Magnetostratigraphic dating of shallow-water carbonates from San Salvador, Bahamas

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 1988 Magnetostratigraphic dating of shallow-water carbonates from San Salvador, Bahamas Donald F. McNeill; Donald F. McNeill 1Comparative Sedimentology Laboratory, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Fisher Island Station, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert N. Ginsburg; Robert N. Ginsburg 1Comparative Sedimentology Laboratory, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Fisher Island Station, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Shih-Bin R. Chang; Shih-Bin R. Chang 2California Institute of Technology, Geological and Planetary Science Division 170-25, Pasadena, California 91125 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Joseph L. Kirschvink Joseph L. Kirschvink 2California Institute of Technology, Geological and Planetary Science Division 170-25, Pasadena, California 91125 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Donald F. McNeill 1Comparative Sedimentology Laboratory, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Fisher Island Station, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Robert N. Ginsburg 1Comparative Sedimentology Laboratory, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Fisher Island Station, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 Shih-Bin R. Chang 2California Institute of Technology, Geological and Planetary Science Division 170-25, Pasadena, California 91125 Joseph L. Kirschvink 2California Institute of Technology, Geological and Planetary Science Division 170-25, Pasadena, California 91125 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1988) 16 (1): 8–12. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1988)016<0008:MDOSWC>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Donald F. McNeill, Robert N. Ginsburg, Shih-Bin R. Chang, Joseph L. Kirschvink; Magnetostratigraphic dating of shallow-water carbonates from San Salvador, Bahamas. Geology 1988;; 16 (1): 8–12. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1988)016<0008:MDOSWC>2.3.CO;2 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 Magnetostratigraphic results are reported here from a sequence of late Neogene-Quaternary shallow-water carbonate sediments from a continuous core drilled on the island of San Salvador, Bahamas. On the basis of the remanent magnetism of 136 samples from a 91-m measured section of core, the polarity sequence can be correlated with the magnetic polarity time scale from the Gilbert chron (early Pliocene) through the late Brunhes chron (late Pleistocene-Holocene). Magnetic polarities were determined on the basis of relative up-down direction in the unoriented core. Extraction studies of the magnetic particles reveal the presence of single-domain crystals of magnetite resembling those produced by the magnetotactic bacteria and algae. The sequence of reversals provides a minimum of six new major chronostratigraphic markers for the Pliocene-Pleistocene of the Bahamas; it confirms and refines the local timing of both the lithologic change from skeletal to nonskeletal sediments and the disappearance of coral and molluscan species from the Bahamas as upper late Pliocene (between 2.6 and 2.7 Ma). That the primary magnetic remanence is preserved in shallow-water carbonates, including replacement dolomites, suggests that this technique could be used to date similar Tertiary and possibly even older carbonate sequences. The establishment of a reliable magnetostratigraphy provides refined dating of shallow-water carbonates and regional faunal appearances or disappearances, sediment accumulation rates, subsidence, and depositional events. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.