Biomagnetostratigraphic Correlations from Leg 107 in the Tyrrhenian Sea

Correlations of biostratigraphic datums to the geomagnetic reversal timescale (GRTS) at Leg 107 sites provide a means of correlating these datums to sections outside the Mediterranean. Despite poor recovery and core deformation due to rotary drilling at Sites 651, 652, and 654 many biostratigraphic markers could be correlated to the GRTS, including those close to the Miocene/Pliocene and Tortonian/Messinian boundaries. These boundaries are interpreted to occur in Chrons 3r and 3B, respectively. Comparison of the correlation of Plio-Pleistocene calcareous plankton biostratigraphic events to the GRTS in the Mediterranean and in the open oceans indicates that many events are broadly synchronous between the two environments. The outstanding exception is the first occurrence of Globorotalia margaritae which is delayed in the Mediterranean by about 1 m.y. -from Authors