Reconstructing paleoenvironmental conditions through integration of paleogeography, stratigraphy, sedimentology, mineralogy, and stable isotope data of lacustrine carbonates: an example from early Middle Triassic strata of southwest Gondwana, Cuyana Rift, Argentina

Abstract

Reconstructing continental paleoenvironmental conditions (temperature, precipitation, hydrology, and hydrography) is essential for constraining the infuences on terrestrial ecosystems, sediment and solute yields to the ocean and carbon cycles, as well as for calibrating numerical paleoclimate models. Making such reconstructions from lacustrine strata, however, is quite challenging because of varying water sources, fow paths and residence times, paleogeographic effects, and eodiagenesis. Indeed, even stratigraphic evidence of fuctuations in lake level cannot be directly interpreted in terms of changing precipitation because of the complex response of lakes to changing input conditioned by upstream and downstream factors. Such challenges can be addressed by thorough integration of paleogeography, stratigraphy, sedimentology, mineralogy, and stable isotope data of lacustrine carbonates within a framework that accounts for the many and convoluted controls on lake systems.