High-resolution calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of the Santonian/Campanian Stage boundary, Western Interior Basin, USA

• We analyze calcareous nannofossils in the Late Cretaceous Niobrara Formation of the Western Interior Seaway.
• Base of the Campanian lies between the last occurrences of Helicolithus trabeculatus >7 μm and Zeugrhabdotus biperforatus
• The base of the Scaphites leei III ammonite Zone appears to be slightly younger than the base of paleomagnetic chron C33r.

The base of the Campanian Stage does not have a ratified Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP); however, several potential boundary markers have been proposed including the base of the Scaphites leei III ammonite Zone and the base of the paleomagnetic Chron C33r. Calcareous nannofossil assemblages from the Smoky Hill Member of the Niobrara Formation in the central Western Interior Seaway, USA were analyzed from two localities to determine relevant biohorizons and their relationships to these potential boundary markers. In a previous study, the Aristocrat Angus 12-8 core (Colorado) was astrochronologically dated and constrained using macrofossil zonations and radiometric ages. The Smoky Hill Member type area (Kansas) provides an expanded interval with good to excellent nannofossil preservation.Five biohorizons are useful for recognition of the Santonian/Campanian transition within the Smoky Hill Member type area, and three are useful in the Aristocrat Angus 12-8 core. The first occurrences (FOs) of Aspidolithus parcus parcus and Aspidolithus parcus constrictus, as well as the last occurrences (LOs) of Zeugrhabdotus moulladei, Helicolithus trabeculatus specimens larger than 7 μm, and Zeugrhabdotus biperforatus are in close stratigraphic proximity to the base of the Scaphites leei III Zone and the base of Chron C33r.