DOCSLIB.ORG

Early Miocene Mammals from the Lemhi Valley of Idaho

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Early Miocene Mammals from the Lemhi Valley of Idaho University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1976 Early Miocene mammals from the Lemhi Valley of Idaho Ralph Nichols The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Nichols, Ralph, "Early Miocene mammals from the Lemhi Valley of Idaho" (1976). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 7542. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/7542 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EARLY MIOCENE MAMMALS FROM THE LEMHI VALLEY OF IDAHO By Ralph Nichols B.A., University of Montana, 1942 Presented in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science University of Montana 1976 Approved by: Chairman, Board of Examiners GraduSteSchôôï UMI Number: EP38343 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMT Oissaftation PùWiahmg UMI EP38343 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code uesf ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 - 1346 ABSTRACT Nichols, Ralph, M .S ., 1976 Geology Early Miocene Mammals from the Lemhi Valley o f Idaho Director: Robert W. Fields The f i r s t fauna to be described from an early Miocene lo c a lity in the Lemhi Valley of east-central Idaho contains two new aplo- dontids. Men i s comys yeari an i and Meniscomys petersoni; the upper dentition of the aplodontid Niglarodon; skull fragments and associated upper and lower dentition of a new mylagaulid, Promy- lagaulus lemhiensis; two new primitive geomyids, Entoptychus fieldsi and Entoptychus sheppardi; and the associated upper and lower dentition of the cricetid Pacicuius insolitus. Other mam­ mals are the soricid Domnina; a scuirid; the ochotonid Oreolagus; a procyonid; three oreodonts, Megoreodon grandis, Mesoreodon che- lonyx, and a small species; an equid, Miohippus cf. gemmarosae; and a rhinocerid. A trend toward increasing hypsodonty is evident in the two species o f Meniscomys. The age of the beds would con­ form, in part, to the Meniscomys Concurrent-range Zone and lower part of the **Entoptychus-Gregorymys" Concurrent-range Zone of the John Day Formation of Oregon. This is equivalent to the upper Sharps and Monroe Creek formations of South Dakota, which are middle Arikareean (e a rly Miocene). The Peterson Creek Local Fauna has genera in common with both the John Day and South Dakota faunas, but is more closely allied to the faunas of the nearby intermontane basins o f Montana. 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT i i LIST OF FIGURES vi LIST OF TABLES v ii LIST OF PLATES v i i i Introduction 1 Abbreviations 2 Geologic Setting 3 Age 4 Order Insectivora 8 Family Sericidae 8 Domnina 8 Domnina sp. in d e t. 8 Order Lagomorpha 10 Family Ochotonidae 10 Oreolagus 10 Oreolagus sp. indet. 10 Order Rodentia 11 Family Sciuridae 11 Sciurid gen, et. s£. indet. 11 Family Aplodontidae 13 Meniscomys 13 i i i TABLE OF CONTENTS (c o n t'd ) Page Meniscomys yeariani sp. nov. 14 Meniscomys petersoni sp. nov. 16 Niglarodon 18 Niglarodon sp. indet. 18 Family Mylagaulidae 20 Promylagaulus 20 Promylagaulus lemhiensis sp. nov. 20 Family Geomyidae 25 Entoptychus 25 Entoptychus fieldsi sp. nov. 26 Entoptychus sheppardi sp. nov. 28 Family Cricetidae 35 Pacieulus 35 Paciculus insolitus 35 Order Carnivora 39 Family Procyonidae 39 Procyonid gen. et. sp. indet. 39 Order Artiodactyla 40 Family Merycoidodontidae 40 Megoreodon 40 Megoreodon grandis 41 Mesoreodon 44 Mesoreodon chelonyx 44 Oreodont gen. et. sp. indet. 46 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (c o n t'd ) Page Order Perissodactyla 48 Family Equidae 48 Miohippus 48 Miohippus c f. gemmarosae 48 Family Rhinocerotidae 51 Rhinocerotid gen. et. sp. indet. 51 Conclusions 52 References 54 LIST OF FIGURES Page 1. Area map of a mid-portion of Lemhi Valley showing location of U niversity o f Montana vertebrate lo c a litie s . 2 2. Diagramatic slope profiles of exposures at MV 7303 showing stratigraphie occurrence of Entoptychus, Meniscomys, Niglarodon, Paciculus in s o litu s , and Promylagaulus lemhiensis. 