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Belemnite-based strontium, carbon and oxygen isotope stratigraphy of the type area of the Maastrichtian Stage*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2014

H.B. Vonhof ,
J.W.M. Jagt ,
A. Immenhauser ,
J. Smit ,
Y.W. van den Berg ,
M. Saher ,
N. Keutgen  and
J.J.G. Reijmer
H.B. Vonhof*
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculteit Aard- en Levenswetenschappen, De Boelelaan 1085, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
J.W.M. Jagt
Affiliation:
Natuurhistorisch Museum Maastricht, de Bosquetplein 6-7, NL-6211 KJ Maastricht, the Netherlands
A. Immenhauser
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculteit Aard- en Levenswetenschappen, De Boelelaan 1085, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
J. Smit
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculteit Aard- en Levenswetenschappen, De Boelelaan 1085, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Y.W. van den Berg
Affiliation:
TNO Built Environment and Geosciences, Princetonlaan 6, NL-3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands
M. Saher
Affiliation:
University of Plymouth, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, 8 Kirkby Place, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom
N. Keutgen
Affiliation:
KFPBR, Uniwersytet Techniczno Bydgoszcz, ul. Bernardyńska 6/8, PL-85 029 Bydgoszcz, Poland
J.J.G. Reijmer
Affiliation:
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculteit Aard- en Levenswetenschappen, De Boelelaan 1085, NL-1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
*
*Email: h.b.vonhof@vu.nl

Abstract

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Belemnitellid cephalopods from the Maastrichtian stratotype area (southeast Netherlands) are shown to be comparatively well preserved. Although partial diagenetic alteration has been observed, micromilling techniques have permitted the extraction of pristine belemnite calcite, suitable for the reconstruction of strontium (Sr), oxygen (O) and carbon (C) isotope variation of Maastrichtian seawater. A distinct Sr isotope pattern in the Maastricht record can be matched stratigraphically with records from Hemmoor (northern Germany), El Kef (Tunisia) and ODP site 690 (Maud Rise, Antarctica), leading to a new chemostratigraphical age model for the Maastrichtian stratotype section. Our data improve currently applied strontium isotope stratigraphical reference curves by revealing an Sr isotope inflection pattern near the lower/upper Maastrichtian boundary that is a potentially diagnostic feature for intra-Maastrichtian stratigraphical correlation between distant sections. Belemnites further show significant stratigraphical oxygen isotope variation through the Maastrichtian. We interpret this variation to have resulted from palaeoceanographic reorganisations in the Atlantic Ocean during this time interval.

Keywords

strontium isotope stratigraphyMaastrichtiantype areabelemnitesdiagenesis

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 90 , Issue 2-3 , November 2011 , pp. 259 - 270
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2011

Footnotes

*

In: Jagt, J.W.M., Jagt-Yazykova, E.A. & Schins, W.J.H. (eds): A tribute to the late Felder brothers – pioneers of Limburg geology and prehistoric archaeology.

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