Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T16:11:22.121Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Benthic foraminiferal zonation in deep-water carbonate platform margin environments, northern Little Bahama Bank

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2015

Ronald E. Martin
Ronald E. Martin*
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, University of Delaware, Newark 19716
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The utility of benthic foraminifera in bathymetric interpretation of clastic depositional environments is well established. In contrast, bathymetric distribution of benthic foraminifera in deep-water carbonate environments has been largely neglected. Approximately 260 species and morphotypes of benthic foraminifera were identified from 12 piston core tops and grab samples collected along two traverses 25 km apart across the northern windward margin of Little Bahama Bank at depths of 275-1,135 m. Certain species and operational taxonomic groups of benthic foraminifera correspond to major near-surface sedimentary facies of the windward margin of Little Bahama Bank and serve as reliable depth indicators. Globocassidulina subglobosa, Cibicides rugosus, and Cibicides wuellerstorfi are all reliable depth indicators, being most abundant at depths >1,000 m, and are found in lower slope periplatform aprons, which are primarily comprised of sediment gravity flows. Reef-dwelling peneroplids and soritids (suborder Miliolina) and rotaliines (suborder Rotaliina) are most abundant at depths <300 m, reflecting downslope bottom transport in proximity to bank-margin reefs. Small miliolines, rosalinids, and discorbids are abundant in periplatform ooze at depths <300 m and are winnowed from the carbonate platform. Increased variation in assemblage diversity below 900 m reflects mixing of shallow- and deep-water species by sediment gravity flows.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Paleontology , Volume 62 , Issue 1 , January 1988 , pp. 1 - 8
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Austin, J. A., et al. 1985. Megabank found? Flanks record sea level. Geotimes, 30(11):12–15.Google Scholar
Bandy, O. L. 1964. General correlation of foraminiferal wall structure with environment, p. 75–90. In Imbrie, J. and Newell, N. (eds.), Approaches to Paleoecology. John Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
Barker, R. W. 1960. Taxonomic notes on the species figured by H. B. Brady in his report on the H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873-1876. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication 9, 238 p.Google Scholar
Beach, D. K., and Ginsburg, R. N. 1980. Facies succession, Plio-Pleistocene carbonates, northwestern Great Bahama Bank. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 64:1634–1642.Google Scholar
Boardman, M. R., and Neumann, A. C. 1984. Sources of periplatform carbonates: northwest Providence Channel, Bahamas. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 54:1110–1123.Google Scholar
Chaproniere, G. C. H. 1975. Paleoecology of Oligo-Miocene larger Foraminiferida, Australia. Alcheringa, 1:37–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crevello, P., and Schlager, W. 1980. Carbonate debris sheets and turbidites, Exuma Sound, Bahamas. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, 50:1121–1140.Google Scholar
Culver, S. J., and Buzas, M. A. 1981. Recent benthic foraminiferal provinces on the Atlantic continental margin of North America. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 11:217–240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cushman, J. A. 1918. The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Pt. 1. Astrorhizidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 104, 111 p.Google Scholar
Cushman, J. A. 1920. The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Pt. 2. Lituolidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 104, 111 p.Google Scholar
Cushman, J. A. 1922. The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Pt. 3. Textularidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 104, 149 p.Google Scholar
Cushman, J. A. 1923. The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Pt. 4. Lagenidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 104, 208 p.Google Scholar
Cushman, J. A. 1924. The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Pt. 5. Chilostomellidae and Globigerinidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 104, 55 p.Google Scholar
