Biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy of the Maltese Lower Globigerina Limestone Member (Globigerania Limestone Formation): new preliminary data based on calcareous plankton

The preliminary results of the study carried out on calcareous plankton (foraminifera and nannofossils) assemblages from the Maltese Lower Globigerina Limestone are presented here. The Lower Globigerina Limestone (LGL) is the lowermost member of the Globigerina Limestone Formation, widely outcropping in the Maltese Archipelago; this member has been generally referred to the Early Miocene (Aquitanian). The investigation of 78 samples from 11 sections (encompassing the whole succession of the unit) on Gozo and Malta islands (one of them close to the type section of the formation) has allowed us to assign a Chattian age (Late Oligocene) to the Lower Globigerina Limestone Member (LGLM). Globigerinoides primordius, Paragloborotalia opima nana, P. pseudokugleri, Subbotina gortanii, Globoturborotalita angulisuturalis, G. anguliofficinalis, and Coccolithus miopelagicus, Cyclicargolithus abisectus, Dictyococcites bisectus, D. scrippsae, Helicosphaera recta, Sphenolithus cf. ciperoensis, S. dissimilis, Triquetrorhabdulus carinatus, Zygrhablithus bijugatus are taxa particularly significant of the foraminiferal and nannofossil assemblages respectively. In all the investigated sections, these taxa assure the assignment of the member to the lower part of planktonic foraminiferal P.22 Zone and nannofossil NP25 Zone. Thus, it has also been possible to estimate in biostratigraphic terms the hiatus between the Lower and the Middle Globigerina Limestone members, the latter being referable to the upper half part of the planktonic foraminiferal N4 Zone (upper part of N5 Zone-basal part of N7 Zone interval in Gozo) and to the nannofossil CN1 Zone (CN2 Zone in Gozo). This hiatus is emphasized also by the occurrence at the top of the LGLM of a hardground with overlying phosphatized elements such as nodules or pebbles. Calcareous plankton biostratigraphy, Chattian, Lower Globigerina Limestone, Maltese Islands