GSSP for Albian Stage
Definition:
The base of the Albian Stage is defined at a level 37.4m above the base of the Marnes Bleues Formation and 40 cm above the base of the Niveau Kilian marker bed in the section SSE of the Col de Pré-Guittard, Arnayon, Drôme, France. This level coincides with the first appearance of the planktonic foraminiferan Microhedbergella renilaevis Huber & Leckie, 2011, and can be placed in the context of 28 secondary markers including nannofossils, planktonic foraminifera, ammonites, an inoceramid bivalve and stable carbon isotopes.
Location:The GSSP of the Albian Stage is located 400m south of the Ferme de Pré- Guittard and 830m SSE of the Col de Pré-Guittard in the commune of Arnayon. The Section lies 11km NNW of Rémuzat and 19km NW of Rosans, Drôme at a latitude of 44° 29’47"N and a longitude of 5°18’ 41"E on the French Série Bleue 1:25,000 Sheet 3138E, La Motte- Chalançon. |
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Sedimentology:The GSSP lies in the Marnes Bleues Formation. This formation consists of marls with varying carbonate and organic carbon content. Levels with higher carbonate content weather out as slightly more resistant levels. Levels of higher organic carbon content are frequently laminated, and are again slightly more resisting to weathering. The base of the section is drawn at the Faisceau Fromaget, the highest well-cemented limestone bed.There are 4 organic rich marker beds in the section. Niveau Jacob at 2.5 – 4m. Niveau Kilian (1m thick) with its base at 37m. The Albian GSSP is located 40 cm above the base of the Kilian Niveau. Niveau Paquier (1.5m thick) with its base at 68m. Niveau Leenhardt at 101.5m. In addition there are 5 better cemented levels ("délits calcaires) in the lower 45m of the section. |
Primary Markers:
The base of the Albian Stage corresponds to the first occurrence of the planktonic foraminiferan Microhedbergella renilaevis at 37.4m above the Faisceau Fromaget bed of the Marnes Bleues.Secondary Markers:
There are 28 secondary markers near the GSSP.Zero level corresponds to topmost limestone of the Faisceau Fromaget of the Marnes Bleues:
| 109.5m | Occurrence of ammonite Hoplites (Isohoplites) steinmanni |
| 101.5m | Niveau Leenhardt with ammonites of Douvilleiceras mammillatum group |
| 95m | FAD of nannofossil Serbiscutum primitivum |
| 70m | LAD of nannofossil Broinsonia viriosa |
| 70m | Termination of the negative carbon-isotope excursion at the top of Niveau Paquier |
| LAD of ammonite Hypacanthoplites anglicus in upper part of Niveau Paquier | |
| FAD of ammonites Douvilleiceras and Oxytropidoceras within the Niveau Paquier | |
| 68m | Base of Niveau Paquier, FADS of ammonite Leymeriella tardefurcata and bivalve Actinoceramus salomoni coptensis. Begin of negative carbon-isotope excursion. |
| 66.6m | Consistent FAD of circular nannofossil Prediscosphaera columnata |
| 63.3m | FAD of nannofossil Laguncula dorotheae |
| 60m | FAD of nannofossil Broinsonia viriosa |
| 46m | Acme of palynomorph Hapsocysta peridictya |
| 37.4m | FAD of planktonic foraminiferan Microhedbergella renilaevis (GSSP) |
| 37.4m | Minimum value of negative carbon-isotope excursion. |
| 37m | Base of Niveau Kilian |
| 36.8m | LAD of planctonic foraminferan Pseudoguembelitria blakenosensis |
| 36m | FAD of nannofossil Gartnerago stenostaurion |
| 35m | FAD of planktonic foraminiferan Microhedbergella miniglobularis |
| 34.75m | LAD of planktonic foraminiferans Paraticinella rohri (= Ticinella bejaouensis and Paraticinella eubejaouensis) and Hedbergella aptiana |
| 33.5m | LAD of planktonic foraminiferan Hedbergella infracretacea |
| 29.5m | FAD of circular nannofossil Prediscosphaera columnata and FAD of nannofossil Helicolithus trabeculatus |
| 6m | FAD of subcircular nannofossil Prediscosphaera columnata |
| 2.5 - 4.0m | Niveau Jacob |
| 0 | Topmost limestone of the Faisceau Fromaget |
Correlation Events:
Planktonic foraminiferan FAD Microhedbergella renilaevisReferences:
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