Paleoecologic and biostratigraphic models for pleistocene through miocene foraminiferal assemblages of the Gulf Coast Basin
1993
ABSTRACT Operationally oriented paleoecologic models for Pleistocene through Miocene foraminifera utilized in hydrocarbon exploration of the Gulf Coast Basin are developed, along with an updated, refined biostratigraphic chart. Estimated paleoecologic tolerances for major benthic and planktic foraminiferal markers are also presented. A number of rules and problems encountered in oil industry paleoenvironmental reconstruction are discussed. Key benthic paleoenvironmental markers for particular depth zones of the Plio-Pleistocene and Miocene are graphically presented. Improvements over previous models include greater utilization of calcareous and arenaceous foraminiferal species not used, recognized, or reported in earlier studies. Finer subdivisions of bathyal paleoenvironments are recognized and are of particular significance due to current Gulf of Mexico deep water exploration. Operationally, the abyssal environment is difficult to recognize due to the lack of abyssal zone markers and a reliance on faunal abundance to delineate abyssal from bathyal. A number of genera and species are identified as having changed habitat preference through time. Some forms have moved progressively into deeper water (Ceratobulimina, Cyclammina cancellata, and Nonion pompilioides). Conversely, the movement of species into progressively shallower occurrences through time (Pullenia bulloides) appears to be less common. The widespread occurrence of known Gulf of Mexico foraminiferal species from countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba suggests that these models have direct application to Neogene and Pleistocene studies in Central and South America, and the Caribbean, as well as the US Gulf Coast. A variety of deep water benthic marker foraminifera are introduced, many for the first time. These taxa help fill in gaps for deeper water sections where standard benthic marker foraminifera do not occur. This will help debunk the popular myth that benthic foraminifera are useless as markers in the exploration of deep water sections.
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