Lutetian

Last updated
Lutetian
47.8 – 41.2 Ma
Chronology
Formerly part of Tertiary Period/System
Etymology
Name formalityFormal
Usage information
Celestial body Earth
Regional usageGlobal (ICS)
Time scale(s) usedICS Time Scale
Definition
Chronological unit Age
Stratigraphic unit Stage
Time span formalityFormal
Lower boundary definition FAD of the calcareous nannofossil Blackites inflatus
Lower boundary GSSPGorrondatxe section, Western Pyrenees, Basque Country, Spain
43°22′47″N3°00′51″W / 43.3796°N 3.0143°W / 43.3796; -3.0143
Lower GSSP ratifiedApril 2011 [3]
Upper boundary definitionNot formally defined
Upper boundary definition candidatesCalcareous nannofossil near LAD of the Haptophyte Reticulofenestra reticulata
Upper boundary GSSP candidate section(s)Contessa highway section, Gubbio, Central Apennines, Italy

The Lutetian is, in the geologic timescale, a stage or age in the Eocene. [4] It spans the time between 47.8 and 41.2 Ma. The Lutetian is preceded by the Ypresian and is followed by the Bartonian. [5] Together with the Bartonian it is sometimes referred to as the Middle Eocene Subepoch.

Contents

Stratigraphic definition

The Lutetian was named after Lutetia, the Latin name for the city of Paris. The Lutetian Stage was introduced in scientific literature by French geologist Albert de Lapparent in 1883 [6] and revised by A. Blondeau in 1981. [7]

The base of the Lutetian Stage is at the first appearance of the nanofossil Blackites inflatus , according to an official reference profile (GSSP) established in 2011. [8] Of two candidates located in Spain, the Gorrondatxe section was chosen. [9]

The top of the Lutetian (the base of the Bartonian) is at the first appearance of calcareous nanoplankton species Reticulofenestra reticulata .

The Lutetian overlaps with the Geiseltalian and lower Robiacian European Land Mammal Mega Zones (The Lutetian Stage spans the Mammal Paleogene zones 11 through 15. [10] ), the upper Bridgerian and Uintan North American Land Mammal Ages, the upper Arshantan and Irdinmanhan Asian Land Mammal Ages, and the Mustersan and lower Divisaderan South American Land Mammal Ages. It is also coeval with the middle Johannian regional stage of Australia and the upper Ulatisian and lower Nanzian regional stages of California.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point</span> Boundary of a stage on the geologic time scale

A Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP), sometimes referred to as a golden spike, is an internationally agreed upon reference point on a stratigraphic section which defines the lower boundary of a stage on the geologic time scale. The effort to define GSSPs is conducted by the International Commission on Stratigraphy, a part of the International Union of Geological Sciences. Most, but not all, GSSPs are based on paleontological changes. Hence GSSPs are usually described in terms of transitions between different faunal stages, though far more faunal stages have been described than GSSPs. The GSSP definition effort commenced in 1977. As of 2024, 79 of the 101 stages that need a GSSP have a ratified GSSP.

The Toarcian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, an age and stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic. It spans the time between 184.2 Ma and 174.7 ±0.8 Ma. It follows the Pliensbachian and is followed by the Aalenian.

In the geologic timescale, the Bajocian is an age and stage in the Middle Jurassic. It lasted from approximately 170.9 ±0.8 Ma to around 168.2 ±1.2 Ma. The Bajocian Age succeeds the Aalenian Age and precedes the Bathonian Age.

The Bartonian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geologic time scale, a stage or age in the middle of the Eocene Epoch or Series. The Bartonian Age spans the time between 41.2 and37.71 Ma. It is preceded by the Lutetian and is followed by the Priabonian Age.

In the geologic timescale the Bathonian is an age and stage of the Middle Jurassic. It lasted from approximately 168.2 ±1.2 Ma to around 165.3 ±1.1 Ma. The Bathonian Age succeeds the Bajocian Age and precedes the Callovian Age.

In the geologic timescale, the Valanginian is an age or stage of the Early or Lower Cretaceous. It spans between 139.8 ± 3.0 Ma and 132.6 ± 2.0 Ma. The Valanginian Stage succeeds the Berriasian Stage of the Lower Cretaceous and precedes the Hauterivian Stage of the Lower Cretaceous.

The Serravallian is, in the geologic timescale, an age or a stage in the middle Miocene Epoch/Series, which spans the time between 13.82 Ma and 11.63 Ma. The Serravallian follows the Langhian and is followed by the Tortonian.

The Tortonian is in the geologic time scale an age or stage of the late Miocene that spans the time between 11.608 ± 0.005 Ma and 7.246 ± 0.005 Ma . It follows the Serravallian and is followed by the Messinian.

The Danian is the oldest age or lowest stage of the Paleocene Epoch or Series, of the Paleogene Period or System, and of the Cenozoic Era or Erathem. The beginning of the Danian is at the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event 66 Ma. The age ended 61.6 Ma, being followed by the Selandian.

