ABSTRACT

Paleocene benthic foraminifera of the Midway and Wilcox groups of Alabama have been investigated within the framework of planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphic zonation.

The benthic foraminifera communities of these clastic sediments are characterized by low diversity and high dominance. Relationship between faunal diversity and dominance places these formations in a less than ten-fathom (60 ft.) marine environment. The characteristic species of the Paleocene shallow-water environments are present in high abundances. Fluctuations in composition, large populations and high morphologic variability are also observed.

High frequencies of the genera Bulimina and Epistominella have suggested in the past deeper marine environments, because of the Recent distribution of these genera in greater depths. These two genera occur in large numbers in association with an Alabama Paleocene shallow-water community structure. Therefore, it is reasonable to think of a shallow-water environment for these two Paleocene genera. It is also possible that these genera may have lived in both deep and shallow waters and then disappeared in the shallow-water environment.

Alabama Paleocene deposits, which belong to the eastern part of the North Gulf Coast sedimentary province, are believed to have been deposited in deltaic marine and inner neritic environments. Benthic foraminiferal communities have proven to be most useful for this paleoecologic interpretation.