Upper Maastrichtian ammonites and nannofossils and a Palaeocene nautiloid from Richards Bay, Kwa Zulu, South Africa
Authors
Herbert Klinger
South African Museum, PO Box 61, Cape Town 8000
William James Kennedy
Geological Collections, University Museum of Natural History, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PW
Jackie A. Lees
Department of Geological Sciences, U.C.L., Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT
Stephen Kitto
The Coastal Research Unit of Zululand, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, Kwa Dlangezwa
Keywords:
Cretaceous, Maastrichtian, Palaeocene, Ammonites, Nannofossils, Nautiloids, South Africa
Abstract
Temporary exposures of Upper Maastrichtian to Palaeocene sediments of the Richard Bay area, Kwa Zulu, yielded Maastrichtian and Danian cephalopod faunas. The lower Upper Maastrichtian assemblage, dated to nannofossil standard biozone CC25b, or UC20aTP of BURNETT (1998), is: Anagaudryceras politissimum (KOSSMAT, 1895), Pseudophyllites indra (FORBES, 1846) (abundant), Desmophyllites diphylloides (FORBES, 1846), Pachydiscus (P.) australis HENDERSON & MCNAMARA, 1985, Menuites fresvillensis (SEUNES, 1890), Diplomoceras cylindraceum (DEFRANCE, 1816), Baculites ambatryensis COLLIGNON, 1971, Eubaculites carinatus (MORTON, 1834), and E. latecarinatus (BRUNNSCHWEILER, 1966). The Danian yields a monospecific assemblage of Hercoglossa madagascariensis COLLIGNON, 1951. The Maastrichtian assemblage has strong similarities to the lower Upper Maastrichtian fauna of the Miria Formation of Western Australia, and is made up of cosmopolitan and latitudinally restricted taxa: there are no endemic elements.
