Introduction

The Falcon Basin (Fig. 70) is one of the classical regions where both Oligocene and Miocene benthic and planktic foraminifera and their correlation with established planktic zonal schemes have been studied. The rich and well-preserved Miocene foraminiferal faunas, in particular those of the eastern part of the basin, have since the 1920s attracted the attention of micropaleontologists and stratigraphers. Their work was initiated and supported mainly by interests of the oil industry.

Following earlier investigations, mostly unpublished, it was in particular the monographic studies by Renz (1948) and Blow (1959) that provided the base for a correlation of the distribution of the benthic and planktic foraminifera in the continuous Miocene sections of southeastern Falcon.

The most recent investigations on foraminifera in Falcon are those published by Diaz de Gamero (1985a, b) from the northeastern part of the basin, an area to the North of that previously studied by Renz (1948) and Blow (1959).

The benthic and planktic foraminifera in the central part of the Falcon Basin, ranging in age from Middle Oligocene to Early Miocene were studied by Diaz de Gamero (1977). Here conditions are not nearly as favourable as in the northeastern part of the basin. Despite these drawbacks Diaz de Gamero was able to obtain results comparable to those of eastern Falcon, though on a reduced scale.

The above quoted investigations by Renz (1948), Blow, (1959) and Diaz de Gamero (1977a) complemented by unpublished observations by one of the present authors (HMB) form the base for this chapter.