Radiolarian stratigraphy across the Oligocene/Miocene transition in low latitudes

Recently the International Union of Geological Sciences (Commission on Stratigraphy, Working Group on the Paleogene/Neogene Boundary) proposed that the Oligocene/Miocene boundary be placed at the base of Chron C6Cn2n at 23.8 Ma on the Cande and Kent (1992) magnetic time scale, where it is approximated by planktic foraminifera at the first occurrence of Globorotulia kugleri, and by calcareous nannofossils at the last occurrence of Sphenolithus ciperoensis and the first and last occurrences of Sphenolithus delphix and S. capricornutus. Herein we show that, in terms of radiolarians, the base of Chron C6Cn2n can be correlated with the upper part of the Lychnocanoma elongata Zone between the last occurrence of Artophormis gracilis (23.94 Ma) and the first occurrence of Cyrtocapsella tetrapera (23.69 Ma). Since the proposed stratotype at Lemme-Carrosio (Italy) does not contain radiolarians at the boundary, we re-examined 13 DSDP sites and established the stratigraphic sequence of 29 first and last radiolarian occurrences and one evolutionary transition across the boundary. Nine of these sites contain both calcareous and siliceous microfossils and thus allow for an integrated biostratigraphy. Paleomagnetic stratigraphy is not available for any of the DSDP cores examined. However, use of Hodell and Woodruff's (1994) strontium isotope curve from DSDP Site 289 has permitted calibration of several low latitude microfossil datum levels against the geomagnetic polarity scale. Two new species, Lychnocanoma apodora and Eucyrtidium plesiodiaphanes, are described.

Results of biological and geological bottom investigations carried out during Cruise 43 of R/V Akademik Kurchatov in the South Atlantic

The book is devoted to investigations of benthic fauna and geology of the Southern Atlantic Ocean. These works have been carried out in terms of exploring biological structure of the ocean and are of great importance for development of this fundamental problem. They are based on material collected during Cruise 43 of R/V Akademik Kurchatov in 1985-1986 and Cruise 43 of R/V Dmitry Mendeleev in 1989. Problems of quantitative distribution, group composition and trophic structure of benthos in the Southern Scotia Sea, along the east-west Transatlantic section along 31°30'S, and offshore Namibia in the area of the Benguela upwelling are under consideration in the book. Authors present new data on fauna of several groups of deep-sea bottom animals and their zoogeography. Much attention is paid to analysis of morphological structure of the Scotia Sea floor considered in terms of plate tectonics. Bottom sediments along the Transatlantic section and facial variation of sediments in the area of South Shetland Islands and of the continental margin of Namibia are under consideration.

International Collection of JGOFS (Joint Global Ocean Flux Study), Volume 2: Integrated Data Sets (1989-2003)

The JGOFS International Collection Volume 2: Integrated Data Sets CD is a coherent, organised compilation of existing data sets produced by member countries which participated in JGOFS. In most cases, the data were gathered from the JGOFS International Collection, Volume 1: Discrete Datasets DVD. To produce Vol. 1 data were taken from the original sources and copied "as is" on the DVD. For Vol. 2 data and metadata have been harmonized using the conversion software PanTool and the import routine of PANGAEA checking for completeness of metadata and defining the relations between data and metadata. Prior to the import, data had performed a technical quality control, i.e. format and readability of the file, availability and combination of parameters and units, range of values.

Location and ages of terrestrial peatlands located on continental shelves and in coastal sediments

This synthesis dataset contains records of freshwater peat and lake sediments from continental shelves and coastal areas. Information included is site location (when available), thickness and description of terrestrial sediments as well as underlying and overlying sediments, dates (when available), and references.