High-resolution integrated stratigraphy of the upper Burdigalian-lower Langhian in the Mediterranean: the Langhian historical stratotype and new candidate sections for defining its GSSP

• Main Authors: Iaccarino, S. M., Di Stefano, A., Foresi, L. M., Turco, E., Baldassini, N., Cascella, A., Da Prato, S., Ferraro, L., Gennari, R., Hilgen, F. J., Lirer, F., Maniscalco, R., Mazzei, R., Riforgiato, F., Russo, B., Sagnotti, L., Salvatorini, G., Speranza, F., Verducci, M.
• Other Authors: Iaccarino, S. M.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Parma, V.le G.P. Usberti 157/A - 43100 Parma (Italy), Di Stefano, A.; Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, University of Catania, Corso Italia 55 - 95129 Catania (Italy), Foresi, L. M.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8 - 53100 Siena (Italy), Turco, E.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Parma, V.le G.P. Usberti 157/A - 43100 Parma (Italy), Baldassini, N.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8 - 53100 Siena (Italy), Cascella, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Da Prato, S.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8 - 53100 Siena (Italy), Ferraro, L.; Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) – CNR, Calata Porta di Massa 80 - 80133 Napoli (Italy), Gennari, R.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Parma, V.le G.P. Usberti 157/A - 43100 Parma (Italy), Hilgen, F. J.; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Utrecht, Budapestlaan 4 - 3584 CD Utrecht (The Netherlands), Lirer, F.; Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) – CNR, Calata Porta di Massa 80 - 80133 Napoli (Italy), Maniscalco, R.; Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, University of Catania, Corso Italia 55 - 95129 Catania (Italy), Mazzei, R.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8 - 53100 Siena (Italy), Riforgiato, F.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8 - 53100 Siena (Italy), Russo, B.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Naples, Largo S. Marcellino 10 – 80138 Napoli (Italy), Sagnotti, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Salvatorini, G.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8 - 53100 Siena (Italy), Speranza, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Verducci, M.; Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8 - 53100 Siena (Italy), Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Parma, V.le G.P. Usberti 157/A - 43100 Parma (Italy), Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, University of Catania, Corso Italia 55 - 95129 Catania (Italy), Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8 - 53100 Siena (Italy), Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino Costiero (IAMC) – CNR, Calata Porta di Massa 80 - 80133 Napoli (Italy), Department of Earth Sciences, University of Utrecht, Budapestlaan 4 - 3584 CD Utrecht (The Netherlands), Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Naples, Largo S. Marcellino 10 – 80138 Napoli (Italy)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Micro Press 2011
• Subjects: calcareus plankton stratigraphy; magnetostratigraphy; Langhian GSSP; Mediterranean; mid-latitude North Atlantic Ocean; 04. Solid Earth::04.04. Geology::04.04.10. Stratigraphy; 04. Solid Earth::04.05. Geomagnetism::04.05.06. Paleomagnetism; Curva; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7635

Results of high-resolution integrated stratigraphic studies (calcareous plankton and magnetostratigraphy) of three Mediterranean sections (La Vedova in Central Italy, Contrada Pesciarello in Sicily and St. Peter’s Pool in Malta) and one deep-sea core from the mid-latitude North Atlantic (DSDP Hole 608) are here synthesized. They are compared with those of previously studied deep marine sections in the Mediterranean including the historical stratotype, with the aim to select the most suitable section and criterion to define the Langhian GSSP (Global Stratotype Section and Point). This study significantly improves the existing magnetobiostratigraphic framework for the upper Burdigalian-lower Langhian and opens new perspectives for defining the Langhian GSSP. An extensive review of the first stages of the Globigerinoides-Praeorbulina evolutionary lineage pointed out that the Praeorbulina datum, historically used (and/or suggested) to approximate the base of the Langhian, coincides with the First Occurrence (FO) of P. glomerosa curva instead of P. sicana which is here included in the genus Globigerinoides. The FO of P. glomerosa curva occurs close to the C5Br/C5Bn.2n reversal boundary. As a consequence, the two recommended guiding criteria to recognize the base of the Langhian, i.e. the Praeorbulina datum and the top of Chron C5Cn.1n, can not be applied together, as these two events differ in age by ~740 kyr. The selection of either of these two criteria will imply a different duration for the Langhian: relatively short, in case the FO of P. glomerosa curva is selected, or longer and probably more acceptable, in case the top of Chron C5Cn.1n is selected. The primary calcareous plankton biohorizons which, according to our data, appoximate the top of Chron C5Cn.1n, are the Last Common Occurrence (LCO) of the calcareous nannofossil Helicosphaera ampliaperta and the LCO of the planktonic foraminifer Paragloborotalia bella. Other calcareous plankton events have been recorded close to the same magnetic reversal, such as a ...