4 3. Correlation chart of Arikareean faunas and formations showing re la tiv e position of the Peterson Creek Local Fauna. 7 4. Nomenclature of dentition of Promylagaulus and Meniscomys. 14 5. Comparison o f P^s o f Meniscomys petersoni and M. y e a ria n i. 15 6 . Comparison of P^s o f Meniscomys yearian i and Niglarodon sp. 15 7. Stages of wear in P^s of Promylagaulus lemhiensis. 21 8 . Occlusal patterns of P^s of mylagaulids. 21 9. Medial view of partial right jaw with P4 - M3 o f Promy­ lagaulus lem hiensis, ISU 18594. 21 10. Restoration of skull and jaw of Promylagaulus lemhiensis. 21 11. Nomenclature of dentition of premolars of Entoptychus sheppardi. 29 12. Deciduous premolars o f Entoptychus sheppardi. 29 13. Paciculus:insolitus'Cope 1878. ; i f 36 vi LIST OF TABLES Page 1. Measurements o f d e n titio n o f Meniscomys and Niglarodon. 57 2. Measurements o f d e n titio n of Promylagaulus. 59 3. Measurements o f s k u ll, mandible and d en titio n o f Entoptychus fieldsi. 60 4. Measurements o f s k u ll, mandible and d en titio n of Entoptychus sheppardi. 61 5. Measurements o f postcranial elements o f Entoptychus sheppardi. 63 6 . Measurements o f d e n titio n of Paciculus in s o litu s and montanus. 64 7. Measurements o f s k u ll, jaw and d en titio n o f Megoreodon grandis 65 8 . Measurements o f s k u ll, jaw and d en titio n of Mesoreodon chelonyx. 67 v n LIST OF PLATES Page 1. Domnina, sciurid, Promylagaulus lemhiensis. 6 8 2. Niglarodon, Oreolagus sp., Meniscomys yeariani, and petersoni. 69 3. Entoptychus sheppardi, skull, jaws. 70 4. Entoptychus sheppardi, dentitions. 71 5. Entoptychus sheppardi, postcranial elements. 72. 6 . Entoptychus fieldsi, and Paciculus insolitus. 73 7. Megoreodon grandis, Mesoreodon chelonyx, and Miohippus c f. gemmarosae. 74 v m INTRODUCTION The Lemhi Valley of east-central Idaho lies west of the conti­ nental divide and is drained by the Lemhi River, a northwest flowing . upper trib u ta ry o f the Columbia River system. T e rtia ry exposures are common throughout the seventy-five mile length of the valley. They range in age from Pal eocene or Eocene (Anderson, 1959, p. 21) north of the Lemhi's confluence with the Salmon River, through ques­ tionably Late Oligocene (Anderson, 1957, p. 16) as one proceeds up­ r iv e r , to early Miocene at Peterson Creek, la te Miocene at Mol l i e Gulch and Pliocene at the Lemhi's headwaters in the vicinity of Gil­ more (Text - f ig . 1 ). These youngest sediments have been te n ta tiv e ly dated by a small collection of vertebrates containing Pipoides sp. made by a field party from the University of Montana in 1973. Peterson Creek, intermittent in its lower reaches, flows for about seven miles from the continental divide southwestward and emp­ ties into the Lemhi River forty miles upriver from the town of Salmon I found fossil bones on Peterson Creek in 1936 and continued to col­ lect for several years thereafter. In 1941, Dr. John A. Wilson and an assistant from the University of Idaho at Moscow spent the summer collecting in the valley (Wilson, 1946, p. 1262). From 1959 through 1961 Dr. Lawrence P. Richards o f Idaho State U niversity at Pocatello camped at Peterson Creek and collected in the region. Dr. J. Leroy Kay v is ite d the area and took back specimens to the Carnegie Museum at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Starting in 1970, I have added to my original collection, all of which material is now deposited in the Museum of Paleontology at the University of Montana at Missoula. 1 Late Miocene vertebrates from s tra ta overlying the Peterson Creek beds are to be described in a study now in progress. That study in­ cludes the geology and the stratigraphie relations of this area and adjoining parts o f Montana. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank Dr. John A. Wilson, Dr. Lawrence P. Richards and Dr. John A. White for making material available to me for study. Dr. John M. Rensberger and Dr. Thomas H. Patton for their criticism and advice. Dr. Don W. Rasmussen for his help and cooperation. Dr. Edward T. Ruppel for prompting me to begin this study, and Dr. Robert W. Fields of the University of Montana, for his instruction and en­ couragement. ABBREVIATIONS AMNH American Museum of Natural History, New York CM Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh FM F ield Museum of Natural H isto ry , Chicago ISU Idaho State University, Pocatello MV University of Montana vertebrate locality PU Princeton University, New Jersey SDSM South Dakota School o f Mines, Rapid C ity UCMP University of California, Berkeley UM University of Montana, Missoula UT University of Texas, Austin r YPM Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven ^ ,, Lemhi IDAHO 4 4 1 0 113*20' Text-fig.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chapter 30. Latest Oligocene Through Early Miocene Isotopic Stratigraphy
    Shackleton, N.J., Curry, W.B., Richter, C., and Bralower, T.J. (Eds.), 1997 Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, Vol. 154 30. LATEST OLIGOCENE THROUGH EARLY MIOCENE ISOTOPIC STRATIGRAPHY AND DEEP-WATER PALEOCEANOGRAPHY OF THE WESTERN EQUATORIAL ATLANTIC: SITES 926 AND 9291 B.P. Flower,2 J.C. Zachos,2 and E. Martin3 ABSTRACT Stable isotopic (d18O and d13C) and strontium isotopic (87Sr/86Sr) data generated from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Sites 926 and 929 on Ceara Rise provide a detailed chemostratigraphy for the latest Oligocene through early Miocene of the western Equatorial Atlantic. Oxygen isotopic data based on the benthic foraminifer Cibicidoides mundulus exhibit four distinct d18O excursions of more than 0.5ä, including event Mi1 near the Oligocene/Miocene boundary from 23.9 to 22.9 Ma and increases at about 21.5, 18 and 16.5 Ma, probably reßecting episodes of early Miocene Antarctic glaciation events (Mi1a, Mi1b, and Mi2). Carbon isotopic data exhibit well-known d13C increases near the Oligocene/Miocene boundary (~23.8 to 22.6 Ma) and near the early/middle Miocene boundary (~17.5 to 16 Ma). Strontium isotopic data reveal an unconformity in the Hole 926A sequence at about 304 meters below sea ßoor (mbsf); no such unconformity is observed at Site 929. The age of the unconfor- mity is estimated as 17.9 to 16.3 Ma based on a magnetostratigraphic calibration of the 87Sr/86Sr seawater curve, and as 17.4 to 15.8 Ma based on a biostratigraphic calibration. Shipboard biostratigraphic data are more consistent with the biostratigraphic calibration.
    [Show full text]
  • Miocene–Pliocene Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of The
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE Journal of Palaeogeography provided by Elsevier - Publisher Connector 2012, 1(1): 43-56 DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1261.2012.00005 Biopalaeogeography and palaeoecology Miocene−Pliocene planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea Liu Chunlian1,2,*, Huang Yi1, Wu Jie1, Qin Guoquan3, Yang Tingting1,2, Xia Lianze1, Zhang Suqing1 1. Department of Earth Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China 2. Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources & Geological Processes, Guangzhou 510275, China 3. Nanhai East Company of China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Guangzhou 510240, China Abstract The present study deals with the planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Miocene–Pliocene sequence of three petroleum exploration wells (BY7-1-1, KP6-1-1 and KP9- 1-1) in the Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB). In general, the three wells contain a fairly well-preserved, abundant foraminiferal fauna. The proposed planktonic foraminiferal zonation follows the scheme updated by Wade et al. (2011). Nineteen planktonic foraminiferal zones have been recognized, 14 zones (zones M1–M14) for the Miocene and 5 zones (zones PL1–PL5) for the Pliocene. The zonation is correlated with previously published biostratigraphic subdivisions of the Neogene succession in the PRMB and with international foraminiferal zona- tions. The zonal boundaries are mostly defined by the last appearance datum of zonal taxa of planktonic foraminifera, which is more reliable than the FAD (first appearance datum) events for ditch cutting sampling. Changes in the coiling of Globorotalia menardii (s. l.) are also used to define the zonal boundaries, where no LADs (last appearance datum) are available.
    [Show full text]
  • The Indication of Mid Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) from Cibulakan Formation
    1 The Indication of Mid Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) from Cibulakan Formation, 2 Bogor Basin, Indonesia 3 R. Kapid1), W.D. Santoso1), B. Ikhsan1), M.A. Jambak2), and D.E. Irawan1)* 4 1) Department of Geology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. 5 2) Department of Geology, Trisakti University, Indonesia 6 *Correspondence author: Dasapta Erwin Irawan ([email protected] cc 7 [email protected]) 8 Abstract 9 Nannoplankton analyses have been proven to identify rapid climate shifts in sedimentary records. Here, 10 we took 58 samples from Early Miocene to Late Miocene sediments of Cibulakan Formation (Bogor 11 Basin, Indonesia), to evaluate climatic benchmarks for Middle Miocene Climate Optimum in the tropical 12 region. The Helicosphaera carteri and Umbilicosphaera jafari were counted to identify the salinity signal. 13 We identify seven-biostratigraphy zones of Cibulakan Fm, indicating the change of seawater temperature 14 and salinity. We identify that warmer temperature in Middle Miocene as the effect of MMCO. The 15 temperature increased until Late Miocene triggered by global increasing temperature at Pacific Ocean and 16 widely distributed flow of terrestrial water at North West Java Basin. 17 Keywords: Mid Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO), nannoplankton, temperature, salinity, Cibulakan 18 Formation 19 20 Introduction 21 Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) was a global climatic event during Middle Miocene featuring 22 increasing global temperature (You et al., 2009; Hansen et al., 2003). The CO2 content in the atmosphere 1 23 increased with the increasing temperature during MMCO period. The impact of MMCO was widely 24 distributed and associated with 60C of temperature warming in the mid latitude region (Flower and 25 Kennet, 1994).
    [Show full text]
  • Early Miocene Asian Monsoon
    Clim. Past Discuss., 4, 535–584, 2008 www.clim-past-discuss.net/4/535/2008/ Climate of the Past CPD © Author(s) 2008. This work is distributed under Discussions 4, 535–584, 2008 the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Climate of the Past Discussions is the access reviewed discussion forum of Climate of the Past Early Miocene Asian monsoon Z. T. Guo et al. A major reorganization of Asian climate regime by the early Miocene Title Page Abstract Introduction Z. T. Guo1, B. Sun1,2, Z. S. Zhang1,3, S. Z. Peng1, G. Q. Xiao4, J. Y. Ge4, Conclusions References Q. Z. Hao1, Y. S. Qiao1, M. Y. Liang1, J. F. Liu1, Q. Z. Yin1, and J. J. Wei1 Tables Figures 1Key Laboratory of Cenozoic Geology and Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 9825, 100029 Beijing, China J I 2Shandong Institute and Laboratory of Geological Sciences, 250013 Jinan, China 3Nansen-Zhu International Research Center, Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese J I Academy of Sciences, 100029 Beijing, China Back Close 4State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 17, 710075 Xian, China Full Screen / Esc Received: 3 April 2008 – Accepted: 7 April 2008 – Published: 8 May 2008 Printer-friendly Version Correspondence to: Z. T. Guo ([email protected]) Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union. Interactive Discussion 535 Abstract CPD The global climate system has experienced a series of drastic changes during the Cenozoic. These include the climate transformation in Asia, from a zonal pattern to a 4, 535–584, 2008 monsoon-dominant pattern, the disappearance of subtropical aridity related to a plan- 5 etary circulation system and the onset of inland deserts in central Asia.
