Diatom and radiolarian biostratigraphy in the Pliocene sequence of ODP Site 697 (Jane Basin, Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean)

Abstract

Bio- and magnetostratigraphic events are essential to construct age models of marine sedimentary sequences for which no other dating methods are available. In this study, we re-visit Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 113, Hole 697B (drilled in the Jane Basin, the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean; 61°48.626′S, 40°17.749′W), to refine diatom and radiolarian biostratigraphy for the early and middle Pliocene, a warm interval of Earth's history which is often considered a climatic analogue for the future. In total, 16 bioevents were identified in the diatom analysis and 3 in the radiolarian analysis. From these, 8 diatom events and one radiolarian event were identified for the first time in Hole 697B. We correlate the identified bioevents with existing paleomagnetic datums in Hole 697B to recalculate and update the ages of the bioevents. Although most of the calculated ages fall within the range of previously published ages, this study allowed us to narrow the age ranges of a number of bioevents. The updated biostratigraphy, as well as the assemblage data presented here, contributes to strengthening the Pliocene chronological framework at Hole 697B for future paleoceanographic work. In addition, we found an interval characterized by abundant reworked Miocene microfossils (e.g., Denticulopsis spp.) at ca. 4.5–3.7 Ma that may suggest sediment disturbance caused by regional tectonic and/or paleoceanographic events in the Southern Ocean during this time interval.