Abh. Geol. B.-A.

ISSN 0378-0864 ISBN 3-900312-54-0

Band 39

S. 6 7 - 8 4

Wien, Mrz 1987

Calcareous Plankton in the Tortonian/Messinian Transition Series of the Northwestern Edge of the Guadalquivir Basin
By J O S E - A B E L F L O R E S & F R A N C I S C O - J A V I E R SIERRO*)

With 15 Figures
Spain Guadalquivir Basin Tortonian-Messinian Calcareous nannoplankton Planktonic foraminifera

Contents Zusammenfassung Abstract Introduction Techniques and Methods Etching and Overgrowth Resedimentation Taxonomic Notes General Lithological Sequence Events defined with Calcareous Nannoplankton Analyses of the Sections 8.1. Chronostratigraphy 8.2. Paleoecology References 67 67 68 68 68 68 68 69 69 69 83 83 83

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

planktonic foraminifera in six sections situated on the northwestern edge of the Guadalquivir Basin, SW-Spain. The sections chosen were: Guillena, Cantillana - Arroyo Trujillo, Beas - Trigueros, Gibralen, Arroyo Galapagar and Carmona. In the latter two sections PERCONIG (1966, 1974) defined the Andalusian stratotype. For the study of the calcareous nannoplankton a series of quantifications were conducted on the same reference pattern, thus elaborating two types of plots for each section and hence obtaining information regarding the relative variation of each of the species composing a series and also with respect to the absolute variations of the groups which were considered to be significant , as in the case of asteroliths, several "groups" and species of "Reticulofenestrids" (these are discussed in a chapter on taxonomy) and others. The biostratigraphical model developed for the calcareous nannoplankton establishes as events which should be taken into account the first regular record of Eudiscoaster berggrenii and the first record of the genus Amaurolithus. The conventional biostratigraphic scales are not employed because the boundaries used, even though they are similar to some of these scales, cannot be fitted perfectly to those examined in this study. vs. G. rotula und C. pelagicus vs. D. antarcticus. Diese Inversionen Together with these events, others hitherto not used are dewerden als Ergebnis einer Abkhlung der Wassermassen interpretiert. Das erste und das letzte Auftreten von E. berggrenii, termined; this is the case of the abrupt inversion of the domiE. quinqueramus, Amaurolithus und T. rugosus scheinen hingegen nance of the Reticulofenestra haqii/R. minutula "group" over that of

Zusammenfassung Diese Arbeit vergleicht die kalkigen Nannoplanktonvergesellschaftungen mit den wichtigsten Events" in der planktonischen Foraminiferenfauna des NW-Randes des Guadalquivir-Beckens. Folgende Profile wurden untersucht: Guillena, Cantillana - Arroyo Trujille, Beas - Trigueros, Gibralen, Arroyo Galapagar und Carmona. Die beiden letztgenannten Profile wurden von PERCONIG (1966, 1974) als Stratotypen des Andalusiens definiert. Die quantitative Verteilung der kalkigen Nannoplanktonarten wurde ermittelt und die Resultate in zwei Abbildungen fr jedes Profil dargestellt. Anstatt der blichen stratigraphischen Begebenheiten wie dem ersten Auftreten von f. quinqueramus und A. primus werden hier das erste regelmige Auftreten von E. berggrenii und das erste Auftreten der Gattung Amaurolithus fr die Korrelation verwendet. Dem totalen Verschwinden von E. quinqueramus, das in DSDP Sites, jedoch nicht in den aufgeschlossenen Profilen beobachtet wurde, geht ein deutlicher Hufigkeitsabfall voraus. Weiters wurden folgende Inversionen der Hufigkeitsverhltnisse beobachtet und fr die Korrelation verwendet: /?. haqii/R. minutula vs. kleine Placolithen", G. jalarii

von bathymetrischen Parametern kontrolliert zu werden. Die Torton/Messiniano-Grenze, wie sie anhand von planktonischen Foraminiferen definiert wurde, liegt nur wenig ber dem ersten Auftreten von Amaurolithus. Abstract The present work compares the assemblages of calcareous nannoplankton to the principal events recorded in the fauna of
*) Author's address: JOSE-ABEL FLORES, FRANCISCO-JAVIER

