Stable Carbon Isotope Stratigraphy of the Cambrian Machari Formation in the Yeongweol Area, Gangweon Province, Korea

Abstract

The Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion (SPICE) is found in the Machari Formation which was interpreted to have been deposited on the middle to outer carbonate ramp environment. The Machari Formation is the Middle to Late Cambrian in age and distributed in the Yeongweol area, Gangweon Province, Korea. The SPICE event in the Machari Formation begins with the first appearance datum of trilobite Glyptagnostus reticulatus and ends with the first appearance of datum of trilobite Irvingella. The SPICE is found in approximately 120 m thick sequence and δ13 C values in the SPICE interval range from 0.6 to 4.4‰. The SPICE in the Machari Formation is interpreted to be caused by burial of organic matter in the sea floor and subsequent increase of 13 C isotope of the Late Cambrian ocean. The SPICE interval in the Machari Formation corresponds to the highstand to transgressive systems tracts.