Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90

www.elsevier.com/locate/palaeo

Magnetostratigraphy susceptibility of the

Frasnian/Famennian boundary
Rex E. Crick a; , Brooks B. Ellwood b , Raimund Feist c , Ahmed El Hassani d ,
Eberhard Schindler e , Roland Dreesen f , D. Je¡rey Over g , Catherine Girard h
a
Department of Geology, The University of Texas at Arlington, P.O. Box 19049, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
b
Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
c
Universite¤ de Montpellier II, Institut des Sciences de L’Evolution, Laboratoire de Paleontologie C.C. 64,
Place Eugene Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier Cedex 05, France
d
Departement de Ge¤ologie, Institut Scienti¢que, P.O. Box 703 Rabat-Agdal, 10106 Rabat, Morocco
e
Forschungs-Institut Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt D-60325, Germany
f
VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research) ^ Energy Technology, Boeretang 200, B-2400 Mo, Belgium
g
Department of Geological Sciences, SUNY College at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY 14454, USA
h
Laboratoire de Pale¤ontologie Stratigraphique et Pale¤oe¤cologie, Universite¤ Claude Bernard-Lyon I,
43, Boulevard du 11 Novembre, F-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France

Accepted 6 December 2001

Abstract

Magnetosusceptibility event and cyclostratigraphy (MSEC) is used to establish a non-polarity-based

magnetostratigraphy susceptibility (MSS) between the stratotype region for the Frasnian/Famennian (F/F) boundary
sequence in the Montagne Noire of southern France, the eastern Rheinisches Schiefergebirge of Germany, Belgium,
the eastern Anti-Atlas of Morocco, and the Arbuckle Mountains of southern Oklahoma (USA). Despite differences of
depositional environment, the MSS is remarkably consistent and can be described in the context of a hierarchy of
magnetozones that allow the extension of correlation away from the Montagne Noire reference section. The nature of
the controls on the influx of iron into the marine system produces a natural hierarchy of at least seven orders or
magnetozones designated MSZ1, MSZ2, MSZ3, MSZ4, MSZ5, MSZ6, and MSZ7. These are characterized in terms
of the magnitude of their duration. The MSS reference section of choice for the F/F boundary is the well-known
Trench C at La Serre (LSC) in the northeastern Montagne Noire of southern France. The F/F boundary is located at
the lower boundary of magnetozone La Serre IK3b at La Serre as well as in all other sections studied. MSZ4 and
MSZ5 magnetozones are used to establish intra- and inter-regional correlation between the reference sequence and the
other regions. The base of the Upper Kellwasser event is as variable within the MSS zonation as it is within the
biostratigraphic zonation, as is the position of the Lower Kellwasser event. = 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights
reserved.

* Corresponding author. Fax: +1-817-272-2628.

E-mail addresses: crick@uta.edu (R.E. Crick), ellwood@geol.lsu.edu (B.B. Ellwood), rfeist@isem.univ-montp2.fr (R. Feist),
elhassani@israbat.ac.ma (A. El Hassani), eschindl@sngkw.uni-frankfurt.de (E. Schindler), roland.dreesen@vito.be (R. Dreesen),
over@geneseo.edu (D.J. Over), c-girard@univ-lyon1.fr (C. Girard).

0031-0182 / 02 / $ ^ see front matter = 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 0 3 1 - 0 1 8 2 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 4 7 3 - 4

