Unconformities and changes in sedimentation rate at Site 1214 are illustrated in a plot of calcareous microfossil datum ages (first and last occurrences) vs. depth (Fig. F5). These rates rely on major calcareous nannofossil and planktonic foraminiferal datums presented in Tables T4 and T5 (see "Biostratigraphy"). The Pleistocene-Hauterivian section cored at Site 1214 is punctuated by one major unconformity separating the Pleistocene and uppermost Albian.
Core 198-1214A-1R contains <1 m of Pleistocene sediment. The remainder of the cored interval is Early Cretaceous in age and is characterized by poor recovery of chert-bearing chalk, limestone, and porcellanite. Despite the poor recovery, all cores contain datable calcareous nannofossil assemblages that were supported by planktonic foraminifers and/or radiolarians (see "Biostratigraphy"). The uppermost Aptian-Albian interval accumulated at an average rate of 12.7 m/m.y. The interval from near OAE1a in the lower Aptian through the upper Aptian accumulated at a reduced rate of 3.7 m/m.y. The basal Aptian-Hauterivian is either missing at Site 1214 or is represented by an unrecovered condensed interval (sedimentation rates of ~1.3 m/m.y.), which is consistent with trends observed at Site 1213 (Fig. F6).