The Pliocene‐Pleistocene boundary in Southeastern Australia

In southwest Victoria thin sequences of upper Cainozoic marine to non‐marine mainly calcareous sediments occur at Portland and in the Glenelg River valley near Dartmoor. At Portland the Whalers Bluff Formation is shown to lie wholly within foraminiferal zone N19 (early Pliocene) which has age limits of about 3.0 to 4.8 m.y. Basalts overlying this formation give consistent K‐Ar ages averaging 2.51 ± 0.04 m.y.

In the Glenelg River valley, subaerial basalts yielding K‐Ar ages of 2.24 to 2.46 m.y. are overlain by shallow neritic sands and littoral calcarenites which belong to the type Werrikooian of F. A. Singleton, here included in the Werrikoo Limestone. Some distance above the base of the Werrikoo Limestone, Globorotalia truncatulinoides appears, the incoming of which defines the base of planktonic foraminiferal zone N22. The base of zone N22 closely approximates the beginning of the Pleistocene defined as the base of the Calabrian stage in Italy, and has an age of about 1.7 m.y. Thus the Werrikoo Limestone was deposited during late N21 and N22 time, straddling the Pliocene‐Pleistocene boundary and providing a reference standard for southeastern Australia as a whole.

It is shown that the Whalers Bluff Formation and the Werrikoo Limestone are separated in both space and time, contrary to the conclusions of earlier workers.     

南半球白垩纪-古近纪之交生物灭绝期孢粉地层学

白垩纪-古近纪(K-Pg)生物大灭绝事件前后的孢粉植物群的变化,可以详细揭示植被对一场全球环境危机(6550万年前小行星撞击现今的墨西哥)的响应。在K-Pg界线处有一些植物门类灭绝了,因此孢粉地层学是确定非海相序列中白垩纪-古近纪界线的主要工具。南半球包括以下植物区:热带至亚热带棕榈植物大区,高纬度Nothofagidites/Proteacidites大区,以及一个含有混合的植物组分的过渡区域。在棕榈植物大区,一些马斯特里赫特期的关键物种在白垩纪-古近纪界线处灭绝了,包括Aquilapollenites magnus、Buttinia andreevi、Crassitricolporites brasiliensis、Proteaci ditesdehaani和Gabonisporis vigourouxii。在Nothofagidites/Proteacidites大区,Tricolporite slilliei、Triporopollenites sectilis、Quadraplanus brossus、Nothofagidites kaitangata和Grapnelispora evansii等物种最后出现于白垩纪-古近纪界线处。由此可见,我们需要对南半球与中国的K-Pg界线处的孢粉信息进行更详尽的分析,才能更详细地了解不同纬度、不同地点的植被对墨西哥尤卡坦撞击事件的响应。     

The Shergotty Consortium and SNC meteorites: An overview

The Shergotty meteorite has a multi-phase (magmatic and shock) history. While the Shergotty picture is complex, consortium studies have advanced our knowledge and understanding of Shergotty and shergottites, nakhlites and Chassigny (SNC) meteorites. Martian origin for the SNC meteorites is strongly favored by several workers from the evidence of trapped noble gases and nitrogen compositions in glasses (lithology C) of the EETA 79001 meteorite, which compare well with the Martian atmosphere analysis made by the Viking Spacecraft. The parent body is about 2 to 4 times richer in volatiles (Cl, Br, Na, K, Rb, Zn, F, Pb, etc.) than the Earth. Consortium studies on Shergotty show very low thermoluminescence, no deformation of tracks, cosmic ray exposure age of about 2.5 million years (m.y.), a pre-atmospheric size of about 12 cm radius, and apparently one shock event at 30 GPa pressure that converted plagioclase to maskelynite. The crystallization age of Shergotty by the Sm-Nd method is 360 ± 16 m.y. The Rb-Sr age for Shergotty is reported as 166 m.y. and the Pb-U age as about 200 m.y. Interpretations of age-dating and exposure scenarios are controversial and may require further studies.At least two scenarios for the ejection of SNC meteorites are possible: 1) ejection as a large body (>6 m size) by a single impact on Mars and then multiple breakup in the asteroidal belt at about 11 m.y. for Chassigny and nakhlites, at 2.5 m.y. for Shergotty, Zagami and ALHA 77005, and at 0.6 m.y. for EETA 79001; and 2) ejection of small objects (<0.5 m size) by multiple impacts on the Martian terrain at 11, 2.5 and 0.6 m.y. with no breakup in space.     