PALAEO 2825 4-6-02

68 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
Keywords: magnetostratigraphy (susceptibility); Frasnian/Famennian boundary; Kellwasser event; Devonian
1. Introduction
The purpose of this paper is to present the mag-
netostratigraphy susceptibility (MSS) record for
several Frasnian/Famennian (F/F) boundary se-
quences deposited on the Devonian landmasses
of Gondwana and Euramerica (Fig. 1). We do
not propose a particular boundary sequence as
the magnetostratotype because we have not
studied a number of candidates in Europe, Africa
(Morocco), and the USA. We have chosen the
boundary sequence of Trench C at La Serre
(LSC) in northeastern Montagne Noire as the
reference section for general comparison with oth-
er sections rather than the F/F GSSP (Global
Boundary Strototype Section and Point) at the
upper quarry (UQ) near Coumiac in southwestern
Montagne Noire. We feel that the UQ boundary
sequence is too condensed with too many poten-
tial hiatuses to serve as the magnetostratotype for
a boundary sequence. In terms of establishing an
MSS record indicative of a boundary sequence,
the sequence at LSC has the advantages of being
deposited in a setting where the chance of major
interruptions in sediment accumulation were less,
a stable biostratigraphy by virtue of having been a
candidate for the F/F GSSP, and by being in close
proximity to the GSSP. We acknowledge that the
boundary sequence at Steinbruch Schmidt in the
eastern Rheinisches Schiefergebirge of Germany is
in some ways superior to the LSC sequence for
our purposes because of its greater precision in
conodont-based biostratigraphy within the Upper
Kellwasser interval. Besides the Lower Kellwasser
(LKW) and Upper Kellwasser (UKW) horizons
Steinbruch Schmidt is a thicker sequence com-
posed exclusively of calcilutites. Probably the
best candidate for a reference section on the basis
of the extent of sediment deposited per unit of
time from the latest Frasnian through the earliest
Famennian is the Lake Classen (LC) spillway
exposure of Woodford Shale in the Arbuckle
Mountains of southern Oklahoma. Unfortunately
the absence of carbonate throughout the se-
quence makes the extraction and identi¢cation
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
of pelagic fossils di⁄cult for some groups and
impossible for others. For reasons of uncertainty
regarding the future choice of a MSS magneto-
stratotype for the F/F boundary, we o¡er the
named and de¢ned magnetozones at LSC as a
convenient method of demonstrating the correla-
tive power of MSS among sequences of various
palaeogeographic, tectonic, and environmental
settings.
2. MSEC
We have been using magnetic susceptibility
(MS) data in developing a method for high-reso-
lution, global correlation of sedimentary strata,
and call the method MSEC which stands for mag-
netosusceptibility event and cyclostratigraphy
(Crick et al., 1997, 2000, 2001; Ellwood et al.,
1999, 2000, 2001a). MSEC is not a¡ected ad-
versely by the drawbacks of magnetostratigraphy
polarity (MSP) methods, such as remagnetization,
required orientation of samples, corrections for
structural complexity, ¢eld tests for a stable rem-
anence (such as fold or reversal tests), or a rela-
tively large sample size. When high-density data
sets are used, MSEC typically provides better res-
olution than the associated biostratigraphy upon
which it is dependent for temporal control. MS
also has the important advantage of being mea-
surable in the ¢eld, helping geologists to resolve
ambiguities while at the outcrop. Besides its many
other qualities, MS has the additional advantage
of being quickly and easily measured on small
samples using a device such as a balanced coil
induction system ^ a susceptibility bridge. Mass
rather than volume MS makes it possible to
quickly, and with great precision, measure small
irregular lithic fragments, highly friable material,
and to sample down-hole cores, cuttings and as-
sorted ¢eld collections. Thus the wealth of lithic
material in university and industrial collections
that have been utilized for biostratigraphic studies
is amenable to MS measurement. This makes it
possible to rapidly and e⁄ciently develop MSEC
 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
Fig. 1. Palaeogeographic map at the time of the F/F bound-
ary (V376.5 Ma). BT, BT or Anti-Atlas, southeastern Mo-
rocco; Hony and Sinsin, Belgium; Steinbruch Schmidt, east-
ern Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Germany; LC, Lake
Classen, Oklahoma, USA. Reconstruction from the Paleo-
Map Program courtesy of C. Scotese, University of Texas at
Arlington, TX, USA.
data that can be tied directly to existing mature
biozonations.
It has been demonstrated that the MS signature
in marine rocks resides mainly in detrital constit-
uents contained in these rocks (Ellwood et al.,
2000). The MSEC record that these detrital grains
exhibit is found in two forms. The ¢rst is a short-
term, low-magnitude, high-frequency ‘cyclic’ cli-
mate signature linked to orbital forcing cycles,
which is often used for regional correlation (Crick
et al., 1997, 2000; Shackleton, 1999; Ellwood et
al., 2000). The second form is a longer-term, high-
er magnitude, low-frequency ‘event’ signature re-
sulting from global transgression and regression
or from special circumstances such as extraterres-
trial impacts. It is these ‘events’ that can be used
for global correlation when applying the MSEC
method. In all sections that we have examined,
the short-term cyclic MSEC component is super-
imposed on the longer-term ‘events’ (Ellwood et
al., 2000). When comparisons are made between
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
69
stratigraphic sections for which MS and biostrati-
graphic measurements have been compiled,
MSEC ‘events’ can be correlated between sec-
tions, while local, within basin e¡ects are also
easily identi¢ed (Crick et al., 1997; Ellwood et
al., 1999).
In order to e¡ectively use MSEC data for be-
tween-section comparisons, several sampling con-
straints must be placed on data sets. First, only
well-exposed and stratigraphically continuous sec-
tions should be used. Here, the reference or stan-
dard sections we have sampled are not ‘covered’,
but are either exposed naturally, or the interval of
interest is excavated and cleaned by us. Therefore,
for MSEC standards development, we choose sec-
tions that have segments that are only slightly
covered over short intervals, and these can then
be easily cleaned with a pick, shovel and brush.
Second, sections must be chosen that have ad-
equate biostratigraphic control. Third, the meth-
od requires high-density sample sets. In the sec-
tions presented here, we have collected samples at
intervals of 1.0, 2.5, and 5 cm depending on per-
ceived rates of sediment accumulation. This sam-
pling density largely reduces the e¡ect of minor
hiatuses while it also serves to expose their pres-
ence through documentation of large and unex-
pected shifts in MS magnitude.
The primary controls on MSEC signatures in
marine rocks are sea-level (base-level) changes
and climate. These MSEC signatures can result
from : (1) global sea-level £uctuations causing
base-level changes and therefore corresponding
changes in detrital in£ux into the world oceans
due to erosion; (2) changes in global climate
and rainfall/erosion rates; (3) local small-scale
tectonic e¡ects; or (4) from impact-related e¡ects.
During times of sea-level regression, base level is
lowered and increased erosion brings an increased
detrital component into the marine system, pri-
marily from rivers. This material is then dispersed
by bottom currents throughout ocean basins
(Sachs and Ellwood, 1988), with the result that
MS magnitudes rise. Locally, sections sampled
that were deposited near the mouths of ancient
river systems will have elevated MS values from
sections far removed from rivers, but while the
MS magnitudes may be di¡erent, the variations
70 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
(trends) resulting from erosional events will be
identi¢able in all sections. If the event is global,
then the MS e¡ects will be global. In the case of
transgression, MS magnitudes are reduced as a
result of the rise in base level. Details of these
e¡ects can be found in Ellwood et al. (2000,
2001a).
Climate has two e¡ects on MSEC data sets.
First, changes in rainfall associated with varia-
tions in climate result in high MS magnitudes
during periods of high rainfall and therefore in-
creased continental erosion, whereas lower rain-
fall results in lower erosion rates and reduced
MS magnitudes. Second, glacial advances and as-
sociated base-level changes, resulting from larger
amounts of water being tied up in ice, produce
increased erosion and higher MS magnitudes. A
third e¡ect, erosion by glaciers, also produces an
increase in detrital input into the marine system.
Erosion by glaciers causing elevated MS values
due to detrital input into the South Atlantic
Ocean can be seen today coming from glacial ero-
sion of Antarctica and dispersal of this material
northward into ocean basins by bottom currents
(Sachs and Ellwood, 1988).
High-density data sets provide a large number
of samples where overall MSEC trends can be
identi¢ed. Such data sets allow long-term trends
or events to dominate over single, essentially in-
stantaneous sediment in£uxes, like those associ-
ated with storms. MSEC trends must be charac-
terized by multiple data points to de¢ne MSS
data that result from long-term geological pro-
cesses. Because these data are the result of long-
term trends, this yields low-frequency, as opposed
to high-frequency, variability in MSS data sets.
Correlation between sections on a global basis
is extremely di⁄cult and few robust methods exist
to solve the problem. MSEC in the form of MS is
one of these. We argue that, like its polarity coun-
terpart MSP (Remane et al., 1996), MS should be
