J. B. Saunders

Major calcareous nannofossil and foraminiferal events between the middle eocene and early miocene

Abstract The more significant biostratigraphic events during the time interval from beginning Middle Eocene to beginning Miocene with special emphasis on the Eocene-Oligocene boundary are discussed. The microfossils considered are calcareous nannofossils, planktic foraminifera and smaller and larger benthic foraminifera. Areas taken into account include particularly the Caribbean (Trinidad, Barbados), DSDP South Atlantic sections (Cape Basin Site 360, Walvis Ridge Sites 362A, 363, Angola Basin Site 364), the equatorial North Atlantic (DSDP Site 354) and the Southern Alps (Possagno). In the larger foraminifera the treatment is somewhat different, with selected families and genera being considered for their distribution in the eastern and western hemisphere.

Paleontology of the Toa Baja #1 Well, Puerto Rico

The Toa Baja well penetrated 585.2 m of fossiliferous Oligocene and Miocene limestone, sandstone, and shale above 2119 m of Eocene, dominantly volcaniclastic strata. Oligocene and Miocene rocks were deposited on a broad, shallow shelf. The unconformity between Eocene and Oligocene strata spans at least the Late Eocene, and probably part of the Early Oligocene at Toa Baja. Below the unconformity, unfossiliferous volcaniclastic and igneous rocks are interstratified with fossiliferous limestone beds containing Middle and possibly late Early Eocene planktic foraminifera probably deposited in deep water. No Paleocene or Cretaceous fossils were recovered.

MEMORIAL FOR ROBERT MASTERMAN STAINFORTH

Robert Stainforth was always known as Charles and this is how he preferred it. So be it! Charles was born in Kingston-upon-Hull in East Yorkshire on October 5, 1915, and died where he had chosen to retire—in Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia—on September 30, 2002. He retired to Canada in 1969 after a long career in the oil industry. He was retained as a consultant for some time, during which he produced one of his major publications. It is possible that the present generation of earth scientists may not be aware of Charles’ impact on thought in the 1950’s and for two decades beyond, a legacy of research that still affects our thinking today. When Charles finally thought it time to be with his family and friends he became well known for his abilities as a Bridge player and on the golf course, and as an avid stamp collector. In fact, such was his modesty, that his local friends were amazed to hear that he had been a well known—in fact, we could say a famous—micropaleontologist. Such was the way of Charles. Modest and unassuming in everything he did. Charles’ father was originally in the family business but he took time out to equip himself with two external degrees—one in Classics and one in Biology. First he was Biology Curator in the Hull Museum and then he moved to Hull Technical College where he stayed until he retired as Head of Biology. Because of this, the children, Charles and his two elder sisters, were all strongly encouraged to go to University. Which they all did in their turn. As a child Charles enjoyed many expeditions to the surrounding countryside—often on the back of his father’s old motor-bike. They went to many places in South Yorkshire: to the Yorkshire Wolds and …