the "small placoliths", an event which in turn was accompanied by the inversion of the dominance of Geminilithella jafarii
over G. rotula and of Coccolithus pelagicus over Dictyococcites an-

tarcticus which can also be used as references. Furthermore it is shown that in the interval prior to the inversion in the dominance of the R. haqii/R. minutula "group" over the small placoliths relatively warmer conditions than in the upper level existed in the water masses. The disappearance and first
record of E. berggrenii, E. quinqueramus, together with that of Amaurolithus und Triquetrorhabdulus rugosus seem to be mainly con-

SIERRO, Departamento de Paleontologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain.

trolled by bathymetric parameters. With the joint use of calcareous nannoplankton and planktonic foraminifera the Tortonian/Messinian boundary falls slightly above the first record of Amaurolithus. 67

136

416
415

Fig. 1: Geographical location of the DSDP Sites and of the sections studied.

1. Introduction
The study area is situated on the NW edge of the Guadalquivir basin in the provinces of Huelva and Sevilla, Spain (Fig. 1). Here the sedimentation during the Neogene comprised an upper Tortonian - lower Pliocene interval but in this paper we shall mainly refer to the sections in which the Tortonian/Messinian boundary can be determined. The following sections were chosen: Gibralen, Cantillana, Beas - Trigueros, Arroyo Galapagar, Guillena and Carmona. The latter has been included in view of the interest in presenting the complete section defined as the stratotype of the Andalusian. For the defined area the following papers issued after the definition of the Andalusian stratotype by PERCONIG (1966, revised in 1971) are referred to: MARTINI (1971), BERGGREN & HAQ (1973), Bossio et al. (1977), BENSON
(1976), BERGGREN & VAN COUVERING (1975), CRESCENTI

were performed, starting out from a number between 200 and 2,500 individuals. The scanning electron microscope was only used to obtain precise informations on the morphology of the specimens and to determine their conservation status.

3. Etching and Overgrowth

Analyses were made of the preservation status of the nannoliths, taking into account both the forms which were considered to be easy to dissolve and those which were believed to be resistant. An appreciative scale was employed based essentially on the works of BUKRY
(1973), ROTH & THIERSTEIN (1972), ROTH (1973) and

et al. (1973), SIERRO (1985) and SIERRO et al. (1985).

2. Techniques and Methods

Following FLORES (1985) two kinds of analyses were carried out with the light microscope using a magnification of 1,250. Observations were performed on slides prepared with a constant volume of suspension and a constant observation area. The first step was to perform a routine scanning operation for the determination of the components of the assemblage; at the same time approximations to the relative abundance were performed (Fig. 2); to do so, between 15,000 and 20,000 specimens (= nannoliths) were handled. The aim of this was to obtain information regarding those taxons whose recorded frequency was situated between 0.01 % and 0.005 %. Groups of taxons or morphotypes with a representation greater than 0 . 1 - 0 . 5 % are considered to be dominant and were quantified. The number of individuals (= nannoliths) counted in each sample ranged between 200 and 600, the number varying as a function of the minimum frequency of the elements considered. In the same way, counts of the presumably "autochthonous asteroliths"
68

BUKRY et al. (1973) as well as on observations by the author (FLORES, 1985). With the joint use of the data obtained from the counts and conservation status, together with sedimentary characteristics taken from the column, our aim was to obtain a scheme in which each of the samples would be comparable in absolute terms, thus allowing us to mark the pertinent differences and similarities for later interpretations.

4. Resedimentation
In each of the samples studied a count was made of the "evidently resedimented" individuals whose chronostratigraphic distribution did not coincide with the age of the sediments in which they were found. To do so, as a function of the regularity of appearance of such individuals, between 200 and 2,500 nannoliths were counted depending on their frequency of between 5 - 6 % and 0.04 %.

5. Taxonomic Notes
Our studies focus on the "Reticulofenestrids". Essentially, with these taxons the differentiation protocol

fOTAL

ABUNDANCE

RELATIVE

ABUNDANCE

CONSERVATION

30 ind./v.f.

