COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

• DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

BUREAU OF MINERAL RESOURCESGEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS.

RECORDS:

1 96 3/91

FORAMINIFERS AND OTHER FOSSILS FROM THE TERTIARYOF THE GAZELLE PENINSULA, NEW BRITAIN.

by

A.R. Lloyd

The information contained in this report has been obtained by theDepartment of National Development, as part of the policy of the Common-wealth Government, to assist in the exploration and development of mineralresources. It may not be published in any form or used in a companyprospectus without the permission in writing of the Director, Bureau ofMineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics.

FORAUTNIFERS AND OTHER FOSSILS FROM THE TERTIARY OF THE

GAZELLE PENINSULA., NEW BRITAIN

by

A.R. Lloyd

RECORDS 1963/91

Page.

SUMARY^ 1

INTRODUCTION^ 1

OBSERVATIONS^ 1

DISCUSSION^ 5

CONCLUSIONS^ 6

REFERENCES^ 7

PLATE 1

PLATE 2

PLATE 3

Locality Map.

Map of Upper Reaches of Toriu River showing Dipsand Strikes of Bedding and Sample Localities.

Map of Pondo and Towanokoko Rivers showing Dipsand Strikes of Bedding and Sample Localities.

The information contained in this report hasbeen obtained by the Department of NationalDevelopment, as part of the policy of theCommonwealth Government, to assist in theexploration and development of mineral resources.It may not be published in any form or used ina company prospectus without the permission inwriting of the Director, Bureau of MineralResources, Geology and Geophysics.

I.

FORAENIFERS AND. OTHER FOSSILS FROM THE TERTIARY OF THE .%

GAZELLE PENINSULAL NEW BRITAIN.

SUMARY

Eighteen samples collected by E.J. Best from the Gazelle Peninsula,New Britain, were submitted for palaeontological examination. As most ofthe samples were collected from scattered localities, it is not possible toconstruct an accurate stratigraphic sequence. The fossils present includealgae, foraminifers, molluscs, echinoid fragments; estracodes, coral andbryozoans. Some of the foraminiferal faunas are non-diagnostie and indicateonly a general Tertiary or Miocene age but others include definite LowerMiocene larger foraminifers, and from field evidence it is possible'todeduce the ages of the non-diagnostic faunas as Lower Miocene or possiblyMiddle Miocene.

Eleven samples collected from the same area by E.K. Carter werepreviously reported on (Lloyd, 1962) but because of the apparent lack ofdiagnostic larger foraminifers and the scattered nature of the sampling,only tentative ages were given. These samples have been re-examined and therevised results incorporated in this report.

INTRODUCTION

E.J. Best's samples P11 P2, W3, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12, T13, T14yT15, T16, T17, T18 and T44 were examined in thin section and P3, W1 and W4as washings. E.K. Carter's samples P1, T2, WK4, WK6a, WK10a, and WK10bwere examined in thin section and Ti, P2, P3, P4, and WK5 as washings.Plate 1 is the locality map; plates 2 and 3 show the sample localitiesof E.K. Carter and E.J. Best and the dips measured in the Towanokoko, Pondoand Toriu Rivers areas, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain. A few of the local-ities of E.K. Carter from outside these areas are not shown and the readeris referred to Carter, 1962, plate 4. Plates 1, 2 and 3 are taken fromBest (1963). Some samples collected by Carter and Best bear the same symboland. number, and to avoid confusion, the collector's name is used after thesample number in the text. On plates 1 and 2, Carter's samples are shownas spec.P1 etc. and Best's samples are shown without any further prefix..The foraminifers aro often poorly preserved and positive or specificidentifications are not always possible.

OBSERVATIONS

The samples are listed in numerical order, not in stratigraphicalsequence. The results of the examination are as follows:

R15022 (P1, Best), Limestone.

Coral, echinoid spines, algae ostracodes, and numerous foraminifersincluding :

Miogypsina sp. cf. M. thecideaeformis (Rutten), 1911

Miogypsinoides sp.

Lepidocyclina (?Eulepidina) sp.

Austrotrillina howchina (Schlumberger), 1893

AMphistegina sp.

Nodosaria sp.

