Biostratigraphic correlation of Mesozoic polarity chrons CM1 to CM23 at Capriolo and Xausa (Southern Alps, Italy)

Two pelagic limestone sections in the Southern Alps spanning the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) to Barremian (Early Cretaceous) interval yield magnetostratigraphies which can be correlated to oceanic magnetic anomalies M1–M3 and M8–M23. This includes the interval M11–M13 which has not previously been correlated to a sedimentary section. Detailed investigations of nanofossils and calpionellids in these sequences allow precise correlation of polarity chrons to biostratigraphic events and these results compare favorably to those of previous studies. The close correspondence in polarity pattern between that interpreted from the M8 to M15 interval in the Hawaiian lineations and that recorded at the Capriolo section, suggests that sedimentation rates in this sequence and spreading rates in the Hawaiian lineations were rather constant during this interval. In contrast, the sedimentation rate at the Xausa section appears to increase up-section with the facies transition from the Rosso Ammonitico to the Maiolica Formation.     

Magnetostratigraphy of mid-Cretaceous limestones from the Sierra Madre of northeastern Mexico

We present the results of a palaeomagnetic study of four mid-Cretaceous limestone sections exposed in northeastern Mexico. The limestones are weakly magnetized and exhibit two- to three-component magnetizations. These magnetization components appear to be carried by both a sulphide mineral and a magnetite-titanomagnetite mineral. The sulphide mineral carries a reverse polarity overprint that often makes it difficult to isolate definitively the higher-unblocking-temperature component. The high-unblocking-temperature component is well defined in the upper portion of the Santa Rosa Canyon section and in the Cienega del Toro section and passes the fold test. The characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) inclinations agree well with predicted mid-Cretaceous inclinations for these sites, although the declinations differ by more than 100°. The relative rotation between these two sites probably occurred as the thrust sheets were emplaced during Laramide deformation. At two of the sections, namely Cienega del Toro and the overturned Los Chorros sections, only normal polarity directions are observed. The La Boca Canyon and Santa Rosa Canyon sections exhibit zones of both normal and reverse polarity magnetization. Correlation of these polarity zones with the geomagnetic polarity timescale provides a time framework for lithostratigraphic and palaeoceanographic studies of these sections.     

Berriasian (Early Cretaceous) radiometric ages from the Grindstone Creek Section, Sacramento Valley, California

The Grindstone Creek Section, Glenn County, Northern California is a sequence of hemipelagic mudstone, siltstone and sandstone interbedded with concretionary limestone and a few thin tuffs and bentonites. Two tuffs have been collected from a narrow interval of this sequence and subjected to mineralogical and isotopic analyses. U&z.sbnd;Pb isotopic analyses of zircon fractions from these volcanic horizons indicate an age of 137.1 + 1.6/−0.6 Ma. A detailed investigation has been conducted on the calcareous nannofossil stratigraphy of this section based on numerous samples with moderately preserved assemblages. The nannoflora is largely of Tethyan affinity, and allows direct correlation with the Berriasian stratotype section, with sections with published magnetostratigraphies and with a DSDP site drilled between known magnetic anomalies. The dated tuffs lie in the lower part of the upper BerriasianCretarhabdus angustiforatus Zone (Assipetra infracretacea Subzone) and within the narrow range ofRhagodiscus nebulosus. At three different sections, this subzone can be correlated with M-sequence Polarity Zones M16 and M16n. An independent magnetostratigraphic correlation is provided at DSDP Site 387, drilled between anomalies M15 and M16, where basal sediments containR. nebulosus. Buchia collected within a meter of the lower tuff lie within theB. uncitoides Zone which is Berriasian in age. The upper tuff level, which occurs 65 m above the lower tuff, is situated within the overlyingB. pacifica Zone. This zone had previously been correlated with the early Valanginian, but is clearly also partly of Berriasian age based on nannofossil stratigraphy. Our results allow an estimate of the age of the Berriasian-Valanginian and Jurassic-Cretaceous boundaries of 135.1 Ma and 141.1 Ma, respectively, and these fall within the range of, but differ significantiy from, several published time-scales.     

Late Barremian to early Aptian calcareous nannofossil paleoceanography and paleoecology from the Ocean Drilling Program Hole 641C (Galicia Margin)

Calcareous nannofossil assemblages at Site 641C (Galicia Margin, North Atlantic) were investigated in order to determine changes in fertility and temperature of surface waters. Taxa such as Zeughrabdotus spp. <3.5 μm, Biscutum constans, Discorhabdus rotatorius and Diazomatolithus lehmanii, which thrived in higher fertility conditions, are particularly abundant across the CM0 interval as opposed to those with oligotrophic affinities such as Watznaueria spp. and Nannoconus spp., which are generally reduced in abundance. The abundances of nannoconids are much lower than those observed in Tethyan sections, indicating higher fertility conditions. Slumpings and low recovery prevent the identification of the onset of the “nannoconid crisis”, but a sharp drop in nannoconid abundances, observed prior to the CM0 interval, correlates with the “nannoconid decline” observed in several Tethys sections.The normalized ratio between low and high fertility taxa (Fertility Index) was used to characterize the nannofossil assemblages in terms of productivity changes. The highest values of the Fertility Index were observed across magnetic chron CM0. The paucity of cold water taxa such as Seribiscutum spp. and Repagulum parvidentatum suggests warm water conditions throughout the deposition of upper Barremian–lower Aptian sediments on the Galicia Margin.     

Evidence for ocean water invasion into the Chicxulub crater at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary

Abstract— The possibility of ocean water invasion into the Chicxulub crater following the impact at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary was investigated based on examination of an impactite between approximately 794.63 and 894.94 m in the Yaxcopoil‐1 (Yax‐1) core. The presence of cross lamination in the uppermost part of the impactite suggests the influence of an ocean current at least during the sedimentation of this interval. Abundant occurrence of nannofossils of late Campanian to early Maastrichtian age in the matrices of samples from the upper part of the impactite suggests that the carbonate sediments deposited on the inner rim margin and outside the crater were eroded and transported into the crater most likely by ocean water that invaded the crater after its formation. The maximum grain size of limestone lithics and vesicular melt fragments, and grain and bulk chemical compositions show a cyclic variation in the upper part of the impactite. The upward fining grain size and the absence of erosional contact at the base of each cycle suggest that the sediments were derived from resuspension of units elsewhere in the crater, most likely by high energy currents association with ocean water invasion.     

Transient events in the COBE database simultaneous with gamma ray bursts

We are investigating the COBE DMR data at instances of known -ray bursts (GRBs) when any of the six DMR horn directions was coincident with the direction of a burst. The BATSE instrument on board GRO has detected 207 bursts during the eight-month period of overlap corresponding to the current release of COBE data. The odds of a GRB occurring within the DMR field of view are near one coincidence per year. Here we report on one such serendipitous observation in 1991, GRB 911226, for which a detailed analysis is currently in progress.     

A catchment scale evaluation of the SIBERIA and CAESAR landscape evolution models

Landscape evolution models provide a way to determine erosion rates and landscape stability over times scales from tens to thousands of years. The SIBERIA and CAESAR landscape evolution models both have the capability to simulate catchment–wide erosion and deposition over these time scales. They are both cellular, operate over a digital elevation model of the landscape, and represent fluvial and slope processes. However, they were initially developed to solve research questions at different time and space scales and subsequently the perspective, detail and process representation vary considerably between the models. Notably, CAESAR simulates individual events with a greater emphasis on fluvial processes whereas SIBERIA averages erosion rates across annual time scales. This paper describes how both models are applied to Tin Camp Creek, Northern Territory, Australia, where soil erosion rates have been closely monitored over the last 10 years. Results simulating 10 000 years of erosion are similar, yet also pick up subtle differences that indicate the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two models. The results from both the SIBERIA and CAESAR models compare well with independent field data determined for the site over different time scales. Representative hillslope cross‐sections are very similar between the models. Geomorphologically there was little difference between the modelled catchments after 1000 years but significant differences were revealed at longer simulation times. Importantly, both models show that they are sensitive to input parameters and that hydrology and erosion parameter derivation has long‐term implications for sediment transport prediction. Therefore selection of input parameters is critical. This study also provides a good example of how different models may be better suited to different applications or research questions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Commonwealth of Australia     

The extended dust emission around the nova GK persei

We have applied maximum entropy reconstruction methods to the IRAS observations of the nova GK Persei to examine the spatial distribution of the far-IR emission. We have discovered discrete regions of emission in a co-linear structure extending to 17 arcmin on either side of the binary system, supporting a stellar origin for the structure. We postulate that the evolved secondary is the progenitor of the circumbinary envelope.