Upper Cretaceous calcareous nannoplankton from Zululand, South Africa

Abstract

A detailed account of the calcareous nannoplankton occurring in the Upper Cretaceous System of Zululand (Northern Natal) is reported. A total of 58 species are described as seen when studied with the aid of the electron microscope; of these, three are new. These are Zygolithus saggitus, Zygolithus sexiradiatus and Zygolithus siboyus. Using the sequential occurrence of the fossils occurring throughout the sequence studied, it is suggested that the uppermost region is of Maestrichtian age while the lower region appears to be of Campanian age.