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A taxonomic study of the Paleocene larger foraminifera from the Pyrenean basin has led to the description of sixty taxa including two new species: Alveolina korresensis and Valvulineria bacetai. In this work, we present a chronostratigraphic recalibration of the Paleocene Shallow Benthic Zones SBZ 1 to SBZ 4 based on correlation with calcareous nannofossil and planktic foraminifera biozones, all integrated within the stratigraphic framework of Paleocene platform to basin depositional sequences established for the whole Pyrenean domain. The samples were collected in autochtonous and parautochtonous deposits from ten key stratigraphic sections, representative of coastal to platform margin depositional settings. The results from two sections representing base of slope facies with intercalations of calcareous turbidites, which include penecontemporaneous platform-derived biota have been integrated in the study. The regional chronostratigraphic framework is derived from magneto-biochronological studies carried out in the Zumaia section, the global reference section for the Danian-Selandian and Selandian-Thanetian GSSPs. A new calibration of the Paleocene SBZs is proposed. The SBZ 1 is constrained to the first 1.09m.y. of the Paleocene; this first Paleogene biozone lacks distinct larger foraminiferal markers and thus is defined by an association of non-exclusive taxa composed of Valvulineria patalaensis, Stomatorbina? binkhorsti, Planorbulina? antiqua and Bangiana hanseni. The SBZ 2 now appears as the biozone encompassing most of the Danian stage (from ca. 64.9m.a. to 61.6m.a.), and is characterized by the association of Haymanella elongata, Haymanella paleocenica, Kayseriella decastroi, Rotospirella conica, Pyrenerotalia depressa, Elazigina dienii, Ornatononion moorkensii and Paralockhartia eos. The SBZ 2-SBZ 3 boundary coincides with the base of the Selandian stage (ca. 61.6m.a.). The SBZ 3 biozone is defined by the occurrence of Glomalveolina primaeva, Periloculina slovenica, Vania anatolica, Coskinon rajkae, Fallotella alavensis, Cribrobulimina carniolica, Miscellanea yvettae, Miscellanea juliettae, Miscellanites primitivus, Miscellanites minutus, Ranikothalia soldadensis, "Operculina" heberti and Discocyclina seunesi. The SBZ 3-SBZ 4 boundary is now ascribed to ca. 57.2m.a. The SBZ 4 biozone appears characterized by Glomalveolina levis, Alveolina korresensis, Hottingerina lukasi, Daviesina garumnensis, Assilina yvettae, Assilina azilensis and Nummulites catari. The SBZ 4-SBZ 5 boundary is placed at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary event (ca. 56.0m.a.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Konservat-Lagerstätte Menat (Puy-de-Dôme, France) is an outstanding archive of a Paleocene ecosystem, which was deposited in a former maar lake. Excavations during the last century have yielded an extensive flora and fauna record, therefore an overview of the current state of paleontological investigations is given in this paper. Additionally, new results based on excavations from the years 2012 to 2014 are presented. The preservation of organic matter differed strongly between excavation sites, probably influenced by weathering processes. The stratigraphic succession consists mostly of organic-rich clays, intercalated with hard, silicified claystones. In 2013 and 2014 both impression and compression fossils were collected from different outcrops. Compression fossils from organic-rich clays were exceptionally well-preserved and included three-dimensional plant remains. A new database on insect paleobiodiversity was compiled. The occurrence of charcoal in almost all horizons investigated suggests that paleowildfires were frequent during the Paleocene in the vicinity of the paleolake. The results confirm the high potential of the Konservat-Lagerstätte Menat for future paleontological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fontllonga section is one of the best-known stratigraphic sections wordwide for the study of charophyte biostratigraphy of the Maastrichtian and lower Palaeocene. An updated proposal for the charophyte biostratigraphy of this section is presented after summarizing previous knowledge. The zone of Peckichara cancellata allows the upper Campanian-lowermost Maastrichtian to be characterised in the base of the section (La Maçana Formation). The Microchara punctata biozone represents most of the Maastrichtian (Figuerola Formation). Within this biozone, a Clavator ultimus subzone is proposed to improve characterisation of the lower and middle Maastrichtian. Both the upper and lower boundaries of the Microchara punctata biozone proposed in previous studies are modified based on new occurrences of the index species. A charophyte assemblage belonging to the Dughiella bacillaris biozone is reported for the first time from the middle of the section (Perauba Complex) and provides an age for this unit ranging from the upper Danian to lower Thanetian. A foraminifer assemblage found in the basal marine deposits above the non-marine succession of the Fontllonga section provides new biostratigraphic data to locate the upper boundary of the non-marine succession at least within the upper Thanetian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larger foraminifera of the lower part of the Jafnayn Formation outcropping in the Wadi Sayq, in the Paleocene series of the eastern Oman Mountains, have been studied and described in detail. The analysis have allowed us to develop a detailed systematic description of each taxa, constraining their biostratigraphic distribution and defining the associated foraminifera assemblages. The taxonomic study has permitted us to identify each morphotype precisely and describe three new taxa, namely, Ercumentina sayqensis n. gen. n. sp. Lacazinella rogeri n. sp. and Globoreticulinidae new family. The first assemblage is characterized by the presence of Coskinon sp., Dictyoconus cf. turriculus HOTTINGER AND DROBNE, Anatoliella ozalpiensis SIREL, Ercumentina sayqensis n. gen. n. sp. SERRA-KIEL AND VICEDO, Lacazinella rogeri n. sp. SERRA-KIEL AND VICEDO, Mandanella cf. flabelliformis RAHAGHI, Azzarolina daviesi (HENSON), Lockhartia retiata SANDER, Dictyokathina simplex SMOUT and Miscellanites globularis (RAHAGHI). The second assemblage is constituted by the forms Pseudofallotella persica (HOTTINGER AND DROBNE), Dictyoconus cf. turriculus HOTTINGER AND DROBNE, Lacazinella rogeri n. sp. SERRA-KIEL AND VICEDO, Azzarolina daviesi (HENSON), Keramosphera? cf. iranica RAHAGHI, Lockhartia haimei (DAVIES), Lockhartia retiata SANDER, Sakesaria trichilata SANDER, Kathina delseota SMOUT, Elazigina harabekayisensis SIREL, Daviesina khatiyahi SMOUT, and Miscellanea juliettae LEPPIG. The first assemblage can be considered to belong to the Shallow Bentic Zone SBZ2 (early Selandian age), and the second assemblage to the SBZ3 (late Selandian-early Thanetian age).This paper shows, for the first time in the Middle East area, a correlation between the Selandian larger foraminifera and planktonic foraminifera biozones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]