Bolivina sp.

?Cycloclypeus sp.

?Planorbulinella sp.

Pyrgo sp.

Quinqueloculina sp.

2 .

R15023 (P2, Best), Limestone.

Algae, molluscs, echincid spines, and numerous foraminiforsincluding abundant miliolid and rotaline forms, Bolivina sp., Nodosaxia sp.,?Parvonina sp., Planorbulinella sp., Borolis sp.,ZBorolis pygM77(1171;:wa),

1947.

R15024 (P3, Best), Limestone.

Bryozoans, ostracodes, and the following foraminifers:

Elphidium sp. cf. E. macollum (Fichtel and Moll), 1798

E. sp. cf. E. marshallana Todd and Post, 1954

E. craticulatum (Fichtol and Moll), 1798

?Pseudoclavulina sp.

Textularia sp. cf. T. flintii Cushman, 1911

?Chrysalidinella sp.

Amphistegina sp. aff. L. gibbosa d'Orbigny, 1839

?Cibicides sp.

Oporculina sp. aff. O. ammonoides (Gronovius)

Reusella sp.

Quinqueloculina sp. cf. a. dblonga (Montagu)

2e. sp. cf. LI. perkeri (Brady), 1884Triloculina sp.

Pyrgo sp. cf. P: lucornula (Schwager)

R15025 (W1, Best), Limestone

Ostracodes and the following foraminifers :

?Soritos sp.

?Psoudoclavulina sp.

Nodosaria sp.

Elphidium sp. cf. E. marshallana Todd and Post, 1954

?Cibicides sp.

Spiroloculina sp

Quinqueloculina

Pyrgo sp. Cf. P.

Triloculina sp.

?Ammonia Sp.

?Borelis pygmoa

Quinqueloculina

R15026 (W3, Best), Limestone.

Algae, echinoid spines, and rare foraminifers including Operculina cp.and Miogypsina sp..

Sample W4 (Best), Limestone.

Ostracodes„ a gastropod and the following foraminifers

Elphidium sp.?Chrysalidinella sp.

?Cibicides sp.?Operculina sp.?Eponides rcpandus (Fichte). and Moll), 1798

sp. cf. a. dblonga (Montagu)

lucernula (Schwager)

cf. T. trigonula (Lamark), 1804

(Hspa.11:7)E:. parkeri (Brady), 1884

Sm.

3.

R15027 (T8, Best), Limestone Conglomerate

Algae.

R15029 (T9, Best), Calcareous Sandstone.

Algae, ostracodes, molluscs, and numerous"foraminifers.

R15030 (T10, Best), Limestene.

Pelocypods and rare foraminifers.

R15031 (T11 1 Best), Limostolic.

Bryozoans, algae, Molluscs, echinoid spines and abundantforaminifers including

Nodosaria sp.

'Globigerina sp.

Dolivina sp.

CibicidoS sp.

?Operculina sp.

?Planorbulinella sp.

Lopidocyclina sp.

?Spiroclypeus sp.

R15032 (T12 1 Best), Calcareous Sandstone..

Algae, molluscs, and foraminifers including

Amphistogina sp.

?Operculina sp.

?Planorbulinolla sp.

Miogypsina sp. cf. M. thocidoacformis Rutten), 1911

Lopidocyclina(?Eulepidina)sp.

Borelis sp. ?Berens pymea (Hanzawa), 1947

Miogypsinoides sp.

R15033 (T13 1 Best), Calcareous Sandstone.

Algae, bryozoans, echinoid spines, and foraminifers including s

Amphistegina bp.

?Operculina sp.

Lepidocyclina (?Nephrolepidina) sp•

Planorbulinella sp.

R15034 (T14, Best), impure Limestone.

Algae, molluscs, echinoid spines and rare foraminifers including?Planorbulinella sp.

R15035 (T15, Best), Limestone.

Rare smaller foraminifers.

R15036 (T16, Best), Limestone.

Algae, molluscs, echinoid spines, and numerous foraminifersincluding Globigerina sp..

R15037 (T17 9 Best), Limestone.

Algae, molluscs, echinoid spines and foraminifers includingmiliolids, cqpIL.E.sLaa sp. and ?J.Lalnopera

R15038 (T18, Best), Limestone.

