Hostname: page-component-76c49bb84f-zv2rg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-07-09T07:28:39.795Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Towards a Quaternary Time Scale1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

W. A. Berggren ,
L. H. Burckle ,
M. B. Cita ,
H. B. S. Cooke ,
B. M. Funnell ,
S. Gartner ,
J. D. Hays ,
J. P. Kennett ,
N. D. Opdyke  and
L. Pastouret
...Show all authors
W. A. Berggren
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543
L. H. Burckle
Affiliation:
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964
M. B. Cita
Affiliation:
Institute of Geology and Paleontology, University of Milan, Piazzale Gorini 15, Milan, Italy
H. B. S. Cooke
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
B. M. Funnell
Affiliation:
School of Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, University Plain, Norwich NR4 7TJ, England
S. Gartner
Affiliation:
College of Geosciences, Department of Oceanography, College Station, Texas 77843
J. D. Hays
Affiliation:
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964
J. P. Kennett
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Oceanography University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
N. D. Opdyke
Affiliation:
Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, New York 10964
L. Pastouret
Affiliation:
CNEXO Centre Oceanlogique de Bretagne, 29 N. Plouzane, B.P. 337, Brest, France
N. J. Shackleton
Affiliation:
Godwin Laboratory for Quaternary Research, Free School Lane, Cambridge CB2 3RS, England
Y. Takayanagi
Affiliation:
Institute of Paleontology, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Nine first-appearance datums (FADs), twenty-three last-appearance datums (LADs), and three other micropaleontological datums are related to the magnetic-reversal, oxygen-isotope, and calcite-dissolution/coarse-fraction time scales to provide a preliminary basis for subdivision of the Quaternary in deep-sea sediments. The magnetic-reversal, oxygen-isotope, and calcite-dissolution/coarse-fraction scales have been correlated by determination on the same core materials, and absolute dates applied by 40K/40Ar or 14C dating of materials in known positions on one or another of these scales. FADS and LADs have been determined in cores for which either a magnetic-reversal, oxygen-isotope, or calcite-dissolution/coarse-fraction scale has also been available. Altogether 3 FADs and 5 LADs based on diatoms, 4 FADs and 5 LADs based on calcareous nannoplankton, 1 FAD and 8 LADs based on radiolarians, 1 FAD and 5 LADs based on planktonic foraminifers, 2 acme datums, and 1 ratio reversal datum have been determined, and absolute dates inferred by interpolation from known dates on the reference time scales. Some of the FADs and LADs apply or are synchronous only over limited areas of the oceans; others appear to be synchronous throughout the oceans. The base of the Quaternary is set at the top of the Olduvai event at 1.7 my. Four FADs, twelve LADs, two acme datums, and one ratio reversal datum occur above the base of the Quaternary at an average rate of about 1 per 100,000 yr. Five FADs and twelve LADs are recognized in the 0.8-my interval between the top of the Olduvai event and the Gauss/Matuyama Boundary at 2.5 my at an average incidence of about 1 per 50,000 yr.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 13 , Issue 3 , May 1980 , pp. 277 - 302
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

Footnotes

1

Compiled by W. A. Berggren (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution).

