Biostratigraphical correlation of the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary: Lägerdorf–Hemmoor (northwestern Germany), DSDP Sites 548A, 549 and 551 (eastern North Atlantic) with palaeobiogeographical and palaeoceanographical implications

Abstract

A correlation of the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary is attempted using foraminiferal and nannoplankton data from two areas: the eastern North Atlantic and northwestern Germany. The Boreal benthic and Tethyan planktonic foraminiferal zonation schemes are applied to Site 548A, where both foraminiferal groups occur frequently. A direct comparison of both biozonations reveals that the base of the Maastrichtian, according to planktonic foraminifers, has to be placed in the Upper Campanian of the Boreal benthic foraminiferal biozonation, which concurs with the nannoplankton results. The Tethyan Middle and Upper Maastrichtian are probably equivalent to the Upper Maastrichtian in the Boreal sense. The bases of the Maastrichtian substages are thus diachronous between the Boreal and Tethyan realms. Palaeotemperatures (which were estimated using the oxygen isotopic composition of the Goban Spur chalks) indicate, in combination with palaeowind directions, that the faunal and floral distribution pattern recorded is the result of a stable, warm water outflow from the northwest European epicontinental seas through the Channel area to the Celtic Shelf sea and Goban Spur. This mechanism appears to have been a dominant separating factor of the Boreal and Tethyan bioprovinces on the western European Shelf. 480

Secular variation in Late Cretaceous carbon isotopes: a new δ13C carbonate reference curve for the Cenomanian–Campanian (99.6–70.6 Ma)

“…The tops of the English and Italian curves have been pinned on the δ 13 C maxima defining the Santonian/Campanian Event. The latter is placed at the top of the Gubbio curve, not at the base of the G. elevata Zone established by Premoli Silva & Sliter (1995), because elsewhere in Europe δ 13 C values generally fall through the Lower Campanian (Scholle & Arthur, 1980;Schönfeld & Burnett, 1991;Pratt et al 1993;Jenkyns, Gale & Corfield, 1994;Jarvis et al 2002) above a boundaryevent maximum.…”

Stratigraphy of Maastrichtian Foraminiferida from the United Kingdom; the Maastrichtian of Norfolk

“…This either indicates that there are slight/significant gaps in the stratigraphic record or implies differing preservation in the four slices. The faunal succession is, however, quite comparable to some other areas (NW Germany, see Schonfeld, 1990; Goban Spur, see Schonfeld & Burnett, 1991) and so the blocks of chalk are regarded as being:…”

“…This suggestion was a response to the pragmatic approach of many oil companies, who regularly use extinction events (so-called 'tops') as markers for stratigraphic boundaries. In attempts to demonstrate that the boreal zonation, based on the first appearance of the belemnite Belemnella lanceolata was not coincident with the extinction of G. calcarata, a number of papers appeared, examples of which are Schonfeld & Burnett (1991) and Burnett et al (1992). Recently, Odin (1996) described the faunal succession of the Tercis quarry section in SW France and suggested a number of alternative biohorizons for the Campanian/Maastrichtian boundary, including the appearance of the ammonite Pachydiscus neubergicus (von Hauer, 1858).…”

“…4), these taxa are recorded either side of the lowermost thrust plane (TR1). The other taxa that have ranges terminating or beginning around this interval have been highlighted by Schonfeld & Burnett (1991, fig. 4).…”

High-resolution Campanian–Maastrichtian carbon and oxygen stable isotopes of bulk-rock and skeletal components: palaeoceanographic and palaeoenvironmental implications for the Boreal shelf sea

“…Polished thin-sections cut parallel and perpendicular to the length axis of the prisms were prepared and investigated by TL and CL microscopy. Furthermore, Schönfeld et al (1990) and Schönfeld and Burnett (1991) …”