An aminostratigraphy for the British Quaternary based on Bithynia opercula

Kirsty E.H. Penkman; Richard C. Preece; David R. Bridgland; David H. Keen; Tom Meijer; Simon A. Parfitt; Tom S. White; Matthew J. Collins

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.10.046

An aminostratigraphy for the British Quaternary based on Bithynia opercula

Kirsty E.H. Penkman^*, Richard C. Preece, David R. Bridgland, David H. Keen, Tom Meijer, Simon A. Parfitt, Tom S. White, Matthew J. Collins

^*Corresponding author for this work

61 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aminostratigraphies of Quaternary non-marine deposits in Europe have been previously based on the racemization of a single amino acid in aragonitic shells from land and freshwater molluscs. The value of analysing multiple amino acids from the opercula of the freshwater gastropod Bithynia, which are composed of calcite, has been demonstrated. The protocol used for the isolation of intra-crystalline proteins from shells has been applied to these calcitic opercula, which have been shown to more closely approximate a closed system for indigenous protein residues. Original amino acids are even preserved in bithyniid opercula from the Eocene, showing persistence of indigenous organics for over 30 million years. Geochronological data from opercula are superior to those from shells in two respects: first, in showing less natural variability, and second, in the far better preservation of the intra-crystalline proteins, possibly resulting from the greater stability of calcite. These features allow greater temporal resolution and an extension of the dating range beyond the early Middle Pleistocene. Here we provide full details of the analyses for 480 samples from 100 horizons (75 sites), ranging from Late Pliocene to modern. These show that the dating technique is applicable to the entire Quaternary. Data are provided from all the stratotypes from British stages to have yielded opercula, which are shown to be clearly separable using this revised method. Further checks on the data are provided by reference to other type-sites for different stages (including some not formally defined). Additional tests are provided by sites with independent geochronology, or which can be associated with a terrace stratigraphy or biostratigraphy. This new aminostratigraphy for the non-marine Quaternary deposits of southern Britain provides a framework for understanding the regional geological and archaeological record. Comparison with reference to sites yielding independent geochronology, in combination with other lines of evidence, allows tentative correlation with the marine oxygen isotope record.

Original language	English
Journal	Quaternary Science Reviews
Volume	61
Pages (from-to)	111-134
Number of pages	24
ISSN	0277-3791
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.10.046
Publication status	Published - 1 Feb 2013

Keywords

Amino acid geochronology
Interglacial
Intra-crystalline protein decomposition
Palaeolithic
Pleistocene

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10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.10.046

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title = "An aminostratigraphy for the British Quaternary based on Bithynia opercula",

abstract = "Aminostratigraphies of Quaternary non-marine deposits in Europe have been previously based on the racemization of a single amino acid in aragonitic shells from land and freshwater molluscs. The value of analysing multiple amino acids from the opercula of the freshwater gastropod Bithynia, which are composed of calcite, has been demonstrated. The protocol used for the isolation of intra-crystalline proteins from shells has been applied to these calcitic opercula, which have been shown to more closely approximate a closed system for indigenous protein residues. Original amino acids are even preserved in bithyniid opercula from the Eocene, showing persistence of indigenous organics for over 30 million years. Geochronological data from opercula are superior to those from shells in two respects: first, in showing less natural variability, and second, in the far better preservation of the intra-crystalline proteins, possibly resulting from the greater stability of calcite. These features allow greater temporal resolution and an extension of the dating range beyond the early Middle Pleistocene. Here we provide full details of the analyses for 480 samples from 100 horizons (75 sites), ranging from Late Pliocene to modern. These show that the dating technique is applicable to the entire Quaternary. Data are provided from all the stratotypes from British stages to have yielded opercula, which are shown to be clearly separable using this revised method. Further checks on the data are provided by reference to other type-sites for different stages (including some not formally defined). Additional tests are provided by sites with independent geochronology, or which can be associated with a terrace stratigraphy or biostratigraphy. This new aminostratigraphy for the non-marine Quaternary deposits of southern Britain provides a framework for understanding the regional geological and archaeological record. Comparison with reference to sites yielding independent geochronology, in combination with other lines of evidence, allows tentative correlation with the marine oxygen isotope record.",

keywords = "Amino acid geochronology, Interglacial, Intra-crystalline protein decomposition, Palaeolithic, Pleistocene",

author = "Penkman, {Kirsty E.H.} and Preece, {Richard C.} and Bridgland, {David R.} and Keen, {David H.} and Tom Meijer and Parfitt, {Simon A.} and White, {Tom S.} and Collins, {Matthew J.}",

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AU - Penkman, Kirsty E.H.

AU - Preece, Richard C.

AU - Bridgland, David R.

AU - Keen, David H.

AU - Meijer, Tom

AU - Parfitt, Simon A.

AU - White, Tom S.

AU - Collins, Matthew J.

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AB - Aminostratigraphies of Quaternary non-marine deposits in Europe have been previously based on the racemization of a single amino acid in aragonitic shells from land and freshwater molluscs. The value of analysing multiple amino acids from the opercula of the freshwater gastropod Bithynia, which are composed of calcite, has been demonstrated. The protocol used for the isolation of intra-crystalline proteins from shells has been applied to these calcitic opercula, which have been shown to more closely approximate a closed system for indigenous protein residues. Original amino acids are even preserved in bithyniid opercula from the Eocene, showing persistence of indigenous organics for over 30 million years. Geochronological data from opercula are superior to those from shells in two respects: first, in showing less natural variability, and second, in the far better preservation of the intra-crystalline proteins, possibly resulting from the greater stability of calcite. These features allow greater temporal resolution and an extension of the dating range beyond the early Middle Pleistocene. Here we provide full details of the analyses for 480 samples from 100 horizons (75 sites), ranging from Late Pliocene to modern. These show that the dating technique is applicable to the entire Quaternary. Data are provided from all the stratotypes from British stages to have yielded opercula, which are shown to be clearly separable using this revised method. Further checks on the data are provided by reference to other type-sites for different stages (including some not formally defined). Additional tests are provided by sites with independent geochronology, or which can be associated with a terrace stratigraphy or biostratigraphy. This new aminostratigraphy for the non-marine Quaternary deposits of southern Britain provides a framework for understanding the regional geological and archaeological record. Comparison with reference to sites yielding independent geochronology, in combination with other lines of evidence, allows tentative correlation with the marine oxygen isotope record.

KW - Amino acid geochronology

KW - Interglacial

KW - Intra-crystalline protein decomposition

KW - Palaeolithic

KW - Pleistocene

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DO - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.10.046

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:84871944836

SN - 0277-3791

VL - 61

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EP - 134

JO - Quaternary Science Reviews

JF - Quaternary Science Reviews

ER -

An aminostratigraphy for the British Quaternary based on Bithynia opercula

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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