Discussion of “Magnetostratigraphic confirmation of a much faster tempo for sea-level change for the Middle Triassic Latemar platform carbonates” by D.V. Kent, G. Muttoni and P. Brack [Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 228 (2004), 369–377]

Kent et al. report on new magnetostratigraphic data obtained from the Middle Triassic Latemar carbonate platform (Dolomites, Italy). The result is important because it addresses the so-called ‘Latemar controversy,' and appears to corroborate radioisotope-dated ash beds in the Latemar platform indicating that the buildup must have taken place in 2–4 million years, but not the 9–12 million years of Milankovitch forcing inferred from cyclostratigraphic analyses. Unfortunately, Kent et al. omit basic information that runs contrary to the conclusion that the Latemar carbonates have yielded a primary paleomagnetic signal. Here, the missing details are supplied by “zooming in" on the chronostratigraphic interval that was investigated. In sum, Kent et al.'s results do not confirm a “faster tempo for sea level change" for the Latemar as much as raise questions about the magnetization of these carbonate rocks. There are also shortcomings in Kent et al.'s reappraisal of the cyclic content of the Cimon del Latemar (CDL) series that need clarification. Finally, the Latemar controversy is examined in the context of the distribution of time in Middle Triassic stratigraphy of the Dolomites.