20 ind./v.f.

** Good * + Moderadly good Poor Overgrowth Etching S A

Sand Calcarenite Clay

20%

4%

10 ind./v.f. 1%

Asteroliths Sphenoliths

1 ino./v.f. 0.1%

Q/r* Qem-ln-LJ.Ltke.J..J.a . /iotu-la\Q. ^ajta/ii.: P Ponto/iphae/ia H Helicoliths Ca-lcLdi,Acu4 O-Lcty.ococc-lte.4 Cocco-iltfiu-i 8. an.ta/ictlcu-4

1 ind./10 v.f. 0.001% steri1

C D Cp

Fig. 2: Legend for figures 3 to 15. Between 15,000 and 20,000 specimens of each sample were analyzed.

Neogene calcarenitic deposits, accompanied by proposed by BACKMAN (1980) using biometric and morabundant organic fragments usually lie directly over phological data (s.l.) was employed. Accordingly, it is Paleozoic layers. The second unit comprises mediumpossible to distinguish between Dictyococcites and Reticulofenestra as a function of whether they possess a to fine-grained sand with occasional layers of silt and/or clay, together with lenticular accumulations of molluscs. closed or open central area. In turn, as a function of Abruptly or progressively there is a change to clays size and/or relative surface occupied by the collar of which include greater portions of sandy material tothe central area (or having it open), the following were differentiated: D. antarcticus more than 3 . 5 - 4 \im) and R. wards the top. A transgressive cycle is visible from the seudoumbilica (more than 5 urn, including the mor- bottom to the first few metres of clays and is followed photype /?. gelida"), R. minutula and R. haqii (more than by a regressive cycle. The absolute abundance of nannoplankton together with the variations in the 3 . 5 - 5 urn, with the central area more or less open) and planktonic/benthic foraminifera ratio (SIERRO, 1984) are D. productus and R. minuta (less than 3.0-3.5 iim). consistent with this interpretation. Though often differentiation is possible, working with the light microscope sometimes makes it difficult to disThe Beas - Trigueros section is more litoral than the tinguish between two taxons; therefore all specimens other sections due to its situation closer to the edge of smaller than 3 - 3 . 5 ^ were labelled "small placoliths". R. the basin. haqii/R. minutula form another "group" with the name of both taxons. This differentiation is essentially due to the differences observed regarding the existing distribu7. Events Defined tions, compared with those recorded in other taxons or morphotypes. The fact that all the intermediate cases with Calcareous Nannoplankton are recognized, from completely open forms to those The following events are considered for the Guadalpossessing a closed central area, and in all sizes, leads quivir basin and nearby DSDP sites: us to question their true biological identity as species. For the moment we are unable to propose another solu- The start of a regular record of Eudiscoaster berggrenii. tion. However, it is possible to infer that to a large ex- The first record of Amaurolithus. tent such differences have something to do with enOthers, similar to those employed on other occavironmental variations. sions in classic biozones by BUKRY (1973, 1975),
OKADA & BUKRY (1980), ROTH (1973), MAZZEI et al.

The stratigraphical succession defined in the area is generally uniform, though the overall scheme may vary locally.

1 ind./20 v.f. v. f. = visual fields 1250x

pe.J.ag-Lcusi

Up R SP

paeadoumbH-ica large c o l l e r / s . s . fi.h.Gqii/'R. minutu.la'group palcoliths

"

Smal" Others

(1979), MAZZEI (1977) will be added to these.

6. General Lithological Sequence 8. Analysis of the Sections

The first event defined with the calcareous nannoplankton seems to be visible in the basal sand unit of 69

5 5 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 3 5
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A. A.

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. . .
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LCWWsi mt*A.calcvtLA pmntaAcxiiatu^ ptAcMlAUA p^^udovaAcab-uli^ qtUsiqutAamu** Mlb-HJACJjMlsi iUACXUMA vaAiabiXLA j.aosii--L >wtuX.a ccviteju. tkomba.

