Upper Campanian–Maastrichtian nannofossil biostratigraphy and high-resolution carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the Danish Basin: Towards a standard δ13C curve for the Boreal Realm

High-resolution carbon isotope stratigraphy of the upper Campanian–Maastrichtian is recorded in the Boreal Realm from a total of 1968 bulk chalk samples of the Stevns-1 core, eastern Denmark. Isotopic trends are calibrated by calcareous nannofossil bio-events and are correlated with a lower-resolution δ13C profile from Rørdal, northwestern Denmark. A quantitative approach is used to test the reliability of Upper Cretaceous nannofossil bio-events and provides accurate biohorizons for the correlation of δ13C profiles. The Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary (CMB) is identified through the correlation of dinoflagellate biostratigraphy and δ13C stratigraphy between Stevns-1 and the Global boundary Standard Stratotype-section and Point at Tercis les Bains (SW France), allowing the identification of new chemical and biostratigraphic markers that provide a precise placement of the stage boundary on a regional scale. The boundary interval corresponds to the third phase of a stepwise 0.8‰ negative δ13C excursion, lies in calcareous nannofossil subzone UC16dBP, and encompasses the last occurrence of nannofossil Tranolithus stemmerikii and first occurrence of nannofossil Prediscosphaera mgayae. Fifteen δ13C events are defined and correlated to sixteen reliable nannofossil biohorizons, thus providing a well-calibrated standard high-resolution δ13C curve for the Boreal Realm.

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► We present a high-resolution δ13C record for the upper Campanian–Maastrichtian of the Boreal Realm.
► This record is correlated to 16 reliable calcareous nannofossil biohorizons.
► This record is correlated to that of Tercis les Bains, GSSP of the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary.
► New δ13C and biostratigraphic markers are proposed for the Campanian–Maastrichtian boundary.