The Paleocene/Eocene-boundary interval of a Tethyan deep-sea section (Austria) and its correlation with the North Sea basin

The Anthering-section is one of the most expanded upper Paleocene - lower E ocene sedimentary sequences known to date and records several of the Paleoc ene/Eocene boundary events, including the delta(13)C isotope excursion. Wit hin 250 m of abyssal-plain deposits, calcareous mud-turbidites originating from the basin slope alternate with hemipelagic claystones. The average rat e of sedimentation for the lower part of Zone NP9 is calculated at 22.7 cm/ ky and for the upper part of Zone NP9 and Zone NP10 at 9.1 cm/ky. In the lo wer part of Zone NP10 closely spaced bentonite layers occur which mainly di splay immobile element concentrations typical for alkaline basalts. However , the thickest bentonite (X1), situated at the base of the ash series, plot s into the trachyte field. Dinoflagellate stratigraphy strongly suggests th at the ash-series at Anthering is synchronous with the main occurrence of a sh layers in the North Sea region which display a comparable chemical compo sition. The biostratigraphical and geochemical correspondence of both ash-s eries point to a common source of magma. Especially, a correlation of layer +19 of the North Sea region with layer X1 at Anthering seems probable. We therefore consider the bentonites from the Anthering-section as distal depo sits of the "positive" ash-series of the North Sea region which obviously r epresent unique and widespread correlation tools.