Algae, molluscs, and rare foraminifers including miliolids,?Orbulina,sp.• and ?D'scorbis sp..

R13825 (T44; nes'0, Calcareous Tuff.

Foraminifers belonging to the genus Globigorina.

R11381 (P1, Carter), Limestae.

Abundant bryozoans and rare foraminifers including:

Globigerina spp.

?Orbulina sp.

Globorotalia sp.

Amphistegina sp.

Textularia sp.

?Borelis sp.

?Austrotrillina howchini (Schlumberger), 1893

Miogypsinoides sp. aff. M. bantamonsis Tan, 1936

R11382 (P2, Carter), Calcareous Mudstone.

Bryozoans, ostracods, and foraminifers including s

Globigerina duterteri (d'Orbigny),.1893

Ammonia sp. aff. A. beccarii Linne, 1758

Baggina inflata LeRoy, 1939Nonion sp. aff. N. victoriensis Cushman, 1936

Amphistegina sp.. aff. A. gibbosa d'Orbigny, 1839

Quincueloculina sp.

Bolivina sp.

Pavonina sp.

Rousella sPinulosa Cushman, 1936

Chrysalidinella sp,

Elphidium sp. cf. E. tUmidum Natland, 1938

E. sp. cf.. E.. cresPinae Cushman, 1936

E. sp. cf. E. chapMani Cushman, 1936

• craticulatum (Fichtol and Moll), 1798

R11383 (P3, Carter), Shelly Calcareous Mudstone .

Ostracodes 1 molluscs and foraminifers including s

Elpliiclium sp. cf. E. tumidum Natland, 1938Nonion.sp.• aft. N. victorionsis Cushman, 1936

Ammonia sp. aff. A. boccarii Linne 1758 :

R11384 (P4, Carter), Limestone.•

Rare poorly preserved foraminifers including Elphidium Nonion sp. and Bolivina sp.

5.

R11385 (Ti, Carter) ::: Many Limestone.

Abundant ostracodes and foraminifers including

Globigerina duterteri (dlOrbigny), 1839.

Elphidium sp. cf. E. tumidum Natland, 1938

E. sp. cf. E. lanseni Cusman, 1924

Ammonia sp. aff. AA beccarii . Linne, 1758

Bolivina sp. cf. B. uniforminata LeRoy, 1939

Nonion sp. aff. N. victoriensis Cushman, 1936

Miliolinella sp.

Pseudoclavulina sp.

R11386 (T2, Carter), Limestone.•

Algae, molluscs, and foraminifers including miliolids, Textularia sp.Austrotrillina howchini (Schlumberger), 1893,, and ?Borelis pygmea "Olanzawa),1947.

R11387 (WK4, Carter), Dark Grey Limestone.

Rare pelagic foraminifers-inclUding Globigerina app. andGloborotalia sp..

R11388 (WK5 9 Carter), Sandstone. .

One small species of the foraminiferal genus Elphidium.

R11389 (WK6a, Carter), Grey Crystalline Limestone.

A species of hydrozoan probably belonging to the genus Axopora.

R11390 (WK10a, Carter), Buff Limestone.

Algae, molluscs and foraminifers including ?Austrotrillina howchini (SchluMberger), 1893.

R11391 (WK10b, Carter), Grey Fragmental Limestone.

Abundant gastropods, pelecypods and ?barnacles.

DISCUSSION

Because of the scattered sampling and the variability of thedirection of dip (see plates 1 and 2), it is difficult to establish anaccurate stratigraphic sequence.

Mioypsina cf. thecideaeformis, Miogypsinoides sp., Lepidocyclina (?Etlepidina) sp. and Austrotrillina howchini in sample P1 (Best) indicatea Lower Miocene age. ?Borelis pygmeen777-(Best) indicates a possibleLower Miocene age but the position of P2 along the strike from P1 makesit definitely Lower -Miocene in age.

