An integrated field, petrography and sedimentological analysis is coupled with major/traceelements and stable isotope (δ13C, δ18O) compositions in order to decipher the paleoenvironments and the diagenetic conditions in the Neoproterozoic SCIc Formation (> 635-575 Ma) in the Niari/Nyanga and Comba areas (Republic of the Congo). The study recognizes seven major carbonate microfacies and paleoenvironements on the basis of mineralogy, bathymetry, energy, salinity and diagenetic process. It allowed to establish a sedimentological model recording a ramp setting with identified proximal and distal sedimentation. The transition between the shallow- and deeper-water environments is highlighted by the development of an extensive oolitic shoal, about 100 km long, a few km wide and up to 75 m-thick. The evolution of the sedimentation through the 22 studied sections allow to propose a sequence stratigraphy analysis with metre- to pluridecametre- thick depositional sequences from the fifth- to third-orders and highlights the effects of diagenesis on the primary signature of these carbonates. Two categories of fifth-order or elementary parasequences (or cycles) are recognized: (i) subtidal cycles, bounded by marine flooding surfaces across which facies deepen; and (ii) peritidal cycles bounded by subaerial exposure surfaces. These cycles are the result of the interplay of relative sea-level changes due to eustatic variations related to periodic extensional tectonic events affecting the whole basin and leading to uplifted phase in the context of a general block faulting system. The cycles, and the parasequence sets (fourth-order) they are included into a Highstand Systems Tract (HST) of a third-order sequence related to the deposition of the SCI Subgroup. The HST developed above the maximum flooding surface linked to both the deglaciation of the Marinoan Snowball Earth event and extensional tectonic events affecting the whole basin. Giant stromatolitic bioherms (stacked on up to 20 m) are topped by ooid shoals (up to 75 meters thick) with intraclasts and reworked grapestones. These shoals initiated the general regressive prograding phase of the HST that ended with evaporitic and karstic conditions at the top of the SCIc Formation. The equivalent stratigraphic unit of the Bas-Congo Basin (DRC) is compared and a sequence stratigraphy correlation between RC and RDC is attempted, despite no paleontologic data are available, and highlighted the role of the2tectonics affecting both basins. The negative δ18O (-10.3 ‰ to -5.1 ‰) and δ13C (-8.8 ‰ to - 1.1 ‰) values (n=288) in the SCIc Formation record a diagenesis in the meteoric and/or burial realms. Different diagenetic phases have been identified from syn-depositional/early diagenesis to shallow burial. In coarse-grained levels, an isopachous calcite rim cement (initially aragonite as suggested by very high Sr levels in these carbonates) occurs around the components while a blocky calcite cement fills the remaining intergranular pores. Hypersaline conditions are attested by euhedral sulfate minerals now calcitized and silicified. The exposure of these carbonates to meteoric waters was not strong enough or too long to favor large dissolutions, allowing preservation of high Sr values (up to 10000 ppm) in the micritic and in the oolitic facies. These high values suggest that the initial mineralogy was dominantly aragonite. A comparison with the Lower Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Nyanga (Gabon) subbasins in the West Congolian System shows that the meteoric circulation in the lower part of the Schisto-Calcaire Group was regional and not local, and could be due to climatic changlllles during late Neoproterozoic times. Finally, as revealed by their purity in calcium carbonate the oolitic facies is a prime target for the cement industry. The best facies can be recognized very easily in the field thanks to a very intense stylolitization (very tight stylolites, with amplitudes up to 10 cm). At the regional scale, the Niari / Nyanga and Comba basins in the Republic of Congo present the best sedimentary model that is, it is the most complete showing on the field all facies from the microbial 'MISS' facies with giant stromatolites to lagoons and emersion facies with microbial mats, isolated behind a large oolitic shoal which is sometimes interdigitated vertically and horizontally with the giant stromatolites. It is this very complete and detailed succession which made it possible to highlight a phase of tectonic uplift and also made it possible to differentiate the sequences developing directly on the Archean basement from those which overcome the SCIb siltstones. Facies equivalent to Gabon and the Democratic Republic of Congo do not allow to observe all the geometries of these sedimentary bodies. In any case, correlations are possible between these three regions, thanks to the sequential analysis and despite the fact that the δ18O and δ13C have no stratigraphic value, the primary signal having been quite early alter by the meteoric diagenesis. / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ulb.ac.be/oai:dipot.ulb.ac.be:2013/262231 |
| Date | 19 December 2017 |
| Creators | Ackouala Mfere, Anna Perla |
| Contributors | Préat, Alain, Regnier, Pierre A.G., Bonneville, Steeve, Boudzoumou, Florent, Proust, Jean-Noel, Durand, Jacques-Pierre, Fournier, François |
| Publisher | Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Université libre de Bruxelles, Faculté des Sciences – Sciences de la Terre et de l'Environnement, Bruxelles |
| Source Sets | Université libre de Bruxelles |
| Language | French |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, info:ulb-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis, info:ulb-repo/semantics/openurl/vlink-dissertation |
| Format | No full-text files |
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