Previous studies of the Eocene-lowermost Oligocene section at the ACGS #4 borehole (Mays Landing, NJ; Fig. I) recognized physical surfaces using litho- and gamma log- stratigraphy and inferred hiatuses using bio-, magneto-, and isotopic stratigraphy. This study integrates Eocene to Oligocene benthic foraminiferal studies with previous work, identifies additional paraconformities, and places benthic foraminiferal changes into a sequence stratigraphic framework.Quantitative and qualitative analyses of benthic foraminifera indicate neritic (0-200 m) paleodepths throughout the Eocene section, despite high relative abundances of planktonic foraminifera. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages at the ACGS #4 borehole indicate outer neritic (100-200 m) paleodepths in the Deal Member (lower-middle Eocene), except for an intrusion of a shallower (middle neritic: 30-100 m) fauna near the lower/middle Eocene boundary. Paleodepths shallowed up-section. to middle neritic in the Shark River Formation (upper middle-lower upper Eocene) and ACGS alpha Unit (upper Eocene-lowermost Oligocene) and inner neritic (0-30 m) to marginal marine in the Mays Landing Unit (lowermost Oligocene).Although the ACGS #4 borehole provides a reasonably continuous Eocene to lowermost Oligocene shallow-water record, integrated stratigraphic studies (sequence, litho-, bio-, isotopic and magneto-stratigraphy) including benthic foraminifera document that deposition was punctuated by at least 6 hiatuses. The hiatuses are associated with unconformities that bracket 7 sequences: Deal Member Sequences A, B, and C; Shark River Formation. Sequences Di and Dii; ACGS alpha Unit Sequence E; and the Mays Landing Unit Sequence F. Major biofacies and paleobathymetric changes are associated with most of the unconformities that define the bases of the sequences. The unconformities at the ACGS #4 borehole correlate or are consistent with major sequence boundaries of Haq et al. (1987).
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