Cadmium enrichments in oolithic carbonates of Bajocian age, Jura Mountains

During a general examination of a soil transect through the Jura Mountains (La Chaud-
de-Fonds - Neuchâtel), elevated cadmium contents were measured in the vicinity of La
Chaud-Fonds. Detailed investigations showed that the positive cadmium anomaly is
related to specifics of the rocky underground, on which the soils developed, rather than
being introduced by soil dynamics themselves. It appears that calcareous, oolithic
sediments of Bajocian age are the main source rocks for this anomaly.

Hitherto, to our knowledge, positive cadmium anomalies have not been established for
this type of sedimentary rocks, at least not for the Jura Mountains. This aspect, together
with the environmental implications related to the release of cadmium to the soils,
renders this project very interesting to our group here.

We propose here, in a first run, to analyse systematically a selection of stratigraphic

sections through Bajocian lime- and marlstones in the Jura Mountains. This would
allow us to trace the cadmium anomaly both in a stratigraphic, as well as in a regional
sense. One of the aims is to follow a NW-SE transect from proximal platform
carbonates to outer shelf marlstones. A series of stratigraphic samples are present at the
Geological Institute in Neuchâtel, on which detailed microfacies, mineralogical and
paleoecological analyses already have been performed. A comparative study will be
performed on oolithic carbonates of other stages, such as the Callovian, Oxfordian,
Kimmeridgian, Purbeckian, Berriassian, Hauterivian and Barremian. Also here, a
selection of well-documented samples are already present at our institute. The here
proposed analyses will be backed up by additional mineralogical analyses (whole rock,
clay minerals).

Secondly, we propose to pursue detailed geochemical analyses in order to determine the

exact location of cadmium within the sedimentary rocks (e.g., relation with carbonate
particles, cement, organic matter, accessory minerals?). Here we foresee the use of
elemental mapping tools, such as the microprobe (if Cd quantities permit).

Based on the results of this two approaches, we would develop a first and preliminary
model of cadmium enrichment, and based on this model, include a series of other
methods, in order to confirm and refine the model. For example, we propose systematic
XRF analyses, in order to establish correlations between cadmium and other elements
(e.g., Zn); systematic facies analysis, in order to establish the degree of dependency
between environment of deposition and enrichment of cadmium, comparative studies
such as on anthropogenic cadmium accumulation rates in present soils.