High-resolution stratigraphy and zircon U–Pb geochronology of the Middle Triassic Buchenstein Formation (Dolomites, northern Italy): precession-forcing of hemipelagic carbonate sedimentation and calibration of the Anisian–Ladinian boundary interval

Wotzlaw, Jörn-Frederik; Brack, Peter; Storck, Julian-Christopher (2018). High-resolution stratigraphy and zircon U–Pb geochronology of the Middle Triassic Buchenstein Formation (Dolomites, northern Italy): precession-forcing of hemipelagic carbonate sedimentation and calibration of the Anisian–Ladinian boundary interval. Journal of the Geological Society, 175(1), pp. 71-85. Geological Society of London 10.1144/jgs2017-052

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Orbitally forced cyclic variations in sedimentary sequences provide evidence for short-term fluctuations of Earth climate and a tool for high-resolution timescale calibration. We here present stratigraphic and geochronological evidence for precession-forcing in Middle Triassic hemipelagic limestones of the Buchenstein Formation (Dolomites, northern Italy). High-resolution stratigraphy of several correlative sections of the Buchenstein Formation documents a coherent cycle pattern. Isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry zircon U–Pb geochronology of tuffs bracketing the cyclic interval reveals an average cycle duration of 18.5 ± 2.1 kyr, consistent with a shorter climatic precession cycle in the Middle Triassic compared with today. This suggests a predominantly precession-controlled climate in this low-latitude setting of the western Tethys and allows high-precision calibration of the Anisian–Ladinian boundary interval. From integrating cyclostratigraphic and U–Pb geochronological constraints, our best estimate for the age of the Anisian–Ladinian boundary is 241.464 ± 0.064/0.097/0.28 Ma. We also provide precise estimates for lithostratigraphic boundaries, biostratigraphic markers and magnetic reversals within the boundary interval. Stratigraphic intervals with elevated sedimentation rate record a sub-Milankovitch signal that may be equivalent to patterns in adjacent carbonate platforms such as the Latemar platform. The origin of this sub-Milankovitch signal remains unknown but highlights the potential to investigate shorter-term climatic variations in Mesozoic sedimentary sequences.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	08 Faculty of Science > Institute of Geological Sciences
UniBE Contributor:	Storck, Julian-Christopher
Subjects:	500 Science > 550 Earth sciences & geology 500 Science > 560 Fossils & prehistoric life
ISSN:	0016-7649
Publisher:	Geological Society of London
Language:	English
Submitter:	Julian-Christopher Storck
Date Deposited:	19 Nov 2019 11:33
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 15:32
Publisher DOI:	10.1144/jgs2017-052
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/135103