Analysis of Foraminifera in Middle-Late Miocene Deposits within the Red Bay Formation, Florida: Examination of Nearshore Marine Facies and Lithological Discrepancies for Enhanced Scientific Insights

This study presents an in-depth analysis of foraminifera in the Middle to Late Miocene deposits within the Red Bay Formation, Florida, focusing on nearshore marine facies and lithological discrepancies. Sediment samples, totaling three kilograms, were meticulously analyzed at the Ball State University Biostratigraphy Laboratory due to the unique significance of the now-vanished outcrop from which they were sourced. The sediments are rich in marine invertebrates, particularly gastropods and bivalves, with this study offering the first comprehensive documentation of foraminifera within this geological section. The identified benthic foraminifera include species such as Anonnamalinoide sp. , Trilorculina quadrilateralis , Texturaria articulata , Discorbis mira , Quinqueloculina candeiana , Quinqueloculina chipolensis , Lenticulina sp. , and Nonion sp. , while the planktonic foraminifera were exclusively from the Globigerinidae family, featuring Globigerinoides bisphericus , Globigerinoides kennetti , Globigerinoides altiaperturus , and Orbulina universa . The study reveals the predominance of benthic foraminifera, indicating the dominance of shallow marine environments. This finding supports the hypothesis that the Red Bay Formation sediments originated from nearshore marine settings. However, the lithological similarities with adjacent formations present challenges in unequivocally assigning these sediments to the Red Bay Formation. These insights enhance our understanding of ancient marine ecosystems and provide a critical basis for future geological and paleoenvironmental studies in the region.