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maxLAOpOAUA peAjdwwm ani^otAtna dLttvicJja. ^.aportica toneAiU. muJ.tLpoia 4paAAc4ata

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C J. cnte-vnedia xecXa able.,% no-zi.flo'WiL} aeoabie.'i VQAtnALA 1UQ4UA p.

5. 5.

7\
Fig. 3: Abundance, conservation and relative abundance of species in the Cantillana - Arroyo Trujillo section.

UmbLii.co4ph.a&io.

70

Fig. 4: Abundance of some taxons, morphotypes or groups of taxons, and "evidently resedimented" specimens in the Cantillana - Arroyo Trujillo section (legend see Fig. 2).

the Cantillana section. E. quniqueramus appears before E. berggrenii. The relatively low proportion of asteroliths and their low diversity compared with the upper levels throws doubt on the notion that the first true record is found at that site. Studies by FLORES (1985) in DSDP Site 135 (Core 3, Sections 1 and 2) and Site 415 (Core 2) show a clearly different assemblage of asteroliths and irregular occurrences of the two species below where one would expect to find them. We do not exclude the possibility that the absence of the pen-

taradiated asteroliths E. berggrenii and E. quinqueramus might be directly related to ecological reasons such as relatively shallow water. G. jafarii does not appear in similar proportions in the oceanic sites as in our outcrops. Once the continuous presence of E. berggrenii and quinqeramus has been established and prior to the appearance of Amaurolithus an interval is found in which the plankton shows the following characteristics: The dominance of the R. haqii/R. minutula group over the "small 71

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H. 'ihomba H. oAA^entaAA-A M. L. f. P. P. P. P. ft. ^eUUUU peAduAim asiLotAema di^tincUa ^apon-tca ^paA^-L^o/iata heA/no-uui minata H. ma.CA.opo/itui

P. muUiUposia

ft. kaaiU ft. mUnu-tiuia ^Hii^nRMHflMHHMMnHBHMnMHPinPMMMMBIHI pAoudoombiU-cca ft. cU.av-cg.eAa ......

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sp.

Fig. 5: Abundance, conservation and relative abundance of species in the Guillena section.

72

100

0
%

10 %

Fig. 6: Abundance of some taxons, morphotypes or groups of taxons, and "evidently resedimented" specimens in the Guillena section (legend see Fig. 2).

placoliths" is outstanding until a point very close to the place at approximately the same time as the events deupper limit. The relative abundances of G. jafarii and G. fined by SIERRO (1985) as 1 and 2 which correspond to rotula, C. pelagicus and D. antarcticus are inverted from the point referred to. The helicoliths start to decrease in ab1) the abrupt disappearance of group 1 of "Globorotalia solute terms (Figs. 3 - 1 4 ) . menardii" (sinistral) This event prior to the first record of Amaurolithus took and 73

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abundance conservation

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p/ioduotusi adamanteuA

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boZlLi biouweA. chaU.enjg.eAA, laaAiut

. inteA.ccU.aA.-u>5 E. pentasiacLLatitsi . peAcUctAU4 . pAeiidovaAslab-LL-Lsi . . quinqueAamosi -lub/ujA-cuMiA

. -UlACuMlA . vajiLabLl-L-i

Q, ^.aCcuii.

//.

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//.

nhamba

H. O't^en-tcUJ^i H, cf. AeA-LLL //. macjiopOAUA P. P. P. P. P. aniAotAema di^tlncta ^aponLca fon&A-li. muJjtLpoAa

P. ApQA-ALf-Q/iata P. kejvaoALus #. P. P. $, haqLi. minuta rrUnutuZa pAiuidoumbiXLca

P.. c~lav^g,eAa S. S. S. ap-te^nLi uiteA/nedla abLoA

5 . mo/iLi-OwntA S. n.eoab-ieA

5. veAenAJ_A
1. 'Zug,o4UA

UmbiXi-CoApliaesza

sp,

Fig. 7: Abundance, conservation and relative abundance of species in the Arroyo Galapagar section.

74

Fig. 8: Abundance of some taxons, morphotypes or groups of taxons, and "evidently resedimented" specimens in the Arroyo Gaiapagar section (legend see Fig. 2).

