A paleoenvironmental analyses of benthic foraminifera from Upper Cretaceous - lower Paleocene oil shales of Jordan

During the Maastrichtian, Anomalinoides praeacutus is the dominant benthic foraminifera species characterized by high abundances. A short decline of A. praeacutus, observed in calcareous nannofossil biozone UC18/19 (lower Maastrichtian), is compensated by an increase of Anomalinoides umboniferus. Abundance fluctuations of benthic foraminifera included in the Buliminacea (Sitella fabilis, Elhasaella alanwoodi, Neobulimina canadensis, Reussella aegyptiaca) are recorded from the assemblages. The taxonomic composition of the assemblages and the varying TOC values indicate low oxygen bottom-water conditions under high organic flux across the Maastrichtian. A moderate change is documented for the Danian, where A. praeacutus continues to dominate the assemblages, but Siphogenerinoides eleganta and Uvigerinella spp. are less common. These benthic associations along with a decrease of the TOC content suggest a gentle increase of the bottom water oxygenation with moderate organic fluxes.