Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Limboto Limestone, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia

Abstract

The limestone research within the Limboto Basin of Gorontalo Province becomes a new challenge, particularly for the study of planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy. This study uses the data obtained from the measured section in the north-western part of Limboto Lake. The purpose of this study is to determine the planktonic foraminiferal biozonation and the relative age of Limboto limestones. The analyzed planktonic foraminiferal fossils can be classified as well to moderately preserved of various species, in the context of abundance, categorized as frequent to abundant. There are three recognized planktonic foraminiferal biozones, i.e., two biozones for Miocene age (M13b and M14) and one biozone for Pliocene age (PL1). The Miocene biozones are named as Globorotalia plesiotumida partial range zone (M13b) and Pulleniatina primalis-Globoquadrina dehiscens concurrent range zone (M14), while the name of Pliocene biozone is Globorotalia acostaensis partial range zone (PL1). The results of this study can be a reference to propose an age of Limboto Limestone Formation. Identification and demarcation of the Limboto Limestone Formation are based on the time interval and relative age of the formation based on planktonic foraminifera.