The ICDP-USGS Deep Drilling Project in the Chesapeake Bay impact structure: Results from the Eyreville Core Holes
Paleontological interpretations of crater processes and infilling of synimpact sediments from the Chesapeake Bay impact structure
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Published:January 01, 2009
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CiteCitation
Jean M. Self-Trail, Lucy E. Edwards, Ronald J. Litwin, 2009. "Paleontological interpretations of crater processes and infilling of synimpact sediments from the Chesapeake Bay impact structure", The ICDP-USGS Deep Drilling Project in the Chesapeake Bay impact structure: Results from the Eyreville Core Holes, Gregory S. Gohn, Christian Koeberl, Kenneth G. Miller, Wolf Uwe Reimold
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Biostratigraphic analysis of sedimentary breccias and diamictons in the Chesa-peake Bay impact structure provides information regarding the timing and processes of late-stage gravitational crater collapse and ocean resurge. Studies of calcareous nannofossil and palynomorph assemblages in the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP)–U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Eyreville A and B cores show the mixed-age, mixed-preservation microfossil assemblages that are typical of deposits from the upper part of the Chesapeake Bay impact structure. Sparse, poorly preserved, possibly thermally altered pollen is present within a gravelly sand interval below the granite slab at 1392 m in Eyreville core B, an interval that is otherwise barren of calcareous nannofossils and dinocysts. Gravitational collapse of water- saturated sediments from the transient crater wall resulted in the deposition of sediment clasts primarily derived from the nonmarine Cretaceous Potomac Formation. Collapse occurred before the arrival of resurge. Low pollen Thermal Alteration Index (TAI) values suggest that these sediments were not thermally altered by contact with the melt sheet. The arrival of resurge sedimentation is identified based on the presence of diamicton zones and stringers rich in glauconite and marine microfossils at 866.7 m. This horizon can be traced across the crater and can be used to identify gravitational collapse versus ocean-resurge sedimentation. Glauconitic quartz sand diamicton dominates the sediments above 618.2 m. Calcareous nannofossil and dino-flagellate data from this interval suggest that the earliest arriving resurge from the west contained little or no Cretaceous marine input, but later resurge pulses mined Cretaceous sediments east of the Watkins core in the annular trough. Additionally, the increased distance traveled by resurge to the central crater in turbulent flow conditions resulted in the disaggregation of Paleogene unconsolidated sediments. As a result, intact Paleogene clasts in Eyreville cores are rare, but clasts of semilithified Potomac Formation silts and clays are common.
- algae
- assemblages
- biostratigraphy
- biozones
- Cenozoic
- Chesapeake Bay impact structure
- cores
- Dinoflagellata
- Eocene
- International Continental Scientific Drilling Program
- lithostratigraphy
- microfossils
- miospores
- nannofossils
- Northampton County Virginia
- Paleogene
- palynomorphs
- Plantae
- pollen
- preservation
- quantitative analysis
- spores
- Tertiary
- United States
- upper Eocene
- Virginia
- Eyreville Farm