Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy Of The Dungan Formation, Harnai Area, Western Sulaiman Fold-Thrust Belt, Pakistan

The Dungan Formation at Mehrab Tangai of the Harnai district in the western Sulaiman Fold-Thrust Belt was studied for larger benthic foraminifera. A total of twenty-two species from fourteen different genera were identified suggesting Late Palaeocene SBZ 3-SBZ 4 biozones. The Dungan Formation contains many short ranging taxa with a wide geographic distribution, facilitating correlation across the east to west Tethys. Species that characterize the Late Palaeocene SBZ 3 are Miscellanea juliettae, Rotalia implumis, mania anatolica, Glomalveolina primaeva and Lockhartia retiata. Late Palaeocene SBZ 4 is identified by the first appearance of Miscellanea miscella, Daviesina langhami and Discocyclina ranikotensis. Furthermore, there are many taxa such as Discocyclina ranikotensis, Rotalia implumis and Rotaliconus arachosiae which are endemic to the eastern Tethys such as India and Pakistan, supporting the non-synchronous evolution taking place in some parts of the eastern Tethys.