Correlation of east Australian Pleistocene shorelines with deep-sea core stages: A basis for a coastal chronology

Abstract

A review of recent attempts to relate emerged shorelines to deep-sea core stages indicates that correlations based on radiometric ages must be treated carefully, for stratigraphic control is often lacking. Radiometric ages help field interpretation, but some authors question the geology before questioning the dates. The view that oxygen-isotope values in deep-sea sediment cores reflect changes in ocean volume is used to interpret sequences of stranded shorelines in Gippsland (Victoria), southeast Queensland, New Zealand, South Carolina (United States), and Morocco. As a basis for study, it is accepted that all of the shorelines in the areas compared result from global changes of sea level superimposed on continuously emerging land masses that have been rising uniformly, but at different rates, in the different localities. Five stands of the sea, ending at the last interglacial maximum, are recognized and correlated with dated deep-sea core stages as follows: G11 (Gippsland) = Woorim (Queensland) = Awatuna 1 (New Zealand) = Silver Bluff (South Carolina) = Ouljian (Morocco) = core substage 5e, 125,000 yr; G26 = Bribie (Qld) = Karoro (NZ) = Princess Anne = Harounian = core stage 7,220,000 yr; G37 = Poyungan (Qld) = Albion 113 (NZ) = Pamlico = Anfatian (G2) = stage 9,330,000 yr; G65 = Ungowa (Qld) = Albion 165 (NZ) = Bethera = stage 11, 430,000 yr; G70 = Albion 183 (NZ) = Talbot = Anfatian (Thomas quarry) = stage 13,480,000 yr. Implied rates of uplift are used to date and correlate six earlier shorelines: G125 = Penholoway = late Maarifian = 1.02 m.y.; G160 = Wicomico = Maarifian = 1.18 m.y.; G260 = Okefenokee = Haj Salah = 1.43 m.y.; G360 = Sunderland = Sidi Messaoud = 1.64 m.y.; G420 = Coharie = Bouchaib bel Kamel = 1.80 m.y.; A600 = Orange-burg = Fouaratian = 2.35 m.y.