Basic data on the age of the boundaries between certain geological systems and epochs

Many K-Ar ages have been accumulated in the world's geochronologidal laboratories but, as different decay constants are used in various countries for calculation of the formulae, it is difficult to compare the figures. Data from parallel K-Ar determinations on the one hand and from Rb-Sr and U-Pb figures often compare more favorably with the K-Ar ages calculated from the constants used in the Soviet Union. (λk - 0.557?10^-10/year; λβ = 4.72?10^-10/year). There follows a review of reference points in post-Precambrian time. A comparison of ages of individual geological boundaries with Kulp's 1961 scale is given. The Jurassic-Cretaceous and Triassic-Jurassic boundaries are identical in age on the basis of our new data and on Kulp's scale. The base of the Triassic cannot be older than 230-240 million years, and its duration is 40 m. y., which is more likely than the 50 m. y. suggested by Kul.P. We retain Kulp' s age of 280 m. y. for the Carboniferous- Permian boundary. The suggested age of the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary is 15 m. y. younger than Kulp's. The Silurian-Devonian boundary has been fixed on a single figure of 405 m. y. Kulp assesses the duration of the Silurian at 20 m. y., but we propose 25 m. y. The Proterozoic-Cambrian boundary cannot be older than 560 m. y. The 70 m. y. duration of the Cambrian is more realistic than Kulp's estimate which approaches 100 m. y. — J. E. Haun.     

A lead isotope study of mineralization in the Saudi Arabian Shield

New lead isotope data are presented for some late Precambrian and early Paleozoic vein and massive sulfide deposits in the Arabian Shield. Using the Stacey Kramers (1975) model for lead isotope evolution, isochron model ages range between 720 m.y. and 420 m.y. Most of the massive sulfide deposits in the region formed before 680 m.y. ago, during evolution of the shield. Vein type mineralization of higher lead content occurred during the Pan African event about 550 m.y. ago and continued through the Najd period of extensive faulting in the shield that ended about 530 m.y. ago. Late post-tectonic metamorphism may have been responsible for vein deposits that have model ages less than 500 m.y. Alternatively some of these younger model ages may be too low due to the mineralizing fluids acquiring radiogenic lead from appreciably older local crustal rocks at the time of ore formation.The low²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios found for the deposits in the main part of the shield and for those in north-eastern Egypt, indicate that the Arabian craton was formed in an oceanic crustal environment during the late Precambrian. Involvement of older, upper-crustal material in the formation of the ore deposits in this part of the shield is precluded by their low²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb characteristics.In the eastern part of the shield, east of longitude 44°20E towards the Al Amar-Idsas fault region, lead data are quite different. They exhibit a linear²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb-²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb relationship together with distinctly higher²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb characteristics. These data imply the existence of lower crustal rocks of early Proterozoic age that apparently have underthrust the shield rocks from the east. If most of the samples we have analyzed from this easterly region were mineralized 530 m.y. ago, then the age of the older continental rocks is 2,100±300 m.y. (2).The presence of upper crustal rocks, possibly also of early Proterozoic age, is indicated by galena data from Hailan in South Yemen and also from near Muscat in Oman. These data are the first to indicate such old continental material in these regions.     

The lower boundary of the Adelaide system and older basement relationships in south Australia∗

The stratigraphical problem of defining the lower boundary of the Adelaide System is discussed in relation to the geology of several critical areas in the Adelaide Geosyncline and adjacent shelf‐platform.

The Precambrian stratigraphical succession and geological history is outlined with the aid of Rb/Sr age‐determinations made by Dr W. Compston of the Australian National University.

It is concluded that the lower boundary of the Adelaide System is related to the collapse of older basement positive areas on which a regional erosional surface had developed. This surface is defined by the Callanna Beds, the oldest deposits of Willouran age. Willouran sedimentation began some time between 1,340 m.y. and 1,490 m.y. ago. Erosion of the basement rocks probably occupied a major early part of this time interval.     

A proposal for time‐stratigraphic subdivision of the Australian Precambrian

Sufficient stratigraphic and radiometric data are now available to provide the basis for a time‐stratigraphic subdivision of the Precambrian in Australia.

