Westernmost Tethyan/proto-Atlantic neritic archives of Early Aptian environmental change

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Here I propose a project with focus on the Lower Aptian epeiric-neritic successions of Central Mexico (Palaeo-Gulf of Mexico). This research is motivated by significant recent advances in neritic carbonate research with specific focus on the response of Lower Aptian shoalwater systems to OAE1a-related global perturbations. Previous studies, however, are systematically biased towards the European Tethys and a limited number of papers with focus on the eastern margin of the proto-North Atlantic. These regional limitations represent a significant obstacle in neritic OAE1a research. To the knowledge of the author, a recent, systematic assessment of the Lower Aptian units in Central Mexico that cover the OAE1a time interval is lacking. This knowledge gap is significant as the Palaeo-Gulf of Mexico holds a highly strategic position between the Atlantic and the Pacific domain. Here, it is suggested that the initial focus is on the Aptian San Juan Raya in Central Mexico but expanding this work to Aptian units in northern Mexico (Cupido Fm) is a seriously considered option. Moreover, depending on the results obtained, the expansion of the study window into e.g., Albian units must be discussed. The project is heavily depending on Prof. G. Barrera (UNAM, Mexico City), an expert on the palaeo-ecology of the Cretaceous of Mexico. By combining detailed field geology, state-of-the-art chemostratigraphy and palaeontology as well as palaeo-ecology, an in-depth assessment of Early Aptian global change in a strongly continental, mixed carbonate-clastic succession is aimed at. If successful, this work will significantly improve our view of epeiric-neritic OAE1a research in New World sections and act as template for similar projects elsewhere.