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A new approach to an absolute timescale from measurements of orbital cycles and sedimentary microrhythms

Abstract

When the sedimentary microrhythms of two groups of Jurassic zones forming part of the chronostratigraphical scale are analysed against recent radiometric age scales there is good agreement with present-day cycles resulting from the obliquity of the ecliptic. Sedimentary microrhythms resulting from orbital forcing can be used to establish either the relative or the true length of chronostratigraphical zones and thus provide a new approach towards an absolute timescale. Such a scale will be powerful in the analysis of other cycles and perturbations in the geological record.

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House, M. A new approach to an absolute timescale from measurements of orbital cycles and sedimentary microrhythms. Nature 315, 721–725 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/315721a0

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