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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Kinematic History of a Salient-recess Junction Explored through a Combined Approach of Field Data and Analog Sandbox Modeling
Published on: August 5, 2016
Jurassic sandstone from the tropical atlantic.
Researchers discovered the oldest sediment on South America's abyssal margins. This shallow-water sandstone dates to the late Jurassic period, offering insights into early Atlantic rifting and seafloor formation.
Area of Science:
- Geology
- Paleontology
- Oceanography
Background:
- The abyssal margins of South America represent a frontier for understanding early Atlantic Ocean evolution.
- Sedimentary records from this region are crucial for reconstructing paleogeographic and tectonic histories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the oldest sedimentary deposits found on the abyssal margins of South America.
- To determine the depositional environment and age of newly recovered deep-sea sediments.
Main Methods:
- Sediment core recovery from the Demerara Plateau at 4400 meters depth.
- Analysis of sediment composition (calcareous sandstone, grain size).
- Biostratigraphic analysis using palynomorphs and mollusk prisms.
Main Results:
- Recovery of the oldest sediment sampled to date from South America's abyssal margins.
- Identification of shallow-water, coarse-grained, calcareous sandstone.
- Dating of the sediment to the late Jurassic (or possibly very early Cretaceous) period.
Conclusions:
- The recovered sandstone indicates shallow-water deposition in an epicontinental sea during the late Jurassic.
- This finding provides evidence for the initial stages of Atlantic rifting and the subsequent foundering of the newly formed ocean basin.
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