Cushman, J. A. 1929. The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Pt. 6. Miliolidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 104, 129 p.Google Scholar
Cushman, J. A. 1930. The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Pt. 7. Nonionidae, Camerinidae, Peneroplidae, and Alveolinellidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 104, 79 p.Google Scholar
Cushman, J. A. 1931. The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean. Pt. 8. Rotaliidae, Amphisteginidae, Calcarinidae, Cymbaloporettidae, Globorotaliidae, Anomalinidae, Planorbulinidae, Rupertiidae, and Homotremidae. United States National Museum Bulletin 104, 179 p.Google Scholar
Eberli, G. P., and Ginsburg, R. N. 1987. Segmentation and coalescence of Cenozoic carbonate platforms, northwestern Great Bahama Bank. Geology, 15:75–79.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frost, S. H., and Langenheim, R. L. 1974. Cenozoic Reef Biofacies: Tertiary Larger Foraminifera and Scleractinian Corals from Chiapas, Mexico. Northern Illinois University Press, Dekalb, 388 p.Google Scholar
Gibson, T. G., and Schlee, J. 1967. Sediments and fossiliferous rocks from the eastern side of the Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas. Deep-Sea Research, 14:691–702.Google Scholar
Halbouty, M. T. 1985. Bahamas: future petroleum province? American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 69:261.Google Scholar
Hallock, P. 1984a. Distribution of selected species of living algal symbiont-bearing foraminifera on two Pacific coral reefs. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 14:250–261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hallock, P. 1984b. Foraminifera of Indo-Pacific and Caribbean reefs: a comparison of selected algal symbiont-bearing taxa. Advances in Reef Science, University of Miami, Florida:50–51.Google Scholar
Hallock, P., and Glenn, E. C. 1985. Numerical analysis of foraminiferal assemblages: a tool for recognizing depositional facies in lower Miocene reef complexes. Journal of Paleontology, 59:1382–1394.Google Scholar
Hallock, P., and Glenn, E. C. 1986. Larger foraminifera: a tool for paleoenvironmental analysis of Cenozoic carbonate depositional facies. Palaios 1:55–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heath, K. C., and Mullins, H. T. 1984. Open-ocean, off-bank transport of fine-grained carbonate sediment in the northern Bahamas, p. 199–208. In Stow, D. A. V. and Piper, D. J. W. (eds.), Fine-Grained Sediments: Deep Water Processes and Facies. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford.Google Scholar
Hermelin, J. O. R. 1986. Pliocene benthic foraminifera from the B Plateau: faunal assemblages and paleocirculation. Marine Micropaleontology, 10:343–370.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hine, A. C., and Neumann, A. C. 1977. Shallow carbonate-bank–margin growth and structure, Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 61:376–406.Google Scholar
Hine, A. C., Wilber, R. J., and Neumann, A. C. 1981. Carbonate sand bodies along contrasting shallow bank margins facing open seaways in northern Bahamas. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 65:261–290.Google Scholar
Hooke, R. L., and Schlager, W. 1980. Geomorphic evolution of the Tongue of the Ocean and the Providence Channels, Bahamas. Marine Geology, 35:343–366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Illing, L. V. 1954. Bahaman calcareous sands. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 38:1–95.Google Scholar
Iselin, C. O. 1936. A study of the circulation of the western North Atlantic. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Papers in Physical Oceanography and Meterology, 4:1–101.Google Scholar
Kendall, C. G. St. C., and Schlager, W. 1981. Carbonates and relative changes in sea level. Marine Geology, 44:181–212.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liddell, W. D., Ross, S. K., Nelson, C. V., and Martin, R. E. 1988. Sedimentological and foraminiferal characterization of shelf and slope environments (1-234 m), north Jamaica. Third Symposium on the Geology of the Bahamas, Proceedings (in press).Google Scholar
Lighty, R. G. 1981. Fleshy-algal domination of a modern Bahamian barrier reef: example of an alternate climax reef community. Fourth International Coral Reef Symposium, Manila, Philippines, 1:37.Google Scholar
