Globivalvulinid Foraminifera from the Permian of Queensland

Abstract

Globivalvulinid foraminifera were found in late Early Permian strata of the Cattle Creek Formation from GSQ Eddystone 4 drilled in the central region of the Bowen Basin. A revision of foraminifera previously identified as Globivalvulina (= Valvulina auct.) in Australia and a review of species of the genus are attempted: most of the species of Globivalvulina were identified on random thin sections, all possess a calcareous microgranular test, and some may be construed to exhibit an essentially trochospiral, rather than biserial mode of growth; the Early Permian globivalvulinid under study possess a thin, microgranular and silicified test, and a trochospiral type of growth. Verispira jelli gen. et sp.nov. is proposed here to represent new trochospirally coiled free benthic globivalvulinid foraminifera. The abundance of Globivalvulina bulloides is considered to mark a new foraminiferal zone in late Early Permian strata of the Denison Trough (Bowen Basin).