Biomagnetostratigraphy of the Vikinghogda Formation, Svalbard (Arctic Norway), and the geomagnetic polarity timescale for the Lower Triassic

• Published in: Geological Society of America Bulletin
• Main Authors: Hounslow, Mark W., Peters, Clare, Mork, Atle, Weitschat, Wolfgang, Vigran, Jorunn Os
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: boreal; ammonoids; geochronology; magnetostratigraphy; Pennian-Triassic boundary; Svalbard; CANADA SEDIMENTARY BASIN; END-PERMIAN EXTINCTION; CENTRAL-EUROPEAN BASIN; SOUTHERN ALPS; MAGNETIC-PROPERTIES; TIME-SCALE; TETHYAN MAGNETOSTRATIGRAPHY; CENTRAL SPITSBERGEN; BOUNDARY INTERVAL; BIOTIC CRISIS; Arctic; Canada; Deltadalen; Lambda; Lusitaniadalen; Norway; Vendomdalen; Vikinghogda; sverdrup basin; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: https://risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutput/biomagnetostratigraphy-of-the-vikinghogda-formation-svalbard-arctic-norway-and-the-geomagnetic-polarity-timescale-for-the-lower-triassic(a7913914-8f96-4643-a761-d6030302235d).html; https://doi.org/10.1130/B26103.1

A biomagnetostratigraphy for the Lower Triassic is constructed, using the ammonoid biostratigraphy from Arctic Boreal successions. Combined thermal and alternating field demagnetization determines the Triassic magnetic field polarity in 86% of specimens, with 36% showing linear trajectory line fits and the remainder showing great-circle trends toward the characteristic magnetization. Mean pole directions for the Deltadalen (lambda = 50 degrees, phi = 159 degrees, dp/dm = 3.9 degrees/5.1 degrees), Lusitaniadalen (lambda = 56 degrees, phi = 163 degrees, dp/dm = 4.4 degrees/5.4 degrees), and Vendomdalen (phi = 57 degrees, phi = 143 degrees, dp/dm = 4.4 degrees/5.4 degrees) members fall close to the European Lower Triassic apparent polar wander path. Mean directions for two of these membermeans pass the reversal test. The remanence is predominantly carried by magnetite. The polarity stratigraphy, when integrated with the ammonoid and meager conodont data, is similar to that determined from successions in the Sverdrup Basin (Canada). The Permian-Triassic boundary post-dates a pronounced palynofloral turnover and predates a short duration reverse magnetozone (LT1n.1r). In the correlated Shangsi section (in South China), LT1n.1r occurs after the first appearance datum (FAD) of H. parvus, but in the Arctic is within the Otoceras boreale Zone. The late Griesbachian to early Smithian is mostly reverse polarity, with three normal-polarity intervals, overlain by mid and late Smithian normal polarity. The Spathian contains four reverse-polarity intervals, the oldest one within the early Spathian with the remainder in the late Spathian. The transition into the Anisian is within the uppermost reverse magnetozone, a feature documented in other sections of this age. The polarity pattern is correlated to other marine sections, indicating the robustness of the biomagneto-stratigraphic composite and its utility in calibrating Lower Triassic time.