I have read in several papers that lighter d13C(org) may be indicative of terrigenous input (landplant) and/or microbial activity (Biodegradation). Some scientists also use d13C(org) value as a proxy for paleoproductivity suggesting that lighter (more 12C) values are indicative of Paleoproductivity and eutrophication. I wonder, to what extent, d13C(org) could be used as a paleoproductivity indicator RELIABLY? Is there any published work on this issue?
There is a lot of published work - though most of it in the marine environment. These may give you a start - but there are hundreds of papers linking d13C to productivity.
Kemp A, GSoL Vol 116 1996,
Boyer et al, PPP, 306. 2013,
Goudie & Viles ESR, 113 2012
La Porte et al PPP, 276, 2009.
PPP is probably the best journal to start with some key word searches...
Dear friends
Thanks for your good explanations and contribution, and also for sharing your knowledge.
We are investigating the Miocene black shale samples which were deposited in a lake under OXIC conditions (Inorganic geochemical approach). However, they contain high TOC (more than 10%). Using pyrolysis and petrographic analyses, the type of OM were determined as type I and II, which are oil-prone and hydrogen rich. on basis of petrografic studies the OM is mainly composed of amorphized algae though some samples contain woody materials (generally less than 10% of the OM). I am trying to interpret this relatively unusual accumulation of algal OM under oxic conditions (the OM has not been oxidized/weathered). The Rock Eval OI is exteremly low. what kind of mechanism saved the OM from oxidation and lossing its hydrogen-rich and oil-prone character. Eutrophication may have compensated for the lack of preservative anoxic conditions.
By the way, decrease in d13Corg is generally accompanied by sharp increase in P/Ti ratios (a proxy for nutrient availablity) which supports the idea of increased productivity during the deposition of black shales.
You may be interested in the attached articles that relates the 13C-isotopic fingerprint of Pinus pinaster Ait. and Pinus sylvestris L. wood with the quality of standing tree
mass (forest productivity) as well as the d13C values of trees with the 13C signature of the corresponding soil.
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