given equal standing alongside MSP and biostra-
tigraphy as a factor in the de¢nition or rede¢ni-
tion of GSSPs.
Shackleton (1999) recently argued that in order
for non-biostratigraphic, geochemical strati-
graphic methods, primarily oxygen isotopic data,
to be useful for global correlation purposes, such
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
data sets should be formally tied to GSSPs. We
agree and for 10 yr have been developing the
MSEC method and an MSEC data set that is
tied to Devonian stage-boundary GSSPs. It has
become clear from this work that high-resolution,
high-density data sets are required to identify ad-
equately the MSEC character of the marine sec-
tions we have examined. Therefore, our data set
now includes more than 50 continuously sampled
sections collected at 1.0-, 2.5-, 5-, and 10-cm in-
tervals. In one instance, the section is V270 m
long and includes more than 2700 samples.
3. MS
All materials are susceptible to becoming mag-
netized when placed in a magnetic ¢eld, and MS
is an indicator of the strength of this induced
magnetism within a sample. This characteristic is
very di¡erent from remanent magnetism, the in-
trinsic permanent magnetization that accounts for
the magnetic polarity of materials. MS can be
quickly and easily measured on small samples
and is largely a function of the concentration of
the magnetizable material they contain. Magnet-
izable materials in marine sedimentary sequences
include not only the ferrimagnetic minerals that
may acquire a remanence (required for MSP), but
also any other mineral containing an odd number
of electrons. These less magnetic, or paramag-
netic, substances include clay minerals, ferromag-
nesian silicates such as biotite, iron sul¢des such
as pyrite and other materials. Even though these
paramagnetic constituents exhibit a very low MS,
when relatively abundant they can dominate the
measured MS in limestones, marls, and shales
(Ellwood et al., 2000). In addition, although mag-
netite grains are present in small amounts in the
samples studied here, we have demonstrated by
our work in Morocco that they do not dominate
the MS in most marine samples we have measured
(Ellwood et al., 2000). Calcite and/or quartz may
also be abundant in marine limestones and shales.
However, the MS of paramagnetic minerals is
much greater than the MS of diamagnetic miner-
als and therefore, a small amount of a paramag-
netic mineral can signi¢cantly outweigh the MS of
 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
Fig. 2. Hierarchy of MSS magnetozones. The seven orders of
magnetozones (MSZs) are arranged from right to left and
numbered accordingly at the top of the diagram.
volumetrically more abundant diamagnetic miner-
als (see Crick et al., 2000, 2001, and Ellwood et
al., 2000, 2001a for additional details).
4. MSS
MSS is the integration of MS and the biostra-
tigraphy of marine sedimentary sequences into
magnetozones. Like the better known MSP units,
MSS units are rock units uni¢ed by similar mag-
netic characteristics (exclusive of magnetic polar-
ity) which allow the MSS units to be di¡erentiated
from adjacent rock bodies (Salvador, 1994). The
unifying characteristic of MSS units is the detrital
grains such as biotite or tourmaline, contained
within the lithogenic component of marine sedi-
ments that are susceptible to acquiring an induced
magnetization. Most of the MS variations are due
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
71
to the in£ux of weathered terrigenous paramag-
netic grains. Magnetite is usually responsible for a
component of the signal as either detrital grains
or in some instances as very ¢ne-grained biomag-
netite.
The basic formal unit in MSS classi¢cation is
the MSZ. Based on our studies of Silurian and
Devonian sequences (Crick et al., 1997, 2000,
2001), Pleistocene and Holocene sequences
(Ellwood et al., 2001b), an excellent Devonian
chronology (Tucker et al., 1998), and work in
progress with sequence stratigraphers, magneto-
zones may be classi¢ed in a hierarchical arrange-
ment of magnetozones of the ¢rst to seventh
order (Fig. 2). The ¢rst- to third-order magneto-
zones (MSZ1, MSZ2, and MSZ3) represent
MSEC event scale e¡ects driven by base-level
changes and are somewhat analogous to those
observed by sequence stratigraphers, while the
fourth- to seventh-order magnetozones (MSZ4,
MSZ5, MSZ6, and MSZ7) were controlled by cli-
mate. The scale of the magnetozones is as fol-
lows: ¢rst order s 100 Ma; second order s 10
Ma; third order s 1 Ma; fourth order s 100 000
yr; ¢fth order s 10 000 yr; sixth order s 1000 yr
and seventh order s 100 yr). The lettering and
numbering system used to identify the magneto-
zones is given in Fig. 2.
The de¢nition and recognition of an MSS unit
should be based on a designated stratotype of the
type used in the de¢nition of a GSSP. This crite-
rion provides a de¢nite relationship between a
known stratigraphic section with a mature bio-
stratigraphic record as well as a reference section
from which MSS units can be extended geograph-
ically. A standard requirement for de¢ning the
stratotype of an MSP or MSS unit is the inclusion
of a lower boundary-stratotype and an upper
boundary-stratotype. In the context of MSS, the
likely event of a gradual transition between two
MSZs of the same rank requires the selection of
an arbitrary boundary within the transition (Sal-
vador, 1994). Because a transition commonly oc-
curs within a lithologic unit, it is helpful to iden-
tify MSS boundary-stratotypes at the time of unit
de¢nition. Magnetozones de¢ned in this paper
have boundaries picked at midpoints along such
transition trends. Following the practice of de¢n-
72 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
ing biostratigraphic zones, the base or lower
boundary-stratotype of an MSZ de¢nes the top
or upper boundary-stratotype of the preceding
MSZ.
The naming of MSS units follows the general
rules for naming stratigraphic units (Salvador,
1994, section 3.B.3). In the context of MSS, we
have designated formal names for MSZ1s inclu-
sive of bodies of rock with characteristics of either
high or low magnitudes of MS that permit the
units to be di¡erentiated from adjacent rocks.
The formal names for the MSZ1 magnetozone
introduced here was taken from a local geo-
graphic feature. We estimate that the V3-m se-
quence represented here from the LSC locality
accumulated in less than 1 Myr. Therefore, the
magnetozones represented in the MSEC data are
probably fourth- and ¢fth-order magnetozones
(MSZ4 and MSZ5, respectively).
5. MSS of the F/F boundary
5.1. Montagne Noire, southern France
Unmetamorphosed, highly fossiliferous Upper
Devonian strata crop out for 40 km in a north-
east^southwest trend across the southeastern por-
tion of the Montagne Noire of southern France.
Excellent outcrop exposure and stratigraphic con-
trol have permitted the de¢nition of three GSSPs
in the Montagne Noire : Givetian/Frasnian (Mid-
dle/Upper Devonian) boundary (Klapper et al.,
1987), F/F boundary (Klapper et al., 1993), and
Famennian/Tournaisian (Devonian^Carbonifer-
ous) boundary (Paproth et al., 1991). The Upper
Devonian succession consists, almost exclusively,
of pelagic to hemipelagic facies deposited either
on well oxygenated submarine rises or in small
intervening basins during the period when the re-
gion was part of the northern margin of Gondwa-
na (Feist et al., 1994). The submarine rises are
characterized by calcilutite sedimentation and
the basins are characterized by mudstones devel-
oped under reducing conditions (Feist and Klap-
per, 1985).
One basin section and two submarine-rise sec-
tions provide the basis for the MSS of the F/F
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
boundary in the Montagne Noire. The sections
are well known from stratigraphic, palaeonto-
logic, and geochemical studies and one section,
UQ at Coumiac, contains the F/F GSSP (Klapper
et al., 1993). The remaining two sections, Causses-
et-Veyran (CVS) and LSC, were contenders for
the F/F GSSP (Feist et al., 1990). One section,
the lower quarry at Coumiac, was not used in
this study because of irreconcilable problems
with samples. Details of lithology and palaeontol-
ogy can be found in one or more of the references
cited above.
Early Late Devonian sequences in the Cabrie'res
area, approximately 30 km NE of the F/F GSSP
at Coumiac, are characteristic of an oxygen-de¢-
cient o¡shore basinal environment. The well-
known LSC was chosen to represent the MSEC
signature for the region and to serve as the MSS
reference section for the F/F boundary (Fig. 3)
and is considered representative of a distal basinal
time equivalent of submarine-rise sections. LSC
strata begin with upper Frasnian light-gray pyritic
wacke- and mudstones, rich in pelagic biota.
These strata are succeeded by an uppermost Fras-
nian sequence consisting of alternating dark-
brown to black, ¢ssile bituminous argillites and
platy, thinly bedded bituminous limestones lack-
ing in benthic biota. Unlike the submarine-rise
sections, the LSC sequence shows no physical evi-
dence of condensed sedimentation, gaps or dis-
continuities. The rate of sediment accumulation
at LSC appears to have been reasonably constant
as evidenced by the undisturbed and ¢nely lami-
nated character of sediments throughout the sec-
tion. The LSC sequence has been fully described
in several publications (Schindler, 1990a; Feist et
al., 1990; Becker and House, 1994; Paris et al.,
1996, Girard and Feist, 1997; Girard et al., 1997).
5.1.1. La Serre
The MSS at La Serre is based on 83 samples
over 2.8 m of section beginning with the Upper
Pa. rhenana Zone and continuing into the Middle
Pa. triangularis Zone (Fig. 3). The average spac-
ing of samples is approximately 3 cm and their
position relative to lithology is shown on the
curve by black dots. We interpret the data to in-
dicate the presence of six MSZ4 magnetozones
 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90 73

