The top of the Olduvai Subchron in a high-resolution magnetostratigraphy from the West Turkana core WTK13, hominin sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP)

Mark J. Sier; Cor G. Langereis; Guillaume Dupont-Nivet; Craig S. Feibel; Josephine C.A. Joordens; Jeroen H.J.L. van der Lubbe; Catherine C. Beck; Daniel Olago; Andrew Cohen

doi:10.1016/j.quageo.2017.08.004

The top of the Olduvai Subchron in a high-resolution magnetostratigraphy from the West Turkana core WTK13, hominin sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP)

Mark J. Sier, Cor G. Langereis, Guillaume Dupont-Nivet, Craig S. Feibel, Josephine C.A. Joordens, Jeroen H.J.L. van der Lubbe, Catherine C. Beck, Daniel Olago, Andrew Cohen

Continental Scientific Drilling Facility

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

One of the major challenges in understanding the evolution of our own species is identifying the role climate change has played in the evolution of hominin species. To clarify the influence of climate, we need long and continuous high-resolution paleoclimate records, preferably obtained from hominin-bearing sediments, that are well-dated by tephro- and magnetostratigraphy and other methods. This is hindered, however, by the fact that fossil-bearing outcrop sediments are often discontinuous, and subject to weathering, which may lead to oxidation and remagnetization. To obtain fresh, unweathered sediments, the Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP) collected a ∼216-meter core (WTK13) in 2013 from Early Pleistocene Paleolake Lorenyang deposits in the western Turkana Basin (Kenya). Here, we present the magnetostratigraphy of the WTK13 core, providing a first age model for upcoming HSPDP paleoclimate and paleoenvrionmental studies on the core sediments. Rock magnetic analyses reveal the presence of iron sulfides carrying the remanent magnetizations. To recover polarity orientation from the near-equatorial WTK13 core drilled at 5°N, we developed and successfully applied two independent drill-core reorientation methods taking advantage of (1) the sedimentary fabric as expressed in the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) and (2) the occurrence of a viscous component oriented in the present day field. The reoriented directions reveal a normal to reversed polarity reversal identified as the top of the Olduvai Subchron. From this excellent record, we find no evidence for the ‘Vrica Subchron’ previously reported in the area. We suggest that outcrop-based interpretations supporting the presence of the Vrica Subchron have been affected by the oxidation of iron sulfides initially present in the sediments -as evident in the core record- and by subsequent remagnetization. We discuss the implications of the observed geomagnetic record for human evolution studies.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	117-129
Number of pages	13
Journal	Quaternary Geochronology
Volume	42
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2017.08.004
State	Published - Oct 2017

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This is publication number 10 of the Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project. Acquisition of the HSPDP-WTK drill core and sampling was funded by the International Continental Drilling Program and US-NSF grants ( EAR-1123942 , BCS-1241859 and EAR-1338553 ). MJS, HJLvdL and JCAJ are funded by Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research grants NWO-ALW 823.01.003 , NWO-ALW 824.01.005 and NWO-ALW Veni2013 grant respectively. GDN acknowledges funding from Marie Curie CIG FP7 grant 294282 ’HIRESDAT’. We thank the Kenyan National Council for Science and Technology and Kenyan Ministry of Mines for providing research and export permits, and the National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya for providing environmental permits for the drilling in West Turkana. We also like to acknowledge DOSECC Exploration Services for drilling supervision, the team of the US National Lacustrine Core Facility (LacCore) for help during drilling and sampling, the Nariokotome Mission and the people of Nariokotome, Drilling and Prospecting International Ltd, Boniface Kimeu and Francis Ekai, and the members of the West Turkana science field team: Chris Campisano, Chad Yost, Sarah Ivory, Les Dullo, Tannis McCartney, Ryan O'Grady, Gladys Tuitoek, Elizabeth Kimburi, and Thomas Johnson. Joanne Porck is thanked for her help with the figures, Carlos Saiz Domínguez for his help in the laboratory and Josep Parés for his help and advice during numerous discussions. We thank the three anonymous reviewers whose comments have greatly improved an earlier version of this manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017

Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

Drill-core reorientation
Hominin evolution
ICDP
Magnetostratigraphy
Olduvai Subchron
Paleoclimate
Paleolake Lorenyang
Vrica Subchron

Continental Scientific Drilling Facility tags

HSPDP

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.quageo.2017.08.004

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Sier, M. J., Langereis, C. G., Dupont-Nivet, G., Feibel, C. S., Joordens, J. C. A., van der Lubbe, J. H. J. L., Beck, C. C., Olago, D., & Cohen, A. (2017). The top of the Olduvai Subchron in a high-resolution magnetostratigraphy from the West Turkana core WTK13, hominin sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP). Quaternary Geochronology, 42, 117-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2017.08.004

