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Comparison of Amino Acid Racemization Geochronometry with Lithostratigraphy, Biostratigraphy, Uranium-Series Coral Dating, and Magnetostratigraphy in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the Southeastern United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

L. McCartan ,
J. P. Owens ,
B. W. Blackwelder ,
B. J. Szabo ,
D. F. Belknap ,
N. Kriausakul ,
R. M. Mitterer  and
J. F. Wehmiller
L. McCartan
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 22092
J. P. Owens
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 22092
B. W. Blackwelder
Affiliation:
Tenneco Oil Company, Houston, Texas 77001
B. J. Szabo
Affiliation:
U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225
D. F. Belknap
Affiliation:
University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
N. Kriausakul
Affiliation:
University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
R. M. Mitterer
Affiliation:
University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
J. F. Wehmiller
Affiliation:
University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19711
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Abstract

The results of an integrated study comprising litho- and biostratigraphic investigations, uranium-series coral dating, amino acid racemization in molluscs, and paleomagnetic measurements are compared to ascertain relative and absolute ages of Pleistocene deposits of the Atlantic Coastal Plain in North and South Carolina. Four depositional events are inferred for South Carolina and two for North Carolina by all methods. The data suggest that there are four Pleistocene units containing corals that have been dated at about 100,000 yr, 200,000 yr, 450,000 yr, and over 1,000,000 yr. Some conflicts exist between the different methods regarding the correlation of the younger of these depositional events between Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Lack of good uranium-series dates for the younger material at Myrtle Beach makes the correlation with the deposits at Charleston more difficult.

Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 18 , Issue 3 , November 1982 , pp. 337 - 359
Copyright
University of Washington

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