75

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abundance

conservation
A. deZicatusi ptimwi leptopomiA macjjvtfltej-

A. C. C.

C. C. 0. 0. . . .

peJ.agA.cuA rvLt&ACenA antaA.cticiu> pAoducMisi adamanteuA beAgg/ieruu. boiXLi. bsiouwesJ.

COICWLLA

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.

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chaU.eng.eMA. deco/uus exJJJ^i i.ca/iLus ijvteAjcaJjxnXyi parviUyi pervtMAadiautiiA aiun.quejiamiu> AIMlCltiu-i vasLiabLA ^.afjuiXJ, lotuJ-a cwuteAA, nhomba AeXlli

.. . . E. . . Q. Q. H. H.

H. c f . H. P. P. P. P. Ji. P.. P. P. P. S. S. 5. 5. 5. 1.

macjiopoiiui anJssoiyiema j.aponJjca mwLtipo/ia ipaAAJ-l.o/iaJia haqA. minuia ntinutwla p/seudoumbiXica cU.avigeA.a apAteJjhiu. abieA noJii-^oAiniA ne.oabi.esi veA.erV6isi wg.0ALUi sp.

C/mbiXicoApkaeA-a Fig. 9: Abundance, conservation and relative abundance of species in the Beas-Trigueros section.

76

TR

it

100

10

Fig. 10: Abundance of some taxons, morphotypes or groups of (axons, and "evidently resedimented" specimens in the Beas-Trigueros section (legend see Fig. 2). 2) the abrupt appearance of the second group of "G. menardii" (dextral) (after an interval in which the keeled Globorotalids are practically absent), respectively. This horizon (synchronic and hence usable in the area for biostratigraphic references) is seen at the sections of Cantillana - Arroyo Trujillo, Guillena, Beas Trigueros and Arroyo Galapagar. With respect to the last section, where the base of the Andalusian is defined, it should be noted that E. berggrenii and E. quinqueramus have been found a few meters below the place where MARTINI (1974) and BERGGREN & HAQ (1973) recorded their first appearance. BACKMAN (1978), in a comparative study carried out on the sediments of the Vera Basin and certain DSDP sites, reported a strong increase in Dictyococcites minutus, a taxon which could correspond to our "small placoliths". Above the first Amaurolithus the assemblage is different from a quantitative point of view. Between the appearance of A. primus and A. delicatus where their first record appears at different levels, the replacement of the second group of "G. menardii" by that of Globorotalia miotumida was observed. This limit coincides with that of the biozones of Turborotalia humerosa and G. miotumida and of the Tortonian/Messinian boundary according to the definition of D'ONOFRIO et al. (1975). These events, and the limit they define, can be observed in the Gibralen, Beas - Trigueros, Guillena, Cantillana and Arroyo Galapagar sections. In the Beas - Trigueros section the inversion horizon of the dominance of the R. haqii/R. minutula group over that of the "small pacoliths" and the first record of Amaurolithus, compared with events defined with foraminifera are anomalous due to litorality. A princi77

o j u ; G J O j r o r o c x > r

abundance
c o n s e r v a t i on

A, A, A. A. . C. C. C. C. C, D. 0. . . . .
.

(SnpJUfUciLA deXLcatu^ pn.imuA tnAjCJinnX-cxtlatiiA big.eU.owl X.e.ptoponu.4 macirvtyyiejpeJxtQA-CU4 mix>peXagjJZU^ nLtesscenA arvtcuiatLcuA pn,oductius odanaruteuA beAg.gA.enlx. boJUll bsiouweAsl
COICXJAIA

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chcUieng.eAx exlUxA

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.

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AUACLUUA

. Q. Q. H. H. H. H. H. P. P. P. P. P. R. #. fi. K. ft. 5. S. 5. S,

vaAlubillA jjifjanll /lotula cxTAteAl /ikamba onlentall^ AeJUxU maCAOpoAUA ^.aponlcxz j.oaeMU multlpoAa ApOAALfjJ/UXtXL keAmoAUA haqLL mlnuta mlnutiUa p4euduum.bJUJ-.ca cJja.vlg,eAa abieA moA-fioAmL neoabie^ veAenM^i

T. AltgX>-4LL4 UmbJUUcjOAphaeAa p.

Fig. 11: Abundance, conservation and relative abundance of species in the Gibraleon section.