Lohmann, G. P. 1978. Abyssal benthonic foraminifera as hydrographic indicators in the western South Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 8:6–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lynts, G. B. 1971. Analysis of the planktonic foraminiferal fauna of core 6275, Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas. Micropaleontology, 17:152–166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lynts, G. B., Judd, J. B., and Stehman, C. F. 1973. Late Pleistocene history of Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 84:2665–2684.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, R. E. 1986. Habitat and distribution of the foraminifer Archaias angulatus (Fichtel and Moll) (Miliolina, Soritidae). Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 16:201–206.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martin, R. E., and Liddell, W. D. 1985. Bathymetric distribution of foraminifera in Jamaican reef environments. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 69:283.Google Scholar
Martin, R. E., and Liddell, W. D. 1986. Bathymetric zonation of foraminifera and depositional processes in a fringing reef environment. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Third Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Program:71–72.Google Scholar
McLellan, H. J. 1965. Elements of Physical Oceanography. Pergamon Press, Oxford, 150 p.Google Scholar
Meyerhoff, A. A., and Hatten, C. W. 1974. Bahamas salient of North America: tectonic framework, stratigraphy and petroleum potential. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 58:1201–1239.Google Scholar
Milliman, J. D. 1975. Dissolution of aragonite, Mg-calcite, and calcite in the North Atlantic Ocean. Geology, 31:461–462.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moore, W. E. 1957. Ecology of Recent foraminifera in northern Florida Keys. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 41:727–741.Google Scholar
Mullen, M. W., and Mullins, H. T. 1984. Displaced shallow-water foraminifera: evidence for windward-leeward effects on carbonate slope sedimentation in the northern Bahamas. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Third Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Program:57–58.Google Scholar
Mullins, H. T., and Lynts, G. W. 1976. Stratigraphy and structure of Northeast Providence Channel, Bahamas. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 60:1037–1053.Google Scholar
Mullins, H. T., and Lynts, G. W. 1977. Origin of the northwestern Bahama Platform: review and reinterpretation. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 88:1447–1461.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mullins, H. T., and Neumann, A. C. 1979. Deep carbonate bank margin structure and sedimentation in the northern Bahamas, p. 164–192. In Doyle, L. J. and Pilkey, O. H. (eds.), Geology of Continental Slopes. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication 27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mullins, H. T., Lynts, G. W., Neumann, A. C., and Ball, M. M. 1978. Characteristics of deep Bahama channels in relation to hydrocarbon potential. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 62:693–704.Google Scholar
Mullins, H. T., Heath, K. C., Van Buren, H. M., and Newton, C. R. 1984. Anatomy of a modern open-ocean carbonate slope: northern Little Bahama Bank. Sedimentology, 31:141–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Natland, M. L. 1933. The temperature- and depth-distribution of some Recent and fossil foraminifera in the southern California region. Scripps Institute of Oceanography Bulletin, 3:225–230.Google Scholar
Nelson, C. V., Liddell, W. D., and Martin, R. E. 1985. Bathymetric distribution of foraminifera over the range of 1-240 m in carbonate shelf and slope environments. Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Abstracts with Program, 17:675.Google Scholar
Newell, N. D., Imbrie, J., Purdy, E. G., and Thurber, D. L. 1959. Organism communities and bottom facies, Great Bahama Bank. American Museum of Natural History Bulletin, 117:177–228.Google Scholar
Norton, R. D. 1930. Ecologic relations of some foraminifera. Scripps Institute of Oceanography Bulletin, 2:331–388.Google Scholar
Paulus, F. J. 1972. The geology of site 98 and the Bahama Platform, p. 877–897. In Hollister, C. H. and Ewing, J. I. (eds.), Initial Reports of Deep Sea Drilling Project, Vol. 11.Google Scholar
Pflum, C. E., and Frerichs, W. E. 1976. Gulf of Mexico deep-water foraminifers. Cushman Foundation for Foraminiferal Research Special Publication 14, 125 p.Google Scholar
Phleger, F. B. 1960. Ecology and Distribution of Recent Foraminifera. Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, 297 p.Google Scholar