    [Show full text]
  • Constraining Neogene Temperature and Precipitation Histories in The
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Dissertations & Theses in Earth and Atmospheric Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of Sciences Spring 4-21-2016 Constraining Neogene temperature and precipitation histories in the Central Great Plains using the fossil record of Alligator Evan Whiting University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geoscidiss Part of the Climate Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Paleobiology Commons, and the Paleontology Commons Whiting, Evan, "Constraining Neogene temperature and precipitation histories in the Central Great Plains using the fossil record of Alligator" (2016). Dissertations & Theses in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. 79. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geoscidiss/79 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations & Theses in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. CONSTRAINING NEOGENE TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION HISTORIES IN THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS USING THE FOSSIL RECORD OF ALLIGATOR by Evan T. Whiting A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science Major: Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Under the Supervision of Professor Sherilyn C. Fritz Lincoln, Nebraska April, 2016 i CONSTRAINING NEOGENE TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION HISTORIES IN THE CENTRAL GREAT PLAINS USING THE FOSSIL RECORD OF ALLIGATOR Evan Tyler Whiting, M.S. University of Nebraska, 2016 Advisor: Sherilyn C. Fritz Most amphibians and reptiles (excluding birds) are poikilothermic; their internal body temperature varies with that of their external environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Structural Evolution of the Northernmost Andes, Colombia
    Structural Evolution of the Northernmost Andes, Colombia GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 846 Prepared in coopeTation ·with the lnstituto Nacional de Investigaciones Geologico-MineTas under the auspices of the Government of Colombia and the Agency for International Development) United States DepaTtment of State Structural Evolution of the Northernmost Andes, Colombia By EARL M. IRVING GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 846 Prepared in cooperation ·with the lnstituto Nacional de Investigaciones Geologico-Min eras under the auspices of the Government of Colombia and the Agency for International Development) United States Department of State An interpretation of the geologic history of a complex mountain system UNITED STATES GOVERNlVIENT PRINTING OFFICE, vVASHINGTON 1975 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Irving, Earl Montgomery, 1911- Structural evolution of the northernmost Andes, Columbia. (Geological Survey professional paper ; 846) Bibliography: p Includes index. Supt. of Docs. no.: I 19.16:846 1. Geology-Colombia. 2. Geosynclines----Colombia. I. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Geologico­ Mineras.. II. Title. III. Series: United States. Geological Survey. Professional paper ; 846. QE239.175 558.61 74-600149 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402- Price $1.30 (paper cover) Stock Number 2401-02553 CONTENTS Page Pasre Abstract ----------------------------------------
    [Show full text]
  • A Brief Geologic History of Volusia County, Florida
    Prepared in cooperation with Volusia County A Brief Geologic History of Volusia County, Florida Volusia County is in a unique and beautiful setting (fig. 1). This Florida landscape is characterized by low coastal plains bordered by upland areas of sandy ridges and Volusia many lakes. Beautiful streams and springs abound within the vicinity. Underneath the County land surface is a deep layer of limestone rocks that stores fresh, clean water used to serve drinking and other needs. However, the landscape and the subsurface rocks have not always been as they appear today. These features are the result of environmental forces and processes that began millions of years ago and are still ongoing. This fact sheet provides a brief geologic history of the Earth, Florida, and Volusia County, with an emphasis on explaining why the Volusia County landscape and geologic structure exists as it does today. Figure 1. Florida and Volusia County. Figure 1. Florida and Volusia County. Continental Drift This theory starts with the introduction of the Earth’s crust from a planet-wide sea of molten lava and includes the initial formation and subsequent break up of two ancient super- continents. The first ancient supercontinent was called Gondwana. It broke apart and, eventually, its pieces came back together to form the second ancient supercontinent of Pangea, which contained all of the Earth’s present continents (Kious and Tilling, 2002). During this period that lasted from the beginning of the Earth until about 200 million years ago, the very foundation of Florida was formed that is often referred to Geologic Theories as the basement.