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Fig. 12: Abundance of some taxons, morphotypes or groups of taxons, and "evidently resedimented" specimens in the Gibralen section (legend see Fig. 2).

to

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A. A. A. A.

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C. i.e.po poAiui C. macustty/ieX.

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D.

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pA.odLLC.tLL4

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.
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quinqueAamms
Aub-iWlCJjJjL-i -iUACLjUA VCVUXLOLXLI

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f.

coAte-iA. otientaXtA J.apo/VLca mwltlpoAa

ApWl<ii.{jQA.(Lta

f. keAmo-Lus S. R. R. . haqU, misiuta mjjiu-tiLla p/inLidoumbiXLca sp.

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5. mOALJLoAJTli.') S. 5.
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Fig. 13: Abundance, conservation and relative abundance of species in the Carmona section.

80

4P ,-"

.-V

100

1.0

Fig. 14: Abundance of some taxons, morphotypes or groups of taxons, and "evidently resedimented" specimens in the Carmona section (legend see Fig. 2).

81

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pally ecological disappearance occurs in E. berggrenii and E. quinqueramus towards the top of the sequence.

top of the Beas - Trigueros section and of the Carmona section is a result of the bathymetric changes MARTINI (1971), BUKRY (1973) and MAZZEI et al. and the sedimentation related (in the second case) to (1979) used the disappearance of E. quinqeramus as a the next olistostrome (BENSON, 1976). zonal boundary. In our studies of the Atlantic DSDP Between the first record of Amaurolithus and the top of sites 136, 118 and 416A we have been able to deterthe Carmona and Beas - Trigueros sections event 4 mine a systematic reduction in E. berggrenii and quin- and 5 of planktonic foraminifera are visible; these coinqueramus, before their complete disappearance. This has cide exactly with the change in coiling direction from thrown serious doubt on whether the representatives of sinistral to dextral of the Turborotalia acostaensis group and these species recorded later are really resedimented the first record of Globorotalia margaritae s.S., respectively. (see e.g. MAZZEI et al. 1979, p. 380). For this reason Regarding the previous data of the Carmona section we have again not adopted the conventional biozones, it should be noted that the establishment at the base of but approximated the point at which the reduction of the what was called "caliza tosca" (calcarenites of the top two species occurs. Their disappearance towards the of the section) of the upper limit of the zone of D. quin82

queramus (or equivalents) by M A R T I N I (1971), B E R G G R E N and H A Q (1976) and B o s s i o et a l . (1977) is questionable. The distribution of T. rugosus also seems to be affected by the regressive process.

8.1.

Chronostratigraphy

In the sections studied, the Tortonian/Messinian boundary, with respect to the data provided by the foraminifera, comparing their variations with the definition in the stratotype, would be equivalent to event 3 ( S I E R R O , 1984). Thus the boundary is slightly above the first record of Amaurolithus.

References BACKMAN, J.: Late Miocene - Early Pliocene nannofossil biochronology and biogeography in the Vera Basin, SE Spain. - Act. Univ. Stockholmensis. Stockholm Contrib. Geol., 32/ 2, 9 3 - 1 1 4 , Stockholm 1978. BACKMAN, J.: Miocene-Pliocene nannofossils and sedimentation rates in the Hatton-Rockall Basin, NE Atlantic Ocean. Act. Univ. Stockholmensis. Stockholm Contrib. Geol., 36/1, 1 - 9 1 , Stockholm 1980. BENSON, R. H.: Miocene deep-sea ostracodes of the Iberian portal and Balearic Basin. - Marine Micropaleontology, 1/3, 249-262, Amsterdam 1976.
BERGGREN, W. A. & VAN COUVERING, J. A.: The terminal