The data show that a major stratigraphic break occurred from about 2,600 to 2,300 m.y. and another at about 1,800 m.y., and that igneous activity was widespread from 2,700 to 2,600 m.y., and at about 1,800 m.y. and 1,500 m.y. Three largely unmetamorphosed rock sequences represent most of the time‐interval from 2,300 m.y., to the start of the Cambrian.

The terms Archaean and Proterozoic are tentatively retained with a boundary dated at or before about 2,300 m.y. Time‐rock subdivision of the Proterozoic is proposed in terms of the three unmetamorphosed rock sequences deposited after 2,300 m.y. The oldest time‐rock unit is to be defined from the Hamersley Range area of Western Australia and is tentatively named the Lower Proterozoic ("Nullaginian") System with a base dated at about 2,300 m.y. The other units are the Carpentarian and Adelaidean Systems which have bases dated at about 1,800 m.y. and 1,400 m.y., respectively. The top of the Adelaidean System is defined by the base of the Cambrian.

The boundaries between the proposed time‐rock units have ages comparable with those of boundaries between some overseas Precambrian subdivisions based on plutonic events.     

震旦系质疑及有关上元古界地层问题

1975年全国震旦系讨论会,根据近年来地层、古生物和同位素年龄的研究成果,认为南方震旦系和北方震旦系是上、下关系;并暂定南方震旦系(三峡层型剖面)称震旦系,北方震旦系(蓟县层型剖面)另建长城系、蓟县系、青白口系,与上述震旦系合称震旦亚界,归入上元古界。1976年出版的中华人民共和国地质图和亚洲地质图的元古代地层图例,即根据此方案编制的。这个方案虽是过渡性的,它对确定我国震旦亚界的地层层序,推动前寒武纪地层的深入研究,还是起了一定的积极作用。 不容讳言,对上述方案,有许多地质工作者曾表示不便反对,也不敢赞同。希望多做些工作,以求在实践中逐步统一认识,解决存在的问题。     

Geohistorical development of the Tochiyama landslide in north-central Japan

The Tochiyama landslide is one of several complex, deep-seated and large-scale landslides occurring in the Hokuriku Province in central Japan. The landslide is about 2 km long and about 500–1100 m wide; it occupies an area of approximately 150 ha and has a maximum depth of 60 m. The slide developed on a dip-slope structure, and is divisible into three layers in ascending order: older landslide debris and avalanche deposits, younger debris-avalanche deposits, and talus. The landslide complex is still active. A triangulation point on the upper part of the landslide shifted downhill by 3.3 m from 1907 to 1983, indicating an average rate of 4.3 cm/y. In 1991, the average rate of movement on the sliding surface was also 4.3 cm/y as measured by an automatic system with inclinometers installed in borehole No. 1–2. The rate measured for borehole No. 1–3, located 380 m upslope from No. 1–2, was over twice that of No. 1–2 for the same period; it has since accelerated to about 19 cm/y. Thus current movements on the basal sliding surface are inhomogeneous; the head of the slide complex is increasing the horizontal granular pressures on the lower part of the slide block.

On the basis of dating of two tephra layers and¹⁴C dating of carbonized wood intercalated within the landslide body, two stages of slide movement have been distinguished. The earlier occurred between about 46,000 to 25,000 years ago, and the latter occurred since 1361 A.D. The following sequence of events is inferred. During the middle Pleistocene, intense tectonic movements occurred in the Hokuriku Province, and as a consequence dip-slopes were developed in the Tochiyama landslide area. Low-angle fault planes (possibly representing slump features) and fracture zones then developed within flysch deposits underlying the landslide area, causing a reduction in shear strength. The erosion base level was lowered during the Würm glacial age, and due to severe erosion and incision of stream valleys, the surface slope angle rapidly increased, and toe resistance decreased. This combination of causes led to the development of a deep-seated primary landslide. As a result of an accumulation of younger deposits, regional uplift and further local erosion, stability of parts of the region decreased and led to landslide activity of a second stage. Reactivated and locally accelerating creep movements occur today and may forewarn of a stage of reactivated, hazardous rapid sliding, such as occurred with the adjacent and analogous Maseguchi landslide in 1947.     

