The Geologic and Tectonic Evolution of the Kerguelen Plateau: An Introduction to the Scientific Results of Leg 120

Paleogene Benthic Foraminifers from the Southern Indian Ocean (Kerguelen Plateau): Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology

“…At Site 748, the Paleogene sedimentary record starts in the lower upper Paleocene above a hiatus spanning the Cretaceous/Paleocene boundary. The sedimentary sequence appears to be continuous to the Oligocene/Miocene boundary (Berggren, this volume), possibly interrupted by two short disconformities in the lower and upper Oligocene, respectively (Schlich, Wise, et al, 1989). Recovery was poor in the upper Paleocene through lower middle Eocene (Fig.…”

“…Consequently, after an approximately 2-3 m.y. hiatus from the late Maestrichtian through early Danian, sedimentation commenced abruptly with volcaniclastic deposits (Aubry and Berggren, 1989; Schlich, Wise, et al, 1989, "Site 747" chapter), followed by a pelagic Danian sequence. Then, after a hiatus from =64-58 Ma, of the remaining Paleocene and the Eocene only the early Eocene (=57-53 Ma) is recorded in the sediments.…”

“…The stratigraphy of the Paleogene used in this paper is preliminarily based on planktonic foraminifers, calcareous nannofossils and paleomagnetic data as outlined by the Shipboard Scientific Party (Schlich, Wise, et al, 1989), including the modifications of Berggren (this volume). The geochronology is according to Berggren et al (1985) and Aubry et al (1988).…”

Morphology and Affinity of the Planktonic Foraminifer Cassigerinelloita amekiensis Stolk and Reclassification of Cassigerinelloita Stolk

“…(early Eocene) to about 8 m/m.y. (middle to late Eocene) was recorded at Hole 749B (Schlich, Wise, et al, 1989), and at that level both Guembelitria triseriata and Cassigerinelloita amekiensis occurred (this study). This indicates that environmental changes such as increasing productivity might have caused the evolution of these taxa.…”

“…Cassigerinelloita amekiensis occurs in the lowermost 4 samples from Cores 120-749B-1IX through -13X, an interval referable to the A. bullbrooki Zone in the lower middle Eocene (Schlich, Wise, et al, 1989;Li et al, this volume). This material was compared with two paratype specimens supplied by the Shell Company.…”