Geology Reports⌕ Search

Geology topics

William V. Sliter

Publications and source records attributed to William V. Sliter.

3 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS1993

Syn­thesis of Cretaceous/fertiary boundary studies at Hole 807C

Paleontological, stable isotopic, trace elemental abundance, and magnetostratigraphic studies have been performed on limestones spanning the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary transition at Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 807C. Paleontological evidence exists for considerable resedimentation, which we attribute to the fact that Hole 807C is located in a basement graben. Age estimates based on planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, as well as magnetostratigraphy, indicate that sedimentation rates could have been on the order of 12-14 m/m.y. This is significantly higher than those documented in other important Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) and ODP Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary sections using the same age control points (e.g., DSDP Hole 577 and ODP Hole 690B), although not as high as those documented from DSDP Hole 524. The expanded nature of this succession has resulted in the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary δ 1 3C decrease occurring over approximately a 9-m interval. Ir analysis of these sediments do not show a single large anomaly, as has been found in other Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary sections, but trivial background levels instead. Ce data support the hypothesis that this section has been expanded by secondary sedimentological processes.

Conference Paper↗
USGS1992

Age and correlation of the Calera Limestone in the Permanente terrane of northern California

Planktonic foraminifers indicate that outcrops of Calera Limestone from the Permanente terrane in the Franciscan Complex of northern California range in age from possibly as old as Barremian to late Turonian. Underlying black limestone, which is devoid of planktonic foraminifers, presumably is Barremian in age or older. The top of the sequence exposed in major quarries is always faulted. Improved biostratigraphic resolution shows two patterns of missing time intervals. The primary pattern, which is found at all localities and involves missing planktonic foraminiferal zones in the late Aptian to early Albian and the late Albian, is linked to paleoceanographic changes in the Cretaceous Pacific Ocean. The secondary pattern, which is found at the scattered outcrops outside the major quarries and involves missing zones in the Albian and Cenomanian, suggests the results of a common tectonic history related to the accretion of a large seamount.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1977

Lower Tertiary biostratigraphy of the northern Santa Lucia Range, California

Lower Tertiary strata in .the northern Santa Lucia Range of California are correlated by means of planktonic and benthonic foraminifers. Benthonic foraminiferal assemblages from eight stratigraphic sections range in age from Ynezian to possible basal Refugian. The Paleocene mudstone contains a Ynezian benthonic foraminiferal assemblage. The Ulatisian benthonic assemblage of the Lucia Mudstone and the Penutian to Ulatisian benthonic assemblages of the Eocene sandstone and rnudstone unit are associated with planktonic foraminifers referable to Zones P 7-P 8 and P 9. The Church Creek Formation is characterized by a Narizian to possibly Refugian benthonic assemblage. Two questionable associations of early Eocene planktonic foraminifers with Narizian benthonic foraminifers occur near Arroyo Seco Creek. No -age-diagnostic foraminifers were found in The Rocks Sandstone. Data from previous studies, along with our data, suggest a Ulatisian to Narizian age for this unit. Paleoenvironments interpreted from foraminiferal assemblages suggest a general shoaling from lower bathyal or deeper water depths in the middle Paleocene and early Eocene to bathyal water depths during the middle Eocene. In addition, the Ulatisian water depths deepen across the Santa Lucia Range from east to west.

California↗