Coccolithophorids and Related Nannoplankton of the Early Tertiary in California

Abstract

Evidence of the stratigraphic value of the fossil remains of an abundant and varied calcareous nannoplankton has been limited by little published data. Description of the species and tabulated distributions in 86 samples from a continuous sequence of Paleocene and Eocene strata of California permit recognition of 6 distinct biostratigraphic units. Available evidence on their extension as zones elsewhere and relations to type areas of some European stages are presented.