Aquitanian (stage)

Oldest age in the Miocene

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Aquitanian

23.03 – 20.44 Ma

PreꞒ

Chronology

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Chattian

Aquitanian

Burdigalian

Langhian

Serravallian

Tortonian

Messinian

Zanclean

Piacenzian

Gelasian

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Messinian salinity crisis[1]

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<-|

North American prairie expands[2]

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Subdivision of the Neogene according to the ICS, as of 2023.[3]
Vertical axis scale: Millions of years ago

Formerly part of| Tertiary Period/System
Usage information
Celestial body| Earth
Regional usage| Global (ICS)
Time scale(s) used| ICS Time Scale
Definition
Chronological unit| Age
Stratigraphic unit| Stage
Time span formality| Formal
Lower boundary definition|

* Base of magnetic polarity chronozone C6Cn.2n
* FAD of the Planktonic foraminiferan Paragloborotalia kugleri

Lower boundary GSSP| Lemme-Carrosio Section, Carrosio, Italy
44°39′32″N 8°50′11″E﻿ / ﻿44.6589°N 8.8364°E﻿ / 44.6589; 8.8364
Lower GSSP ratified| 1996[4]
Upper boundary definition| Not formally defined
Upper boundary definition candidates|

* Near FAD of the Planktonic Foraminiferan Globigerinoides altiaperturus
* Near top of magnetic polarity chronozone C6An

Upper boundary GSSP candidate section(s)| Astronomically tuned ODP-core

The Aquitanian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geologic timescale, the oldest age or lowest stage in the Miocene. It spans the time between 23.03 Ma and 20.44 Ma (million years ago) during the Early Miocene. It was a dry, cooling period.[5] The Aquitanian succeeds the Chattian (the youngest age of the Oligocene) and precedes the Burdigalian.

The Aquitanian Age overlaps with the Harrisonian, Agenian, Pareora, Landon, Otaian, and Waitakian Ages from various regional timescales.

## Stratigraphic definition

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The Aquitanian Stage was named after the Aquitaine region in France and was introduced in scientific literature by Swiss stratigrapher Karl Mayer-Eymar in 1858.

The base of the Aquitanian (also the base of the Miocene Series and the Neogene System) is defined as the place in the stratigraphic column at the first appearance of foram species Paragloborotalia kugleri, the extinction of calcareous nanoplankton species Reticulofenestra bisecta (which forms the base of nanoplankton biozone NN1), and the base of magnetic chronozone C6Cn.2n. The official GSSP for the Aquitanian Stage lies in the Lemme-Carrosio section near the small village of Carrosio (north of Genoa) in northern Italy.[6]

The top of the Aquitanian Stage (the base of the Burdigalian) is at the first appearance of foram species Globigerinoides altiaperturus and the top of magnetic chronozone C6An.

## References

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### Footnotes

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1. ^ Krijgsman, W.; Garcés, M.; Langereis, C. G.; Daams, R.; Van Dam, J.; Van Der Meulen, A. J.; Agustí, J.; Cabrera, L. (1996). "A new chronology for the middle to late Miocene continental record in Spain". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 142 (3–4): 367–380\. Bibcode:1996E&PSL.142..367K. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(96)00109-4.3–4&rft.pages=367-380&rft.date=1996&rft_id=info:doi/10.1016/0012-821X(96)00109-4&rft_id=info:bibcode/1996E&PSL.142..367K;&rft.au=Krijgsman,+W.&rft.au=Garcés,+M.&rft.au=Langereis,+C.+G.&rft.au=Daams,+R.&rft.au=Van+Dam,+J.&rft.au=Van+Der+Meulen,+A.+J.&rft.au=Agustí,+J.&rft.au=Cabrera,+L.&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Aquitanian+(stage)" class="Z3988">
2. ^ Retallack, G. J. (1997). "Neogene Expansion of the North American Prairie". PALAIOS. 12 (4): 380–390\. doi:10.2307/3515337. JSTOR 3515337. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
3. ^ "International Chronostratigraphic Chart" (PDF). International Commission on Stratigraphy. September 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
4. ^ Steininger, Fritz F.; M. P. Aubry; W. A. Berggren; M. Biolzi; A. M. Borsetti; Julie E. Cartlidge; F. Cati; R. Corfield; R. Gelati; S. Iaccarino; C. Napoleone; F. Ottner; F. Rögl; R. Roetzel; S. Spezzaferri; F. Tateo; G. Villa; D. Zevenboom (1997). "The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Neogene" (PDF). Episodes. 20 (1): 23–28\. doi:10.18814/epiiugs/1997/v20i1/005.
5. ^ Edward Petuch, Ph.D. Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences
6. ^ The Aquitanian GSSP was established by Steininger et al. (1997)

### Literature

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Wikisource has original works on the topic: Cenozoic#Neogene

* Gradstein, F.M.; Ogg, J.G. & Smith, A.G.; 2004: A Geologic Time Scale 2004, Cambridge University Press.
* Mayer-Eymar, K.; 1858: Versuch einer neuen Klassifikation der Tertiär-Gebilde Europa’s, Verhandlungen der Schweizerischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft 17–19 (August 1857), p. 70–71 & 165–199. (in German)
* Steininger, F.F.; Aubry, M.P.; Berggren, W.A.; Biolzi, M.; Borsetti, A.M.; Cartlidge, J.E.; Cati, F.; Corfield, R.; Gelati, R.; Iaccarino, S.; Napoleone, C.; Ottner, F.; Rogl, F.; Roetzel, R.; Spezzaferri, S.; Tateo, F.; Villa, G. & Zevenboom, D.; 1997: The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Neogene, Episodes 20(1), p. 23-28.

## External links

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* GeoWhen Database - Aquitanian
* Neogene timescale, at the website of the subcommission for stratigraphic information of the ICS
* Neogene timescale at the website of the Norwegian network of offshore records of geology and stratigraphy

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44°39′32″N 8°50′11″E﻿ / ﻿44.6589°N 8.8364°E﻿ / 44.6589; 8.8364
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