    [Show full text]
  • Mammalia, Pinnipedia) from the Middle Miocene (Langhian) of Miste (The Netherlands
    An early seal (Mammalia, Pinnipedia) from the Middle Miocene (Langhian) of Miste (The Netherlands) S. Schneider & K. Heissig Schneider, S. & Heissig, K. An early seal (Mammalia, Pinnipedia) from the Middle Miocene (Langhian) of Miste (The Netherlands). Scripta Geologica, 129: 151-158, 4 figs., Leiden, April 2005. Simon Schneider, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Department für Geo- und Umweltwissen- schaften, Sektion Paläontologie, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, D-80333 München, Germany (cuspidaria@web. de); Kurt Heissig, Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie, Richard-Wagner-Str. 10, D-80333 München, Germany ([email protected]). Key words — Miophoca, Pinnipedia, Middle Miocene, Miste, The Netherlands. A single, upper premolar tooth of a seal from the Miste mollusc bed (Miocene, middle Langhian: The Netherlands) is determined as an upper P3 of Miophoca cf. vetusta Zapfe. Fossils of this species and genus have to date only been reported from the Late Badenian (uppermost Langhian) of the Central Paratethys, at “Neudorf-Sandberg” (Devínská Nová Ves, Slovakia). This latter locality, however, is some two million years younger than the Miste Bed. The tooth from Miste represents the first evidence for the presence of the genus Miophoca in the North Sea Basin. Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 151 Geological overview ...............................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Oligo–Miocene Closure of the Tethys Ocean and Evolution of the Proto‑Mediterranean Sea Adi Torfstein1,2* & Josh Steinberg3
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN The Oligo–Miocene closure of the Tethys Ocean and evolution of the proto‑Mediterranean Sea Adi Torfstein1,2* & Josh Steinberg3 The tectonically driven Cenozoic closure of the Tethys Ocean invoked a signifcant reorganization of oceanic circulation and climate patterns on a global scale. This process culminated between the Mid Oligocene and Late Miocene, although its exact timing has remained so far elusive, as does the subsequent evolution of the proto-Mediterranean, primarily due to a lack of reliable, continuous deep-sea records. Here, we present for the frst time the framework of the Oligo–Miocene evolution of the deep Levant Basin, based on the chrono-, chemo- and bio- stratigraphy of two deep boreholes from the Eastern Mediterranean. The results reveal a major pulse in terrigeneous mass accumulation rates (MARs) during 24–21 Ma, refecting the erosional products of the Red Sea rifting and subsequent uplift that drove the collision between the Arabian and Eurasian plates and the efective closure of the Indian Ocean-Mediterranean Seaway. Subsequently, the proto-Mediterranean experienced an increase in primary productivity that peaked during the Mid‑Miocene Climate Optimum. A region‑ wide hiatus across the Serravallian (13.8–11.6 Ma) and a crash in carbonate MARs during the lower Tortonian refect a dissolution episode that potentially marks the earliest onset of the global middle to late Miocene carbonate crash. Global climate oscillations during the Miocene refect major events in the Earth’s history such as the closure of the Indian Ocean-Mediterranean Seaway (IOMS), Mid-Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO), and the glacia- tion of Antarctica1.