Fig. 3. MSS for the F/F boundary reference sequence at LSC in the eastern Montagne Noire of southern France. Magnetozones
MSZ4 and MSZ5 are illustrated and descriptions are given in the text. Unit designations and biozone boundaries are those of
Feist (1990) and of Girard and Feist (1997). The ordinate is stratigraphic thickness in meters and the abscissa represents units of
MS magnitude normalized by the mean 2.59U1038 m33 kg31 . The data were splined slightly to reduce high-frequency variations.
The UKW interval is shaded.

(La Serre IK1, IK2, IK3, IK4, IK5, and IK6). From
the base of the sequence to a height of approxi-
mately 0.5 m the data are somewhat noisy and
here we provisionally identify two MSZ5 magne-
tozones that make up the basal MSZ4 magneto-
zone, La Serre IK1. The designations of IK1d
and IK1e are from comparison with the complete
IK1 magnetozones at Hony, Sinsin, Steinbruch
Schmidt, and LC (Figs. 7^10). La Serre IK2,
IK3, and IK5 can be subdivided into MSZ5s while
La Serre IK4 and IK6 cannot. We suspect that
additional sampling at closer intervals will result
in further subdivision of these latter magneto-
zones. The La Serre boundary sequence is too
brief to allow documentation of magnetozones
MSZ1, MSZ2, and MSZ3. The presence of these
magnetozones is evident in the hierarchy of mag-
netozones.

PALAEO 2825 4-6-02

74 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90

Fig. 4. MSS for the boundary sequence at the F/F GSSP located at the UQ near Coumiac in the southwestern Montagne Noire.
Magnetozones MSZ4 and MSZ5 are illustrated and descriptions are given in the text. Unit designations and biozone boundaries
are those of Feist (1990) and of Girard and Feist (1997). Note that the scale of the ordinate is centimeters. MS magnitude nor-
malized by the mean 2.55U1038 m33 kg31 . The data were splined slightly to reduce high-frequency variations. The UKW inter-
val is shaded. See Fig. 3 for additional details.

Fig. 5. MSS for the boundary sequence at CVS near Coumiac in southwestern Montagne Noire. Magnetozones MSZ4 and
MSZ5 are illustrated and descriptions are given in the text. Unit designations and biozone boundaries are those of Feist (1990)
and of Girard and Feist (1997). Note that the scale of the ordinate is centimeters. MS data are from a Bartington instrument
and the magnitudes plotted were normalized by the mean 4.56. The data were splined slightly to reduce high-frequency varia-
tions. The UKW interval is shaded. See Fig. 3 for additional details.

PALAEO 2825 4-6-02

 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90 75

Fig. 6. MSS for the boundary sequence at BT in the eastern Anti-Atlas of Morocco. Magnetozones MSZ4 and MSZ5 are illus-
trated and descriptions are given in the text. Unit designations from Becker and House (1999a,b) and biostratigraphy from Beck-
er and House (1999a,b) and Bultynck and Jacobs (1981). MS magnitude normalized by the mean 7.53U1038 m33 kg31 . The
data were splined slightly to reduce high-frequency variations. See Fig. 3 for additional details.

Variations in lithology impart a degree of var-
iability to the MSS but, for the most part,
changes in the pattern of high and low magni-
tudes occur independently of lithology. It is this
fact that makes the MSS record diagnostic of the
boundary sequence and predictable among coeval
boundary sequences. There are very noticeable
changes in MS magnitudes at the boundaries of
certain units. These abrupt changes almost cer-
tainly result either from extremely slow rates of
sediment accumulation or from hiatuses. Details
relating to the use of MSS in this context are
given in Crick et al. (2000, 2001).
5.1.1.1. La Serre IK1 The base of La Serre IK1
is not exposed at LSC. La Serre IK1 is fully docu-
mented in Belgium (Figs. 7 and 8), Germany (Fig.
9) and Oklahoma (Fig. 10), where the base of the
magnetozone is designated at the mid-point of the
transition from the zone of low susceptibility of
the preceding MSZ4 that we have elected not to
name at this time. The details of the MS are such
that we can only describe two MSZ5 magneto-
zones at LSC although we suspect that the ¢ve
MSZ5 magnetozones documented in the other se-
quences are present in the LSC sequence at strati-
graphically lower levels. Etymology : the name of

PALAEO 2825 4-6-02

76 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90

Fig. 7. MSS for the F/F boundary sequence at Hony in southern Belgium. Magnetozones MSZ4 and MSZ5 are illustrated and
descriptions are given in the text. Unit designations from Coen (1973) and biostratigraphy from Sandberg et al. (1988). MS mag-
nitude normalized by the mean 1.2U1037 m33 kg31 . The data were splined slightly to reduce high-frequency variations. See
Fig. 3 for additional details.

the hill located 2.4 km south of Cabrie'res. Bio-
stratigraphic equivalent: Upper Palmatolepsis rhe-
nana through lowermost Pa. linguiformis Zones.
La Serre IK1 represents a stratigraphic interval
during which MS magnitudes were moderately
high for the sequence. Superimposed on the MS
record are at least two MSZ5s.
La Serre IK1d begins somewhere below that
portion of exposed bed 13a2 available to us
(Fig. 3). The MSZ extends into the upper portion
of bed 13b and the extent of this MSZ should be
treated as provisional until we can increase the
sampling density over this interval. Biostrati-
graphic equivalent : Upper Pa. rhenana Zone.
La Serre IK1e begins in upper bed 13b and
extends to upper bed 14a. The magnetozone
contains the highest magnitude peak in the
MSZ4. Biostratigraphic equivalent: uppermost
Pa. rhenana Zone and Lower Pa. linguiformis
Zone.
5.1.1.2. La Serre IK2 The base of the La Serre

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 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90 77

Fig. 8. MSS for the F/F boundary sequence at Sinsin in southern Belgium. Magnetozones MSZ4 and MSZ5 are illustrated and
descriptions are given in the text. Unit designations from Coen (1973) and biostratigraphy from Sandberg et al. (1988). MS mag-
nitude normalized by the mean 1.1U1037 m33 kg31 . The data were splined slightly to reduce high-frequency variations. See
Fig. 3 for additional details.

PALAEO 2825 4-6-02

78 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90

Fig. 9. MSS for the F/F boundary sequence at Steinbruch Schmidt in the eastern Rheinisches Schiefergebirge of Germany.
Magnetozones MSZ4 and MSZ5 are illustrated and descriptions are given in the text. The UKW and LKW intervals are shaded.
Unit designations from Schindler (1990a) and biostratigraphy from Feist and Schindler (1994). MS magnitude normalized by
the mean 2.01U1038 m33 kg31 . The data were splined slightly to reduce high-frequency variations. See Fig. 3 for additional
details.

PALAEO 2825 4-6-02

 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90 79

Fig. 10. MSS for the F/F boundary sequence at LC spillway in the Arbuckle Mountains of southern Oklahoma. Magnetozones
MSZ4, MSZ5, and MSZ6 are illustrated and descriptions given in the text. Biozone boundaries are those of Over (1990) with
modi¢cations introduced here. The original data were normalized by the mean MS magnitude 2.24U1038 m33 kg31 and splined
slightly to reduce high-frequency variations. See Fig. 3 for additional details.

