Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphic analysis of the lower Eocene of the Barinatxe section (Western Pyrenees)

The Barinatxe section (Western Pyrenees) contains one of the most complete and expanded deep-water succession of the early Eocene so far described. The succession, cropped out continuously along sea cliffs, is rich in well preserved calcareous nannofossil. The calcareous nannofossil study carried out in Barinatxe section, where a total of 70 autochthonous early Eocene calcareous nannofossil species have been identified, has allowed us to identify Zones NP10, NP11, NP12 and NP13. Furthermore, we have precisely pinpointed the succession of calcareous nannofossil biohorizons and their relative position within the planktic foraminifer zones. The calcareous nannofossil and planktic foraminifer intercalibration scheme resulted from this study does not agree with the current standard biomagnetochronologic correlation scheme. In order to corroborate or contradict our observations similar studies in sections of a wide range of latitudes and depositional environments are neede

The early/middle Eocene transition at the Ésera valley (South Central Pyrenees): Implications in Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZ)

An integrated study including magnetostratigraphy, larger benthic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy is presented herein. This work was performed in shallow marine siliciclastics rich in larger foraminifera, around the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary in the Ésera valley (South-Central Pyrenees). Although the calcareous nannofossil content in the studied interval is low, not allowing a precise Y/L boundary to be recognised, the taxa found are enough to support the chronostratigraphic attribution. Data obtained in the Ésera valley section has improved the knowledge of larger benthic foraminifera (Nummulites and Assilina) distribution through chron C21. SBZ 11 to SBZ 12 transition took place at the lowermost C21r, as shown in previous works. SBZ 12 assemblages extend into C21n, where the SBZ 12 to SBZ 13 boundary occurs. These data, obtained in shallow marine siliciclastic facies, with in situ fauna, results in a shift of the SBZ 12/SBZ 13 boundary to the Lower Lutetian, younger than previously believed. Accordingly, the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary occurs in SBZ 12

The early/middle Eocene transition at the Ésera valley (South Central Pyrenees): Implications in Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZ)

An integrated study including magnetostratigraphy, larger benthic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy is presented herein. This work was performed in shallow marine siliciclastics rich in larger foraminifera, around the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary in the Ésera valley (South-Central Pyrenees). Although the calcareous nannofossil content in the studied interval is low, not allowing a precise Y/L boundary to be recognised, the taxa found are enough to support the chronostratigraphic attribution. Data obtained in the Ésera valley section has improved the knowledge of larger benthic foraminifera (Nummulitesand Assilina) distribution through chron C21. SBZ 11 to SBZ 12 transition took place at the lowermost C21r, as shown in previous works. SBZ 12 assemblages extend into C21n, where the SBZ 12 to SBZ 13 boundary occurs. These data, obtained in shallow marine siliciclastic facies, with in situ fauna, results in a shift of the SBZ 12/SBZ 13 boundary to the Lower Lutetian, younger than previously believed. Accordingly, the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary occurs in SBZ 12

The early/middle Eocene transition at the Ésera valley (SouthCentral Pyrenees) : implications in Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZ)

Acknowledgement. AB fieldwork has been supported by the project PGC2018-093903-C1, additional support came from the projects DR3AM (CGL2014-54118-C2-2-R) MAGIBERII (CGL2017-90632-REDT) and UKRIA4D (PID2019-104693GB-I00/CTA) all of them from the Spanish Science National Plan. The study of calcareous nannofossils was supported by the Research Group of the Basque University System IT-1602-22. Pablo Calvín gave us a hand with the reversal test in Python. The accurate and constructive comments from Johannes Pignatti, Elisabet Beamud, the Journal Manager Laura Rincón, and the editors Carles Martín Closas, Eulàlia Gili and Miguel Garcés helped to improve the original manuscript.An integrated study including magnetostratigraphy, larger benthic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy is presented herein. This work was performed in shallow marine siliciclastics rich in larger foraminifera, around the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary in the Ésera valley (South-Central Pyrenees). Although the calcareous nannofossil content in the studied interval is low, not allowing a precise Y/L boundary to be recognised, the taxa found are enough to support the chronostratigraphic attribution. Data obtained in the Ésera valley section has improved the knowledge of larger benthic foraminifera (Nummulites and Assilina) distribution through chron C21. SBZ 11 to SBZ 12 transition took place at the lowermost C21r, as shown in previous works. SBZ 12 assemblages extend into C21n, where the SBZ 12 to SBZ 13 boundary occurs. These data, obtained in shallow marine siliciclastic facies, with in situ fauna, results in a shift of the SBZ 12/SBZ 13 boundary to the Lower Lutetian, younger than previously believed. Accordingly, the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary occurs in SBZ 12