Miocene event: Biochronology of the Andalusian and Messinian stages. - Proceed. VI. Congress on Mediterranean Neogene Stratigraphy, 8 5 - 8 9 , Bratislava 1975. BERGGREN, W. A. & HAQ, B. U.: The Andalusian stage (late Miocene). Biostratigraphy, Biochronology and Palaeoecology. - Palaeogeol. Palaeoclimat. Palaeoecol., 20, 6 7 - 1 2 9 , Amsterdam 1976.
Bossio, A., GIANELLI, L., MAZZEI, R., SALVATORINI, G., EL-BIED

8.2. Paleoecology
The abrupt variations taking place in the interval and region studied seem to be mainly due to changes in the temperature of the respective mass of water. In this sense, the interval before the definitive dominance of the "small placoliths" is considered by us to pertain to relatively warmer climatic conditions. This agrees with the data provided by the planktonic foraminifera and in particular with respect to the Globorotaliids. In the biozone of T. humerosa S I E R R O (1984) reported the existence of a great abundance of G. cultrata (s.l.), G. plesiotumida and G. merotumida, all characteristic of tropical and subtropical waters. The gastropod fauna is also characteristic of warmer waters ( G O N Z A L E Z D E L G A D O , personal communication). Later, following the inversion of the proportions of the taxons or groups of taxons referred to above, the characteristic "Globorotaliids" (characteristic of tropical or subtropical waters) cease being recorded (after event 3). The small diachronism which m a y be observed between the variations in the nannoplankton and the planktonic foraminifera can be explained by assuming that the reaction time of one and the other is different in the face of the changing conditions. The asteroliths, which have always been used as indicators of relatively higher temperatures w h e n they appear in greater proportions in the Guadalquivir Basin, are not indicative, since their frequency a n d variations (with the exception of very localized points, such as in the Gibralen section) are more controlled by bathymetry. In nearby DSDP sites FLORES (1985) reports that this relationship is in fact satisfied. The assemblage of nannoplankton examined is considered to pertain to clearly transitional waters with a mixture of representatives of sets from low latitudes, t o gether with others which in high proportions are characteristic of higher latitudes, and also a clear predominance of the "Reticulofenestrids" over other forms.

RAKICH, K. & Russo, A.: Biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy of some stratigraphic sections from western Andalusia (Spain) including the stratotype of the Andalusian stage. - Resmenes de las comunicaciones, Seminario sobre el Messiniense, Malaga 1977. BUKRY, D.: Low-latitude coccolith biostratigraphic zonation. In: EDGAR, N. T., SAUNDERS, J. B. et al.: Initial Reports of the

Deep Sea Drilling Project, 14, 685-703, Washington (US Government Printing Office) 1973. BUKRY, D.: Coccolith and Siliocoflagellate stratigraphy, Northwestern Pacific Ocean, Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 32. In: LARSON, R. L. MOBERLY, R. et al.: Initial Reports of the

Deep Sea Drilling Project, 32, 6 7 7 - 7 0 1 , Washington (US Government Printing Office) 1975.
BUKRY, D., DINKELMAN, M. G. & KANEPS, A.: Biostratigraphy of

the Equatorial East Pacific Rise. - In: VAN ANDEL, T. H., HEATH, G. R. et al.: Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 16, 915-935, Washington (US Government Printing Office) 1973.
CRESCENTI, U., GIANELLI, L., MARTINEZ DIAZ, D. & SALVATORINI,

G.: Tentative di correlazione tra i piani Andalusiano e Messininano. - Atti Soc. Tose. Sei. Nat. Mem., ser A, 80, 1 7 - 3 9 , Pisa 1973.
D'ONOFRIO, S., GIANELLI, L., IACCARINO, S., MORLOTTI, ROMEO, M., SALVATORINI, G., SAMPO, M. & SPROVIERI, E., R.:

Planktonic foraminifera of the upper Miocene from some Italian sections and the problem of the lower boundary of the Messinian. - Boll. Soc. Paleont. lt., 14, 177-196, Modena 1975. FLORES, J. A.: Nanoplancton calcreo en el Negeno del borde noroccidental de la Cuenca del Guadalquivir (S.O. de Espaha). - Tes. Doct. Univ. Salamanca, 1 - 7 1 4 (inedit.), Abstract: Ed. Univ. Salamanca, Salamanca 1985.
FLORES, J. A. & SIERRO, F. J.: Variations in the calcareous

