We report a high-resolution paleomagnetic investigation constrained by new qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses of planktic and benthic foraminifera, nannofossil assemblages, integrated with oxygen and carbon isotope measurements, for the middle Eocene Scaglia limestones of the Contessa Highway section, central Italy. Calcareous plankton assemblages enables recognition of several biostratigraphic events from planktic foraminiferal Zone P11 to the lower part of Zone P15 and from calcareous nannofossil Zone NP15 to the upper part of Zone NP17, which results in refinement of the magnetobiostratigraphy of the Contessa Highway section. Correlation of the paleomagnetic polarity pattern with the geomagnetic polarity timescale provides a direct age interpretation for strata around the middle Eocene Scaglia limestones of the Contessa 2 Highway section, from Chrons C21n (47 Ma) through to Subchron C18n.1n (38.5 Ma). Bulk carbon isotope values indicate a distinct carbon isotopic shift at 40 Ma that is interpreted to represent the first evidence in the northern hemisphere of the middle Eocene climatic optimum that has recently been observed as a stable isotope anomaly in multiple records from the Indian-Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. This should demonstrate a global response of carbon cycle to the proposed transient increased pCO 2 levels during the late middle Eocene and a consequent global CO 2 -driven climate change.

The Oligocene represents an important time period from a wide range of perspectives and includes signifi cant climatic and eustatic variations. The pelagic succession of the Umbria-Marche Apennines (central Italy) includes a complete and continuous sequence of marly limestones and marls, with volcaniclastic layers that enable us to construct an integrated stratigraphic framework for this time period. We present here a synthesis of detailed biostratigraphic, magnetostratigraphic, and chemostratigraphic studies, along with geochronologic results from several biotite-rich volcaniclastic layers, which provide the means for an accurate and precise radiometric calibration of the Oligocene time scale. From this study, the interpolated ages for the Rupelian/Chattian stage boundary, located in the upper half of Chron 10n at meter level 188 in the Monte Cagnero section, and corresponding to the O4/O5 planktonic foraminiferal zonal boundary, are 28.36 Ma (paleomagnetic interpolation), 28.27 ± 0.1 Ma (direct radioisotopic dating), and 27.99 Ma (astrochronological interpolation). These ages appear to be slightly younger than those reported in recent chronostratigraphic time scale compilations. The Monte Cagnero section is a potential candidate for defi ning the Chattian Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) and some reliable criteria are here proposed for marking the Rupelian/Chattian boundary according to International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) recommendations.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract