Formation of the Shelf-edge Cretaceous-Tertiary contact off the southeastern U.S. Coast

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
By: , and 

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Abstract

Submarine erosion, associated with changes in position of the proto-Gulf Stream, was the dominant mechanism controlling the formation of the Cretaceous-Tertiary unconformity in AMCOR borehole 6004. Paleontologic evidence indicates that this unconformity, which is marked by a gravelly-sand enriched in glauconitic and phosphoritic concretions, represents a hiatus of about 7 m.y. Both Cretaceous and Paleocene sediments contain middle-outer neritic foraminiferal assemblages that become more diverse with distance from the contact. Of the elemental abundances measured, Al, Ba, Co, Fe, Ga, K, Mg/Ca, Mo, Ni, P, Sr/Ca, V, Y, and Zn show a strong positive correlation with proximity to the contact, probably as a result of the concentration of authigenic and heavy minerals present as lag sediments on the erosion surface.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Formation of the Shelf-edge Cretaceous-Tertiary contact off the southeastern U.S. Coast
Series title Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
DOI 10.1016/0031-0182(86)90010-6
Volume 57
Issue 2-4
Year Published 1986
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 19 p.
First page 117
Last page 135
Country United States
State Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
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