Phleger, F. B., and Parker, F. L. 1951. Ecology of foraminifera, northwest Gulf of Mexico. Pt. II. Foraminifera species. Geological Society of America Memoir 46, 64 p.Google Scholar
Phleger, F. B., Parker., F. L., and Peirson, J. F. 1953. North Atlantic foraminifera. Reports of the Swedish Deep-Sea Expedition, 7:1–122.Google Scholar
Pielou, E. C. 1966. The measurement of diversity in different types of biological collections. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 13:131–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Poag, C. W. 1981. Ecologic Atlas of Benthic Foraminifera of the Gulf of Mexico. Dowden, Hutchinson, and Ross, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, 175 p.Google Scholar
Purdy, E. G. 1963. Recent calcium carbonate facies of the Great Bahama Bank. 2. Sedimentary facies. Journal of Geology, 71:472–497.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reiss, Z., and Hottinger, L. 1984. The Gulf of Aqaba: Ecological Micropaleontology. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 354 p.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reiss, Z., Leutenegger, S., Hottinger, L., Fermont, W. J., Meulenkamp, J. E., Thomas, E., Hansen, H. J., Buchardt, B., Larsen, A. R., and Drooger, C. W. 1977. Depth-relations of Recent larger foraminifera in the Gulf of Aqaba-Elat. Utrecht Micropaleontology Bulletin, 15:1–244.Google Scholar
Schlager, W., and Austin, J. 1985. Rise and fall of carbonate platforms in the Bahamas. Nature, 315:632–633.Google Scholar
Schlager, W., and Chermak, A. 1979. Modern sediment facies of platform-basin transition, Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas, p. 193–208. In Doyle, L. A. and Pilkey, O. H. (eds.), Geology of Continental Slopes. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication 27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schlager, W., and Ginsburg, R. N. 1981. Bahamas carbonate platforms—the deep and the past. Marine Geology, 44:1–24.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schnitker, D. 1974. West Atlantic abyssal circulation during the past 120,000 years. Nature, 248:385–387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shannon, C. E., and Weaver, W. 1948. The Mathematical Theory of Communication. University of Illinois Press, Urbana, 117 p.Google Scholar
Sheridan, R. E. 1977. Blake Plateau offers good potential for large petroleum reserves. Oil and Gas Journal, 75:218–229.Google Scholar
Streeter, S. S. 1973. Bottom water and benthonic foraminifera in the North Atlantic—glacial-interglacial contrasts. Quaternary Research, 3:131–141.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sverdrup, H. V., Johnson, M. W., and Fleming, R. H. 1942. The Oceans: Their Physics, Chemistry, and General Biology. Prentice-Hall, New York, 1087 p.Google Scholar
Tator, B. A., and Hatfield, L. E. 1975a. Bahamas present complex geology. Oil and Gas Journal, 73(43):172–176.Google Scholar
Tator, B. A., and Hatfield, L. E. 1975b. Bahamas present complex geology. Oil and Gas Journal, 73(44):120–122.Google Scholar
Thorp, E. M. 1939. Florida and Bahama marine calcareous deposits, p. 283–297. In Trask, P. D. (ed.), Recent Marine Sediments. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa.Google Scholar
Tipsword, H. L., Setzer, F. M., and Smith, F. L. 1966. Interpretation of depositional environment in Gulf Coast petroleum exploration from paleoecology and related stratigraphy. Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, 16:119–130.Google Scholar
Van Buren, H. M., and Mullins, H. T. 1983. Seismic stratigraphy and geologic development of an open-ocean windward carbonate slope: the northern margin of Little Bahama Bank, p. 749–762. In Sheridan, R. E. and Gradstein, F. M. (eds.), Initial Reports of Deep Sea Drilling Project, Vol. 76.Google Scholar
Walker, R. G. 1978. Deep-water sandstone facies and ancient submarine fans: models for exploration for stratigraphic traps. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 62:932–966.Google Scholar
Walton, W. R. 1964. Recent foraminiferal ecology and paleoecology, p. 151–237. In Imbrie, J. and Newell, N. (eds.), Approaches to Paleoecology. John Wiley, New York.Google Scholar
Watkins, J. S., Pytte, A. M., and Hartz, R. E. 1986. Exploration history and future prospects of the U.S. Atlantic margin, p. 269–290. In Halbouty, M. T. (ed.), Future Petroleum Provinces of the World. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar