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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
Houston Geological Society Bulletin
Abstract
Abstract: Late Miocene to Holocene Planktonic Foraminiferal Zonation in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico
By
Esso Production Research Company
The Late Miocene to early Pleistocene planktonic succession
within standard European stages and reference sections in Italy is
compared with that of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to clarify
stage and epoch boundaries in the latter regions. In ascending order,
the stages comprise the Tortonian and Messinian (Late Miocene),
Tibianian and Plisancian (Early to Late Pliocene), and Calabrian
(early Pleistocene). Climatic Criteria obtained by analysis of the
planktonic fauna provide a basis for recognition of the Calabrian,
Emilian and Sicilian stages in southern Italy. Correlation of epoch
boundaries and other paleontological datums from the Italian to the
Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico regions utilizes restricted occurrences
of planktonic foraminiferal species common to both regions and also
horizons of reference within species of the Globorotalia crassaformis
evolutionary lineage.
Species important for this intercontinental correlation and dating
include Globorotalia acostaensis and Sphaeroidinellopsis sphaeroides
in Late Miocene, Globorotalia margaritae in Early Pliocene, species
of the Globorotalia crassaformis lineage in Middle and Late Pliocene,
and appearance of Globorotalia truncatulinoides and faunal evidence
for onset of climatic deterioration in early Pleistocene. On the basis
of these data and information obtained from many localities in the
Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, a sequence of regional planktonic
zones and subzones is defined for the Late Miocene to Holocene interval.
These zones seemingly have broad application in warm and temperate
regions from about 45°S. latitude to about 45° N. latitude.
Zonation of the late Neogene was accomplished by recording in
detail the stratigraphic occurrence of approximately 40 species of
planktonic foraminiferas in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. End_of_Record - Last_Page 13---------------