Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and lithology of the Upper Cretaceous (upper Campanian-Maastrichtian) and Palaeogene succession of the Palmyrides (Syria)

An upper Campanian to Oligocene stratigraphic succession has been examined from six deep exploration wells in the Palmyrides area of Syria. Most sedimentary contains rich and well moderately preserved planktonic foraminiferal assemblages that enable successful age determination. The Maastrichtian fauna is highly diverse with domination warm water taxa such as Globotruncana aegyptiaca, Gansserina gansseri, Globotruncanella havanensis, Globotruncanita angulata Pseudotextularia elegans. most dramatic turnover occurred across Cretaceous/Palaeocene boundary when species became extinct. oldest Palaeocene assemblage, number specimens, but not very diverse, includes following species: Eoglobigerina eobulloides, Globanomalina archeocompressa, Chiloguembelina morsei, Woodringina claytonensis Parasubbotina pseudobulloides. late marked by origination morozovellids, acarininids globanomalinids, while early Eocene characterized a tropical dominated muricate species, intensive speciation Acarinina Subbotina latest part. these continue into middle become significant component community. genera Acarinina, Morozovelloides, lesser degree Turborotalia, Globigerinatheka Hantkenina. middle/late double extinction last mcgowrani Morozovelloides crasssatus, which indicate variable climate, column instability, loss surface habitats. In contrast, Turborotalia Globigerinateheka more important Eocene. Eocene/Oligocene including cerroazulensis group, Hantkenina, some subbotinids. beginning indicated cool Dentoglobigerina, Globorotaloides, Tenuitella Chiloguembelina. Speciation spinose dweller Ciperoella ciperoensis group reflects warming Oligocene. combined observations lithology diversity composition foraminifera Syria was Tethyan bioprovince subtropical climate end deposition sea environments (upper bathyal outer shelf). deposits their microfossil content suggest temperate conditions sedimentation inner shelf environments.