Dinoflagellate cyst zonation of Campanian-Maastrichtian sequences in Israel

A palynological study of Campanian-Maastrichtian sequences is conducted on core sections from the Be'er Sheva Valley (M-8 section) and the Shefela Basin (Zor'a B and Hartuv B cores) in Israel. For the first time, a five-fold regional dinoflagellate cyst zonation of the Upper Campanian-Lower Maastrichtian of Israel is proposed, calibrated against calcareous nannofossil and planktonic foraminiferal datums. The consistent occurrence of these zones in the studied sections demonstrates the potential of a dinoflagellate cyst-based zonation in correlating Campanian-Maastrichtian rocks in Israel. The last occurrence of Xenascus ceratioides is found most useful in determining the position of the Campanian/Maastrichtian boundary in Israel.