Review of foraminiferal investigations

There are two distinct areas in eastern Venezuela where Oligocene, Miocene and younger sediments with benthic and planktic foraminifera occur:

(a) The coastal area from Cabo Blanco in the west to the peninsula of Araya, the islands of Cubagua and Margarita in the east. No Oligocene and almost no Early Miocene occurs in this area. As virtually all sediments are of Late Miocene, Pliocene and younger age they are not considered in this compilation.

(b) The southern foothills of the Serrania del Interior and, mainly in the subsurface, extending to the south into the Llanos (Fig. 69). In this area the formations carrying benthic and planktic foraminifera are of Oligocene and Miocene age.

Planktic and benthic foraminifera have been studied from both areas and the planktic foraminiferal zonal scheme applied widely. Bermudez & Stainforth (1975) provided a detailed chronological overview on the introduction and application of the Tertiary planktic foraminiferal zonal scheme in Venezuela which was largely adopted from that previously developed in neighbouring Trinidad. Bermudez & Farias (1977) in a complementary paper, presented in more detail the individual Cenozoic to Recent planktic foraminiferal zones, with illustrations of the zonal markers.

In contrast to Falcon and Trinidad little published information is available in these two areas on the stratigraphic correlation of benthic foraminifera with the planktic foraminiferal zonal scheme, the prime objective of this compilation. It is therefore only possible to summarize the available data for the above quoted two areas in eastern Venezuela.