Identification Of The Late Homerian Mulde Excursion At The Base Of The Salina Group (Michigan Basin, Usa)

Constraining the age of strata is a fundamental source of uncertainty in the study of sedimentary rocks, particularly in restricted basins that generally lack index fossils. An illustrative example of this is the evaporite-bearing Salina Group in the Michigan Basin. Our integrated study of facies, paleontology, and stable isotope geochemistry from the base of the Salina Group in Wisconsin addresses long-standing chronostratigraphic uncertainty surrounding these units. Conodont samples from the basal boundary interval (Racine-Waubakee formation contact) produced non-diagnostic disaster' and recovery' faunas typical of both the Mulde (Homerian) and Lau (Ludfordian) events. Strontium isotope analysis (Sr-87/Sr-86) of these conodonts from five horizons just below the boundary yield values between 0.70844 and 0.70850 confirming a Homerian age. Multiple carbon isotope profiles through this interval confirm the presence of a 2.5-3 parts per thousand positive excursion. Cumulatively these data constrain the base of the Salina Group in Wisconsin to the Mulde Excursion interval (late Homerian). This integrated study provides a sound initial step towards a deeper understanding of the processes of Silurian evaporite formation in the Michigan Basin.