Calibration of Late Neogene Calcareous Plankton Datum Planes with the Paleomagnetic Record of Site 397 and Correlation with Moroccan and Mediterranean Sections

The late Neogene succession continuously cored at Hole 397 has been investigated in detail from Cores 69 to 19 to calibrate datum planes based on calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifers with the sequence of magnetic reversals detected in the cores. Nine datum planes based on calcareous nannofossils, 7 based on planktonic foraminifers, and 15 magnetic reversals were detected from Section 57-3 to Core 19. The interval spans 5 m.y., and encompasses paleomagnetic Epoch 7 (partim) to the Matuyama Epoch (partim). Correlations are presented for the Bou Regreg section of northwestern Morocco; the Melilla section of northern Morocco; Rio Mazzapiedi section of northern Italy (Tortonian stratotype); Cape Rossello, Sicily (Zanclean stratotype); and DSDP Site 132 (Tyrrhenian Basin). The Tortonian/Messinian, Messinian/Zanclean, and Zanclean/Piacenzian boundaries are biostratigraphically recognized and located with accuracy.