Sier, MJ, Langereis, CG, Dupont-Nivet, G, Feibel, CS, Joordens, JCA, van der Lubbe, JHJL, Beck, CC, Olago, D & Cohen, A 2017, 'The top of the Olduvai Subchron in a high-resolution magnetostratigraphy from the West Turkana core WTK13, hominin sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP)', Quaternary Geochronology, vol. 42, pp. 117-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2017.08.004

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title = "The top of the Olduvai Subchron in a high-resolution magnetostratigraphy from the West Turkana core WTK13, hominin sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP)",

abstract = "One of the major challenges in understanding the evolution of our own species is identifying the role climate change has played in the evolution of hominin species. To clarify the influence of climate, we need long and continuous high-resolution paleoclimate records, preferably obtained from hominin-bearing sediments, that are well-dated by tephro- and magnetostratigraphy and other methods. This is hindered, however, by the fact that fossil-bearing outcrop sediments are often discontinuous, and subject to weathering, which may lead to oxidation and remagnetization. To obtain fresh, unweathered sediments, the Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP) collected a ∼216-meter core (WTK13) in 2013 from Early Pleistocene Paleolake Lorenyang deposits in the western Turkana Basin (Kenya). Here, we present the magnetostratigraphy of the WTK13 core, providing a first age model for upcoming HSPDP paleoclimate and paleoenvrionmental studies on the core sediments. Rock magnetic analyses reveal the presence of iron sulfides carrying the remanent magnetizations. To recover polarity orientation from the near-equatorial WTK13 core drilled at 5°N, we developed and successfully applied two independent drill-core reorientation methods taking advantage of (1) the sedimentary fabric as expressed in the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) and (2) the occurrence of a viscous component oriented in the present day field. The reoriented directions reveal a normal to reversed polarity reversal identified as the top of the Olduvai Subchron. From this excellent record, we find no evidence for the {\textquoteleft}Vrica Subchron{\textquoteright} previously reported in the area. We suggest that outcrop-based interpretations supporting the presence of the Vrica Subchron have been affected by the oxidation of iron sulfides initially present in the sediments -as evident in the core record- and by subsequent remagnetization. We discuss the implications of the observed geomagnetic record for human evolution studies.",

keywords = "Drill-core reorientation, Hominin evolution, ICDP, Magnetostratigraphy, Olduvai Subchron, Paleoclimate, Paleolake Lorenyang, Vrica Subchron",

author = "Sier, {Mark J.} and Langereis, {Cor G.} and Guillaume Dupont-Nivet and Feibel, {Craig S.} and Joordens, {Josephine C.A.} and {van der Lubbe}, {Jeroen H.J.L.} and Beck, {Catherine C.} and Daniel Olago and Andrew Cohen",

note = "Funding Information: This is publication number 10 of the Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project. Acquisition of the HSPDP-WTK drill core and sampling was funded by the International Continental Drilling Program and US-NSF grants ( EAR-1123942 , BCS-1241859 and EAR-1338553 ). MJS, HJLvdL and JCAJ are funded by Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research grants NWO-ALW 823.01.003 , NWO-ALW 824.01.005 and NWO-ALW Veni2013 grant respectively. GDN acknowledges funding from Marie Curie CIG FP7 grant 294282 {\textquoteright}HIRESDAT{\textquoteright}. We thank the Kenyan National Council for Science and Technology and Kenyan Ministry of Mines for providing research and export permits, and the National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya for providing environmental permits for the drilling in West Turkana. We also like to acknowledge DOSECC Exploration Services for drilling supervision, the team of the US National Lacustrine Core Facility (LacCore) for help during drilling and sampling, the Nariokotome Mission and the people of Nariokotome, Drilling and Prospecting International Ltd, Boniface Kimeu and Francis Ekai, and the members of the West Turkana science field team: Chris Campisano, Chad Yost, Sarah Ivory, Les Dullo, Tannis McCartney, Ryan O'Grady, Gladys Tuitoek, Elizabeth Kimburi, and Thomas Johnson. Joanne Porck is thanked for her help with the figures, Carlos Saiz Dom{\'i}nguez for his help in the laboratory and Josep Par{\'e}s for his help and advice during numerous discussions. We thank the three anonymous reviewers whose comments have greatly improved an earlier version of this manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

year = "2017",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.quageo.2017.08.004",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "42",

pages = "117--129",

journal = "Quaternary Geochronology",

issn = "1871-1014",

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T1 - The top of the Olduvai Subchron in a high-resolution magnetostratigraphy from the West Turkana core WTK13, hominin sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP)

AU - Sier, Mark J.

AU - Langereis, Cor G.

AU - Dupont-Nivet, Guillaume

AU - Feibel, Craig S.

AU - Joordens, Josephine C.A.

AU - van der Lubbe, Jeroen H.J.L.

AU - Beck, Catherine C.

