AN ATTEMPT OF BIOZONATION OF THE OLIGOMIO CENE IN THE EUROPEAN BASINS, BY MEANS OF LARGER NERITIC FORAMINIFERA

Foraminifera are intensively used in the Cenozoic biostratigraphy. Mai nly the larger ones are widespread in the shallow deposits. Several gr oups show a rapid evolution. They allow the establishment of biostrati graphic correlations particularly in the neritic area of the southern European basins. However, as far as the top of the Oligocene and the b ase of the Miocene are concerned, the construction of a benthic zonati on is delicate on account of the inaccurate ages in the Mediterranean given in litteris; many deposits require a renewed study of their pala eontologic content. Thanks to the representatives of the families Numm ulitidae, Miogypsinidae, Lepidocyclinidae, Alveolinidae, 6 biozones ha ve been established since the Rupelian till the Upper Miocene : 3 in t he Oligocene and 3 in the Miocene. Moreover, in every biozone, besides the classical zonal markers, we have mentioned additional genera and species of biostratigraphical interest.