Lutetian

This article is about the Lutetian stage in geology. For the adjective and demonym concerning Lutetia, see Lutetia.
Lutetian
47.8 – 41.2 Ma
Chronology
Formerly part ofTertiary Period/System
Etymology
Name formalityFormal
Usage information
Celestial bodyEarth
Regional usageGlobal (ICS)
Time scale(s) usedICS Time Scale
Definition
Chronological unitAge
Stratigraphic unitStage
Time span formalityFormal
Lower boundary definitionFAD of the calcareous nannofossil Blackites inflatus
Lower boundary GSSPGorrondatxe section, Western Pyrenees, Basque Country, Spain
43°22′47″N 3°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 48.07 and 41.03 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.

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.

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. September 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  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.
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