Albemarle Embayment Quaternary Aminostratigraphy Wehmiller, J.F.; Thieler, E.R.; Miller, D.; Pellerito, V.; Bakeman Keeney, V.; Riggs, S.R.; Culver, S.; Mallinson, D.; Farrell, K.M.; York, L.L.; Pierson, J.; Parham, P.R. Wehmiller, J.F. Thieler, E.R. Miller, D. Pellerito, V. Bakeman Keeney, V. Riggs, S.R. Culver, S. Mallinson, D. Farrell, K.M. York, L.L. Pierson, J. Parham, P.R. earth science/paleoclimate/others (OBX-02>LATITUDE 36.0686>LONGITUDE -75.7167) (OBX-03>LATITUDE 36.0507>LONGITUDE -75.7137) (MLD-03>LATITUDE 35.8724>LONGITUDE -75.7542) (MLD-01>LATITUDE 35.5089>LONGITUDE -76.0015) (OBX-01>LATITUDE 36.0094>LONGITUDE -75.7083) (MLD-02>LATITUDE 35.0184>LONGITUDE -76.3126) The Quaternary stratigraphy and geochronology of the Albemarle Embayment of the North Carolina (NC) Coastal Plain is examined using amino acid racemization (AAR) in marine mollusks, in combination with geophysical, lithologic, and biostratigraphic analysis of 28 rotasonic cores drilled between 2002 and 2006. The Albemarle Embayment is bounded by structural highs to the north and south, and Quaternary strata thin westward toward the Suffolk paleoshoreline, frequently referred to as the Suffolk Scarp. The Quaternary section is up to ~90 m thick, consists of a variety of estuarine, shelf, back-barrier, and lagoonal deposits, and has been influenced by multiple sea-level cycles. The temporal resolution of the amino acid racemization method is tested statistically and with the stratigraphic control provided by this geologic framework, and it is then applied to the correlation and age estimation of subsurface units throughout the region. Over 500 specimens (primarily Mercenaria and Mulinia) from the subsurface section have been analyzed using either gas chromatographic (GC) or reverse-phase liquid chromatographic (RPLC) techniques. The subsurface stratigraphic data are compared with AAR results from numerous natural or excavated exposures from the surrounding region, as well as results from NC beach collections, to develop a comprehensive aminostratigraphic database for the entire Quaternary record within the NC coastal system. Age mixing, recognized in the beach collections, is also seen in subsurface sections, usually where major seismic reflections or core lithology indicate the presence of stratigraphic discontinuities. Kinetic models for racemization are tested within the regional stratigraphic framework, using either radiocarbon or U-series calibrations or comparison with regional biostratigraphy. Three major Pleistocene aminozones [AZ2, AZ3, and AZ4] are found throughout the region, all being found in superposition in several cores. Each can be subdivided, yielding a total of at least eight stratigraphically and statistically distinct aminozones. Kinetic modeling, supplemented with local calibration, indicates that these aminozones represent depositional events ranging from ~80 ka to nearly 2 Ma. Three prominent seismic reflections are interpreted to represent the base of the early, middle, and late Pleistocene, respectively, roughly 2 Ma, 800 ka, and 130 ka. The large number of samples and the available stratigraphic control provide new insights into the capabilities and limitations of aminostratigraphic methods in assessing relative and numerical ages of Atlantic Coastal Plain Quaternary deposits. STUDY NOTES: Extent of Racemization (D/L) data for mollusks from Pleistocene and Holocene subsurface sections sampled by rotasonic coring of Quaternary strata in the Albemarle Embayment, North Carolina Coastal Plain. Samples prepared and analyzed at the University of Delaware, Newark DE, Lab PI John F. Wehmiller. Samples collected and prepared between 2002 and 2007. Pretreatment: Fragments cut from shell valves; surface cleaning with dental tools; dilute HCl and distilled water wash; air dry AA fraction="amino fraction" Hydrolysis procedure: 6N HCl 22 hours 105 deg C Bleach: No Instrumental programming: GC temperature program; RPLC buffer gradient Blank corrections: no Response factors: no NCDC-Paleoclimatology https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/data-access/paleoclimatology-data - Bauer Bruce Investigator : Wehmiller, J.F. Investigator : Thieler, E.R. Investigator : Miller, D. Investigator : Pellerito, V. Investigator : Bakeman Keeney, V. Investigator : Riggs, S.R. Investigator : Culver, S. Investigator : Mallinson, D. Investigator : Farrell, K.M. Investigator : York, L.L. Investigator : Pierson, J. Investigator : Parham, P.R. 2011-01-19 ONLINE Files online, ASCII https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/10294 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/aar/wehmiller2010albemarle/wehmiller2010albemarle.xls https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/aar/wehmiller2010albemarle/wehmiller2010albemarle.txt https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/aar/wehmiller2010albemarle/wehmiller2010albemarle.xls https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/aar/wehmiller2010albemarle/wehmiller2010albemarle.txt English https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/10294 https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/aar/wehmiller2010albemarle/wehmiller2010albemarle.xls https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/aar/wehmiller2010albemarle/wehmiller2010albemarle.txt Wehmiller, J.F., E.R. Thieler, D. Miller, V. Pellerito, V. Bakeman Keeney, S.R. Riggs, S. Culver, D. Mallinson, K.M. Farrell, L.L. York, J. Pierson, and P.R. Parham. 2010. Aminostratigraphy of surface and subsurface Quaternary sediments, North Carolina coastal plain, USA. Quaternary Geochronology, Vol. 5, Issue 4, pp. 459-492, August 2010. START YEAR: 52000 cal yr BP * END YEAR: 9680 cal yr BP -76.3126 35.0184 -75.7083 36.0686