Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Age constraints on the proposed Plio–Pleistocene boundary stratotype at Vrica, Italy

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

Estimates1–4 of the age of the stratotype Plio–Pleistocene boundary in Italy range from 1.65 to 2.5 Myr. We aim here to clarify this dating confusion, and we present new radiometric data on ashes from the proposed stratotype section, Vrica, Italy which indicate that the Plio–Pleistocene boundary must be less than 2 Myr old. Biostratigraphical criteria—the first appearance datums (FADs) and last appearance datums (LADs) of plank-tonic foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton tied to the magnetic reversal chronology—suggest that this boundary may be nearer to 1.7 Myr. Attempts to make the boundary far older than this are without basis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Haq, B. U., Berggren, W. A. & VanCouvering, J. A. Nature 269, 483–488 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Berggren, W. A. et al. Quat. Res. 13, 277–302 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Selli, R. et al. G. Geol. 42, 181–204 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Boellstorff, J. Science 202, 305–307 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Steiger, R. H. & Jager, E. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 36, 359–362 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Colalongo, M. L., Pasini, G. & Sartoni, S. Boll. Soc. Paleontol. Ital. (in the press).

  7. Emiliani, C., Mayeda, T. & Selli, R. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 72, 679–688 (1961).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Raffi, I. & Rio, D. Paleontol. stratigr. Evoluz. 1, 181–186 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Colalongo, M. L. et al., Geografia Fis. Dinam. Quat. (in the press).

  10. Selli, R. G. Geol. 35, 51–59 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Naeser, C. W., Briggs, N. D., Obradovich, J. D. & Izett, G. A. in Tephra Studies (eds Self, S. & Sparks, R. S. J.) 13–48 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1981).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. Savelli, C. & Mezzetti, R. X INQUA Congress, Birmingham, 400 (1977).

  13. Nakagawa, H. et al., Proc. 2nd Symp. on the N/Q Boundary, USSR, 1977 (in the press).

  14. Gartner, S. Mar. Micropaleont. 2, 1–25 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Colalongo, M. L. & Sartoni, S. G. Geol. 42, 205–220 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Pasini, G. et al., G. Geol. 41, 446–456 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Arias, C., Azzaroli, A., Bigazzi, G. & Bonadonna, F. P. Nucl. Tracks 5, 129–136 (1981).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado, 80225, USA

    John D. Obradovich & Charles W. Naeser

  2. US Geological Survey, National Center, Reston, Virginia, 22092, USA

    Glen A. Izett

  3. Istituto di Geologia Marina del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bologna, Italy

    Giancarlo Pasini

  4. Istituto di Geocronologia e Geochimica Isotopica del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pisa, Italy

    Giulio Bigazzi

Authors
  1. John D. Obradovich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Charles W. Naeser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Glen A. Izett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Giancarlo Pasini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Giulio Bigazzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Obradovich, J., Naeser, C., Izett, G. et al. Age constraints on the proposed Plio–Pleistocene boundary stratotype at Vrica, Italy. Nature 298, 55–59 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/298055a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/298055a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation