ABSTRACT

Wornardt and Vail (1990, 1991) published their "Mio-Pleistocene sequence chronostratigraphic chart" for the Gulf of Mexico based on calcareous nannofossils, planktonic and benthic foraminifers in the Gulf of Mexico. Wornardt et al. (1998) modified the numerical ages of the sequences, sequence boundaries and maximum flooding surfaces of Haq et al. (1987), based largely on the oxygen isotope curve of Haddad et al. (1992) and Abreu et al. (1998). Hardenbol et al. (1998) recognized twelve third-order depositional "Sequences" in the late Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene.

In the present paper, we divide the late Miocene, Pliocene and Pleistocene into a series of eleven third-order depositional sequences from 9.26 Ma to 1.40 Ma and eight fourth-order depositional sequences from 0.8 to 0.1 Ma. This revision should provide more accurate correlations between wells, better definition of sequences on well-logs and seismic record sections.