Integrated stratigraphy of the Oligocene pelagic sequence in the Umbria-Marche basin (northeastern Apennines, Italy): A potential Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Rupelian/Chattian boundary

The Oligocene represents an important time period from a wide range of perspectives and includes significant climatic and eustatic variations. The pelagic succession of the Umbria-Marche Apennines (central Italy) includes a complete and continuous sequence of marly limestones and marls, with volcaniclastic layers that enable us to
construct an integrated stratigraphic framework for this time period. We present here a synthesis of detailed biostratigraphic, magnetostratigraphic,
and chemostratigraphic studies, along with geochronologic results from several biotite-rich volcaniclastic layers,
which provide the means for an accurate
and precise radiometric calibration of the
Oligocene time scale. From this study, the
interpolated ages for the Rupelian/Chattian
stage boundary, located in the upper half of
Chron 10n at meter level 188 in the Monte
Cagnero section, and corresponding to
the O4/O5 planktonic foraminiferal zonal
boundary, are 28.36 Ma (paleomagnetic
interpolation), 28.27 ± 0.1 Ma (direct radioisotopic dating), and 27.99 Ma (astrochronological interpolation). These ages appear to be slightly younger than those reported in recent chronostratigraphic time scale compilations. The Monte Cagnero section is a potential candidate for defining the Chattian Global Stratotype Section and Point
(GSSP) and some reliable criteria are here
proposed for marking the Rupelian/Chattian
boundary according to International
Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) recommendations.

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