The early/middle Eocene transition at the Ésera valley (SouthCentral Pyrenees) : implications in Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZ)

Acknowledgement. AB fieldwork has been supported by the project PGC2018-093903-C1, additional support came from the projects DR3AM (CGL2014-54118-C2-2-R) MAGIBERII (CGL2017-90632-REDT) and UKRIA4D (PID2019-104693GB-I00/CTA) all of them from the Spanish Science National Plan. The study of calcareous nannofossils was supported by the Research Group of the Basque University System IT-1602-22. Pablo Calvín gave us a hand with the reversal test in Python. The accurate and constructive comments from Johannes Pignatti, Elisabet Beamud, the Journal Manager Laura Rincón, and the editors Carles Martín Closas, Eulàlia Gili and Miguel Garcés helped to improve the original manuscript.An integrated study including magnetostratigraphy, larger benthic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy is presented herein. This work was performed in shallow marine siliciclastics rich in larger foraminifera, around the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary in the Ésera valley (South-Central Pyrenees). Although the calcareous nannofossil content in the studied interval is low, not allowing a precise Y/L boundary to be recognised, the taxa found are enough to support the chronostratigraphic attribution. Data obtained in the Ésera valley section has improved the knowledge of larger benthic foraminifera (Nummulites and Assilina) distribution through chron C21. SBZ 11 to SBZ 12 transition took place at the lowermost C21r, as shown in previous works. SBZ 12 assemblages extend into C21n, where the SBZ 12 to SBZ 13 boundary occurs. These data, obtained in shallow marine siliciclastic facies, with in situ fauna, results in a shift of the SBZ 12/SBZ 13 boundary to the Lower Lutetian, younger than previously believed. Accordingly, the Ypresian/Lutetian boundary occurs in SBZ 12

Redefinition of the Ilerdian Stage (early Eocene)

The Ilerdian Stage was created by Hottinger and Schaub in 1960 to accommodate a significant phase in the evolution of larger foraminifera not recorded in the northern European basins, and has since been adopted by most researchers working on shallow marine early Paleogene deposits of the Tethys domain. One of the defining criteria of the stage is a major turnover of larger foraminifera, marked by the FO's of Alveolina vredenburgi (formerly A. cucumiformis) and Nummulites fraasi. There is now conclusive evidence that this turnover was coeval with the onset of the Carbon Isotope Excursion (CIE) and, consequently, with the Paleocene-Eocene (P-E) boundary, a temporal correspondence that reinforces the usefulness of the Ilerdian as a chronostratigraphic subdivision of the early Eocene in a regional context. However, in addition to the paleontological criteria, the definition of the Ilerdian was also based on the designation of two reference sections in the southern Pyrenees: Tremp (stratotype) and Campo (parastratotype). In both sections, the base of the stage was placed at the lowest marine bed containing A. vredenburgi specimens. Using the CIE as a correlation tool we demonstrate that these two marine beds occur at different chronological levels, being older in Campo than in Tremp. Further, we show that both beds are in turn younger than the lowest strata with Ilerdian larger foraminifera at the deep-water Ermua section in the Basque Basin (western Pyrenees). Since the age of stage boundaries must be the same everywhere, the choice of these stratotype sections was misleading, since in practice it resulted in the Ilerdian being used as a facies term rather than as a chronostratigraphic unit. To eliminate that conflict, and yet be respectful with established tradition, we propose to redefine the Ilerdian Stage following a procedure similar to the one used by the International Commission on Stratigraphy to establish global chronostratigraphic standards, namely: by using a "silver spike" to be placed in the Tremp section at the base of the Claret Conglomerate, a widespread lithological unit that in the Tremp Graus Basin coincides with the onset of the CIE. The redefined regional Ilerdian Stage becomes thus directly correlatable to the lower part of the global Ypresian Stage, as currently defined by the International Commission on Stratigraphy

The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Lutetian Stage at the Gorrondatxe section, Spain

