Paleocene through Middle Eocene planktonic foraminifers from Hole 807C, Ontong Java Plateau

Abstract

Paleocene through middle Eocene sediments from Hole 807C, Ocean Drilling Program Leg 130, consist of limestones studied in thin section. Sedimentary features include common strong sorting and grading accompanied with laminations, and discrete turbiditic layers. These features strongly affected the distribution and preservation of planktonic foraminifers, which accordingly were generally heavily reworked and sorted. Biostratigraphic assignments were based on rare to few specimens of younger ages largely overwhelmed by much older faunas. The planktonic foraminifer record, however, is not continuous and elements of some biozones were not detected, including those from Subzones P1c through P3a of the Palaeocene and Subzone P6a through Zone P10 of the early to middle Eocene. The top of the section studied possibly belongs to late Eocene Zone P15. -Author