Chronostratigraphy of the key Upper Miocene (Lower Turolian) sequence of la Montagne d’Andance (Ardèche, France). Implications of new 40Ar/39Ar laser fusion and unspiked K-Ar dating of trachytic tephra and basalts

Abstract

Abstract A trachytic tephra layer deposited in the lower part of the Upper Miocene (Turolian) diatomite sequence at la Montagne d’Andance (Coiron basaltic province, France) contains glass shards (73 % SiO2), plus crystals of sanidine, ilmenite, biotite, amphibole, clinopyroxene, zircon, sphene and apatite. This composition and other volcanological data suggest a correlation to the Cantal stratovolcano, 150 km distant, better than to the nearer (50 km) Mézenc area. The 7.54 ± 0.06 Ma (± 2 σ) isochron defined by eight 40Ar/39Ar laser fusion analyses of sanidine gives a precise age for the beginning of the fossiliferous sequence, known for its rich flora and fauna. Moreover, unspiked K-Ar ages determined from three basaltic lava flows that pre- and post-date the lacustrine sedimentation are 7.37 ± 0.06, 7.17 ± 0.06 and 7.13 ± 0.06 Ma (± 2σ), thereby bracketing the sequence to a 400 kyr period between ca. 7.5 and 7.1 Ma. These are the first radioisotopic constraints for the lower part of the Turolian continental stage. They imply an age about 20 % younger for the fauna than proposed by previous biostratigraphic correlation. This new chronology is consistent with correlation of the lower limit of the Turolian to the Tortonian-Messinian boundary (7.30 ± 0.15 Ma) of the global marine stages.