Zumaia, world leader of Paleocene

2007/06/21 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Geologia
• Paleontologia
• Azokak, biltzarrak
• Arkeologia

In the congress of Zumaia the name of stratotype of Paleocene has been decided.

The history of the Earth is divided into epochs. One of them is paleocene. It covers approximately 9 million years, from 65 million years ago to 56 million years ago, that is, from the disappearance of dinosaurs to the last great global warming. The rocks of Itzurun are a unique record of the time. The rocks retain the entire history of Paleocene in layers, without gaps and easily explorable.

Thus, the periods within the Paleocene, Danish, Selandian and Thanetiense, also differ well in Zumaia. Therefore, managers of Zumaia and geologists of the Department of Stratigraphy and Paleontology of the UPV/EHU proposed that the official limits of the Paleozeono (stratotypes) were those of Zumaia. For this purpose, a congress was organized in which he has opted for Zumaia.

Under the chapel of San Telmo is one of the stratotypes. (Photo: A. A. Hilary)

According to Asier Hilario, head of the interpretation centre Algorri, “it has been a deserved achievement.” In fact, the limit between the Cretace-Tertiary and the Paleocene-Eocene are also clearly distinguished in Zumaia, and both have proposed their qualification as a stratotype, one in 1991 and the other in 2004, but in both was second Zumaia (in the case of the first an area of Tunisia was chosen and, in the second, one Egypt).

Once again it has competed with another Egyptian zone, that of the Nile basin called Kreiya. But finally Zumaia has achieved the appointment. Thus, from now on, geologists who study the rocks of this age will have as reference to those of Zumaia.

There were already many international geologists who went to the cliffs of Zumaia to investigate those limits, as it is not easy for everyone to be so well in the same place. Now, in addition, those inside the Paleocene have official recognition. No wonder geologists consider the cliffs of Zumaia as a treasure.