Calibrating the Late Ordovician glaciation and mass extinction by the eccentricity cycles of Earth's orbit

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 2000 Calibrating the Late Ordovician glaciation and mass extinction by the eccentricity cycles of Earth's orbit Owen E. Sutcliffe; Owen E. Sutcliffe 1Centre for Glaciology, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Julian A. Dowdeswell; Julian A. Dowdeswell 2Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1SS, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert J. Whittington; Robert J. Whittington 1Centre for Glaciology, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Johannes N. Theron; Johannes N. Theron 3Department of Geology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jonathan Craig Jonathan Craig 4LASMO, 101 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3XH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Owen E. Sutcliffe 1Centre for Glaciology, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK Julian A. Dowdeswell 2Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1SS, UK Robert J. Whittington 1Centre for Glaciology, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Wales, Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, UK Johannes N. Theron 3Department of Geology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, 7602, Stellenbosch, South Africa Jonathan Craig 4LASMO, 101 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3XH, UK Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 27 Mar 2000 Revision Received: 28 Jun 2000 Accepted: 19 Jul 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (11): 967–970. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<967:CTLOGA>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 27 Mar 2000 Revision Received: 28 Jun 2000 Accepted: 19 Jul 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Owen E. Sutcliffe, Julian A. Dowdeswell, Robert J. Whittington, Johannes N. Theron, Jonathan Craig; Calibrating the Late Ordovician glaciation and mass extinction by the eccentricity cycles of Earth's orbit. Geology 2000;; 28 (11): 967–970. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<967:CTLOGA>2.0.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 A process-based sedimentological analysis of Upper Ordovician glacial-marine rocks in Africa suggests that full glaciation of the continental shelf started in the late extraordinarius Zone of the Hirnantian. Two cycles of ice-sheet growth are represented during full glaciation. Initial terrestrial ice-sheet growth in the early extraordinarius Zone influenced the first event of the Late Ordovician mass extinction. Retreat of the ice sheet from the shelf ended by the persculptus Zone, when the second event of the Late Ordovician mass extinction began. Eccentricity controlled ice-sheet growth is assumed (periodicity 0.1 m.y.). Hence, two cycles of full glaciation lasted 0.2 m.y. The duration of the extraordinarius Zone is estimated as 0.5 m.y. Therefore, the minimum duration of the first extinction event was 0.3 m.y. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.