Biostratigraphy of Miocene Deep Sea Sediments (Sites 372 and 375), with Special Reference to the Messinian/Pre-Messinian Interval

Abstract

Site 372 (Balearic Basin) are referable to Zone N.I7 of the standard zonation. A major hiatus, corresponding to a duration of over 6 m.y., is documented at the base of the varved interval recovered in Section 2 of Core 9, at approximately 199.5 meters subbottom. The hemipelagic sediments underlying the varved interval are referred to the latest part of Zone N. 13, close to the Globigerina nepenthes datum, which defines the N.I3/N.I4 zonal boundary; they are Serravallian. The hemipelagic sediments with turbidites underlying the Mediterranean Evaporite recorded in the Levantine Basin (Site 375) are of late Tortonian age: foraminiferal Zones N.17 and N.16 were identified.