Refined Early to Middle Miocene diatom biochronology for the middle‐ to high‐latitude North Pacific

Abstract Refined numerical ages of the diatom biohorizons of the Early to Middle Miocene (11–18 Ma) period in the Neogene North Pacific are presented based on the direct correlation between biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy at Site 887 on the Patton–Murray Seamount in the northeastern Pacific. Sampling intervals of 0.02–0.04 my allowed the determination of the ages of the biohorizons to be more precise than previous studies. The secondary biohorizons established in the northwestern Pacific have been proven to be useful also in the northeastern Pacific, and are linked to magnetostratigraphy directly for the first time. The refined diatom biochronology established in this study will provide a vital basis for the study of the Neogene marine sediments of the middle‐ to high‐latitude North Pacific, which rarely yield calcareous microfossils. Denticulopsis praedimorpha var. prima n. var. is described.