References

Berggren, W.A. Phillips, J.D. Bertels, A. Wall, D., (1967). Late Pliocene-Pleistocene stratigraphy in deep cores from the south central North Atlantic. Nature (London) 216 253 254 Google Scholar
Briskin, M. Berggren, W.A., (1975). Pleistocene stratigraphy and quantitative paleo-oceanography of tropical North Atlantic core V16-205 Saito, T. Burckle, L.H. Late Neogene Epoch Boundaries Micropaleontology Press, American Museum of Natural History New York 167 198 Google Scholar
Burckle, L.H., (1971). Late Cenozoic Planktonic Diatoms from the Equatorial Pacific. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis New York University Google Scholar
Burckle, L.H., (1972). Late Cenozoic planktonic diatom zones from the eastern Equatorial Pacific First Symposium on Recent and Fossil Marine Diatoms Simonsen, R. Nova Hedwigia 39 217 246 Google Scholar
Burckle, L.H., (1977). Pliocene and Pleistocene diatom datum levels from the Equatorial Pacific. Quaternary Research 7 330 340 Google Scholar
Burckle, L.H. Hammond, S.R. Seyb, S.M., (1978). A stratigraphically important new diatom from the Pleistocene of the North Pacific. Pacific Science 32 2 209 214 Google Scholar
Cox, A., (1969). Geomagnetic reversals. Science 163 237 245 Google Scholar
Cox, A. Dalrymple, G.B., (1967). Statistical analysis of geomagnetic reversal data and the precision of potassium-argon dating. Journal of Geophysical Research 72 2603 2614 Google Scholar
Dalrymple, G.B., (1972). Potassium-argon dating of geomagnetic reversals and North American glaciations Bishop, W.W. Miller, J.A. Calibration of Hominid Evolution Scottish Academic Press Edinburgh 107 134 Google Scholar
van Donk, J., (1976). An O18 record of the Atlantic Ocean for the entire Pleistocene Investigation of Late Quaternary Paleooceanography and Paleoclimatology Cline, R.M. Hays, J.D. Geological Society of American Memoir 145 147 164 Google Scholar
Emilia, D.A. Heinrichs, D.F., (1969). Ocean floor spreading: Olduvai and Gilsa events in the Matuyama epoch. Science 166 1267 1269 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Emiliani, C., (1955). Pleistocene temperatures. Journal of Geology 63 538 578 Google Scholar
Gartner, S., (1969). Correlation of Neogene planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton zones, in Geology of the American Mediterranean Gulf Coast Assoc. Geological Society Transactions 19 585 599 Google Scholar
Gartner, S., (1972). Late Pleistocene calcareous nannofossils in the Caribbean and their interoceanic correlation. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 12 169 191 Google Scholar
Gartner, S., (1973). Absolute chronology of the late Neogene calcareous nannofossil succession in the Equatorial Pacific. Geological Society of America Bulletin 84 2021 2034 Google Scholar
Gartner, S., (1977). Calcareous nannofossil biostratggraphy and revised zonation of the Pleistocene. Marine Micropaleontology 2 1 25 Google Scholar
Gartner, S. Emiliani, C., (1976). Nannofossil biostratigraphy and climatic stages of Pleistocene. American Association of Petroleum Geology Bulletin 60 1562 1564 Google Scholar
Haq, B. Berggren, W.A. Van Couvering, J.A., (1977). New evidence for the age of the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. 10th International Congress, INQUA No. 194 (abstract) Google Scholar
Haq, B.U. Berggren, W.A. Van Couvering, J.A., (1977). Corrected age of the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary. Nature (London) 269 483 488 Google Scholar
Hays, J.D. Berggren, W.A., (1971). Quaternary boundaries and correlations Funnell, B.M. Riedel, W.R. The Micropaleontology of Oceans Cambridge Univ. Press London/New York 669 691 Google Scholar
Hays, J.D. Shacklton, N.J., (1976). Globally synchronous extinction of the radiolarian Stylatractus universus . Geology 4 649 652 Google Scholar
Hays, J.D. Saito, T. Opdyke, N.D. Burckle, L.H., (1969). Pliocene-Pleistocene sediments of the Equatorial Pacific—their paleomagnetic, biostratigraphic and climatic record. Geological Society of America Bulletin 80 1481 1514 Google Scholar
Heirtzler, J.R. Dickson, G.O. Heron, E.M. Pitman, W.G. III Le Pichon, S., (1968). Marine magnetic anomalies, geomagnetic field reversals and motions of the ocean floor and continents. Journal of Geophysical Research 73 2119 2136 Google Scholar
Johnson, D.A. Knoll, A.H., (1974). Absolute ages of Quaternary radiolarian datum levels in the Equatorial Pacific. Quaternary Research 5 99 110 Google Scholar
Keany, J. Kennett, J.P., (1972). Pliocene-early Pleistocene paleoclimatic history recorded in antarctic-subantarctic deep-sea cores. Deep-Sea Research 19 529 548 Google Scholar
Kennett, J.P., (1970). Pleistocene paleoclimates and foraminiferal biostratigraphy in subantarctic deep-sea cores. Deep-Sea Research 17 125 140 Google Scholar
