Conodont 未18O trends from 2 of 4 sampled glacial-interglacial carbonate cycles support previous interpretations that observed water-depth changes were controlled by glacio-eustasy (30-50 m magnitudes) combined with < 1掳 seawater temperature changes. Two additional sampled cycles show initially increasing, then decreasing 未18O trends. Based on these results, we suggest that 未18O better defines a eustatic sea-level curve, rather than a facies-derived curve.
蔚Nd trends in 5 of 8 sampled cycles are higher during regressive intervals (early glacial phase) and lower during sea-level highstands (interglacial phase), supporting the hypothesis that increases in precipitation and/or air temperatures during interglacial intervals result in increased continental weathering rates and/or increased flux of weathered solutes to the Middle Pennsylvanian marine basin. This hypothesis is in contrast to traditional sequence stratigraphic interpretations (increased siliciclastic shedding into marine basins during falling sea level/lowstands) and suggests that climatically-controlled precipitation and/or air temperature fluctuations influenced continental weathering flux more than sea level-controlled shoreline or baseline position in this paleotropical location. These results highlight the use of combined 蔚Nd and 未18O analyses as a tool for evaluating the response of marine and coeval non-marine systems to orbital-scale climate changes, particularly in deep-time depositional systems.