THE PLIOCENE-PLEISTOCENE BOUNDARY IN PELAGIC OOZES OFF RÉUNION ISLAND, WESTERN INDIAN OCEAN

Abstract

Nannoplankton and foraminifera from the pelagic oozes from a water depth of 3 684 meters, 150 km southeast of Réunion Island, Indian Ocean, prove the NN18 and NN19 nannoplankton zones, indicating the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary. The Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary was established at 220-230 cm depth. The abundance of Globorotalia truncatulinoides increases from about 50 cm below the sea floor. The microfossil assemblages and clay mineral components of the sediments may be correlated with changes of climatic conditions influenced by glaciations.