Abstract

FERRERO, Laura. Late Pleistocene Foraminifera and Ostracoda (Mar Chiquita, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Ameghiniana [online]. 2009, vol.46, n.4, pp.637-656. ISSN 1851-8044.

The evolution of Late Pleistocene marginal marine environments in the southeast of Buenos Aires province are described based upon the associations of foraminifera and ostracoda. Two drilling performed in the southern coastal plain of Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon were studied. The lowest sections of the drillings (A and B) indicate marginal marine environments that could be assigned to Canal 5 Formation and correlated to Last Interglacial Maximum, (marine oxygen isotope substage 5e). Along the whole studied section of drilling B and the lowest levels of drilling A, foraminiferal associations are dominated by Ammonia beccarii (Linné) and could be interpreted as characterizing littoral marine environments or coastal lagoons. Ostracoda associations suggest littoral marine environments close to an estuary or a coastal lagoon, with relatively high energetic conditions shown by reworked and mixed material. These environments represent the transgressive/ highstand phase of the Late Pleistocene transgression and could be assigned to Los Médanos Facies of Canal 5 Formation. Upward (Drilling A) increasing percentages of mixohaline (Cyprideis) and non-marine taxa, along with a good preservation of valves, tests and the presence of juvenile and adults of ostracoda and lower diversity associations of foraminifera dominated by Ammonia becarii, suggest the evolution towards lagoonal, low energy environments. These levels represent the regressive phase corresponding to Santa Ana Facies of Canal 5 Formation and are covered by non-microfossiliferous continental muds.

Keywords : Foraminifera; Ostracoda; Late Pleistocene; Marine transgression; Paleoenvironments.