Abstract
PALAEOMAGNETIC studies of deep sea cores have shown that the history of geomagnetic polarity reversal is recorded in sea floor sediments1–8. The local extinction of certain species of Radiolaria can be related to palaeomagnetic polarity reversals1,4,8, and specifically there is an association of the Brunhes–Matuyama polarity reversal at 0.7 × 106 yr ago with the ψ/X radiolaria boundary4,8. Another such extinction has been suggested4,9; occurring within the Olduvai Normal polarity event about 2 × 106 yr ago, approximates the Plio/Pleistocene chronostratigraphic boundary defined by Ericson10,11 for oceanic sediments. Although this chronostratigraphic age assignment may be correct, the relationship of the geomagnetic polarity time scale to the biostratigraphic units used to define Plio/Pleistocene geological history has not been demonstrated. This results primarily from the lack of appropriate palaeontological criteria in deep sea cores which can be correlated with the standard (type) sections of the Pliocene/Pleistocene of Italy.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Harrison, C. G. A., and Funnell, B. M., Nature, 204, 566 (1964).
Phillips, J. D., Berggren, W. A., Bertels, A., and Wall, D., Deep Sea Res. (in the press, 1967).
Harrison, C. G. A., J. Geophys. Res., 71, 3033 (1966).
Opdyke, N., Glass, B., Hays, J. D., and Foster, J., Science, 154, 349 (1966).
Dickson, J., and Foster, J., Earth Plan. Sci. Lett., 1, 458 (1966).
Ninkovich, D., Opdyke, N., Heezen, B. C., and Foster, J., Earth Plan. Sci. Lett., 1, 476 (1966).
Watkins, N. D., and Goodell, H. G., Earth Plan. Sci. Lett., 2, 123 (1967).
Watkins, N. D., and Goodell, H. G., Science, 156, 1083 (1967).
Hays, J. D., Amer. Geophys. Union, Antarctic Res. Ser., 5, 125 (1965).
Ericson, D. B., Ewing, M., and Wollin, G., Science, 139, 727 (1963).
Ericson, D. B., Ewing, M., and Wollin, G., Science, 146, 723 (1964).
Banner, F. T., and Blow, W. H., Nature, 208, 1164 (1965).
Parker, F., Bull. Amer. Paleontology, 52, 115 (1967).
Selli, R., Progress in Oceanography, 4, 67 (1967).
Helbig, K., J. Geomag. Geoelec., 17, 373 (1965).
Phillips, J. D., and Kuckes, A. F., J. Geophys. Res., 72, 2209 (1967).
McElhinney, M. W., Geophys. J., 10, 369 (1966).
Pitman, W., and Heirtzler, J., Science, 154, 1164 (1966).
Emiliani, C., Mayeda, T., and Selli, R., Geol. Soc. Amer., 72, 679 (1961).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BERGGREN, W., PHILLIPS, J., BERTELS, A. et al. Late Pliocene–Pleistocene Stratigraphy in Deep Sea Cores from the South-central North Atlantic. Nature 216, 253–255 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/216253a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/216253a0
This article is cited by
-
Statistical detection of the mid-Pleistocene transition
Climate Dynamics (1988)
-
Corrected age of the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary
Nature (1977)
-
Atmospheric input and origin of selected elements in Walker Branch Watershed, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution (1977)
-
The Pliocene Time Scale: Calibration of Planktonic Foraminiferal and Calcareous Nannoplankton Zones
Nature (1973)
-
Preliminary Palaeomagnetic Data from the Plio-Pleistocene of Jamaica
Nature (1970)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
