An Early Cretaceous stratigraphic marker fossil in the High Arctic: the belemnite Arctoteuthis bluethgeni. (8th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alsen, Peter; Jelby, Mads E.; Śliwińska, Kasia K.; Mutterlose, Jörg
• Is Part Of: Geological magazine. Volume 157:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1715
• Page End: 1728
• Publication Date: 2020-10-08
• Subjects: Belemnite, -- curved rostra, -- Rurikfjellet Formation, -- Wimanfjellet Member, -- Svalbard; Geology -- Periodicals; 551.05
• DOI: 10.1017/S0016756819000803
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-7568

Abstract

Abstract: The original description of the large and characteristic belemnite species Arctoteuthis bluethgeni Doyle was based on fragmentary material from a relatively uncertain stratigraphic interval in Kong Karls Land, Svalbard. Recent collection of a belemnite assemblage in the Lower Cretaceous Rurikfjellet Formation on Spitsbergen include numerous complete specimens, allowing a detailed description of the species. With the exception of a specimen reported from Arctic Canada, its distribution is restricted to Svalbard. Its stratigraphic range appears to be restricted to the upper Valanginian – lower Hauterivian from ages obtained from palynostratigraphy. A. bluethgeni is therefore considered to be a useful Lower Cretaceous guide fossil in the Boreal High Arctic.