河北阳原台儿沟剖面泥河湾组底界的确定

河北阳原化稍营郝家台台儿沟剖面是泥河湾盆地新建的建阶剖面。剖面总厚度为151.45m,顶部的年龄约0.019Ma,深33.55m处为B/M界线,深123m处为M/G界线,剖面底的年龄约3.3Ma。划分为马兰组、郝家台组、泥河湾组和蔚县组。深45.65-122.65m间归泥河湾组,厚77m,泥河湾组以黄色调砂、粉砂、黏土质粉砂为主,中夹有灰绿色黏土,属河湖相沉积环境。泥河湾组底界确定的标志:底部出露较厚的砂层,代表一个沉积旋回的开始,与下伏湖沼相蔚县组呈整合接触;底界接近M/G界线,在M/G界线之上0.35m处;底界之下挖掘到早于2.6Ma的游河模拟鼠-副丁氏鼢鼠小哺乳动物化石组合和瓣鳃类化石。泥河湾组底界确定为2.6Ma。     

陕西镇安西口石炭系-二叠系界线剖面综合地层学研究

对中国海相石炭—二叠系界线典型剖面陕西镇安西口剖面进行了生物地层、层序地层、磁性地层、事件地层多学科综合研究。在石炭—二叠系界线附近建立了4个牙形石生物带,自下而上依次为Streptogna-thoduselegantulus带,S·elongatus带,S·gracilis带和S·isolatus带。将研究区石炭—二叠系界线置于S·isolatus带的底界,较以带Pseudofusulinakrotowisphaeroidea-Dunbarinella(PD)带的底界为标志确定的石炭—二叠系界线层位低3·3m。在西口剖面上石炭统逍遥阶至下二叠统隆林阶,以初始海泛面作为层序界面,识别出12个四级层序(大体相当于副层序组),构成5个Ⅱ型三级层序。这5个三级层序及其对应的海平面变化与贵州独山、罗甸纳水、紫云扁平剖面同期地层中三级层序及海平面变化旋回之间显示出较好的对应关系。除下杨家河阶外,其余各阶的底界,包括逍遥阶、上杨家河阶、范家河阶、垭口阶及隆林阶的底界,基本上都位于沉积相转换点或其附近,即层序地层及海平面变化旋回的关键界面或其附近。表明这5个三级层序的关键界面与年代地层界线的关系相当密切。碳酸盐岩磁化率大小与碳酸盐岩微相存在一定的对应关系,显示相对海平面变化是控制碳酸盐岩磁化率大小的重要因素。另外,在重要地层界线附近常出现磁化率异常高值,说明碳酸盐岩磁化率可能作为地层划分对比的重要依据。西口地区晚石炭世逍遥期至早二叠世隆林期地层中可识别出两次明显的类辐射事件。第一次类辐射事件发生在Occidentoschwagerinaalpina-O·postgallowayi(OS)组合带底部,即下杨家河阶的底部。第二次辐射事件发生在Mccloudiaregularis-Par-aschwagerinafragosa-Robustoschwagerinaxiaodushanica(MPR)组合带底部,即范家河阶的底部。具有三级和三级以上隔壁的四射珊瑚动物群突然大量繁盛,代表四射珊瑚演化进程中一次重大变革。在陕西镇安石炭—二叠系界线附近,这个生物事件首现层位相当于类Pseudofusulinaurdalensi(PU)带下部,高于该带底界不到12m,以Xikouphyllum-Shaannanophyllum-Szechuanophyllum-Wentzellophyllum组合带为代表。在这个层位牙形石也发生了重要变化。各类地质事件记录出现的层位关系密切。在垭口阶底界各类地质事件记录吻合最好,隆林阶底界次之,然后是范家河阶底界。与上述3条界线相比,在镇安西口剖面上,以牙形石Streptognathodusisolatus的首现位置确定的石炭—二叠系界线事件地层特征不明显,既不是一个生物辐射演化面,碳酸盐岩磁化率变化也不太明显,在实际工作中不易使用。     

论两种二叠-三叠系界线

<正> 近年来许多地质学家围绕着二叠-三叠系界线的划分问题做了大量的工作,关于二叠-三叠系之间界线定义,尚未取得一致意见。目前议论较多的主要是两条界线:1.Otoceras层之底——传统界线     

Geomorphology of the Barrington Tops area,New South Wales

K‐Ar total rock age determinations have been made on a sequence of metasedimentary rocks resting on a 2350 m.y.‐old basement in southern Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. The metasediments have an Rb‐Sr age of 1785 m.y., but K‐Ar isochrons suggest that relatively high temperatures persisted for a further 250 million years before the rocks became systems closed to K and Ar diffusion. A significant amount of ⁴⁰Ar was trapped in the metasediments at the time of closure of the K‐Ar system, 1550 million years ago.     