The differences to the DSDP sites in which the d o minant "Reticulofenestrid" is R. pseudoumbilica, may be due to pecularities of the hydrodynamics of the area, to the paleogeography of the area, or perhaps to both factors. Finally, we find the "status" of C. pelagicus as an indiMAZZEI, R., RAFFI, I., Rio, D., HAMILTON, N. & CITA, M. B.: cator of relatively lower temperature when it occurs in Calibration of late Neogene calcareous plankton with the greater numbers is questionable. It is more c o m m o n in paleomagnetic record of Site 397, and correlation with the lower, warmer interval, than above, where D. antMoroccan and Mediterranean sections. - In: von RAD, U., RYAN, W. B. F. et al.: Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling arcticus increases in the cooler interval.

plankton of the Tortonian-Messinian transition of the Guadalquivir Basin (Spain), INA Newsletter, 7, 6 2 - 6 4 , Utrecht 1985. MARTINI, E.: Standard Tertiary and Quaternary calcareous nannoplankton zonations. In: FARINACCI, A. (Ed. Tecnoscienza) II. Plankt. Conf. Proc. Roma, 739-785, Roma 1971. MARTINI, E.: Calcareous nannoplankton from the type Andalusian and some other Neogene areas in Spain. - V. Congr. Neog. Med. Lyon 1971, Mem. B.R.G.M., 78/1, 421-426, Paris 1974. MAZZEI, R.: Biostratigraphy of the Rio Mazzapiedi Castellania (Type-section of the Tortonian) based on Calcareous nannoplankton. - Atti. Soc. Tose. Sei. Nat. Mem. A., 84, 1 5 - 2 4 , Pisa 1977.

83

Project, 47/1, 375-389, Washington (US Government Printing Office) 1979. OKADA, H. & BUKRY, D.: Supplementary modification and introduction of code numbers to the low-latitude coccolith biostratigraphic zonation (BUKRY, 1973, 1975). - Marine Micropaleontology. 5/3. 321-325, Amsterdam 1980. PERCONIG, E.: Sobre la posicion del nuevo termino estratigrfico "Andaluciense" para indicar la fase terminal del Mioceno de facies marina. - Notas y Comunicaciones Inst. Geol Min. Esp., 9 1 , 1 3 - 4 0 , Madrid 1966. PERCONIG, E.: Mise au point du stratotype de l'Andalousien. V. Congr. Neog. Med. Lyon 1971, Mem B.R.G.M., 78/2, 663-673, Paris 1974. ROTH, H. P.: Calcareous nannofossils - Leg 17 Deep Sea Drilling Project. - In: WINTERER, E. L., EWING, J. L. et al.: Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 17, 695-795, Washington (US Government Printing Office) 1973.
ROTH, H. P. & THIERSTEIN, H.: Calcareous nannoplankton: leg

PIMM, A. C. et al.: Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 14, 421-485, Washington (US Government Printing Office) 1972. SIERRO, F. J.: Foraminiferos planctnicos y bioestratigrafia del Mioceno superior-Plioceno del borde Occidental de la Cuenca del Guadalquivir (S.O. de Espaha). - Tes. Doct. Univ. Salamanca, 1-391 (inedit.), Abstract: Ed. Univ. Salamanca, 1-34, 1984. SIERRO, F. J.: The replacement of the "Globorotalia menardii" group by the Globorotalia miotumida group: an aid to recognizing the Tortonian-Messinian boundary in the Mediterranean and adjacent Atlantic. - Marine Micropaleontology, 9/6, 525-535, Amsterdam 1985.
SIERRO, F. J., FLORES, J. A., C M S , J. & GONZALEZ DELGADO,

J. A.: New criteria for the establishment of a correlation between the Andalusian and Messinian stages. - Abstracts VIII. Cong. Reg. Comun. Med. Neog. Strat., 514-516, Budapest 1985.

14 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project. -

In: HAYES, D. E.,

84