STRATIGRAPHY Previous page: Lower Jurassic ammonites (Platypleuroceras caprarium) from Bornholm, Denmark – see Donovan & Surlyk (2003, this volume). Photo: Kristian Kloth-Jørgensen. The Lower Jurassic of Europe: its subdivision and correlation Kevin N. Page The Lower Jurassic Sub-system comprises four stages, in chronological order, the Hettangian, Sinemurian, Pliensbachian and Toarcian. Each stage is subdivided into a sequence of ‘standard zones’ (= chronozones) and subzones – each correlated primarily on the basis of its ammonite fauna. A further increase in stratigraphical resolution is available by the use of intra-subzonal units known collectively as ‘horizons’. The close link between ammonites and chronostratigra- phy means that faunal provincialism may determine which zonal framework, and therefore which subdivision of the Lower Jurassic, applies in different regions of Europe. Such provincialism is of minor importance in the early Jurassic (Hettangian – Lower Pliensbachian) but increases sig- nificantly in the Upper Pliensbachian and into the Toarcian where at least three ammonoid fau- nal provinces are distinguishable. The standard zonal schemes for each relevant faunal area are discussed here, with greatest emphasis being placed on the Northwest European Province, which is characteristic of much of northern Europe throughout most of the Early Jurassic. Intra-subzonal units have only been described in certain regions for parts of the Lower Jurassic but where recog- nisable these are introduced. Keywords: Europe, Lower Jurassic, ammonite zonal biostratigraphy Department of Geological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon PL4 8AA, UK. E-mail: [email protected] Contents D’Orbigny’s stages, Oppel zones and the Lower Jurassic 25 Chronostratigraphy: stages, standard zones, subzones, chronozones and ammonites 25 Intra-subzonal units: biohorizons and zonules 26 Ammonoid provincialism in the Lower Jurassic of Europe: consequences for correlation 26 Hettangian Stage 27 The base of the Hettangian Stage and the Jurassic System 27 Hettangian correlative schemes and ammonoid provincialism 28 Northwest European Province (Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, etc.) 29 Planorbis Chronozone 29 Liassicus Chronozone 30 Angulata Chronozone 30 Mediterranean Province (Austria) 31 Calliphyllum Chronozone 31 Megastoma Chronozone 31 Marmorea Chronozone 31 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin 1, 23–59 (2003) © GEUS, 2003 23 Sinemurian Stage 31 The base of the Sinemurian Stage 31 Sinemurian correlative schemes and ammonoid provincialism 32 Northwest European Province (Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, etc.) 32 Lower Sinemurian Substage 32 Bucklandi Chronozone 32 Semicostatum Chronozone 34 Turneri Chronozone 34 Upper Sinemurian Substage 34 Obtusum Chronozone 34 Oxynotum Chronozone 36 Raricostatum Chronozone 36 Mediterranean Province (Austria, Italy) 37 Pliensbachian Stage 38 The base of the Pliensbachian Stage 38 Pliensbachian correlative schemes and ammonoid provincialism 38 Northwest European Province (Britain, France, Germany, northern Spain, etc.) 39 Lower Pliensbachian Substage 39 Jamesoni Chronozone 39 Ibex Chronozone 39 Davoei Chronozone 41 Northwest European Province: Lusitanian ?Sub-Province (Portugal) 41 Subboreal Province (Britain, northern Germany, etc.) 41 Upper Pliensbachian Substage 41 Margaritatus Chronozone 41 Spinatum Chronozone 43 Submediterranean Province (southern France, northern Spain, etc.) 43 Mediterranean Province (Austria, Italy, southern Spain) 43 Toarcian Stage 43 The base of the Toarcian Stage 44 Toarcian correlative schemes and ammonoid provincialism 44 Subboreal Province (northern Britain) 45 Lower Toarcian Substage 45 Tenuicostatum Chronozone 45 Serpentinum Chronozone 46 Bifrons Chronozone 46 Submediterranean Province (southern England, France, Germany, northern Spain, etc.) 47 Lower Toarcian Substage 47 Tenuicostatum Chronozone 47 Serpentinum Chronozone 48 Bifrons Chronozone 48 Northwest European Province (Britain, France, Germany, northern Spain, etc.) 49 Upper Toarcian Substage 49 Variabilis Chronozone 49 Thouarsense Chronozone 50 Dispansum Chronozone 50 Pseudoradiosa Chronozone 51 Aalensis Chronozone 51 Mediterranean Province (Italy, Austria, southern Spain, North Africa, etc.) 51 Lower Toarcian Substage 51 Polymorphum Chronozone 51 Levisoni Chronozone 52 Bifrons Chronozone 52 Upper Toarcian Substage 52 Gradata Chronozone 52 Bonarellii Chronozone 52 Speciosum Chronozone 52 Meneghini Chronozone 53 Aalensis Chronozone 53 References 53 24 The Jurassic System takes its name from the Jura nificant subsequent change being the creation of the Mountains of eastern France and Switzerland, first recog- Hettangian Stage by Renevier (1864) for