Stratigraphic distribution of Valanginian-Early Aptian shallow-water benthic foraminifera and algae, and depositional sequences of a carbonate platform in a tectonically-controlled basin: The Organyà Basin, Pyrenees, Spain

The Early Cretaceous Urgonian platform carbonates of the Organyà Basin are divided into five depositional sequences for which a foraminiferal distribution chart has been plotted. Each depositional sequence is characterised by its faunal content: Zergabriella embergeri, Valdanchella miliani and Pfenderina neocomiensis characterise sequence OR-0, which is Valanginian in age; Cribellopsis neoelongata characterises the upper part of sequence OR-1; Valserina bronnimanni, Eopalorbitolina charollaisi and Palorbitolina lenticularis characterise sequence OR-2; and Neotrocholina friburgensis characterises sequence OR-3, all of which are Late Barremian; and Palorbitolina lenticularis, the rudist species Pachytraga paradoxa and planktonic foraminifera from the Globigerinelloides blowi Zone characterise sequence OR-4, which is probably Early Aptian. Other species characteristic of the Hauterivian-Early Barremian have not been found in these sediments. There is probably an important sedimentary gap spanning the interval between OR-0 and OR-1 depositional sequences within the Organyà carbonates. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.