Integrated stratigraphy of the Oligocene pelagic sequence in the Umbria- Marche basin (north-eastern Apennines, Italy): A potential Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Rupelian/Chattian boundary

The Oligocene represents an important time period from a wide range of perspectives and includes signifi cant climatic and eustatic variations. The pelagic succession of the Umbria-Marche Apennines (central Italy) includes a complete and continuous sequence of marly limestones and marls, with volcaniclastic layers that enable us to construct an integrated stratigraphic framework for this time period. We present here a synthesis of detailed biostratigraphic, magnetostratigraphic, and hemostratigraphic studies, along with geochronologic results from several biotite-rich volcaniclastic layers, which provide the means for an accurate and precise radiometric calibration of the Oligocene time sca…