The fauna in P1 (Garter) includes Miogypsinoides aft. bantamensis and ?Aubtrotrillina howchini which give a Lower Miocene age. The fauna inP2 (Carter)1s 71717diagnostic but the sample is Lower Miocene in age byvirtue of its position between P1 (Carter) and P1 and P2 (Best). Similarlysample P4 (Carter) is Lower Miocene in age because of its position closeto P2 (Carter) although the fauna is non-diagnostic.

Austrotrillina howchina and ?Borelis pygmea give a Lower Miocene agefor T2 (Carter). Miogypsina sp. in ig3 (Best) indicates a Lower or, MiddleMiocene age and ?Berelis pygrnea in W1 (Best) gives a possible Lower Mioceneage. The faunas in W4 and P3 (Best) and. P3 and Ti (Carter) are non-diagnostic

6.

•^i^•but the*Mple.is Lower Miecene in age by virtue of its pobition between P1(Carter) and P1 and P2 (Best). Similarly sample P4 (Carter) is LowerMiocene in age because of its position close to P2 (Carter) although thefauna is non-diagnostic.

Austrotrillina howchini and ?Borelis pyea give a Lower Mioceneage for T2 (Carter). Miogypsina sp. iirg7Test indicates a Lower or MiddleMiocene age and ?Borelis pygmea in WI (Best) gives a possible Lower Mioceneage. The faunas in W4 and P3 (Best) and P3 and Ti (Carter) are non-diagnosticbut similar forms are present . in the Lower Miocene samples P1 (Bost and Ti(Carter). From the stratigraphic position of W1', W3, W4 and P3 (Best) andP3 and Ti (Carter) in relation to P1 (Best) and T2 (Carter), it can be deducedthat all these samples are Lower Miocene in age.

T44 (Best) and WK4 (Carter) are similar in lithology and faunalcontent and both were colledted from near the volcanic basement. The faunasindicate only, a general Tertiary age but from their stratigraphic positionjust below definite Lower Miocene limestone, they can be regarded as LowerMiocene or maybe a little older in ago.

TII (Best) containing Lepidocyclina sp. and ?Spiroclypeus sp. isLower or Middle Miocene in age but Ti?, stratigraphically above T11, containsMiogypsina cf. thecideaeformis, Miogypsinoides sp., ?Berens pygmea andLepidocyclina (?MilepidiTE) sp. which indicate a Lower Miocene age. It istherefore deduced that T8, T9, T10 which have non-diagnostic faunas and T11are all Lower Miocene in age. T13 contains Lepidocyclina (?Nephrolepidina) sp.but T14, TI5, T16, T17 and T18 have faunas which are non-diagnostic butsimilar to that present in the Lower Miocene samples and it is consideredthat these samples are also Lower Miocene but could be Middle Miocene in age.

No further stratigraphic information was gathered on WK5 - ,WK10a and WK10b (Carter) except that ?Austrotrillina howchini in WK10aindicates a : possible Lower Miocene age. The ages for WK5 1. WK6 an& WK10bare Tertiary; possibly Eocene or Oligocene; and post-Palaeozoic respectively(Lloyd, 1962.)

In samples P2 and Ti (Carter) Globigerina duterteri was previouslyidentified as G. mayeri (Lloyd, 1962). The specimens are :jUyeniles but aresimilar to juvenile specimens studied in assemblages froth Papua and WreckIsland, Queensland, along with adult specimens which in turn are similar tothe figured specimens of G.ra-?41.reri. (Belli, 1957, p1,28, fig.4); G. subcretacoa(Barker; 1960, pl.82, fig.10, and Belford, 1962, p1,2, figs.1-5) and G. eggeri

and G. dutorteri (Parker, 1962, p.242 1 p1.7, figs.1 -13, p1.8, figs.1 -4).Parker (1962) placed G. subcretacca and G. eggcri in synonmy of G. duterteri,working on Recent material. This is also supported from fossil evidence andit is considered that G. mayeri is another synonym of G. duterteri.

CONCLUSIONS

The rocks sampled - around the Towanokoko, Pondo and Toriu Riversareas are all Lower Miocene in age although those near the volcanic basementcould be a little older, and those downstream on the Toriu River could beMiddle Miocene in part. Closer, more detailed sampling would give a betterunderstanding of the faunal sequence and the setting up of a referencesection for correlation purposes.

