Biochronological Correlations

ISBN-13: 9783540539377 / Angielski / Miękka / 1991 / 252 str.

Jean Guex; B. Burke-Hubbard

Opis

The object of this book is to explain how to create a synthesis of complex biostratigraphic data, and how to extract from such a syn- thesis a relative time scale based exclusively on the fossil content of sedimentary rocks. Such a time scale can be used to attribute relative ages to isolated fossil-bearing samples. From a practical point of view, the method described in this book will particularly interest paleontologists and geologists who must construct zonations and establish correlations on the basis of bio- stratigraphic data that are both plentiful and apparently contra- dictory. It is well known that the difficulties involved in constructing bio- chronologic scales are largely due to the discontinuous nature of the fossil record. We know that the relationships between the first ap- pearances (or disappearances) of different fossil species are rarely constant in stratigraphic sections that are distant from each other. It if often extremely difficult to discover datums or sets of species that are useful in making significant biochronologic correlations on a large scale. The theoretical model explained here (known as the Unitary As- sociation Method) provides clear solutions to most of these problems. That method is purely deterministic, as opposed to statistical and probabilistic analytical techniques producing "average" ranges. We demonstrate in Chapter 15 why most of these techniques produce results which are usually not compatible with the original biostrati- graphic observations (i.e., the taxonomic contents of the studied sam- ples are not reproduced in the outputs).

Spis treści

1 Properties of Biochronologic Scales.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Properties of Discrete Scales.- 1.3 Ideal Referentials.- 1.4 Protoreferentials.- 1.5 Chronologic Interpretation of a Protoreferential.- 1.6 Discrete Biochronologic Scales.- 2 Semiempirical Construction of a Referential.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Definitions.- 2.3 Method.- 2.4 Example of Application.- 2.5 Summary.- 3 Biochronologic Referentials and Graph Theory.- 3.1 Representing Stratigraphic Relationships.- 3.2 Definitions.- 3.3 Descriptive and Technical Terms: Definitions.- 3.4 Interval Graphs.- 3.5 Maximal Cliques and Unitary Associations.- 3.6 Summary of Methodology.- 3.7 Summary of Notations.- 3.8 A Concrete Problem: the Ilerdian Alveolinid from Yugoslavia.- 4 Transforming a Biostratigraphic Graph.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Searching for Virtual Coexistences.- 4.3 Detecting Circuits and Cycles of G.- 4.4 Adding Virtual Edges to G.- 5 Protoreferentials, Referentials, and Correlations.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Construction of Unitary Associations.- 5.3 Seriation of Unitary Associations.- 5.4 Graph Gk and Protoreferential.- 5.5 Identifying Unitary Associations.- 5.6 Optimal Biochronologic Subdivisions.- 6 The BioGraph Program.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Conventions and Definitions.- 6.3 Method.- 6.4 Example of Application of BioGraph.- 7 Detecting Reworking.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Definitions.- 7.3 Methods.- 7.4 Conclusion to the Alveolinid Problem.- 7.5 Conclusion to the Reworking Problem.- 8 Quality of the Fossil Record.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 Definitions.- 8.3 Coefficients.- 8.4 Relationships Between the Coefficients.- 9 Contradictory Biochronologic Correlations.- 9.1 The Lower Triassic of the Salt Ranges.- 9.2 Lithostratigraphic Framework and Ammonite Zones.- 9.3 Stratigraphic Distribution of Conodonts.- 9.4 Biochronologic Interpretation.- 9.5 Discussion.- 10 Transgressive/Regressive Cycles.- 10.1 Paleogene Benthic Foraminifera from Mississippi and Alabama.- 10.2 Preliminary Remarks.- 10.3 Database.- 10.4 Unitary Associations and Correlations.- 10.5 Stratigraphic Interpretation.- 10.6 Quality of the Fossil Record of Species.- 10.7 Complexity of the Problem.- 10.8 An Example of Integrated Biochronology.- 11 Diachronous Datums.- 11.1 Paleogene Nannoplankton from California.- 11.2 Database.- 11.3 Correlations and Zonation.- 11.4 First Conclusions.- 11.5 Biochronologic Dispersion of Datums.- 11.6 Comparison with Deboo’s Data.- 11.7 Complexity of the Problem.- 11.8 Constructing a Sequence of Datums.- 12 Diachronism of LADs: Possible Causes.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Mediterranean Neogene Nannoplankton.- 12.3 Comparison with Californian Nannoplankton.- 12.4 Conclusion.- 13 Age of Tethyan Radiolarites.- 13.1 A Difficult Geological Problem.- 13.2 Radiolarian Zones in the Tethyan Realm.- 13.3 Biochronologic Correlations and Geologic Interpretation.- 13.4 Rates of Faunal Turnover.- 14 Unitary Associations and Ammonite Zones.- 14.1 Introduction.- 14.2 Original Data.- 14.3 Zonation.- 14.4 Precision of the Method.- 14.5 Problematic Virtual Coexistences.- 14.6 Paleontological Notes.- 15 Quantitative Biostratigraphy.- 15.1 General Remarks.- 15.2 Multivariate Approaches.- 15.3 Probabilistic Approaches.- 15.4 Deterministic Approaches.- 15.5 Comparison of Range Charts.- 16 Zones, Stratotypes, and Controversies.- 16.1 Introduction.- 16.2 Oppel Zones and Unitary Associations.- 16.3 Phylogenetic Sedations and Phylozones.- 16.4 Oppel Zone, Interval Zone, and Datums.- 16.5 Standard Zones.- 16.6 Acme Zones and Peak Zones.- 16.7 Stratotypes.- 16.8 Integrated Biochronology and Calibration.- 16.9 Validity of a Zone.- Appendices.

O autorze

The problem of biostratigraphic correlation is evident for geologists, paeleontologists, structural geologists, sedimentologists at universities, but also in the oil and gas industry. For all of them this book provides the basis for stratigraphic course and a reliable and effective tool for establishing biochronological time-scales.