Age constraint for the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin) by CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon geochronology
The “mid-Cretaceous” (~125–80 Ma) was punctuated by major plate-tectonic upheavals resulting in widespread volcanism, mountain-building, eustatic sea-level changes, and climatic shifts that together had a profound impact on terrestrial biotic assemblages. Paleontological evidence suggests terrestria...
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PeerJ Inc.
2021-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/10948.pdf |
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| author | Charl D. Cilliers Ryan T. Tucker James L. Crowley Lindsay E. Zanno |
| author_facet | Charl D. Cilliers Ryan T. Tucker James L. Crowley Lindsay E. Zanno |
| author_sort | Charl D. Cilliers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The “mid-Cretaceous” (~125–80 Ma) was punctuated by major plate-tectonic upheavals resulting in widespread volcanism, mountain-building, eustatic sea-level changes, and climatic shifts that together had a profound impact on terrestrial biotic assemblages. Paleontological evidence suggests terrestrial ecosystems underwent a major restructuring during this interval, yet the pace and pattern are poorly constrained. Current impediments to piecing together the geologic and biological history of the “mid-Cretaceous” include a relative paucity of terrestrial outcrop stemming from this time interval, coupled with a historical understudy of fragmentary strata. In the Western Interior of North America, sedimentary strata of the Turonian–Santonian stages are emerging as key sources of data for refining the timing of ecosystem transformation during the transition from the late-Early to early-Late Cretaceous. In particular, the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin, New Mexico) is especially important for detailing the timing of the rise of iconic Late Cretaceous vertebrate faunas. This study presents the first systematic geochronological framework for key strata within the Moreno Hill Formation. Based on the double-dating of (U-Pb) detrital zircons, via CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS, we interpret two distinct depositional phases of the Moreno Hill Formation (initial deposition after 90.9 Ma (middle Turonian) and subsequent deposition after 88.6 Ma (early Coniacian)), younger than previously postulated based on correlations with marine biostratigraphy. Sediment and the co-occurring youthful subset of zircons are sourced from the southwestern Cordilleran Arc and Mogollon Highlands, which fed into the landward portion of the Gallup Delta (the Moreno Hill Formation) via northeasterly flowing channel complexes. This work greatly strengthens linkages to other early Late Cretaceous strata across the Western Interior. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:53:42Z |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:53:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj.art-8451e6bfe76d4bffa7298f87317bfc512023-12-03T01:22:07ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-03-019e1094810.7717/peerj.10948Age constraint for the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin) by CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon geochronologyCharl D. Cilliers0Ryan T. Tucker1James L. Crowley2Lindsay E. Zanno3Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South AfricaDepartment of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South AfricaDepartment of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USAPaleontology, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USAThe “mid-Cretaceous” (~125–80 Ma) was punctuated by major plate-tectonic upheavals resulting in widespread volcanism, mountain-building, eustatic sea-level changes, and climatic shifts that together had a profound impact on terrestrial biotic assemblages. Paleontological evidence suggests terrestrial ecosystems underwent a major restructuring during this interval, yet the pace and pattern are poorly constrained. Current impediments to piecing together the geologic and biological history of the “mid-Cretaceous” include a relative paucity of terrestrial outcrop stemming from this time interval, coupled with a historical understudy of fragmentary strata. In the Western Interior of North America, sedimentary strata of the Turonian–Santonian stages are emerging as key sources of data for refining the timing of ecosystem transformation during the transition from the late-Early to early-Late Cretaceous. In particular, the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin, New Mexico) is especially important for detailing the timing of the rise of iconic Late Cretaceous vertebrate faunas. This study presents the first systematic geochronological framework for key strata within the Moreno Hill Formation. Based on the double-dating of (U-Pb) detrital zircons, via CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS, we interpret two distinct depositional phases of the Moreno Hill Formation (initial deposition after 90.9 Ma (middle Turonian) and subsequent deposition after 88.6 Ma (early Coniacian)), younger than previously postulated based on correlations with marine biostratigraphy. Sediment and the co-occurring youthful subset of zircons are sourced from the southwestern Cordilleran Arc and Mogollon Highlands, which fed into the landward portion of the Gallup Delta (the Moreno Hill Formation) via northeasterly flowing channel complexes. This work greatly strengthens linkages to other early Late Cretaceous strata across the Western Interior.https://peerj.com/articles/10948.pdfMoreno Hill FormationZuni BasinMogollon HighlandsCoupled CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MSGallup DeltaDetrital zircon |
| spellingShingle | Charl D. Cilliers Ryan T. Tucker James L. Crowley Lindsay E. Zanno Age constraint for the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin) by CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon geochronology PeerJ Moreno Hill Formation Zuni Basin Mogollon Highlands Coupled CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS Gallup Delta Detrital zircon |
| title | Age constraint for the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin) by CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon geochronology |
| title_full | Age constraint for the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin) by CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon geochronology |
| title_fullStr | Age constraint for the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin) by CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon geochronology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age constraint for the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin) by CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon geochronology |
| title_short | Age constraint for the Moreno Hill Formation (Zuni Basin) by CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon geochronology |
| title_sort | age constraint for the moreno hill formation zuni basin by ca tims and la icp ms detrital zircon geochronology |
| topic | Moreno Hill Formation Zuni Basin Mogollon Highlands Coupled CA-TIMS and LA-ICP-MS Gallup Delta Detrital zircon |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/10948.pdf |
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