7-

REFERENCES

AUSTRALAJUAN PETROLEUM CO. PTY, 1961^The Geological Result's OfPetroleum Ekploration in Western Papua. Journ.Geol.Soc.Aust.8(i).

BANNER, F.T. 9 and BLOW, W.H. y 1960 - Some Primary Types belonging to theSuperfamily Globigerinaceae. Contrib.Gushman Found.Foram.Res.11(1), 1-41.

BARKER, R.W., 1960 - Taxonomic Notes on the Species figured by H.B. Bradyin his Report on the Foraminif era Dredged by H.M.S. Challengerduring the years 1873-1876. Soc.Econ.Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Spec.Pub. 9.

BELFORD, D.J., 1962 - Miocene and Pliocene Planktonic Foraminif era, Papua -New Guinea. Bur.Min.Resour.Aust.Bull. 62(1).

BEST, E.T., 1963 - Towanokoko - Pondo Hydro-Electric Scheme, New Britain -Report of Investigations, September 1962 - December, 1962.Bur.Min.Resour.Aust.Rec. (in preparation).

BOLL', H.M., 1957 - Planktonic Foraminif era from the Oligocene-MioceneCipero and Longue Formations of Trinidad,^U.S.Nat.Mus.Bull.215, 97-123.

CARTER, E.K., 1962 - Geological Investigations of the Towanokoko PondoHydro-Electric Scheme, New Britain, Territory of Papua and NewGuinea. Bur.Min.Resour.Aust.Rec. 1962/120 (unpubl.).

COLE, W.S., 1957 - Larger Foraminif era from Eniwetok Atoll Drill Holes.U.S.Geol.Surv.Prof.Paper 260-V, 743-784.

COLE, W.S., 1958 - Larger Foraminif era in Geology of Saipan, MarianaIslands. Ibid. 280(1), 321-360.

CUSHMAN, J.A. 1 1939 - A Monograph of the Foraminiferal Family Nonionidae.Ibid. 191.

EAMES, F.E., BANNER, F.T., BLOW, N.H., and CLARKE, W.J., 1962 - Fundamentalsof Mid-Tertiary Stratigraphical Correlation. Cambridge Univer-sity Press.

ELLIS, B.F., and MESSINA, A.M., 1940 et seq. Catalogue of Foraminif era.Amer.Mus.NatAist.

HANZAWA, S., 1947 - Note on Borelis pygmeus (Hanzawa) from the MarianaIslands. Japan.Journ.Geol. and Geog., 20(2-4), 9-11.

HANZAVTA, S., 1957 , Cenozoic Foraminifera of Micronesia. Geol.Soc.Amer.Memoir 66.

LEROY, L.W., 1941 - Small Foraminif era from the Late Tertiary of theNederlands East Indies. Colorado School Mines, Quart.. 36(1).

LEROY, L.W., 1944 - Miocene Foraminifera from Sumatra and Java, NoderlandsEast Indies. Ibid. 39(3).

LLOYD, A.R., 1962 - Palaeontological Determinations of Specimens frombetween Pondo and Keravat, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain.Appen.2, in Geological. Investigations of the Towanokoko PondoHydro-Electric Scheme; New Britain, Territory of Papua andNew Guinea, by E.K. Carter. Bur.Min.Resour.Aust.Rec. 1962/120(unpubl.).

MOORE, R.C. ed. 1956 - Treatise an Invertebrate PaleontologY. Part F,Coelenterata. Geol.Soc.Amer. and Uni.of Kansas Press.

8.

PARKER, L.F., 1962 - Planktonic Foraminiferal Species in the PacificSediments. Micropal, 8(2), 219-254.

TODD, Re, 1958 — Smaller ForaminiCera in Geology of Saipan, MarianaIslands. U.S.Geol.Surv.Prof.Paper 2EC(H), 265-320.

TODD, R., and LOW, Di, 1960^Smaller Foraminif era from Ehiwetok DrillHoles. Ibid. 260(X), 799-861..

TODD, R.,. and POST, Hi, 1954 - Bikini and nearby Atolls Part 4 Palentology.Smaller Foraminifera from Bikini Drill Holes. Ibid. 260(N),547-568.