Astronomical climate control on paleosol stacking patterns in the upper Paleocene–lower Eocene Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2008 Astronomical climate control on paleosol stacking patterns in the upper Paleocene–lower Eocene Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming Hayfaa Abdul Aziz; Hayfaa Abdul Aziz 1Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA Utrecht, Netherlands * Current address: Deltares/TNO, Geological Survey of the Netherlands, Princetonlaan 6, 3508 AL Utrecht, Netherlands; e-mail: haziz@geo.uu.nl. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Frits J. Hilgen; Frits J. Hilgen 1Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA Utrecht, Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gerson M. van Luijk; Gerson M. van Luijk 1Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, P.O. Box 80021, 3508 TA Utrecht, Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Appy Sluijs; Appy Sluijs 2Palaeoecology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mary J. Kraus; Mary J. Kraus 3Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Josep M. Pares; Josep M. Pares 4Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Philip D. Gingerich Philip D. Gingerich 4Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2008) 36 (7): 531–534. https://doi.org/10.1130/G24734A.1 Article history received: 27 Dec 2007 rev-recd: 05 Mar 2008 accepted: 07 Mar 2008 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Hayfaa Abdul Aziz, Frits J. Hilgen, Gerson M. van Luijk, Appy Sluijs, Mary J. Kraus, Josep M. Pares, Philip D. Gingerich; Astronomical climate control on paleosol stacking patterns in the upper Paleocene–lower Eocene Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. Geology 2008;; 36 (7): 531–534. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G24734A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The Willwood Formation of the Bighorn Basin (Wyoming, USA) is a thick succession of upper Paleocene and lower Eocene fluvial-floodplain sandstones and mudstones. Reddish paleosols, formed on the floodplain mudstones, alternate rhythmically on various scales with heterolithic intervals of small-channel sandstones and mudstones showing weak pedogenesis. Spectral analysis of redness in the Willwood successions at Polecat Bench and Red Butte reveals significant spectral peaks corresponding to cycle thicknesses of ~8 and ~3 m. The ~8 m cycle reflects distinct clusters of 3–5 paleosols. Age constraints show that the period of this cycle closely matches the ~21 k.y. climatic precession cycle. The ~3 m cycle corresponds to individual paleosols, with a period of 7–8 k.y. This period is similar to millennial-scale sub-Milankovitch cycles found in marine and lacustrine successions of Pliocene–Pleistocene age. Precession and millennial-scale climate variations probably affected paleosol development through cyclic changes from predominantly overbank to predominantly channel-avulsion deposition, with the latter periodically halting soil formation because of high sediment accumulation. A new age model was developed for the Paleocene-Eocene carbon isotope excursion (CIE) at Polecat Bench, based on the precessional origin of paleosol clusters. The main body of the CIE spans ~5.5 precession cycles, or ~115 k.y., and the recovery tail of the CIE spans 2 precession cycles, or ~42 k.y. This outcome is consistent with, and independently confirms, recent estimates of CIE duration based on deep-sea cores. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.