AU - Olago, Daniel

AU - Cohen, Andrew

N1 - Funding Information: This is publication number 10 of the Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project. Acquisition of the HSPDP-WTK drill core and sampling was funded by the International Continental Drilling Program and US-NSF grants ( EAR-1123942 , BCS-1241859 and EAR-1338553 ). MJS, HJLvdL and JCAJ are funded by Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research grants NWO-ALW 823.01.003 , NWO-ALW 824.01.005 and NWO-ALW Veni2013 grant respectively. GDN acknowledges funding from Marie Curie CIG FP7 grant 294282 ’HIRESDAT’. We thank the Kenyan National Council for Science and Technology and Kenyan Ministry of Mines for providing research and export permits, and the National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya for providing environmental permits for the drilling in West Turkana. We also like to acknowledge DOSECC Exploration Services for drilling supervision, the team of the US National Lacustrine Core Facility (LacCore) for help during drilling and sampling, the Nariokotome Mission and the people of Nariokotome, Drilling and Prospecting International Ltd, Boniface Kimeu and Francis Ekai, and the members of the West Turkana science field team: Chris Campisano, Chad Yost, Sarah Ivory, Les Dullo, Tannis McCartney, Ryan O'Grady, Gladys Tuitoek, Elizabeth Kimburi, and Thomas Johnson. Joanne Porck is thanked for her help with the figures, Carlos Saiz Domínguez for his help in the laboratory and Josep Parés for his help and advice during numerous discussions. We thank the three anonymous reviewers whose comments have greatly improved an earlier version of this manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2017/10

Y1 - 2017/10

N2 - One of the major challenges in understanding the evolution of our own species is identifying the role climate change has played in the evolution of hominin species. To clarify the influence of climate, we need long and continuous high-resolution paleoclimate records, preferably obtained from hominin-bearing sediments, that are well-dated by tephro- and magnetostratigraphy and other methods. This is hindered, however, by the fact that fossil-bearing outcrop sediments are often discontinuous, and subject to weathering, which may lead to oxidation and remagnetization. To obtain fresh, unweathered sediments, the Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP) collected a ∼216-meter core (WTK13) in 2013 from Early Pleistocene Paleolake Lorenyang deposits in the western Turkana Basin (Kenya). Here, we present the magnetostratigraphy of the WTK13 core, providing a first age model for upcoming HSPDP paleoclimate and paleoenvrionmental studies on the core sediments. Rock magnetic analyses reveal the presence of iron sulfides carrying the remanent magnetizations. To recover polarity orientation from the near-equatorial WTK13 core drilled at 5°N, we developed and successfully applied two independent drill-core reorientation methods taking advantage of (1) the sedimentary fabric as expressed in the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) and (2) the occurrence of a viscous component oriented in the present day field. The reoriented directions reveal a normal to reversed polarity reversal identified as the top of the Olduvai Subchron. From this excellent record, we find no evidence for the ‘Vrica Subchron’ previously reported in the area. We suggest that outcrop-based interpretations supporting the presence of the Vrica Subchron have been affected by the oxidation of iron sulfides initially present in the sediments -as evident in the core record- and by subsequent remagnetization. We discuss the implications of the observed geomagnetic record for human evolution studies.

AB - One of the major challenges in understanding the evolution of our own species is identifying the role climate change has played in the evolution of hominin species. To clarify the influence of climate, we need long and continuous high-resolution paleoclimate records, preferably obtained from hominin-bearing sediments, that are well-dated by tephro- and magnetostratigraphy and other methods. This is hindered, however, by the fact that fossil-bearing outcrop sediments are often discontinuous, and subject to weathering, which may lead to oxidation and remagnetization. To obtain fresh, unweathered sediments, the Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP) collected a ∼216-meter core (WTK13) in 2013 from Early Pleistocene Paleolake Lorenyang deposits in the western Turkana Basin (Kenya). Here, we present the magnetostratigraphy of the WTK13 core, providing a first age model for upcoming HSPDP paleoclimate and paleoenvrionmental studies on the core sediments. Rock magnetic analyses reveal the presence of iron sulfides carrying the remanent magnetizations. To recover polarity orientation from the near-equatorial WTK13 core drilled at 5°N, we developed and successfully applied two independent drill-core reorientation methods taking advantage of (1) the sedimentary fabric as expressed in the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) and (2) the occurrence of a viscous component oriented in the present day field. The reoriented directions reveal a normal to reversed polarity reversal identified as the top of the Olduvai Subchron. From this excellent record, we find no evidence for the ‘Vrica Subchron’ previously reported in the area. We suggest that outcrop-based interpretations supporting the presence of the Vrica Subchron have been affected by the oxidation of iron sulfides initially present in the sediments -as evident in the core record- and by subsequent remagnetization. We discuss the implications of the observed geomagnetic record for human evolution studies.

KW - Drill-core reorientation

KW - Hominin evolution

KW - ICDP

KW - Magnetostratigraphy

KW - Olduvai Subchron

KW - Paleoclimate

KW - Paleolake Lorenyang

KW - Vrica Subchron

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The top of the Olduvai Subchron in a high-resolution magnetostratigraphy from the West Turkana core WTK13, hominin sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project (HSPDP)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Continental Scientific Drilling Facility tags

UN SDGs

Publisher link

Find It

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Cite this