Astronomical forcing in Upper Miocene continental sequences: implications for the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale

Mathematics – Logic

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

6

Cyclostratigraphy, Magnetostratigraphy, Subchrons, Spectral Analysis, Astronomical Forcing, Late Miocene

Scientific paper

We present an integrated stratigraphic study of cyclically bedded distal alluvial fan to lacustrine deposits in the late Miocene continental sections of Cascante and Can~izar (Teruel basin, NE Spain). The cyclostratigraphic analysis reveals that different scales of sedimentary cyclicity are present with a thickness ratio of about 1:2:5. Spectral analysis of colour records in the depth domain indicates the presence of a significant peak at ~2.2 m, which corresponds to the average thickness of the basic, mudstone-carbonate, cycle. Other peaks correspond to the large-scale cycle, which consists of clusters of five basic cycles, and to a cycle twice the average thickness of the basic cycle. Magnetostratigraphic results, in combination with small-mammal biostratigraphy, indicate that the three normal polarity intervals recorded in our sections correspond to C5n.2n, C5n.1n and C4Ar.2n. Assigning the ages of CK95 to the polarity reversals implies significant changes in sedimentation rate, which is not in agreement with the regularity of the sedimentary cyclicity. Thus, spectral analysis of high-resolution colour records in the time domain only produce a spectrum that is consistent with Milankovitch climate forcing, if several of the assigned age tie points are excluded. This indicates that the sedimentary cyclicity in these sections is related to astronomical variations in climate and that the ages of reversal boundaries are in error. Hence, we have calculated the astronomical durations for C4Ar.2n (87 ky), C4Ar.3r (54 ky), C5n.1n (141 ky), and C5n.1r (33 ky), which indeed show significant discrepancies with CK95. The duration pattern of our polarity intervals is confirmed by seafloor anomaly profiles and magnetostratigraphic records of deep-sea cores. Consequently, this study demonstrates that astronomically forcing in continental sequences can be a powerful tool to improve the fundamental dating of the geological record.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Astronomical forcing in Upper Miocene continental sequences: implications for the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Astronomical forcing in Upper Miocene continental sequences: implications for the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Astronomical forcing in Upper Miocene continental sequences: implications for the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1057639

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.