Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of Chititu Formation, Wrangellia terrane, Alaska
The tectonostratigraphic terrane (suspect terrane) concept has been a major catalyst in attempts to unravel the complex tectonic history of Alaska. Paleomagnetic work has suggested that the Wrangellia terrane in south-central Alaska had a paleolatitude of 32/sup 0/N +- 9/sup 0/ in the Late Cretaceous, but was accreted to North America prior to the Eocene. A plate velocity of at least 24 cm/yr is implied by this latitude and time framework. If confirmed, this velocity is one of the fastest plate velocities yet established. Calcareous nannofossils from the Chititu Formation, Wrangellia terrane, have been investigated in order to provide a refined biostratigraphic framework for establishing the age of paleolatitudes determined for the Chititu. Thirty-one species of nannofossils were identified in a section of the Chititu measured on MacColl Ridge. These species allow assignment of the section to the internationally recognized Reinhardtites anthophorus (CC 15: late early to late Santonian) and Lucianorhabdus cayeuxii (CC 16: late Santonian to earliest Campanian) biozones. Calcareous nannofossils clearly have potential for use in age determinations in Wrangellia and other Alaskan tectonostratigraphic terranes with suitable marine sedimentary sections.
- OSTI ID:
- 6082366
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-880301-
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Pennsylvanian pluton stitching of Wrangellia and the Alexander terrane, Wrangell Mountains, Alaska
Calcareous nannofossils, state of the art, Gulf of Mexico
Related Subjects
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ALASKA
BIOGEOCHEMISTRY
CENOZOIC ERA
CHEMISTRY
CRETACEOUS PERIOD
EOCENE EPOCH
FEDERAL REGION X
FOSSILS
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGY
MAGNETISM
MESOZOIC ERA
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
NORTH AMERICA
PALEOMAGNETISM
PALEONTOLOGY
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM GEOLOGY
RESOURCES
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS
TERTIARY PERIOD
USA