Late Cretaceous (Santonian-Maastrichtian) integrated Coccolith-Globotruncanid biostratigraphy of pelagic Limestones from the accretionary prism of Manipur, Northeastern India

摘要

Employing special preparation techniques, a rich and moderately preserved assemblage of planktonic foraminifera and coccoliths is documented from pelagic limestones of Melange Zone of Manipur ophiolite belt around Ukhrul area in northeastern India. Integrated biostratigraphy of five exotic limestone blocks encompassing a Late Santonian/Early Campanian to Late Maastrichtian time Slice is established; the low-latitude calcareous plankton zones of deep-sea facies identified in such a convergent plate margin terrain, are Correlated with published new biostratigraphic, geomagnetic and absolute time scale data. Initial rifting and birth of the Indo-Myanmar Ocean took place prior to Latest Santonian/Earliest Campanian and suturing was initiated by Latest Maastrichtian, as suggested by our Study.