The lower Maastrichtian Hvidskud succession, Møns Klint, Denmark: calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, carbon isotope stratigraphy, and bulk and brachiopod oxygen isotopes.

Research at Møns Klint, Denmark, reveals that the lower Maastrichtian Hvidskud succession provides critical insights into early Maastrichtian climate and stratigraphy. The study establishes a precise age model for the succession, dating its base to approximately 70.9 million years ago and spanning over 680 thousand years. This includes detailed calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and carbon isotope stratigraphy, correlating with brachiopod zonation and global geochronological tie-points. The findings suggest that the Danish Chalk Sea experienced bottom water temperatures of 13.6 to 14.3°C during this period, offering a snapshot of early Maastrichtian cooling. The well-exposed Hvidskud succession serves as a key locality for stratigraphic correlation in northwestern Europe, enhancing our understanding of Cretaceous paleoenvironmental conditions.

Jelby, M. E., Thibault, N., Surlyk, F., Ullmann, C. V., Harlou, R., & Korte, C. (2014). The lower Maastrichtian Hvidskud succession, Møns Klint, Denmark: calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, carbon isotope stratigraphy, and bulk and brachiopod oxygen isotopes. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark, 62, 89–104. https://doi.org/10.37570/bgsd-2014-62-05