Uranium-series coral ages from the US Atlantic Coastal Plain–the ‘‘80 ka problem’’ revisited
| Author(s) | Wehmiller, John F. | |
| Author(s) | Simmons, Kathleen R. | |
| Author(s) | Cheng, Hai | |
| Author(s) | Edwards, R. Lawrence | |
| Author(s) | Martin-McNaughton, Jamie | |
| Author(s) | York, Linda L. | |
| Author(s) | Krantz, David E. | |
| Author(s) | Shen, Chuan-Chou | |
| Date Accessioned | 2015-09-17T21:23:35Z | |
| Date Available | 2015-09-17T21:23:35Z | |
| Publication Date | 2004 | |
| Abstract | Uranium series coral ages for emergent units from the passive continental margin US Atlantic Coastal Plain (ACP) suggest sea level above present levels at the end of marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 5, contradicting age-elevation relations based on marine isotopic or coral reef models of ice equivalent sea level. We have reexamined this problem by obtaining high precision Th-230/U-238 and Pa-231/U-235 thermal ionization mass spectrometric ages for recently collected and carefully cleaned ACP corals, many in situ. We recognize samples that show no evidence for diagenesis on the basis of uranium isotopic composition and age concordance. Combining new and earlier data, among those ages close to or within the age range of MIS 5, over 85% cluster between 65 and 85 ka BP. Of the corals that we have analyzed, those that show the least evidence for diagenesis on the basis of uranium isotopic composition and age concordance have ages between 80 and 85 ka BP, consistent with a MIS 5a correlation. The units from which these samples have been collected are all emergent and have elevations within B3–5m of those few units where early stage 5 (B125,000 ka BP) coral ages have been obtained. The ACP appears to record an unusual history of relative sea level throughout MIS 5, a history that is also apparent in the dated coral record for Bermuda. We speculate that this history is related to the regional (near-to intermediate-field) effects of ancestral Laurentide Ice sheets on last interglacial shorelines of the western North Atlantic. | en_US |
| Sponsor | This research was partially supported by NSF EAR9315053 to the University of Delaware. | en_US |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.quaint.2004.01.002 | |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/17022 | |
| Publisher | Department of Geology and College of Marine Studies, University of Delaware, Newark | en_US |
| Title | Uranium-series coral ages from the US Atlantic Coastal Plain–the ‘‘80 ka problem’’ revisited | en_US |
| Type | Article | en_US |