WHAT DOES THE TERM 'BIOCHEMOSTRATIGRAPHY' MEAN ANYWAY? ATTEMPTING TO DEFINE THE METHODS, APPLICATIONS, PITFALLS, AND PALEOZOIC POTENTIAL OF INTEGRATED DATA

The rise in isotope geochemistry over the past two decades has provided a new tool for Paleozoic investigations. Now that over a dozen major positive carbon isotope excursions have been identified in the Paleozoic, a large body of literature has developed regarding the causes of these isotope events. However, comparatively few papers have been written concerning the use of Paleozoic isotope geochemistry as a purely stratigraphic tool. This has changed in the past years as the biostratigraphic community has begun to produce isotopic data, particularly organic and carbonate carbon. Although the influx of new data has been a major advance, the lack of cooperation and integration between isotope geochemists and biostratigraphers, combined with this wealth of new data, has begun to introduce new problems for global correlation.

Because each data-set is important to our global understanding of Paleozoic events, it is critical that each isotopic data-set can be accurately and precisely integrated into our global time scale against which all biostratigraphic schemes can also be compared. It is equally crucial that a global perspective be taken when considering the causes of isotopic events. The continued use of antiquated biostratigraphic information in purely isotopic investigations combined with the growth of biostratigraphy-based isotopic studies has introduced a new source of confusion to Paleozoic stratigraphic correlation. Likewise, the lack of accepted standards for biochemostratigraphic correlation, particularly between different isotope proxies, or for the definition of isotopic features such as the beginning and end of excursions, only serves to further complicate the literature.

Here, we will discuss the procedures, pitfalls, and potential of fully integrated Paleozoic biostratigraphic, isotopic, and lithostratigraphic data by concentrating on lower Paleozoic examples. By comparing the different methods and approaches to biochemostratigraphic correlation currently in use, we can show where certain methods themselves have added to the literature confusion. This comparison also helps demonstrate the correlation potential and most importantly the current limits of ‘wiggle-matching.'