King, K. Jr. Neville, C., (1977). Isoleucine epimerization for dating marine sediments: Importance of analyzing monospecific foraminiferal samples. Science 195 1333 1335 Google Scholar
Klitgord, K.D. Huestic, S.P. Mudie, J.D. Parker, R.L., (1975). The analysis of near-bottom magnetic anomalies: Sea-floor spreading the magnetized layer. Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society 43 387 424 Google Scholar
Mankinen, E.A. Dalrymple, G.B., (1979). Revised geomagnetic polarity time scale for the interval 0–5 my BP. Journal of Geophysical Research 84 615 626 Google Scholar
McDougall, I. Aziz-ur-Rahman, Age of the Gauss-Matuyama boundary and the Kaena and Mammoth events. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 14 (1972). 367 380 Google Scholar
McDougall, I. Watkins, N.D., (1973). Age and duration of the Reunion geomagnetic polarity event. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 19 443 452 Google Scholar
Morley, J.J. Shackleton, N.J., (1978). Extension of the radiolarian Stylatractus universus as a biostratigraphic datum to the Atlantic Ocean. Geology 6 309 311 Google Scholar
Ninkovich, D. Shackleton, N.J., (1975). Distribution, stratigraphic position and age of ash layer “L” in the Panama Basin region. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 27 20 34 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Opdyke, N.D., (1972). Paleomagnetism of deep-sea cores. Review of Geophysics and Space Physics 10 213 249 Google Scholar
Phillips, J.D. Berggren, W.A. Bertels, A. Wall, D., (1968). Paleomagnetic stratigraphy and micropaleontology of three deep sea cores from the south central North Atlantic. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 4 2 118 130 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saito, T., (1976). Geologic significance of coiling direction in the planktonic foraminifera Pulleniatina . Geology 4 11 305 309 Google Scholar
Saito, T. Burckle, L.H. Hays, J.D., (1975). Late Miocene to Pleistocene biostratigraphy of Equatorial Pacific sediments Late Neogene Epoch Boundarie Saito, T. Burckle, L.H. Micropaleontology, Special Publication 1 Micropaleontology Press, American Museum of Natural History New York 226 244 Google Scholar
Shackleton, N.J., (1969). The last interglacial in the marine and terrestrial records. Proceedings of the Royal Society (London) Series B 174 135 154 Google Scholar
Shackleton, N.J. Opdyke, N.D., (1973). Oxygen isotope and paleomagnetic stratigraphy of Equatorial Pacific cores V28-238: Oxygen isotope temperatures and ice volumes on a 105 year and 106 year scale. Quaternary Research 3 39 55 Google Scholar
Shackleton, N.J. Opdyke, N.D., (1976). Oxygen isotope and paleomagnetic stratigraphy of Pacific core V28-239: Late Pliocene to Latest Pleistocene Investigations of Late Quaternary Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology Cline, R.M. Hays, J.D. Geological Society of America Memoir 145 449 464 Google Scholar
Suggate, R.P., (1974). When did the Last Integlacial end?. Quaternary Research 4 246 252 Google Scholar
Thierstein, H.R. Geitzenauer, K. Molfino, B. Shackleton, N.J., (1977). Global synchroneity of Late Quaternary coccolith datums: Validation by oxygen isotopes. Geology 5 400 404 2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, P.R., (1976). Planktonic foraminiferal dissolution and the progress towards a Pleistocene Equatorial Pacific transfer function. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 6 3 208 227 Google Scholar
Thompson, P.R. Saito, T., (1974). Pacific Pleistocene sediments: Planktonic foraminifera dissolution cycles and geochronology. Geology 2 7 333 335 Google Scholar
Turner, C. West, R.G., (1968). The subdivision and zonation of interglacial periods. Eiszeitalter und Gegenwart 19 93 101 Google Scholar
Vella, P. Ellwood, B.B. Watkins, N.D., (1976). Surface weter temperature changes in the southern ocean southwest of Australia during the last one million years Cresswell, M.M. Quaternary Studies The Royal Society of New Zealand Wellington 297 309 Google Scholar
Vella, P., and Watkins, N. D., in press. Middle and Late Quaternary paleomagnetism and biostratigraphy of four subantarctic deep-sea cores from southwest of Australia. In “O. L. Bandy Memorial Volume.” Univ. of Southern California Press, Los Angeles.Google Scholar
Watkins, N.D., (1972). Review of the development of the geomagnetic time-scale and discussion of prospects for its finer definition. Geological Society of America Bulletin 83 551 574 Google Scholar
Williams, D.F., (1976). Late Quaternary fluctuations of the polar front and subtropical convergence in the southeast Indian Ocean. Marine Micropaleontology 1 363 375 CrossRefGoogle Scholar