Abstract
Astronomical solutions form the backbone of accurate dating for geology
and paleoclimate studies. Beyond ∼50 Ma, however, the chaos inherent in
the solar system makes it impossible to calculate a single unique
astronomical solution. Geological data have been used to constrain this
chaos in order to arrive at a geologic time scale up to the
end-Cretaceous. Here, we adopt and extend this approach into the latest
Cretaceous, by re-analyzing the Zumaia and Sopelana composite proxy
records from the Maastrichtian. We find that the filtered sum total
light reflectance (L*) record is most compatible with the astronomical
solution ZB20a. However, these results are sensitive to parameter
choices in our algorithm, which we describe in detail. Nevertheless, we
present evidence in favor of solution ZB20a for cyclostratigraphy during
the latest Cretaceous. Periods with very long eccentricity nodes (VLNs)
(low amplitude in the short eccentricity cycle) in the astronomical
solutions that coincide with large amplitudes in the short
eccentricity-related peaks in the filtered sum proxy record rule out
alternatives.