Revised age constraints for Late Cretaceous to early Paleocene terrestrial strata from the Dawson Creek section, Big Bend National Park, west Texas

Abstract

Research Article| January 22, 2018 Revised age constraints for Late Cretaceous to early Paleocene terrestrial strata from the Dawson Creek section, Big Bend National Park, west Texas Caitlin E. Leslie; Caitlin E. Leslie † 1Terrestrial Paleoclimatology Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97354, Waco, Texas 76706, USA †caitlin_leslie@baylor.edu, caitlineleslie@baylor.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Daniel J. Peppe; Daniel J. Peppe 1Terrestrial Paleoclimatology Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97354, Waco, Texas 76706, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Thomas E. Williamson; Thomas E. Williamson 2New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Matthew Heizler; Matthew Heizler 3New Mexico Bureau of Geology, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, New Mexico 87801, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mike Jackson; Mike Jackson 4Institute for Rock Magnetism, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stacy C. Atchley; Stacy C. Atchley 1Terrestrial Paleoclimatology Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97354, Waco, Texas 76706, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lee Nordt; Lee Nordt 1Terrestrial Paleoclimatology Research Group, Department of Geosciences, Baylor University, One Bear Place #97354, Waco, Texas 76706, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Barbara Standhardt Barbara Standhardt 514700 FM 307, Stanton, Texas 79782, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2018) 130 (7-8): 1143–1163. https://doi.org/10.1130/B31785.1 Article history received: 01 Mar 2017 rev-recd: 28 Nov 2017 accepted: 29 Dec 2017 first online: 22 Jan 2018 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Caitlin E. Leslie, Daniel J. Peppe, Thomas E. Williamson, Matthew Heizler, Mike Jackson, Stacy C. Atchley, Lee Nordt, Barbara Standhardt; Revised age constraints for Late Cretaceous to early Paleocene terrestrial strata from the Dawson Creek section, Big Bend National Park, west Texas. GSA Bulletin 2018;; 130 (7-8): 1143–1163. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B31785.1 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract We analyzed samples for paleomagnetism, 40Ar/39Ar detrital sanidine ages, and mammalian fauna to produce a precise chronostratigraphic framework for the Upper Cretaceous to Lower Paleocene Dawson Creek section of Big Bend National Park, west Texas. Prior to this work, the absolute ages and durations of the Upper Cretaceous Aguja and Javelina Formations and Paleocene Black Peaks Formation were relatively poorly constrained. The documented polarity zones can be correlated to C32n-C31n, C29r, and C27r of the geomagnetic polarity time scale, with three hiatuses spanning more than 1.5 m.y. each. Rock magnetic analyses indicate that the dominant magnetic carrier in the Aguja and Black Peaks Formations is titanomagnetite, while the Javelina Formation has varying magnetic carriers, including hematite, magnetite, and maghemite. An overprint interval surrounding the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary suggests the primary magnetic carrier, titanohematite, was likely reset by burial and/or overlying basaltic flows. These are the first independent age constraints for the Cretaceous–Paleocene strata at the Dawson Creek section that determine the age and duration of deposition of each formation in the section, as well as the age and duration of multiple unconformities through the succession. As a result, these age constraints can be used to reassess biostratigraphic and isotopic correlations between the Big Bend area and other Cretaceous–Paleogene basins across North America. Based on this new data set, we reassign the age of the mammalian fauna found in the Black Peaks Formation from the Puercan to the Torrejonian North American Land Mammal age. Our age constraints show that the dinosaur fauna in the Javelina Formation in the Dawson Creek area is latest Maastrichtian and restricted to chron C29r. Thus, the Javelina dinosaur fauna is correlative to the Hell Creek Formation dinosaur fauna from the Northern Great Plains, indicating differences between the faunas are not due to differences in age, and providing support for the hypothesis of provinciality and endemism in dinosaur communities in the late Maastrichtian. Further, the age constraints indicate that the previously documented mid-Maastrichtian and late Maastrichtian greenhouse events were rapid (<200 k.y.) and correlate closely with climate events documented in the marine record. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.