A review of magnetic stratigraphy investigations in Cretaceous pelagic carbonate rocks

Abstract

Pelagic carbonate rocks possess many suitable characteristics for paleomagnetic and magnetostratigraphic studies. Paleomagnetic results are summarized for seven lengthy sections of pelagic limestones and marls from Umbria and the southern Alps in Italy. Differences in apparent polar wander paths from these two regions are interpreted in terms of tectonic rotation of allochthonous Umbria. The magnetic stratigraphies of the paleontologically dated sections are independent of their tectonic differences and are combined to form a continuous record of geomagnetic polarity for the Barremian through Maastrichtian stages of the Cretaceous. All but one of the reversals in these sections are confirmed by duplication in at least one other section. Additional Cretaceous reversals have been reported in other land sections and in DSDP (Deep Sea Drilling Project) and IPOD (International Program of Ocean Drilling) cores. Some of these reversals are not defined well magnetically, and confirmation of others is clouded by imprecise paleontological dates. If real, they are probably of short duration. The confirmed reversal sequence correlates well with the Cretaceous oceanic magnetic anomaly sequence. The ages of certain key anomalies are altered: Late Cretaceous anomalies 29–34 are younger, and Early Cretaceous anomalies M0 and M1 are older than previously thought. The longer duration of the Cretaceous magnetic quiet interval of normal polarity results in a reduction of corresponding sea floor spreading rates to about 70% of earlier values, but they are still appreciably higher than during formation of the preceding M sequence anomalies.