PALAEO 2825 4-6-02

80 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
IK2 is designated at the mid-point of the transi-
tion from the interval of high susceptibility de-
¢ned by the La Serre IK1 to the interval of low
susceptibility that characterizes this magnetozone
(Fig. 3). The transition is contained within the
upper portion of bed 14a and La Serre IK2 ex-
tends to the base of bed 14e. The magnetozone
represents a stratigraphic interval during which
MS magnitudes were some of the lowest for the
LSC sequence. La Serre IK2 contains three
MSZ5s. Biostratigraphic equivalent: Lower to
Upper Pa. linguiformis Zone.
La Serre IK2a , the initial MSZ5 describes a
sharp decrease in MS magnitude that begins in
uppermost bed 14a and continues into lower bed
14c. The base of UKW occurs in lower La Serre
IK2a . Biostratigraphic equivalent: Lower Pa. lin-
guiformis Zone.
The base of La Serre IK2b is in lower bed 14c
and this MSZ5 extends to the middle of bed 14c.
The MSZ represents an interval of high-magni-
tude. Biostratigraphic equivalent: Lower Pa. lin-
guiformis Zone.
La Serre IK2c , the ¢nal MSZ5 for La Serre IK2
has its base near the middle of bed 14c and it
extends to the base of bed 14e. La Serre IK2c
de¢nes a low-magnitude peak of the longest du-
ration for the Frasnian portion of the boundary
sequence. Biostratigraphic equivalent: Middle to
Upper Pa. linguiformis Zone.
5.1.1.3. La Serre IK3 La Serre IK3 is the bound-
ary magnetozone (Fig. 3). It includes all of bed
14e, the uppermost Frasnian unit, and beds 14f
and 14g of the lowest Famennian. The transition
from La Serre IK2 to La Serre IK3 is represented
by more than an order of magnitude increase in
MS between the last sample in 14d and the ¢rst
sample in 14e. The change represents either the
need for higher density sampling over the interval
due to an increase in condensation or a hiatus in
sediment accumulation. The magnetozone repre-
sents a stratigraphic interval during which MS
magnitudes were some of the highest and most
variable for the boundary sequence at LSC. The
variability in MS de¢nes three MSZ5s for La
Serre IK3. Biostratigraphic equivalent: Upper
Palmatolepis linguiformis Zone, Lower Pa. trian-
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
gularis Zone, and lowest Middle Pa. triangularis
Zone.
The base of La Serre IK3a coincides with the
base of 14e where it is de¢ned by more than an
order of magnitude increase in MS between the
last sample in 14d and the ¢rst sample in 14e. The
magnetozone represents an interval of sustained
high MS magnitude that extends to the base of
bed 14f and the base of the Famennian. Biostrati-
graphic equivalent: topmost Pa. linguiformis
Zone.
It is the base of La Serre IK3b that de¢nes the
base of the Famennian in the Montagne Noire
region. The transition between La Serre IK3a
and IK3b includes more than an order of magni-
tude decrease in MS between the last sample in
14e and the ¢rst sample in 14f. The magnetozone
extends to the base of bed 14g, represents the low-
magnitude interval for La Serre IK3, and contains
the entire Lower Pa. triangularis Zone. Biostrati-
graphic equivalent: Lower Pa. triangularis Zone.
Because changes in MS are expected to be grad-
ual, sudden large changes in MS may re£ect un-
recognised disconformities in sections. The large
magnitude MS ‘event’ like changes at the base of
La Serre IK3a, IK3b and IK3c that also coincide
with lithological changes may represent discon-
formities at these points in the section.
The high-magnitude interval de¢ned as La
Serre IK3c begins at the base of 14g with nearly
an order of magnitude increase in MS between the
last sample in 14f and the ¢rst sample in 14g and
extends to the base of bed 14h. Biostratigraphic
equivalent: lower Middle Pa. triangularis Zone.
5.1.1.4. La Serre IK4 La Serre IK4 is an interval
of very low MS magnitudes with essentially no
variability at our scale of sampling (Fig. 3). It
includes all of bed 14h and the lowermost portion
of bed 15a. The transition from La Serre IK3 to
La Serre IK4 is part of an orderly and continual
decrease in MS magnitudes that begins in the
middle of bed 14g and ends in the middle of
bed 14h. The magnetozone represents a strati-
graphic interval during which MS magnitudes
were some of the lowest and least variable for
the boundary sequence. The lack of MS variabil-
ity precludes the de¢nition of MSZ5 magneto-
 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
zones. Biostratigraphic equivalent: lower Middle
Palmatolepis triangularis Zone.
5.1.1.5. La Serre IK5 The base of La Serre IK5
is designated at the mid-point of the transition
that begins in the upper portion of limestone
bed 14h and ends in the lower portion of shale
bed 15a. The mid-point along the transition oc-
curs between the second and third samples above
the base of 15a. La Serre IK5 extends to the base
of bed 15b and represents a sustained interval of
high MS magnitude with su⁄cient variability to
allow the de¢nition of three MSZ5 magnetozones.
Biostratigraphic equivalent: lower Middle Pa. tri-
angularis Zone.
The high-magnitude interval de¢ned as La
Serre IK5a begins in the lowermost portion of
bed 15a and it extends to the middle of that
bed. This MSZ5 accounts for roughly half of La
Serre IK5 and is characterized by containing the
peak of highest magnitude for the LSC boundary
sequence. Biostratigraphic equivalent: Middle Pa.
triangularis Zone.
The base of La Serre IK5b is near the middle of
bed 15a and the magnetozone extends into the
upper one-third of bed 15a. La Serre IK5b repre-
sents an interval of low MS magnitudes superim-
posed on the general high magnitudes of La Serre
IK5. Biostratigraphic equivalent: Middle Pa. tri-
angularis Zone.
La Serre IK5c begins in the upper one-third of
bed 15a and extends to the base of bed 15b, also a
shale unit. The magnetozone represents an inter-
val of high MS magnitudes. Biostratigraphic
equivalent : Middle Pa. triangularis Zone.
5.1.1.6. La Serre IK6 The base of the La Serre
IK6 is designated at the mid-point of the transi-
tion from the interval of high MS de¢ned by La
Serre IK5 to the interval of low MS de¢ned here
as the IK6 (Fig. 3). The transition begins near the
top of bed 15a and ends in lowermost bed 15b.
The mid-point along the transition occurs be-
tween the last sample in bed 15a and the ¢rst
sample in bed 15b. The transition zone for the
base is marked by more than an order of magni-
tude decrease in MS between the last samples
in 15a and the ¢rst samples in 15b, which again
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
81
may represent a disconformity between these beds.
La Serre IK6 extends into bed 15c and repre-
sents a sustained interval of low MS magnitudes
for the GSSP sequence. The MS record suggests
that the whole of the magnetozone is represented,
but this cannot be determined without additional
sampling. The MS variability is not su⁄cient to
attempt to document MSZ5s. Biostratigraphic
equivalent: Middle Palmatolepis triangularis Zone.
5.1.2. Coumiac UQ (GSSP)
The MSS at UQ is based on 71 contiguous
samples over 70 cm and begins with the upper-
most Palmatolepis rhenana Zone and ends near
the top of the Lower Pa. triangularis Zone (Fig.
4). The character of the UQ MSS is basically a
condensed version of that at LSC. La Serre IK1
begins at the base of the sequence in bed 31e1 and
continues through to the base of 31g1 . The MS is
basically invariable in La Serre IK1 and the mag-
netozone cannot be subdivided at this scale of
sampling. The transition zone from La Serre IK1
to La Serre IK2 occurs across the 31f/31g1 bound-
ary and is marked by a sharp decrease in MS
magnitude (Fig. 4) and a possible disconformity.
This transition coincides with the recognized base
of UKW which occurs much higher in the Pa.
linguiformis Zone in UQ than it does in LSC.
The three MSZ5s observed at LSC are present
at UQ. The base of La Serre IK3 occurs at the
base of unit 31g3 . The three MSZ5s observed at
LSC are present at UQ. The base of La Serre IK3b
lies slightly above the base of bed 32a and there-
fore also slightly above the biostratigraphically
de¢ned base of the Famennian (Fig. 4). The
base of the La Serre IK4 is placed in the lower-
most portion of unit 32b. The UQ sequence has
been fully described in several publications
(Schindler, 1990a; Feist et al., 1990; Feist and
Schindler, 1994; Becker and House, 1994; Girard
and Feist, 1997).
5.1.3. CVS
The MSS at CVS is based on 58 contiguous
samples through 68 cm of section beginning
with the Upper Palmatolepis rhenana Zone and
continuing into the early Middle Pa. triangularis
Zone (Fig. 5). The CVS sequence has been fully
82 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
described in several publications (Becker and
