--> ABSTRACT: Biostratigraphic and Paleoenvironmental Synthesis of Cenozoic Marker Foraminifera, Gulf Coast and Caribbean Basins, by Sylvester Q. Breard, Arden D. Callender, Michael J. Nault; #91020 (1995).

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Biostratigraphic and Paleoenvironmental Synthesis of Cenozoic Marker Foraminifera, Gulf Coast and Caribbean Basins

Sylvester Q. Breard, Arden D. Callender, Michael J. Nault

Comprehensive operationally oriented biostratigraphic models are developed for Cenozoic foraminifera of the Gulf Coast and Caribbean basins. Both chronologic and ecologic markers are recognized, and environmental ranges for all marker species are estimated. In the Pliocene/Pleistocene section, a total of 24 planktic and 25 benthic foraminiferal horizons and ecologic ranges are identified. The Miocene interval consists of 16 planktic and 60 benthic horizons. Weak in planktic horizons with only 5, the oligocene has 52 benthic markers. The Paleocene/Eocene sections have more abundant planktic markers with 24, plus 56 benthic horizons. The utilization of new bathyal benthic markers, additional planktic species, local markers and acmes greatly enhances the potential biostratig aphic resolution for these two basins.

Finer subdivisions of bathyal paleoenvironments are especially significant to current Gulf of Mexico deep-water exploration, primarily the Miocene-Pleistocene sections. Due to broadening of resolution through geologic time. the recognition of finer paleoenvironmental subdivisions becomes more difficult in pre-Oligocene strata.

The widespread occurrences of documented Gulf Coast foraminiferal species from Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Trinidad substantiate the applicability of these models beyond the Gulf Coast Basin. The bathyal models have potential worldwide utility, considering the cosmopolitan distribution of bathyal foraminiferal species. With greater possible biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental resolution, these models represent a valuable predictive tool for all geoscientists using foraminiferal zones in current exploration and production activities in the Gulf Coast and Caribbean basins.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91020©1995 AAPG Annual Convention, Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 1995