Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the Late Eocene and Oligocene in the Palmyride Area, Syria

• Main Authors: Morana Hernitz Kučenjak, Vlasta Premec Fućek, Renata Slavković, Ivan Mesić
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Geological Survey 2006-06-01
• Series: Geologia Croatica
• Subjects: Biostratigraphy; Planktonic foraminifera; Late Eocene; Oligocene; Palmyride area; Syria
• Online Access: http://www.geologia-croatica.hr/ojs/index.php/GC/article/view/184
• ISSN: 1330-030X; 1333-4875

<div>Three deep exploration wells in the Palmyride area (Syria) have been</div><div>drilled through Oligocene and Eocene deposits. A detailed micropalaeontological&nbsp;investigation has been performed on the planktonic&nbsp;foraminiferal assemblage from drill cuttings. Standard planktonic&nbsp;foraminiferal zones from P15 to P22 (E15 to O6) have been identified.</div><div>The test morphology and diversity of the foraminiferal assemblage</div><div>indicate a general cooling trend during the late Eocene and</div><div>Oligocene. The specialized Eocene forms (K-mode life strategy) such</div><div>as turborotaliids, globigerinathekids and hantkeninids become extinct</div><div>in the uppermost late Eocene. The Oligocene is characterized by the</div><div>dominance of cooler, opportunistic planktonic foraminifera (r-mode</div><div>life strategy), such as pseudohastigerinids, chiloguembelinids, globigerinids&nbsp;and tenuitellids. A very low number of benthic foraminifera</div><div>in late Eocene cuttings implies sedimentation in a deep, open sea</div><div>environment. A gradual increase of the benthic foraminiferal proportion</div><div>through the Oligocene indicates shallowing of the sedimentary</div><div>environment.</div>