AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

Abstract

Micropaleontological analysis was made in 50 Paleogene ditch cutting samples of hydrocarbon exploration well 16/1-8, Norwegian North Sea. The samples and physical log information were provided by Lundin Norway AS. Over 100 foraminiferal taxa were recognized, grouped into nine successive stratigraphic assemblages and correlated directly to the Gradstein & Bäckström (1996) regional Cenozoic zonation. A majority of taxa are agglutinated foraminifera, commonly described from Paleogene bathyal strata in the North Sea. The zones from stratigraphically older to younger, and in uphole direction are: Subbotina pseudobulloides Zone, earliest Paleocene, Ammoanita rutvenmurrayi Zone, mid Paleocene, Reticulopragmium pauperum Zone, latest Paleocene, Coscinodiscus Zone, earliest Eocene, Subbotina patagonica Zone, early Eocene, Reticulophragmium intermedium Zone, early Middle Eocene, Ammomarginulina aubertae Zone, late Middle Eocene,Reticulophragmium amplectens Zone, late Eocene and Adercotryma agterbergi Zone, early Oligocene.The A. aubertae, R.intermedia and A.ruthvenmurrayi Zones harbour a remarkably diverse assemblage of agglutinated foraminifera resembling flysch-type assemblages. Generally good agreement is observed between the routine dinoflagellate stratigraphy in the well and the detailed micropaleontological results of this study.