The GSSP for the base of the Lutetian Stage (early/ middle Eocene boundary) is defined at 167.85 metres in the Gorrondatxe sea-cliff section (NW of Bilbao city, Basque Country, northern Spain; 43º22'46.47" N, 3º 00' 51.61" W). This dark marly level coincides with the lowest occurrence of the calcareous nannofossil Blackites inflatus (CP12a/b boundary), is in the middle of polarity Chron C21r, and has been interpreted as the maximumflooding surface of a depositional sequence that may be global in extent. The GSSP age is approximately 800 kyr (39 precession cycles) younger than the beginning of polarity Chron C21r, or ~47.8 Ma in the GTS04 time scale. The proposal was approved by the International Subcommission on Paleogene Stratigraphy in February 2010, approved by the International Commission of Stratigraphy in January 2011, and ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences in April 2011.Published86-1082.2. Laboratorio di paleomagnetismoJCR Journalrestricte

The Global Stratotype Sections and Points for the bases of the Selandian (Middle Paleocene) and Thanetian (Upper Paleocene) stages at Zumaia, Spain

The global stratotype sections and points for the bases of the Selandian (Middle Paleocene) and Thanetian (Upper Paleocene) stages have been defined in the coastal cliff along the Itzurun Beach at the town of Zumaia in the Basque Country, northern Spain. In the hemipelagic section exposed at Zumaia the base of the Selandian Stage has been placed at the base of the Itzurun Formation, ca. 49 m above the Cretaceous/ Paleogene boundary. At the base of the Selandian, marls replace the succession of Danian red limestone and limestone-marl couplets. The best marine, global correlation criterion for the basal Selandian is the second radiation of the important calcareous nannofossil group, the fasciculiths. Species such as Fasciculithus ulii, F. billii, F. janii, F. involutus, F.pileatus and F. tympaniformis have their first appearance in the interval from a few decimetres below up to 1.1 m above the base of the Selandian. The marker species for nannofossil Zone NP5, F. tympaniformis, first occurs 1.1 m above the base. Excellent cyclostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy in the section creates further correlation potential, with the base of the Selandian occuring 30 precession cycles (630 kyr) above the top of magnetochron C27n. Profound changes in sedimentology related to a major sea-level fall characterize the Danian-Selandian transition in sections along the margins of the North Atlantic. The base of the Thanetian Stage is placed in the same section ca. 78 m above the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary. It is defined at a level 2.8 m or eight precession cycles above the base of the core of the distinct clay-rich interval associated with the Mid-Paleocene Biotic Event, and it corresponds to the base of magnetochron C26n in the section. The base of the Thanetian is not associated with any significant change in marine micro-fauna or flora. The calcareous nannofossil Zone NP6, marked by the first occurrence of Heliolithus kleinpelli starts ca. 6.5 m below the base of the Thanetian. The definitions of the global stratotype points for the bases of the Selandian and Thanetian stages are in good agreements with the definitions in the historical stratotype sections in Denmark and England, respectively

Distribution of calcareous nannofossils in Cretaceous to Paleogene sediments of ODP Hole 208-1262C at Walvis Ridge, South Atlantic Ocean (Appendix A)

Site 1262 in the South Atlantic Ocean has provided a stratigraphically continuous deep Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary sequence. High resolution calcareous nannofossil quantitative analyses were carried out across the K/P boundary, and provided a remarkable record of the abrupt and catastrophic extinction. The calcareous nannofossil assemblages are abundant and well preserved allowing to obtain a precise bioevent sequence and to document in detail the survivors and victims and the subsequent recovery across the K/P boundary. Late Maastrichtian diversity and absolute abundance is high and no decrease towards the boundary has been observed. The relative abundance of Cretaceous species does not suffer important changes during the latest Maastrichtian. However, the increase in abundance of cool-water taxa, paralleled with a decrease of warm water taxa in the uppermost 2 cm of the Maastrichtian, revealed a pulse of surface water cooling. The K/P boundary is marked by an important decrease in calcareous nannofossil absolute abundance, the increase of Cretaceous-persistent species such as Cyclagelosphaera reinhardtii together with the dinoflagellate cysts of Thoracosphaera operculata and the appearance of the new-Paleocene taxa Cyclagelosphaera alta and Biantholithus sparsus. These events are followed by the successive relative abundance increases of other Cretaceous survivors as Zeugrhabdotus sigmoides, Markalius inversus and Biscutum recognized as r-selected taxa, adapted to eutrophic and cold water environments. In the early Danian several first occurrences of small new-Paleocene species have been observed: calcareous nannoplankton evolutionary attempts to colonize vacant niches left by the extinct Cretaceous species. Only some forms succeed and become ancestors to the Cenozoic assemblages - the other disappear in few kiloyear. The presence of a reworking/mixing interval above the K/P boundary hampered to unequivocally interpret if the few Cretaceous-vanishing taxa may have survived for a very short time after the K/P extinction