Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy in Proximity to the Albian/Cenomanian Boundary using Six Global Deep Sea Drilling Project Sites
Abstract
The Cretaceous stages are poorly defined and inconsistencies in the named species of the lowermost Cenomanian biozone and rarity of other named species led to doubt over the current biozonation scheme and its validity. This study tests the previous biozonation definitions through a review of planktic foraminifera from six global Deep Sea Drilling Project sites. This study validates the use of T. globotruncanoides as the named species for the lowermost Cenomanian biozone despite the location of the referenced type specimen not being from the type locality. Several changes were applied to the biozonation of the late Albian; however, the named species Pseudothalmanninella ticinensis was not observed and a new biozone, Clavihedbergella subcretacea was assigned. Trends observed in the lower P. appenninica Biozone lead to the recognition of a new biozone, P. buxtorfi. These findings support the Cenomanian stage definition and help to define the Albian stage.
Description
Keywords
Geology, Paleontology
Citation
Sawyer, M. S. (2016). Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy in Proximity to the Albian/Cenomanian Boundary using Six Global Deep Sea Drilling Project Sites (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26205