The Lutetian is, in the
geologic timescale
The geologic time scale, or geological time scale, (GTS) is a representation of time based on the rock record of Earth. It is a system of chronological dating that uses chronostratigraphy (the process of relating strata to time) and geochr ...
, a
stage or
age in the
Eocene
The Eocene ( ) Epoch is a geological epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (mya). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes from the Ancient Greek (''ēṓs'', ...
. It spans the time between . The Lutetian is preceded by the
Ypresian and is followed by the
Bartonian. Together with the
Bartonian it is sometimes referred to as the Middle Eocene Subepoch.
Stratigraphic definition
The Lutetian was named after
Lutetia, the
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...
name for the city of
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...
. The Lutetian Stage was introduced in scientific literature by French geologist
Albert de Lapparent in 1883 and revised by A. Blondeau in 1981.
The base of the Lutetian Stage is at the first appearance of the nanofossil ''Blackites inflatus'', according to an official reference profile (
GSSP) established in 2011. Of two candidates located in
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, ...
, the Gorrondatxe section was chosen.
[See th]
website of Eustoquio Molina
for these candidates.
The top of the Lutetian (the base of the Bartonian) is at the first appearance of calcareous
nanoplankton species ''Reticulofenestra reticulata''.
The Lutetian overlaps with the
Geiseltalian and lower Robiacian
European Land Mammal Mega Zones (The Lutetian Stage spans the
Mammal Paleogene zones 11 through 15.
), the upper
Bridgerian and
Uintan North American Land Mammal Ages, the upper
Arshantan and
Irdinmanhan Asian Land Mammal Ages
The Asian land mammal ages, acronym ALMA, establish a geologic timescale for prehistoric Asian fauna beginning 58.7 Mya during the Paleogene and continuing through to the Miocene ( Aquitanian) (23.03 Ma). These periods are referred to as ages, ...
, and the
Mustersan and lower
Divisaderan South American Land Mammal Ages. It is also coeval with the middle Johannian regional stage of
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...
and the upper Ulatisian and lower Nanzian regional stages of
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
.
References
External links
GeoWhen Database - LutetianPaleogene timescale at the website of the subcommission for stratigraphic information of the ICS
Stratigraphic chart of the Paleogene at the website of Norges Network of offshore records of geology and stratigraphy
{{Authority control
Eocene geochronology
Geological ages