    [Show full text]
  • 1. Early Miocene to Pleistocene Diatom Stratigraphy of Leg 1451
    Rea, D.K., Basov, I.A., Scholl, D.W., and Allan, J.F. (Eds.), 1995 Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, Vol. 145 1. EARLY MIOCENE TO PLEISTOCENE DIATOM STRATIGRAPHY OF LEG 1451 John A. Barron2 and Andrey Y. Gladenkov3 ABSTRACT Early Miocene through Pleistocene diatom datum levels are identified along with North Pacific diatom zones in the sections cored during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 145 at Sites 881 to 884 and 887. Recording of the first complete late early Miocene through Miocene magnetostratigraphies in the North Pacific at Sites 884 and 887 has allowed the first magnetostratigraphic calibration of over 40 diatom datum levels between Subchron C5En (18.817-18.317 Ma) and Subchron C3Bn (6.901-6.744 Ma). Absolute age estimates from these calibrations as well as from 20 younger (latest Miocene and Pliocene) magnetostratigraphic calibrations of diatom datum levels at Sites 881-884 and 887 are presented and compared with the published age estimates from the literature. Most of the late early Miocene through Pliocene diatom datum levels that have been widely used in the North Pacific for biostratigraphy appear to be roughly isochronous within the level of resolution constrained by sample spacing. Diachroneity across latitude, however, is revealed for a number of diatom events, including the first occurrences of Actinocyclus ingens var. nodus, Simonseniella barboi, and Neodenticula koizumii. Thalassiosira minutissima Oreshkina, nov. sp., is described. INTRODUCTION Extensive Miocene to Pleistocene diatom records were recovered at each site. The purp°se of this paper is to document the diatom stra- Over the past 20 yr, Miocene to Pleistocene North Pacific diatom tigraphy at Sites 881 to 884 and 887 and to refine the calibration of stratigraphy has developed rapidly from the pioneering papers of diatom datum levels to the magnetostratigraphy.
    [Show full text]
  • Sedimentology of Norden Bridge and Egelhoff Fossil Quarries (Miocene) of North-Central Nebraska
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies Nebraska Academy of Sciences 1981 Sedimentology of Norden Bridge and Egelhoff Fossil Quarries (Miocene) of North-Central Nebraska Carl F. Wellstead McGill University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas Part of the Life Sciences Commons Wellstead, Carl F., "Sedimentology of Norden Bridge and Egelhoff Fossil Quarries (Miocene) of North- Central Nebraska" (1981). Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies. 269. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tnas/269 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Academy of Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societiesy b an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 1981. Transactions a/the Nebraska Academy a/Sciences, IX:67-85. SEDIMENTOLOGY OF NORDEN BRIDGE AND EGELHOFF FOSSIL QUARRIES (MIOCENE) OF NORTH-CENTRAL NEBRASKA Carl F. Wellstead Redpath Museum McGill University 859 Sherbrooke Street West Montreal, Quebec H3A 2K6 Canada Measured sections demonstrate the positions of the Norden Bridge 2.5 km northwest of Norden Bridge Quarry. Fossil vertebrates an, Egelhoff fossil quarries in the local stratigraphy and show Egelhoff from these quarries have been the subject of a series of papers QL ,rry to be topographically higher. The sections do not resolve the during the last 20 years (Smith, 1962; Klingener, 1968; reL live stratigraphic positions of the quarries. Descriptions of sedi­ me'lts at the two quarries demonstrate that coarser sediments exist at Undsay, 1972; Rich and Rasmussen, 1973; Storer, 1973; Nc,,jen Bridge Quarry.
    [Show full text]
  • Geology of the Fort Laramie '.* Area, Platte and Goshen >
    Geology of the Fort Laramie '.* Area, Platte and Goshen >. Counties, Wyoming > By LAURA W. McGREW ONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1141-F *repared as part of a program of the ^Department of the Interior for develop­ ment of the Missouri River basin, with the cooperation of the Geological Survey of Wyoming and the Department of Geology, University of Wyoming JNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1963 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington D.C. 20407 CONTENTS Page Abstract__.._..._....._..._.____.__.......__-_.-..__-.__.____---- Fl Introduction.____________________________i..___^_________________- 2 Stratigraphy._____________________________________________________ 4 Precambrian rocks__._--______._____-_-___-___-__--_--______--- 5 Cambrian(?) system.__________________________________________ 5 Devonian and Mississippian systems.____________________________ 6 Guernsey formation______________________________________ 6 . Mississippian(?), Pennsylvanian, and Permian systems..____.______ 7 Hartville formation. ...............^........................ 7 Permian system.___---_--_______-______---_-__-_--_-_---_-_--- 10 Opeche shale___.__________________________________________ 10 Minnekahta limestone___-___________---_--_-_-____-__--_-_- 10 Gypsum and red shale sequence._______-_--_-_--____-____-__ 11 Triassic system..._____________________________________________
    [Show full text]