The Selandian is a stage in the Paleocene. It spans the time between 61.6 and59.2 Ma. It is preceded by the Danian and followed by the Thanetian. Sometimes the Paleocene is subdivided in subepochs, in which the Selandian forms the "middle Paleocene".

The Thanetian is, in the ICS Geologic timescale, the latest age or uppermost stratigraphic stage of the Paleocene Epoch or Series. It spans the time between 59.2 and56 Ma. The Thanetian is preceded by the Selandian Age and followed by the Ypresian Age. The Thanetian is sometimes referred to as the Late Paleocene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ypresian</span> First age of the Eocene Epoch

In the geologic timescale the Ypresian is the oldest age or lowest stratigraphic stage of the Eocene. It spans the time between 56 and47.8 Ma, is preceded by the Thanetian Age and is followed by the Eocene Lutetian Age. The Ypresian is consistent with the Lower Eocene.

The Priabonian is, in the ICS's geologic timescale, the latest age or the upper stage of the Eocene Epoch or Series. It spans the time between 37.71 and33.9 Ma. The Priabonian is preceded by the Bartonian and is followed by the Rupelian, the lowest stage of the Oligocene.

The Rupelian is, in the geologic timescale, the older of two ages or the lower of two stages of the Oligocene Epoch/Series. It spans the time between 33.9 and27.82 Ma. It is preceded by the Priabonian Stage and is followed by the Chattian Stage.

The Chattian is, in the geologic timescale, the younger of two ages or upper of two stages of the Oligocene Epoch/Series. It spans the time between 27.82 and23.03 Ma. The Chattian is preceded by the Rupelian and is followed by the Aquitanian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turonian</span> Second age of the Late Cretaceous epoch

The Turonian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the second age in the Late Cretaceous Epoch, or a stage in the Upper Cretaceous Series. It spans the time between 93.9 ± 0.8 Ma and 89.8 ± 1 Ma. The Turonian is preceded by the Cenomanian Stage and underlies the Coniacian Stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxfordian (stage)</span> First age of the late Jurassic

The Oxfordian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the earliest age of the Late Jurassic Epoch, or the lowest stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 161.5 ± 1.0 Ma and 154.8 ± 0.8 Ma. The Oxfordian is preceded by the Callovian and is followed by the Kimmeridgian.

In the geologic timescale, the Kimmeridgian is an age in the Late Jurassic Epoch and a stage in the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 154.8 ±0.8 Ma and 149.2 ±0.7 Ma. The Kimmeridgian follows the Oxfordian and precedes the Tithonian.

The Ieper Group is a group of rock strata in the subsurface of northwest Belgium. The group is subdivided into three marine formations, all formed during the Ypresian, a single age of the geologic timescale. Both age and group are named after the West Flemish town of Ypres, for which the Dutch name is "Ieper".

References

  1. Zachos, J. C.; Kump, L. R. (2005). "Carbon cycle feedbacks and the initiation of Antarctic glaciation in the earliest Oligocene". Global and Planetary Change. 47 (1): 51–66. Bibcode:2005GPC....47...51Z. doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2005.01.001.
  2. "International Chronostratigraphic Chart" (PDF). International Commission on Stratigraphy.
  3. Molina, Eustoquio; Alegret, Laia; Apellaniz, Estibaliz; Bernaola, Gilen; Caballero, Fernando; Jaume Dinarès-Turell; Hardenbol, Jan; Claus Heilmann-Clausen; Juan C. Larrasoana; Hanspeter Luterbacher; Simonetta Monechi; Silvia Ortiz; Xabier Orue-Etxebarria; Aitor Payros; Victoriano Pujalte; Francisco J. Rodríguez-Tobar; Flavia Tori; Josep Tosquella; Alfred Uchman (2011). "The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Lutetian Stage at the Gorrondatxe section, Spain" (PDF). Episodes. 34 (2): 86–108. doi: 10.18814/epiiugs/2011/v34i2/006 .
  4. Established by D.G. Jenkins and H. Luterbacher, "Paleogene stages and their boundaries (introductory remarks)" in Neues Jarhbuch fur Geologie und Paläontologie 1992.
  5. Gradstein, F.M.; Ogg, J.G. & Smith, A.G. (2004): A Geologic Time Scale 2004, Cambridge University Press.
  6. de Lapparent, A.A.C. (1883): Traité de Géologie, Paris.
  7. Blondeau (1981): "Lutetian" in Bulletin d'information des géologues du Bassin de Paris, 2, pp. 167–180.
  8. "The Lutetian GSSP at meter 167.85 of the Gorrondatxe section in a dark marly level where the nanofossil Blackites inflatus first appears" (working group website).
  9. See the website of Eustoquio Molina for these candidates.
  10. Alroy, John. "Mammal Paleogene zones". p. The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 15 July 2009.