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Synchronizing rock clocks in the late Cambrian

Author

Listed:
  • Zhengfu Zhao

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Nicolas R. Thibault

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Tais W. Dahl

    (GLOBE institute, University of Copenhagen)

  • Niels H. Schovsbo

    (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS))

  • Aske L. Sørensen

    (GLOBE institute, University of Copenhagen)

  • Christian M. Ø. Rasmussen

    (GLOBE institute, University of Copenhagen)

  • Arne T. Nielsen

    (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

The Cambrian is the most poorly dated period of the past 541 million years. This hampers analysis of profound environmental and biological changes that took place during this period. Astronomically forced climate cycles recognized in sediments and anchored to radioisotopic ages provide a powerful geochronometer that has fundamentally refined Mesozoic–Cenozoic time scales but not yet the Palaeozoic. Here we report a continuous astronomical signal detected as geochemical variations (1 mm resolution) in the late Cambrian Alum Shale Formation that is used to establish a 16-Myr-long astronomical time scale, anchored by radioisotopic dates. The resulting time scale is biostratigraphically well-constrained, allowing correlation of the late Cambrian global stage boundaries with the 405-kyr astrochronological framework. This enables a first assessment, in numerical time, of the evolution of major biotic and abiotic changes, including the end-Marjuman extinctions and the Steptoean Positive Carbon Isotope Excursion, that characterized the late Cambrian Earth.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhengfu Zhao & Nicolas R. Thibault & Tais W. Dahl & Niels H. Schovsbo & Aske L. Sørensen & Christian M. Ø. Rasmussen & Arne T. Nielsen, 2022. "Synchronizing rock clocks in the late Cambrian," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-29651-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29651-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Huaichun Wu & Shihong Zhang & Linda A. Hinnov & Ganqing Jiang & Qinglai Feng & Haiyan Li & Tianshui Yang, 2013. "Time-calibrated Milankovitch cycles for the late Permian," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Benjamin C. Gill & Timothy W. Lyons & Seth A. Young & Lee R. Kump & Andrew H. Knoll & Matthew R. Saltzman, 2011. "Geochemical evidence for widespread euxinia in the Later Cambrian ocean," Nature, Nature, vol. 469(7328), pages 80-83, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yong-Xiang Li & John A. Tarduno & Wenjun Jiao & Xinyu Liu & Shanchi Peng & Shihua Xu & Aihua Yang & Zhenyu Yang, 2023. "Late Cambrian geomagnetic instability after the onset of inner core nucleation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.

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