EARLY TO MIDDLE EOCENE PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFERAL BIOSTRATIGRAPHY OF ODP SITE #998 ON THE CAYMAN RISE, CARIBBEAN SEA

The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Lutetian is located in the Gorrondaxte Beach section in northern Spain. To date, this GSSP has not been correlated directly to sections within the Caribbean Basin. Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) site 998 on the Cayman Rise contains pelagic limestones through the early to middle Eocene transition based on magnetostratigraphy and preliminary identification of planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils. Early to middle Eocene planktonic foraminifera from site 998 are currently being studied to obtain a more precise correlation with the Gorrondaxte GSSP. The portion of lithologic unit IV collected in cores 28R through 37R was sampled and thin-sectioned.

The upper portion of the studied interval contains both Morozovella aragonensis and Globigerinatheka kugleri and is correlated with biozone E9. Morozovella aragonensis is present throughout the studied interval as is Acarinina pentacamerata.

Correlating the lower sections of ODP site 998 with the Gorrondaxte GSSP will enhance an understanding of the early to middle Eocene transition in the Caribbean region. Detailed planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy will facilitate correlation with other early to middle Eocene age sections in the Caribbean such as the Calle G section in Cuba and the Rio Sambre section in Jamaica.