House, 1994; Feist et al., 1990; Girard and Feist,
1996). The character of the CVS MSS is, like that
of UQ, basically a condensed version of that at
LSC. La Serre IK1 begins at the base of the se-
quence in bed 26, although it is doubtful that the
base of the magnetozone is exposed, and contin-
ues through to the base of bed 29. The transition
zone from La Serre IK1 to La Serre IK2 occurs
across the bed 28/29 boundary and is marked, as
it is in UQ, by a sharp decrease in MS magnitude
(Fig. 5). The large MS change corresponding to a
lithic change may represent a disconformity at
this point in the section, also suggested for the
same level in UQ, above. This transition coincides
with the recognized base of UKW which falls in
the middle of the Pa. linguiformis Zone (compare
with LSC and UQ). La Serre IK2 di¡ers little
between LSC and UQ, given vagaries of sediment
accumulation. The base of La Serre IK3 occurs in
the upper portion of bed 29 and the magnetozone
continues to the upper portion of bed 31. The
three MSZ5s of LSC are present in the CVS La
Serre IK3 (Fig. 5). The base of La Serre IK3b lies
in the lower portion of bed 30 and above the
biostratigraphically recognized position of the
base of the Famennian.
5.2. Anti-Atlas of Morocco
The Devonian succession at Bou Tchra¢ne
(BT) is well known for its complete but condensed
succession of Upper Silurian to Upper Famennian
strata and its lithologic and faunal characteristics
are very well documented. Reviews of the past
and present literature are given in Walliser
(1991) and in El Hassani and Tahiri (1999). The
MSS for the Eifelian/Givetian boundary sequence
at BT was reported by Crick et al. (2000). The bed
designations of Fig. 6 are those of Becker and
House (1999a,b). The BT sequence is only one
of two boundary sequences discussed here that
contain recognized intervals for both the UKW
and the LKW ^ the other sequence being that at
Steinbruch Schmidt (Fig. 9). The character of the
MSS suggests that the boundary sequence con-
tains several gaps (Fig. 6) and attempts will be
made in the future to increase the density of sam-
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
pling through these intervals. The boundary se-
quence, where sampled, contains a low-angle re-
verse fault that cuts across and, in places, appears
to run parallel with the F/F boundary at the con-
tact of beds F and G. This causes our section to
have a short interval where no samples were col-
lected, and the character of data above and below
this missing section interval suggests that La Serre
IK3b is missing.
5.2.1. BT
The boundary sequence of Fig. 6 is based on 42
samples taken over 2.8 m. The MSS begins in the
Upper Palmatolepis rhenana Zone (bed Q) ap-
proximately three MSZ5s above the base of La
Serre IK1 and continues to the middle of bed
A1. A portion of La Serre IK1d and all of La
Serre IK1e are present. The base of La Serre IK2
occurs in the middle of A1 in a transition zone
marked by a rapid decrease in MS magnitude and
the magnetozone extends through the remainder
of the Pa. rhenana Zone and all but the upper-
most Pa. linguiformis Zone ending in the middle
of bed F. The base of LKW is in the lower por-
tion of La Serre IK2a where it coincides with the
base of bed A2 approximately 10 cm above the
base of La Serre IK2. The majority of the LKW
interval falls in the upper two-thirds of La Serre
IK2a while the uppermost portion of LKW lies
just above the base of La Serre IK2b . UKW be-
gins in the upper portion of La Serre IK2b and
continues through La Serre IK3a . The base of La
Serre IK3 is placed in the uppermost portion of
the Pa. linguiformis Zone immediately below the
biostratigraphically determined base of the Fa-
mennian. The magnetozone extends through the
Lower Pa. triangularis Zone and into the early
portion of the Middle Pa. triangularis Zone at a
point approximately 0.8 m above the base of bed
G. The range of the samples does not include all
of La Serre IK4 and the character of the MS does
not permit the subdivision of La Serre IK4.
The absence of La Serre IK3b suggests that the
magnetozone was removed by movements associ-
ated with a small reverse fault. The abbreviated
nature of La Serre IK3a may be indicative of the
loss of the upper portion of this MSZ5 magneto-
zone.
 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
5.3. Southern Belgium
The F/F boundary sequences at Hony and Sin-
sin are perhaps two of the three best known in
Belgium and represent deposition on what was
then either the southern margin of Baltica or the
southeastern margin of Euramerica (Fig. 1). The
area of Hony is considered to represent conditions
typical of a shallow shelf while Sinsin has been
described as representing conditions at the outer
shelf (Sandberg et al., 1988). Although both se-
quences contain decent palynological (Bouckaert
et al., 1972) and conodont records (Sandberg et
al., 1988), the fossil record for the interval thought
to contain the F/F boundary is not su⁄ciently
robust to allow an accurate positioning of the
boundary. It was hoped that comparison of these
two sequences with those of the Montagne Noire
and the Anti-Atlas might assist in clarifying the
position of the F/F boundary in these sections.
5.3.1. Hony
The boundary sequence of Fig. 7 is based on 90
samples through 2.9 m. The MS record begins in
the Upper Palmatolepis gigas ( = rhenana) Zone
(bed 46, Matagne Formation) and continues into
the Lower Pa. triangularis Zone of the shale in-
terval that overlies bed 48b (Famenne Forma-
tion). The key beds (46, 47, 48 base, 48 top, 48t,
and 48b) are those of Coen (1973) with updated
biostratigraphy by Sandberg et al. (1988). The MS
record for Hony is much less variable than that of
the Montagne Noire region, but does permit the
recognition of MSZ4 and MSZ5 magnetozones.
We feel that almost, if not all of the La Serre
IK1 magnetozone was sampled at Hony. IK1 be-
gins in the Upper Pa. gigas Zone and extends into
the Lower Pa. linguiformis Zone (Fig. 7). IK1 in-
cludes beds 46, 47, 48 base, 48 top, and the shale
unit that overlies 48 top to the base of bed 48t.
The magnetozone contains ¢ve MSZ5 magneto-
zones which are also present at Sinsin (Fig. 8),
Steinbruch Schmidt (Fig. 9), and LC (Fig. 10).
Beds 47 and 48 base fall within IK1b and 48 top
falls at the top of IK1c . The approximate position
of the base of the Pa. linguiformis Zone is within
IK1d . The transition from La Serre IK1 to La
Serre IK2 is marked by about one-half order de-
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
83
crease in MS and is well documented by several
samples (Fig. 7). IK2 cannot be subdivided at the
present level of sampling. All but the uppermost
portion of bed 48t, the key bed referred to by
many authors, is contained within IK2. IK2 is suc-
ceeded by La Serre IK3, the lower boundary of
which lies in the uppermost portion of bed 48t.
IK3 extends into the Lower Pa. triangularis Zone
where the upper boundary is probably a bit above
the top of the section. IK3a is quite thick by
MSZ5 standards and contains at least three
MSZ6 magnetozones (also present at Sinsin)
which we have chosen not to identify until we
can resample IK3a at closer intervals (Fig. 7). In
accordance with the LSC reference sequence, in-
cluding the other Montagne Noire sequences and
the Anti-Atlas sequence, the base of IK3b is used
here to de¢ne the position of the F/F boundary at
Hony (Fig. 7). This position is in agreement with
the suggested base of the Lower Pa. triangularis
Zone reported by Sandberg et al. (1988).
5.3.2. Sinsin
The MS record for the boundary sequence at
Sinsin is based on 150 samples taken from slightly
more than 2 m of the late Frasnian Matagne For-
mation and slightly less than 2 m of the early
Famennian Famenne Formation (Fig. 8). The
MS record begins in the Upper Palmatolepis gigas
Zone (Matagne Formation) and continues into
the Lower Pa. triangularis Zone (Famenne For-
mation). The key beds 12 and 13 (Fig. 8) are those
of Coen (1973) with updated biostratigraphy by
Sandberg et al. (1988).
We feel that all of the La Serre IK1 magneto-
zone was sampled at Sinsin. IK1 begins in the
Upper Pa. gigas Zone and extends into the Lower
Pa. linguiformis Zone (Fig. 8). The magnetozone
contains ¢ve MSZ5 magnetozones which are also
present at Hony (Fig. 7), Steinbruch Schmidt
(Fig. 9) and LC (Fig. 10). The approximate posi-
tion of the base of the Pa. linguiformis Zone is
within IK1d , as it is at Hony. The transition
from IK1 to IK2 is marked by slightly more
than a one-half order decrease in MS and is
well documented by many samples (Fig. 8). Like
at Hony, the IK2 MSZ4 at Sinsin cannot be sub-
divided. Approximately 75% of marker bed 12 is
84 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90

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 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90 85

contained within the upper portion of IK2. IK2 is
succeeded by IK3, the lower boundary of which
lies in the uppermost portion of bed 12. IK3 ex-
tends into the Lower Pa. triangularis Zone where
the upper boundary is approximately 0.75 m
above the base of the Famennian as it is de¢ned
here. The base of IK3b is used here to de¢ne the
position of the F/F boundary using the same cri-
teria as with the Hony sequence (Fig. 7). This
places the F/F boundary in a shale sequence im-
mediately above bed 13 whereas Sandberg et al.
(1988) suggested that the boundary occurred at
the base of bed 13. IK4 and IK5 are present in
the sequence with characteristics similar to those
at LSC.
5.4. Germany (Rheinisches Schiefergebirge)
The value of the F/F boundary sequences in
Germany has been detailed in a number of recent
publications with particular attention paid to the
UKW and LKW events (Schindler, 1990a,b,
1993; Schindler and Ko«nigshof, 1997; Schindler
et al., 1998) and their correlative value to other
regions (Feist and Schindler, 1994; Sandberg et
al., 1988). We chose the F/F boundary sequence
at Steinbruch Schmidt because it is acknowledged
as one of the most complete pelagic F/F boundary
sequences containing both the UKW and LKW
horizons and it is very well known outside of
Germany.
5.4.1. Steinbruch Schmidt
The MS record that begins in the Upper Pal-
matolepis rhenana Zone with bed 18 and continues
into the Middle Pa. triangularis Zone (bed 112) is
based on 105 samples spaced at 5-cm intervals
over 5.3 m (Fig. 9). The bed designations are
those of Schindler (1990a) combined with the re-
vised biostratigraphy of Feist and Schindler
(1994). The MSS begins with the IK1 magneto-
zone in bed 18. In comparison with the Belgian
sequences, it appears that the portion of Stein-
bruch Schmidt sampled begins after the lower
boundary of IK1. Thus while the ¢ve MSZ5 mag-
netozones recognized at Hony, Sinsin, and LC are
present, the IK1a magnetozone is not complete.
The base of LKW is in upper IK1b and the upper
boundary of the event is near the middle of IK1d .
This places the LKW much earlier in the MSS
sequence than that observed at BT (Fig. 6) yet
the MSS at BT and Steinbruch Schmidt shows
the same relationship to biostratigraphy. The low-
er boundary of IK2 coincides with the base of bed
45 and the magnetozone extends into the upper
portion of the Pa. linguiformis Zone and bed 58.
Because the MS of samples from the IK2 interval
is quite low, the data are very noisy and we were
not able to distinguish MSZ5 magnetozones. The
base of UKW is in uppermost IK2. The transition
to IK3 is marked by a one-half order increase in
MS and the lower boundary occurs in bed 58 and
the magnetozone continues into the Middle Pa.
triangularis Zone and bed 105. Most of the
UKW occurs in the IK3a which continues to the
end of the Frasnian. The lower boundary of IK3b
coincides with the biostratigraphically de¢ned
base of the Famennian and the magnetozone cov-
ers all but the uppermost portion of the Lower
Pa. triangularis Zone. The lower boundary of IK4
is near the middle of bed 105 and the lower
boundary of IK5 is in bed 112.
5.5. USA (Arbuckle Mountains, southern
Oklahoma)
The gently overturned anticline that makes up
the Arbuckle Mountains o¡ers the best and most
continuous exposures of marine Devonian in the
southern mid-continent US. It is, however, far

Fig. 11. Correlation by MSS. Regional and extra-regional correlation of F/F boundary sequences using magnetozones MSZ4 and
MSZ5. (A) LSC reference sequence at La Serre, Montagne Noire, southern France. (B) UQ, Montagne Noire, southern France.
(C) CVS, Montagne Noire, southern France. (D) BT, Anti-Atlas, Morocco. (E) Hony, Belgium. (F) Sinsin, Belgium. (G) Stein-
bruch Schmidt, Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Germany. (H) LC, Arbuckle Mountains, southern Oklahoma. Sections are at di¡er-
ent scales as shown. See ¢gures of individual sequences for additional details.

PALAEO 2825 4-6-02

86 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90

Fig. 12. Comparison of magnetozones at a common scale. Shown is a comparison of the relationship among the MSZ4 magneto-
zones of the various F/F boundary sequences at the scale of the thickest sequence in southern Oklahoma (H). Please see text for
a discussion of this comparison. (A) LSC reference sequence at La Serre, Montagne Noire, southern France. (B) UQ, Montagne
Noire, southern France. (C) CVS, Montagne Noire, southern France. (D) BT, Anti-Atlas, Morocco. (E) Hony, Belgium. (F) Sin-
sin, Belgium. (G) Steinbruch Schmidt, Rheinisches Schiefergebirge, Germany. (H) LC, Arbuckle Mountains, southern Oklahoma.
See ¢gures of individual sequences for additional details.

