Extensive outcrops in the Umbria Marche Basin of central Italy include some of the most complete successions of Palaeogene sediments known from the Tethyan Realm. Owing to the continuous deposition in a pelagic setting, a rather modest tectonic overprint, the availability of excellent age control through magneto-, bio-, chemo- and tephrostratigraphy, and direct radioisotopic dates from interbedded volcaniclastic layers, these sediments have played a prominent role in the establishment of standard Palaeogene time scales. We present here a complete and well-preserved Palaeogene pelagic composite succession of the Umbria-Marche Basin, which provides the means for an accurate and precise calibration of the Palaeogene time scale. As a necessary step towards the compilation of a more robust database on a wide scale so as to improve the magneto-, bio- and chronostratigraphic framework of the classical southern Tethyan zonations, enabling regional and supraregional correlations, we have constructed a record of reliable Palaeogene planktonic foraminifera, calcareous nannofossil and dinocyst biohorizons commonly used in tropical to subtropical Cenozoic zonations. In addition, an age model is provided for the Palaeogene pelagic composite succession based on magnetostratigraphy, planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils, which contributes to an integrated chronology for the Palaeogene Tethyan sediments from c. 65.5 to 23 Ma
The GSSP for the base of the Chattian Stage (Paleogene System, Oligocene Series) is defined at meter level 197 in the Monte Cagnero section, which belongs to the pelagic succession of the Umbria-Marche basin (Urbania, central Italy: 43°38′47.81″N-12°28′03.83″E). This level with an astronomical age of 27.82 Ma coincides with the highest common occurrence of the planktonic foraminifer Chiloguembelina cubensis at the base of planktonic foraminiferal O5 Zone and falls in the upper part of calcareous nannofossil NP24 Zone, in the lower part of dinocyst Dbi Zone, and in the lower Chron C9n.
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