Foraminifera from the Upper Cretaceous of northern James Ross Island (Antarctica): a preliminary report

• Main Authors: Hradecká, Lenka, Vodrážka, Radek, Nývlt, Daniel
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Masaryk Univerzity 2011
• Subjects: James Ross Basin; Upper Cretaceous; Kotick Point; Whisky Bay; Santa Marta; Hidden Lake Formations; Foraminifera; biostratigraphy; lithology; Ross Island; Hidden Lake; Kotick; Antarc*; Antarctica; James Ross Island
• Online Access: http://journals.muni.cz/CPR/article/view/12808

The Cretaceous biostratigraphy of the James Ross Island region is generally based on palynomorphs and macrofossils (bivalves, ammonites). During geological mapping of the northern James Ross Island a number of samples from Upper Cretaceous lithologies were gathered to test the presence of foraminifers as a possible tool for stratigraphic evaluation of Upper Cretaceous strata. Limited number of samples did not provide foraminiferal content large enough to give relevant information for biostratigraphic conclusions. Samples from older sediments of Whisky Bay and Kotick Point formations (Albian – Turonian) were either not fossiliferous or contained scarce specimens of agglutinated foraminifers. Foraminiferal assemblages from younger sediments of Hidden Lake and Santa Marta formations (Coniacian – Campanian) contained species with both agglutinated and calcareous types of tests. Many of studied marine sediments were barren of foraminifers, probably due to late diagenetic secondary decalcification. Taxonomy of low-diversified assemblages was carried out and a biostratigraphical and palaeobiogeographical significance discussed.