The Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and its 405-kyr eccentricity cycle phase: a new constraint on radiometric dating and astrochronology

Abstract

Radiometric dating and astrochronologic dating still suffer discrepancies without knowing which one gives the most reliable results. A new tool is proposed to constrain both the approaches. The phase of the 405-kyr signal with respect to the Cretaceous -Paleogene boundary event has been determined in the Aïn Settara section (Kalaat Senan, central Tunisia). We use this phase value (Option 2), as well as an average of phase values obtained from the literature (Option 1), to examine the relationship linking both the radiometric (absolute) age assigned to the K-Pg boundary and the Cenozoic average-value of the ~405-kyr eccentricity period. A new useful constraint emerges: to any absolute age assumed for the K-Pg boundary corresponds a value of the mean Cenozoic 405-kyr period, and vice versa. Supposing a K-Pg boundary radiometric age in the vicinity of 66.0 Ma, then the number of entire cycles (comprised between two minima of the 405-kyr eccentricity signal) within the Cenozoic Period could only be equal to 163. When adding to this figure the parts of the cycles preceding and following these 163 entire cycles the total duration of the Cenozoic Era becomes equal to 163.168 cycles (Option 1) or 163.081 cycles (Option 2). We propose to grant a special interest to the determination of the 405-kyr cycle phase at stratigraphically well documented levels, particularly those that correspond to world-wide, sudden and catastrophic events, that are well located in time by reliable radiometric dates. Résumé : La limite Crétacé -Paléogène et la phase du cycle de 405 ka de l'excentricité : nouvelles contraintes sur la datation radiométrique et l'astrochronologie.-Les datations radiomé-triques et astrochronologiques ne s'accordent pas encore parfaitement, sans que l'on sache laquelle des deux approches est la plus précise. Un nouvel outil est proposé pour contraindre les résultats des deux méthodes. La position précise (phase) de la limite Crétacé -Paléogène (K-Pg) par rapport au cycle de 405 ka a été déterminée dans la coupe de l'Aïn Settara (Kalaat Senan, Tunisie centrale). Cette valeur de phase (Option 2), ainsi que la valeur moyenne des phases obtenues de la littérature (Option 1), sont utilisées pour étudier la relation qui lie l'âge radiométrique assigné à la limite K-Pg et la période moyenne, sur l'ensemble du Cénozoïque, du cycle de 405 ka. Il en résulte une contrainte intéressante : à chaque âge absolu assigné à la limite K-Pg correspond une valeur moyenne de la période du cycle de 405 ka et vice versa. Si l'on suppose que l'âge radiométrique de la limite K-Pg se situe au voisinage de 66,0 Ma, alors, le nombre entier de cycles (compris entre deux minima du signal), que connaît le Cénozoïque, est de 163. Si on additionne à cette valeur la partie de cycle qui précède et celle qui suit ces 163 cycles entiers, on obtient une durée totale du Cénozoïque de 163,168 cycles (Option 1) ou de 163,081 cycles (Option 2). Nous proposons de porter une attention particulière à la détermination de la phase du cycle de 405 ka par...

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