Cyclostratigraphic dating in the Lower Badenian (Langhian, Middle Miocene) of the Vienna Basin (Austria)

Author(s)

Johann Hohenegger, Michael Wagreich, Stjepan Coric, Maksuba Khatun, Peter Pervesler, Alfred Rögl, Christian Rupp, Anna Selge

Abstract

Cyclostratigraphic dating of a 102 m core at the type locality of the Badenian, the

old brickyard Baden-Sooss in the Vienna Basin, yielded an exact age for the lower

part of the Badenian Central Paratethys stage (Langhian, Middle Miocene). The sedimentary

succession of the core consists mainly of bioturbated, medium-to-dark gray

marly shales with carbonate contents between 10 and 35% and organic carbon contents

between 0.32 and 0.78%. The depositional environment can be characterized as

offshore, below fair weather wave base. The sediments are hemipelagites, a mixture

from pelagic biogenic carbonate, mainly calcareous nannofossils and foraminiferal

tests, and terrigenous clay and silt.

Biostratigraphic investigations on foraminifera (mainly lower part of the local Upper

Lagenid Zone) and calcareous nannoplankton indicate an early Badenian (Langhian)

age. The investigated core interval can be placed above the first occurrence of Orbulina

suturalis (14.561 myr, Abdul Aziz et al. 2007). The absence of Helicosphaera

waltrans and the presence of Sphenolithus heteromorphus allows an attribution of the

investigated core into the upper part of nannoplankton Zone NN5 (Langhian).

Cycles in carbonate content, organic carbon content, and magnetic susceptibility have

been identified by power spectra analysis (Hohenegger et al. 2008). Correlations be-

tween the three variables are extremely significant. Using cross-correlation, periods

around 40 m correlate significantly with the 100.000 yr eccentricity cycle, the 20 m

periods with the obliquity cycle, and the 15 to 11-m periods with both precession

cycles.

Organisation(s)

Department of Palaeontology, Department of Geology

External organisation(s)

Geologische Bundesanstalt, Montanuniversität Leoben

Journal

Geophysical Research Abstracts

Volume

10

No. of pages

2

ISSN

1029-7006

Publication date

2008

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

105118 Palaeontology

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