.
Swirydczuk, K., 1988. Mineralogical control on porosity type in upper Jurassic Smackover
ooid grainstones, southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. J. Sediment. Petrol. 58,
339–347.
Thibodeau, A.M., Ritterbush, K., Yager, J.A., West, A.J., Ibarra, Y., Bottjer, D.J., Berelson,
W.M., Bergquist, B.A., Corsetti, F.A., 2016. Mercury anomalies and the timing of
biotic recovery following the end-Triassic mass extinction. Nat. Commun. 7, 11147.
Tomašových, A., 2004. Microfacies and depositional environment of an Upper Triassic
intra-platform carbonate basin: the Fatric Unit of the West Carpathians (Slovakia).
Facies 50, 77–105.
Trower, E.J., Lamb, M.P., Fischer, W.M., 2017. Experimental evidence that ooid size
reflects a dynamic equilibrium between rapid precipitation and abrasion rates. Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett. 468, 112–118.
Van de Schootbrugge, B., Tremolada, F., Rosenthal, Y., et al., 2007. End-Triassic calcifi-
cation crisis and blooms of organic-walled ‘disaster species’. Palaeogeogr.
Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 244, 126–141.
Van de Schootbrugge, B., Payne, J.L., Tomasovych, A., Pross, J., Fiebig, J., Benbrahim,
M., Föllmi, K.B., Quan, T.M., 2008. Carbon cycle perturbation and stabilization in the
wake of the Triassic-Jurassic boundary mass-extinction event. Geochem. Geophys.
Geosyst. 9, 1–16.
Veizer, J., Hoefs, J., 1976. The nature of O18/O16 and C13/C12 secular trends in sedi-
mentary carbonate rocks. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 40, 1387–1395.
Vulpius, S., Kiessling, W., 2018. New constraints on the last aragonite–calcite sea tran-
sition from early Jurassic ooids. Facies 64, 1–9.
Wilkinson, B.H., Buczynski, C., Owen, R.M., 1984. Chemical control of carbonate phases:
Implications from Upper Pennsylvanian calcite-aragonite ooids of southeastern
Kansas. J. Sediment. Petrol. 54, 932–947.
Ziegler, M.A., 2001. Late Permian to Holocene Paleofacies Evolution of the Arabian Plate
and its hydrocarbon occurrences. GeoArabia 6, 445–504.