Holocene evolution of an estuary on a tectonically rising coast: the Pakarae River locality, eastern North Island, New Zealand

Estuarine and beach deposits in the vicinity of the present coastline at Pakarae River record the infilling of an estuary and subsequent development of a sequence of seven marine terraces during Holocene time.

At the maximum of the last glaciation about 18,000 years ago the shoreline at the ancestral Pakarae River was approximately 20 km east of the present shoreline. By about 9000 years BP the sea had transgressed across most of that coastal plain to lie within a few hundred metres of the base of the present coastal hills. Seventeen radiocarbon ages from estuarine deposits record the overall rise in post-glacial sea level, but in the period c. 9500-7000 yrs BP there are reversals to the overall rising trend. Between 9500 and 8500 yrs BP there appears to have been a eustatic fall in sea level of at least 4 m. This observation is supported by data from several other localities around New Zealand. Maximum transgression occurred about 6500–7000 yrs BP when the sea reached the base of hillslopes and an extensive estuary existed behind a barrier bar.

Since that time the barrier bar disappeared, probably due to stranding in an uplift event, and the coastline advanced progressively outward toward its present position. Coastal progradation (sea level regression) and subsequent erosion have occurred in association with episodic large earthquakes at about 6700, 5400, 3910, 2450, 1570, 1000 and 600 yrs BP. The present distribution of terraces has been influenced by coastal erosion, which has removed all trace of some terraces from some areas, and river erosion has modified the marine terraces near the river.     

The Permian–Triassic mass extinction: Ostracods (Crustacea) and microbialites

The end-Permian mass extinction (EPE), about 252 Myr ago, eradicated more than 90% of marine species. Following this event, microbial formations colonised the space left vacant after extinction of skeletonised metazoans. These post-extinction microbialites dominated shallow marine environments and were usually considered as devoid of associated fauna. Recently, several fossil groups were discovered together with these deposits and allow discussing the palaeoenvironmental conditions following the EPE. At the very base of the Triassic, abundant Ostracods (Crustacea) are systematically present, only in association with microbialites. Bacterial communities building the microbial mats should have served as an unlimited food supply. Photosynthetic cyanobacteria may also have locally provided oxygen to the supposedly anoxic environment: microbialites would have been refuges in the immediate aftermath of the EPE. Ostracods temporarily disappear together with microbialites during the Griesbachian.     

Facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy of neoproterozoic Platform deposits in Adrar of Mauritania, Taoudeni basin, West Africa

The Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic Taoudeni basin forms the flat-lying and unmetamorphosed sedimentary cover of the West African Craton. In the western part of this basin, the Char Group and the lower part of the Atar Group make up a 400-m-thick Neoproterozoic siliciclastic succession which rests on the Palaeoproterozoic metamorphic and granitic basement. Five erosional bounding surfaces of regional extent have been identified in this succession. These surfaces separate five stratigraphic units with lithofacies associations ranging from fluvial to coastal and fluvial-, tide-, or wave-dominated shallow marine deposits. Owing to their regional extent and their position within the succession, the erosive bounding surfaces correspond to relative sea-level falls, and accordingly the five stratigraphic units they bound represent allocyclic transgressive–regressive depositional sequences (S₁–S₅). Changes in the nature of the deposits forming the transgressive–regressive cycles reflect landward or seaward shifts of the stacked sequences. These successive relative sea-level changes are related to the reactivation of basement faults and tilting during rifting of the Pan-Afro-Brasiliano supercontinent 1000 m.y. ago. The stromatolite bearing carbonate-shale sequences which form the rest of the Atar Group mark the onset of a quiet period of homogeneous subsidence contemporaneous with the Pan-African I oceanization 800–700 m.y. ago.     

