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Eocene–Oligocene global climate and sea-level changes: St. Stephens Quarry, Alabama

Kenneth G. Miller^*,1, James V. Browning¹, Marie-Pierre Aubry¹, Bridget S. Wade^,1, Miriam E. Katz^,1, Andrew A. Kulpecz¹ and James D. Wright¹

¹ Department of Geological Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA

View larger version (36K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Comparison of the sequence stratigraphic interpretation of Baum and Vail (1988) and this study. Quantitative lithology (total = 100%) is derived from the data from the core hole presented here. See Figure 2 for lithology key.

View larger version (40K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Distribution of benthic foraminiferal factor loadings calculated for the SSQ core hole. Shaded areas represent sediments where a particular factor is significant. Below is the depth model developed for the benthic foraminiferal biofacies. Inset is a map showing the location of the St. Stephens Quarry, Alabama (AL), core hole. Gamma log and lithology are shown on left. CPS—counts per second; Fm—formation; Ls—limestone; MS—Mississippi; NJ—New Jersey.

View larger version (20K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Age-depth diagram for the St. Stephens Quarry, Alabama, core hole. Inclination data are from Miller et al. (1993); chron, foraminiferal (F), and nannofossil (N) interpretations are from this study. Solids symbols are magnetochrons. Chronozones—C16, C15r. Open symbols are foraminiferal (triangle indicates lowest occurrence [LO]; inverted triangle indicates highest occurrence [HO]) and nannofossil (circles) datum levels. SB—sequence boundary with ages derived from the plot. Time scale of Berggren et al. (1995; BKSA95). Solid horizontal lines are sequence boundaries. Fm—formation; Ls—limestone. I.—Isthmolithus; T.—Turborotalia; R.—Reticulofenestra; D.—Discoaster; C.—Chiasmolithus.

View larger version (22K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 4. Enlargement of integrated lithology, biofacies, gamma log, stable isotopes, magnetostratigraphy, and age-depth plot for the uppermost Eocene–lowermost Oligocene. Oi1—Oligocene isotope maximum 1; TST—transgressive systems tract; HST—highstand systems tract. Chronozones—C16, C15r. Isotope values are relative to Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB, ). Lithology key is in Figure 2. CPS—counts per second. Stairstep line indicates uncertainties in placement of the Eocene-Oligocene boundary with preferred placement at longest line. Shaded intervals between biofacies are sampling gaps. Time scale of Berggren et al. (1995; BKSA95). Solid horizontal lines are sequence boundaries (SB), dashed lines are maximum flooding surfaces (MFS), wavy lines are hiatuses.

View larger version (29K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 5. Age-depth diagram for the ACGS#4 and Island Beach, New Jersey, core holes. Black dots with error bars indicate strontium isotopic age estimates. Inset map shows the locations of New Jersey core holes discussed in the text. Polarity interpretation is that of van Fossen (1987). Data are derived from Pekar et al. (1997) and Browning et al. (1997). Time scale of Berggren et al. (1995; BKSA95). I.—Isthmolithus; T.—Turborotalia; R.—Reticulofenestra; D.—Discoaster; C.—Chiasmolithus; G.—Globigerinatheka.

View larger version (114K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 6. Scanning electron microscope micrographs of planktonic foraminifera from St. Stephens Quarry. All scale bars 50 µm unless indicated. (A) Globoturborotalia martini, 152.1 ft (46.36 m), Zone O1. (B) Turborotalia ampliapertura, 158.6 ft (48.33 m), Zone E16. Scale bar = 100 µm. (C) Turborotalia ampliapertura, 165.2 ft (50.34 m), Zone E16. Scale bar = 100 µm. (D) Turborotalia cocoaensis, 165.2 ft (50.34 m), Zone E16. Scale bar = 100 µm. (E–G) Chiloguembelina ototara, 152.1 ft (46.36 m), Zone O1. (F) Scale bar = 20 µm. (G) Scale bar = 10 µm. (H, I) Pseudohastigerina naguewichiensis, 156.5 ft (47.70 m), Zone O1. (J) Dentoglobigerina spp., 165.2 ft (50.34 m), Zone E16. Scale bar = 100 µm. (K, L) Protentella spp. (same specimen), 160.8 ft (49.01 m), Zone E16. (M) Hantkenina primitiva, 165.2 ft (50.34 m), Zone E16. Scale bar = 100 µm. (N) Cassigerinella chipolensis, 152.1 ft (46.36 m), Zone O1. (O) Dipsidripella danvillensis, 178.0 ft (54.25 m). (P, Q) Dipsidripella davillensis, 178.0 (54.25 m). Scale bar in Q = 10 µm.

View larger version (108K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 7. Core photographs of sequence boundaries.

View larger version (33K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 8. Distribution of sediments from the upper Eocene–lower Oligocene of the New Jersey and Alabama coastal plains shown as a function of time and compared to the eustatic records of Miller et al. (2005a) and Haq et al. (1987; recalibrated to the time scale of Berggren et al., 1995 [BKSA, 95]) and the benthic foraminiferal 18O record at Site 1218 (Lear et al., 2004; Coxall et al., 2005) and SSQ (this study). P is precursor. Arrows are drawn isotopic maximum (e.g., Oi1, Oi1a). Lithology key is in Figure 2.

View larger version (10K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 9. Comparison of our eustatic model for the latest Eocene to earliest Oligocene (center panel) with the depositional history of the corresponding sequences. LST—low-stand system tract, TST—trangressive system, MFS—maximum flooding surface, HST—highstand systems tract, g—glauconite. On right are the oxygen isotopic records for Site 1218 (black) and SSQ (this study, red). Time scale of Berggren et al. (1995).