Biostratigraphy of the Estepona assemblages (southern Spain), based on calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifera

Marine sedimentary deposits of the Velerín area (Malaga province, southern Spain) contain the Estepona mollusc assemblages. While a Pliocene age is generally accepted, the exact stratigraphic position is subject of ongoing discussions. Here, we present new biostratigraphic data from calcareous nannofossils and planktonic foraminifera. Biostratigraphic marker species suggest a correlation of the Estepona assemblages with late Zanclean biozones MNN14/NN15/CNPL3 (calcareous nannofossils) and MPl4a/late PL2 to PL3 (planktonic foraminifera), corresponding to an age of c. 4.0-3.8 Ma.