Stratigraphic relationships between the last occurrence of Neogloboquadrina inglei and marine isotope stages in the northwest Pacific, D/V Chikyu Expedition 902, Hole C9001C

Abstract

The stratigraphic relationships between the last occurrence (LO) of the planktic foraminiferan Neogloboquadrina inglei in the middle Pleistocene and established marine isotope stages (MIS) was investigated using a 365-m-long sediment core from a continental slope in the northwest Pacific near the Shimokita Peninsula, Japan. Two tephra layers (Shikotsu-Daiichi and Aso-4 tephras) and two nannofossil datum planes (first occurrence of Emiliania huxleyi and LO of Pseudoemiliania lacunosa) were used as age- control points, and the oxygen isotope stratigraphy of Hole C9001C was established by correlating the oxygen isotope values of the benthic foraminiferan Uvigerina akitaensis with the standard oxygen isotope curve LR04. Hole C9001C provides the first continuous, high-sedimentation-rate (20-90 cm/kyr) record from MIS 18 to present in the northwestern Pacific near Japan. The stratigraphic position of the LO of N. inglei is in late MIS 16 or near the MIS 16/15 boundary.