T177 Correlation of Global Stages, Series, and Systems into North American Stratigraphic Successions

Tuesday, 12 October 2021
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
A106

THE GLOBAL BOUNDARY STRATOTYPE SECTION AND POINT (GSSP) FOR THE BASE OF THE CONIACIAN STAGE (SALZGITTER-SALDER, GERMANY) AND ITS AUXILIARY SECTIONS (SŁUPIA NADBRZEŻNA, CENTRAL POLAND; STŘELEČ, CZECH REPUBLIC; AND EL ROSARIO, NE MEXICO)

Paper number: T177-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 3:50 PM – 4:05 PM

Authors

Abstract

The Salzgitter-Salder section, northern Germany, is the Global Boundary Stratotype Section (GSSP) for the base of the Coniacian Stage (Upper Cretaceous); it was ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences on May 1st, 2021. This succession, composed of uniform limestone / marly limestone / marl alternations, contains common to abundant critical groups of macrofossils (inoceramids) and microfossils (planktonic and benthic foraminifera, nannofossils and organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts), and a good and reliable carbon isotope signal. The integrated bio- and chemostratigraphic records derived from Salzgitter-Salder allow for well constrained long-distance correlations.

The base of the Coniacian Stage is defined by the first occurrence of the inoceramid Cremnoceramus deformis erectus (Meek), and is placed at the base of Bed 46. The first appearance of C. deformis erectus follows shortly after the first appearance of its evolutionary predecessor, C. waltersdorfensis waltersdorfensis, which marks the main turnover event in the evolutionary history of the clade around the base of the Coniacian.

In addition there are three auxiliary sections for the base of the Coniacian Stage, which are Słupia Nadbrzeżna (Poland), the Střeleč section (Bohemia), and the El Rosario section (Mexico).

The Słupia Nadbrzeżna section provides an excellent inoceramid record across the boundary interval, allowing for high-resolution correlation to the Salzgitter-Salder section, and demonstrates that the ammonite Forresteria (H.) petrocoriensis first enters the stratigraphic record in the upper Turonian. It additionally documents the latest Turonian lowest occurrence of the planktonic foraminifera Dicarinella concavata.

In Střeleč, the biostratigraphic and chemostratigraphic records are shown to be faithfully recorded in a depositional system influenced by substantial terrigenous clastic input.

The El Rosario section provides a rich record of the North American ammonite succession and demonstrates the presence and chronostratigraphic validity of most of the bio- and isotopic events recognized in Salzgitter-Salder also in North America. It documents the uppermost Turonian lowest occurrence of the planktonic foraminifera Dicarinella concavata; it shows that the LAD of Huberella huberi is distinctly younger than the basal Coniacian, and is at least as young as the base of the Forresteria (F.) allaudi ammonite Zone and a mid-level of the Cremnoceramus crassus inconstans inoceramid Zone.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 53, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2021AM-371351

© Copyright 2021 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.