Planktonic Foraminifera Distribution as Paleoclimate Approach (Case Study: Tonasa Formation at the Barru River, South Sulawesi)

Abstract

Foraminifera proxy is one of the approaches used in predicting paleoclimate. They are buried in fine sediments, and they are well preserved in geological time. The Foraminifera study on the outcrop of carbonate rocks was conducted on the Barru River at Palakka area. The measunng section method was earned out in that area and obtained 17 intervals with variations in layer thickness from 5 - 258 cm consisting of marl and limestone interbeds. After the sample was prepared, the planktonic foraminifera was ready to be identified under a microscope. This study is aimed to improve the application of foraminifera, particularly paleoclimatic inferences. The results from the planktonic foraminifera analysis of Barru River traverse resulted from 16 species from the bottom to the top of the section. Globigerina primitiva, Globigerina senni, Globigerina soldadoensis, and Globigerina aragonensis are decreasing in number from the lower to the upper layer, even some of them do not appear again. Instead some species appear, and their numbers increase, such as Globigerina yeguaensis,Globigerinatheka barri,Globigerinapsis index, Globorotalia centralis, Globorotalia bolivariana, Globorotalia renzi, Globorotalia renzi, Hantkenina brepisvina, Hantkenina dumblei.