Loess stratigraphy in central China

The loess deposits in central China record world-wide climate changes of the last 2.5 Ma. Numerous climatic oscillations are marked by alternating loess and soil units with continuous coverage of the Matuyama and Brunhes Epochs. Magnetic susceptibility of the deposits correlates closely with the oxygen isotope record of the deep-sea sediments and provides an independent measure of climate and time.The key marker bed of the chinese loess sequence is the paleosol S5, the time equivalent of the mid-Brunhes oxygen isotope stages 13, 14 and 15. It marks a prolonged interval of warm humid climate lasting from approximately 615 to 470 thousand years ago. Several episodes of river downcutting coincide with deposition of the exceptionally thick loess units L1 (oceanic oxygen isotope stages 2 to 4) L2 (stage 6), L5 (stage 12) L6, (stage 16) L9 (stage 22) L15 (stage 38 about 1.15 Ma) and WS4 (about 2.3 Ma). These erosional events are interpreted as a result of episodic uplift of the Loess Plateau.The deposition of the earliest loess layers between 2.5 and 2.3 Ma ago marks a first order shift from warm and humid environments toward harsh continental steppes comparable to those of the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Little, if any lithologic or paleontologic changes were noted within or above the Olduvai magnetozone, so that the proposed Plio/Pleistocene boundary at approximately 1.65 Ma has no lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic representation in the chinese loess series.Comparison with the Deep Sea Drilling Program core 552A in the North Atlantic and with the Santerno River section near Bologna shows that the occurrence of the earliest loess in China coincides with the timing of the first significant ice rafting in the North Atlantic and with the appearance of cold water foraminifers in the marine deposits of northern Italy. An extension of the stage system of the oxygen isotope signal extended back to the Gauss-Matuyama boundary is proposed.     

A high‐resolution sea‐level proxy dated using quartz OSL from the Holocene Skagen Odde spit system,Denmark

The contact between wave‐influenced foreshore and aeolian‐influenced backshore sediments (BA boundary) in raised spit deposits (Skagen Odde) is here used as a proxy for palaeo‐sea level over the past 7600 years. The elevation of the BA boundary was measured at 57 sample sites along the northwestern coast of the spit, and the age of these sites determined by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of quartz grains. The elevation of the BA boundary with age gives past variation in relative sea level; relative sea level rose between c. 7600 and c. 6250 years ago, when it reached a peak value around 12.5 m above present mean sea level (apmsl), followed by a slow sea‐level fall until c. 4600 years ago before it dropped rapidly to reach 2 m apmsl c. 2000 years ago. From the new data it is tentatively deduced that the land uplift rate declined from about 3 mm a⁻¹ 6000 years ago to about 1.5 mm a⁻¹ 2000 years ago (low estimate), or alternatively from 5 mm a⁻¹ 5000 years ago to 1.5 mm a⁻¹ 2000 years ago (extreme estimate). These data indicate that the long‐term average rate of vertical land movement during the past 5000 years was around 1.8 mm a⁻¹ (low estimate) or around 2.5 mm a⁻¹ (extreme estimate). These values seem reasonable compared with a modern value of about 1.6 to 1.7 mm a⁻¹. The lack of an independent data set illustrating the isostatic uplift history with time, however, precludes the construction of a well‐constrained eustatic sea‐level curve.     

Age of the Vallesian lower boundary (Continental Miocene of Europe)

The Vallesian lower boundary and “Hipparion-datum” are estimated as ranging in age from 11.2 to 10.7 Ma in Central to Western Europe and Western Asia. Judging from complete sections of Sarmatian marine sediments in the Tamanskii Peninsula and Transcaucasia with known paleomagnetic characteristics, the above dates correspond to the lower upper Sarmatian (Khersonian) of the Eastern Paratethys, although in Moldova and Ukraine the earliest hipparion remains are associated with the middle Sarmatian (Bessarabian) sediments. The normally magnetized middle Sarmatian deposits in hipparion localities of Moldova are correlative with an upper part of Chron C5An (upper boundary 11.9 Ma old) or, less likely, with Subchron C5r2n (base 11.5 Ma old). Consequently, the first occurrence of hipparions in southeastern Europe is recorded in the Middle Miocene, i.e., 0.7 m.y. (or 0.3 m.y.) earlier than the date of 11.2 Ma formerly accepted for the Vallesian lower boundary in Europe. Possible reasons for disagreements in age determination of the Vallesian base are discussed.     

Causes of mass extinction of sea organisms at the Paleozoic-Mesozoic boundary

At the end of the Permian, at the Paleozoic-Mesozoic boundary (251.0 ± 0.4 Ma ago), 96% of oceanic organisms became extinct. The extinction lasted three million years, but the most intense and abrupt event was 251.4 Ma ago. A series of more or less substantiated hypotheses was suggested to explain this catastrophe: anoxia, higher CO₂ and H₂S contents, fall of the sea level, volcanism, and impact events confirmed by several impact craters. The synchronous variation in many factors responsible for biodiversity reduction, including those without casual relations, proves the existence of a common cause of primarily cosmic origin.