Integrated stratigraphy across the Aptian/Albian boundary at Col de Pre-Guittard (southeast France): A candidate Global Boundary Stratotype Section

The outcrop of the Marnes Bleues at the Col de Pre-Guittard, 11 km north of the village of Remuzat in the Department of Drome in southeastern France is probably the most intensively studied succession spanning the Aptian/Albian boundary interval. Following the rejection of the proposed GSSP for the base of the Albian Stage (based on the first occurrence of the ammonite Leymeriellla tardefurcata in the section at Le Pillart, Tartonne, Alpes-de-Haute Provence), we re-visit the Pre-Guittard section. A new candidate GSSP defined by the first occurrence of the planktonic foraminifera Microhedbergella renilaevis Huber and Leckie, 2011 is here proposed. This first occurrence is placed in a 100 m section with 28 secondary markers, including calcareous nannofossils, planktonic foraminifera, palynomorphs, an inoceramid bivalve, ammonites, stable carbon isotopes, and local marker beds. The outcrop fulfils most of the physical criteria required of a Global Stratotype Section and Point. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.