the first two nised as having rocks of a distinctive geological divi- zones of Oppel’s original scheme. sion by Alexander von Humbolt in 1795. It was not Many other stage names have been proposed for parts until 1829, however, that the term ‘Jurassique’ was intro- of the Lower Jurassic in Europe, some have continued duced by Brongniart (1829), although in a restricted to be used for divisions at the level of substage, but most sense essentially for what is now known as the Middle are now redundant. A full list of such terms was provided Jurassic (Torrens & Getty 1980). Inclusion of what is now by Arkell (1933), together with extensive discussion of Lower and Upper Jurassic was soon made and by 1842, the origins of the various schemes for subdividing the with the publication of Alcide d’Orbigny’s ‘Palaeontologie Jurassic System. Conventionally the Sinemurian, Pliens- Française, terrains Jurassique’ (1842–1849), a system of bachian and Toarcian stages are divided into an upper subdivision of a modern-looking Jurassic system into and a lower substage (Dean et al. 1961), generally used stages was well under way (Arkell 1933; Rioult 1974). without a specific identifying name. Nevertheless, sub- stage names are occasionally used and these are intro- duced in the relevant sections below. D’Orbigny’s stages, Oppel zones and the Lower Jurassic The stages introduced by d’Orbigny (1842–1849) were Chronostratigraphy: stages, standard zones, designed to be of worldwide use and were based on subzones, chronozones and ammonites the assumption that periodic mass extinctions followed Chronostratigraphy is the establishment of a series of by rapid re-establishments of new faunas characterised subdivisions of geological time, using actual rock units stage boundaries (Arkell 1933, p. 9). The duration of as standards for reference. There is much discussion of the existence of a particular ‘fauna’ therefore correlated this method and it is not necessary to develop it fur- rocks belonging to a specific stage. For what is now ther here (see, for example, Hedberg 1976; Callomon considered to be Lower Jurassic, he recognised three 1984; Harland et al. 1990; Salvador 1994; Remane et al. successive stages: Sinémurien (after Semur-en-Auxois 1996). Chronostratigraphic divisions are defined only in Burgundy, eastern France), Liasien (derived from the at their base in a suitable stratotype section, the top of old lithological or lithostratigraphical term ‘Lias’) and the unit being identified by the actual or correlated Toarcien (after Thouars in western France). D’Orbigny base of the next equivalent ranked division of the scale. (1842–1849) included in each of his stages a series of Chronostratigraphical divisions form a hierarchy with fossil ‘zones’, using the term in a purely palaeontolog- systems, series and stages being three divisions of decreas- ical sense to indicate the general stratigraphic range of ing rank (although the term series is almost never used particular taxa. in Jurassic stratigraphy). The term ‘zone’ was refined by Albert Oppel The definitions of stages and systems is now regu- (1856–1858), who developed a sequence of such divi- lated by the International Commission on Stratigraphy sions for the entire Jurassic System. Oppel also appar- (ICS), a project of IUGS/UNESCO, through subcom- ently firmly established the use of Lower Jurassic missions focused on single systems. The aim is to for- (‘Unterer Jura’) in a modern sense, as being equivalent mally recognise an internationally agreed Global to the earlier essentially lithostratigraphical division Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of known as ‘Lias’. Although not specifically using every system and for every stage of every system (Cowie d’Orbigny’s stages, Oppel referred to Zonengruppen or et al. 1986; Salvador 1994). Several such proposals have Etagen. For the Lower Jurassic he recognised three suc- now been ratified by IUGS, including the Sinemurian cessive divisions of this type: Semur-Gruppe (equiva- Stage of the Lower Jurassic, and several others are likely lent to d’Orbigny’s Sinémurian), Pliensbach-Gruppe to be agreed within the next few years. (equivalent to Liasien, named after Pliensbach in Below the level of stage, subdivisions at the level of Württemberg, Germany) and Thouars-Gruppe (equiv- chronozone and ultimately zonule can be used, but are alent to Toarcian). Very importantly, Oppel established not formally regulated through the International Sub- the ‘Zone des Ammonites planorbis’ as marking the commission on Jurassic Stratigraphy (ISJS) or the ICS. base of the Jurassic. This convention still stands, as In the Jurassic, the often great abundance of ammonites does Oppel’s general framework of zones, the only sig- and their wide geographical