Pusz, Aimee E. et al. (2006): Upper Eocene microtektites discovered in Alabama; a first-order correlation to the GPTS

Leg/Site/Hole:
ODP 177
ODP 177 1090
Identifier:
2008-068950
georefid

Creator:
Pusz, Aimee E.
Rutgers University, Department of Geological Sciences, Piscataway, NJ, United States
author

Miller, Kenneth G.
author

Wright, James D.
author

Browning, James V.
author

Wade, Bridget S.
author

Kent, Dennis V.
author

Identification:
Upper Eocene microtektites discovered in Alabama; a first-order correlation to the GPTS
2006
In: Anonymous, Geological Society of America, 2006 annual meeting
Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, CO, United States
38
7
120
The age and number of upper Eocene impact layers has been controversial despite several numerical age measurements of approximately 35.5 Ma on a microtektite layer. There appears now to be general agreement that there are 2 upper Eocene impact layers: (1) a younger microtektite dominated layer and (2) an older clinopyroxene-bearing microkrystite layer. Microtektites have previously been found in the North and South Atlantic, Barbados, and the Caribbean Sea. Microtektites and tektites are correlated to the North American Strewn Field based on geochemical evidence and are believed to originate from the Chesapeake Bay Impact Structure. Microkrystites have been found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, and in Europe. The microkrystites are stratigraphically older than the microtektites and appear to have originated from the Popigai Crater in Siberia. One reason for the age controversy is the need for more high-resolution first-order correlation between the microtektite horizons and the geomagnetic polarity time scale (GPTS) in land-based sections. We have evaluated magnetobiostratigraphic correlations at Ocean Drilling Program Site 1090B in the South Atlantic and at St. Stephens Quarry (SSQ) in Alabama, providing first-order correlation between microtektites and the GPTS. The occurrence of microtektites and microkystites at Site 1090B can be directly tied to the GPTS using the published magnetostratigraphy. We have identified sixteen microtektites at SSQ (63.1-63.4 m) that range in size between 212 to 250 mu m within the NP19/20 and P15 biozones. The microtektites are located in the North Twistwood Creek Formation and within the highstand systems tract of the Moodys Branch-NTC sequence. This is the first identification of stratigraphically in place (micro)tektites in North America. SSQ provides an excellent record of sequences and stable isotopes, providing direct evidence for the lack of long-term (>100 kyr) changes in sea level or climate in association with the impacts. At both SSQ and Site 1090, the microtektite layer occurs within the middle of Chronozone C16n.1n with a magnetochronologic age of 35.426 Ma. At Site 1090B the microkrystite layer underlies the microtektite layer and is also correlated with C16n.1n (magnetochronologic age of 35.430 Ma).
English
Coverage:Geographic coordinates:
North:-42.5449
West:8.5359East: 8.5359
South:-42.5449

Stratigraphy; Alabama; Asia; Atlantic Ocean; biozones; Cenozoic; climate change; Commonwealth of Independent States; correlation; Eocene; high-resolution methods; Leg 177; magnetostratigraphy; microtektites; Moodys Branch Formation; North American strewn field; North Twistwood Creek Member; Ocean Drilling Program; ODP Site 1090; paleoclimatology; Paleogene; paleomagnetism; Popigay Structure; Russian Federation; Saint Stephens Quarry; sea-level changes; Siberia; South Atlantic; tektites; Tertiary; United States; upper Eocene;

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