PALAEO 2825 4-6-02

 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
from complete with unconformities of at least re-
gional extent between Pridoli/Lochkovian carbo-
nates, between Lochkovian/Pragian carbonates,
and the most pronounced between various forma-
tions of the Early Devonian Hunton Group and
the Late Devonian Woodford Shale where there is
no evidence of Emsian, Eifelian, Givetian, and
various portions of the Lower Frasnian. The re-
maining Frasnian, all of the Famennian, and at
least the lower portion of the Tournaisian (up to
and including the Upper Siphonodella duplicata
Zone) are represented by roughly 90 m of Wood-
ford Shale. The Woodford is part of the wide-
spread Upper Devonian and Lower Carbonifer-
ous black shale deposition in the US and is the
western equivalent of the widespread Chattanoo-
ga Shale. The early conodont zonation established
by Hass and Huddle (1965) was modernized and
expanded by Over (1990, 1992) and Over and
Barrick (1990). Notwithstanding these e¡orts,
the position of the F/F boundary could not be
placed with certainty within a 2-m interval. As
part of this study, Over and his students under-
took a bed-by-bed search for the base of the Pa.
triangularis Zone and found the lowest occurrence
of Pa. triangularis to be 16.15 m above the base of
the Woodford in the spillway at LC. Neither the
LKW nor the UKW have been identi¢ed in the
Woodford. The greater rate of sediment accumu-
lation at LC allows for a much higher sample to
sediment thickness ratio than could be obtained at
the LSC reference section. This increase in MS
resolution was su⁄cient to allow the recognition
of MSZ6 magnetozones. These are shown, but
not identi¢ed, in Fig. 10.
5.5.1. LC spillway
We chose the Woodford where it crops out
in the spillway at LC because it o¡ered a contin-
uous 55-m exposure beginning with its uncon-
formable contact on weathered Pridoli/Lochko-
vian limestones of the Henryhouse Formation.
The 17.5-m portion of the sequence illustrated in
Fig. 10 represents 533 samples or roughly one
sample per 3 cm with sample intervals variable
between 1 and 5 cm depending. The section above
and below this interval is biostratigraphically too
poorly known at this time to permit further de¢-
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
87
nition of magnetozones. The sequence begins
7.5 m above the base in what we believe is the
equivalent of MN 12 Zone (Johnson and Klap-
per, 1992; Klapper, 1988) (Upper Palmatolepis
rhenana Zone) and continues into the equivalent
of the Middle Pa. triangularis Zone.
The MSS begins with the base of IK1. Five
MSZ5s are recognized in IK1. Additionally, 15
MSZ6 magnetozones are documented for IK1.
The character of the MSS at the base of IK2 at
12.6 m above the base of the Woodford is similar
to that of LSC and marked by a sharp decrease in
MS magnitude. Three MSZ5 and ¢ve MSZ6 mag-
netozones occur in IK2. The approximate position
of the base of MN 13 and the ¢rst occurrence of
Pa. bogartensis coincides with the base of IK2c .
The base of IK3 occurs, as it does in other sec-
tions, at the onset of high, sustained MS magni-
tudes (Fig. 10). Five MSZ5 magnetozones rather
than the usual three occur in the IK3 interval. The
additional MSZ5 magnetozones occur in the usual
place of IK3c and their presence may be related to
the greater density of samples. The base of IK3b
occurs slightly below the ¢rst record of Pa. trian-
gularis and de¢nes the position of the F/F bound-
ary at 15.7 m above the base of the Woodford at
LC. IK3b e , IK4a , and most of IK4b fall within
what we believe to be the Lower Pa. triangularis
Zone. As it does in the reference section, IK4 rep-
resents an interval of low MS magnitudes subdi-
vided by ¢ve MSZ5s and 15 MSZ6s (Fig. 10). The
base of the Middle Pa. triangularis Zone as ap-
proximated by the distribution of Pa. subperloba-
ta is in upper IK4b . The lower boundary of IK5
de¢nes a return to elevated MS magnitudes which
continue through the remainder of the LC se-
quence of Fig. 10. Like the IK5 of the reference
section, the LC IK5 interval contains three MSZ5s
as well as 15 MSZ6s.
6. Correlation summary
Fig. 11 summarizes the MSS relationship
among the various boundary sequences discussed
in the preceding section. Despite di¡erences in
palaeogeography, environments of deposition,
rates of sediment accumulation, and sample spac-
88 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
ing the MSS among boundary sequences is con-
sistent at the MSZ4 and MSZ5 levels except
where missing (Fig. 11D) or where the scale of
sampling either provided too little (Fig. 11E^G)
or too much resolution (Fig. 11H) relative to oth-
er sections. There is general agreement between
the MSS and the biostratigraphy, perhaps more
than expected given the di¡erences in the factors
controlling MSS and biostratigraphy. There is
also general agreement between the MSS and
the position of UKW, particularly among the
Montagne Noire and Anti-Atlas sections and
less so for the Steinbruch Schmidt sequence. We
have only two examples of the LKW event in our
sections and LKW falls in the early portion of La
Serre IK2 at BT (Fig. 11D) and the middle
portion of La Serre IK1 at Steinbruch Schmidt
(Fig. 11G).
Fig. 12 shows the boundary sequences redrawn
to the scale of the LC sequence in Oklahoma (Fig.
12H). The ¢gure o¡ers the possibility of assessing
certain aspects of magnetozones among the se-
quences. The most signi¢cant departure from the
general pattern formed by the lines of correlation
connecting the various lower boundaries of MSZ4
magnetozones is that of the BT La Serre IK2 and
IK3 (Fig. 12D). The relative stratigraphic interval
for the Frasnian portion of IK3 (the IK3a magne-
tozone) in the other sequences is between 50 and
22% of the total IK3 stratigraphic interval. For
BT the IK3a magnetozone accounts for only 2%
of the Frasnian. This coupled with the knowledge
that the IK3b magnetozone is missing from BT
(Fig. 12D) indicates that a portion of the latest
Frasnian is missing from this section as well as a
portion of the earliest Famennian. The possibility
of the incompleteness of the Frasnian at BT is not
apparent in associated biostratigraphic studies.
La Serre IK2 is the only other MSZ4 magneto-
zone that is complete and common to all bound-
ary sequences. There are di¡erences in the dura-
tion or stratigraphic interval of IK2 among the
sequences which cannot be accounted for by dif-
ferences in environment of deposition. The rather
long and well-developed Hony and Sinsin sequen-
ces (Fig. 12E^F) have IK2 magnetozones compa-
rable in duration to those at UQ and CVS (Fig.
12B^C), although overall environments of deposi-
PALAEO 2825 4-6-02
tion were very di¡erent. It is equally di⁄cult to
explain the similarity in duration of the IK2 mag-
netozones among LSC, BT, Steinbruch Schmidt,
and LC (Fig. 12A,D,G,H).
7. Conclusions
The correlation demonstrated here and based
on very di¡erent lithologies and palaeogeogra-
phies expresses the relevance of MSS magneto-
zones in long-range as well as inter- and intra-
basinal correlation. The recognition of the F/F
boundary was only possible because the LSC
reference sequence was developed in conjunction
with a mature biostratigraphy that provided the
MSS with a relative time frame and a baseline
(the F/F boundary) for comparison. We do feel,
however, that MSS is more reliable in the exten-
sion of correlation into and out of areas where the
biostratigraphy varies, such as is the case in the
Montagne Noire, than the attendant biostratigra-
phy. This view is supported by the Lower Famen-
nian di¡erences in the Lower Pa. triangularis
Zone and the Middle Pa. triangularis Zone where
there is little agreement in the duration of these
zones among the various sections and by the fact
that rates of sediment accumulation cannot be
called to explain vagaries in biozone ranges.
While it does appear that the proposed dura-
tion of 100 ka for MSZ4 magnetozones is reason-
able in the context of the boundary sequences
presented here, the proposed duration of 10 ka
for MSZ5 magnetozones does not agree well
with the number of MSZ5s observed to occur
within MSZ4s. It is not clear that greater sample
density would increase the number of MSZ5s rel-
ative to the associated MSZ4 magnetozones.
However, higher density sampling of less con-
densed section should help resolve this question.
The number of MSZ6 magnetozones observed in
the LC sequence is, in many cases, reasonably
close to accounting for much of the proposed
time of associated MSZ5s and MSZ4s. We would
like to point out that the MSS for the F/F bound-
ary is not as well de¢ned as are other Devonian
stage boundaries on which we are working or
have worked (Crick et al., 2000). However, even
 R.E. Crick et al. / Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 181 (2002) 67^90
in this less than ideal case, robust MSS sampling
combined with biostratigraphy allows reasonable
correlations among sections sampled, demonstrat-
ing the utility and potential of the method.
Acknowledgements
The participation of R.E.C. and B.B.E. was
made possible by a grant from the Petroleum
Research Fund of the American Chemical Society
(30845-AC8). R.F. and C.G. were supported by
the French Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique (UMR 5554, contribution ISEM 01/
000, and UMR 5565). The content and presenta-
tion of the paper were enhanced by the thoughtful
reviews of Drs. J. Hladil (Institute of Geology,
Prague) and X. Devleeschouwer (Geological Sur-
vey of Belgium, Brussels).
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