IDENTIFICATION OF FORAMINIFERA MICROFOSSIL TO DETERMINE THE

PALEOBATHYMETRY OF TONASA FORMATION’S LIMESTONE, RALLA,

TANETE RIAJA DISTRICT, BARRU REGENCY, SOUTH SULAWESI

M. Fauzi Arifin
Department Of Geology, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Email: inji.arifin@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Administratively, the study area is included in the Ralla area of the Tanete Riaja District of South
Sulawesi province. Geographically, the study area lies at 119o42'30"-119o44'30" BT and 04 o26'30"-
04o28'30" LS.
The purpose of this study is to conduct a measuring section in order to find out information about
the small benthonic foraminifera and paleobathymetry in determining the depositional environment and
the cycle of limestone unit Tonasa Formation Ralla area, Tanete Riaja District of South Sulawesi
province.
Based on the results of research on both of the sections, which are supported by microscopic
observation, the obtained depositional environments of each of the layers in the Ralla section are Middle
Neritic zone–Outer Neritic with a depth of 30,48 to 182.88 M.
The cycle of the Paleoenvironment limestone unit at Ralla River occurred in three stages: outer–
middle–outer, middle–outer, and outer–middle–outer.
Based on analysis of planktonic organisms found in the study area, one could determine the age
of the foraminifera lithology in the Ralla River from the upper part of the Lower Eosen to the middle part
of the Middle Eocene. The Ralla River ranges in age from the upper part of the Lower Eosen to the lower
part of the Upper Eosen.
Keywords : Measuring Section, Foraminifera, Paleobathymetry, Neritic, Eosen.
Introduction

Administratively, the research area is

included in the Ralla Village area of the Tanete
Riaja District, Barru Regency, South Sulawesi
Province. Geographically, the research area is
located at coordinates 119042'30" - 119044'30"
BT and 04026'30"-04028'30" LS, as seen in
(Figure 1.1).  The map is an enlargement of the
Indonesian Earth Rupa Petakala 1:50,000 Barru
Sheets 2011-61 from BAKOSURTANAL
Edition I – 1991 (Cibinong, Bogor). The
research area is located about 130 km north of
Makassar City. The research area can be reached
by using two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles
with a travel time of about 3 hours from the city
of Makassar. 
Figure 1. Research Method Flow Diagram
Deposition Environment shows the existence of a rock cover with a
The deposition environment is an area on the position of N230E/310 (Figure 2.).
surface of the lithosphere, both above and The second measurement area was carried out
below sea level, characterized by a special set in the Ralla River area about 20 km to the east
of chemical, physical, and biological of Barru City, with a coordinate point of 119 0
characteristics. Interpretation based on the 42' 30" BT and 040 26' 30" LS. It has a track
microfossyl association of foraminifera should length of 125 meters and shows the existence
be based on the overall association of of a rock coat with a position of N 3250E/4400
foraminifera. The interpretation should be (Figure 3).
based on overall characteristics such as the
presence (presentation) of planktonic, milolid,
arenaceous form, large foraminifera, and, of
course, also the association of bentonic
calcareous. In addition, it must also be
considered for its abundance and diversity,
whether there is a dominance of a particular Figure 2. Location of Measuring Section
Measurements of the Trajectory in the
species or genus, preservation, size, and shape
Ralla River Area.
of the test, etc. Availability of Foraminifera Bentonic
Measurement Trajectory Species
In this study, data retrieval in the field was The measurement trajectory in the research
carried out using the Measuring Section area is generally dominated by Limestone with
Method. This was carried out on the trajectory Limestone inserts, so based on the results of
of the Ralla River area located in Ralla Village micropaleontology analysis in each track,
(attachment to the Measuring Section foraminifera bentonik. 
trajectory map), where on each trajectory was The availability of bentonik foraminifera in the
carried out the collection of rock sample for research area consists of several species,
laboratory observations, including where each species found on each
micropaleontology observations for analysis of measurement trajectory refers to the
fossil content and optical mineral observations publication and documentation of small
for thin incisions. The description of each bentonic foraminifera contained in An
measurement trajectory is as follows: Illustrated Key to the Genera of the
Ralla River Path Foraminifera (Cushman, 1983).
The first measurement area was carried out in Ralla River Path
the Ralla River Area located in Ralla Village, The trajectory of the Ralla River is composed
20 km to the east of the city of Barru, with of Limestone lithology and Limestone inserts.
coordinates 119 43' 12" BT and 04 26' 35"
0 0
Limestone has a common appearance of
LS. It has a track length of 5.31 meters and
weathered brown-black, in a fresh gray state,
clay grain size, carbonation, klastic texture,
and layered structure with position. Limestone
inserts have a common appearance of
weathered brown-black, in a fresh grayish-
white state, bioclastic texture, medium sand
grain size, carbonation, material composition
in the form of calcite minerals, and large
foram, layered structures with a position of N Figure 4. Foraminifera bentonik is found in the
lower layer of the Ralla River.
23 /31 E. Based on the sample of rocks
0 0
Analysis of the abundance level of small
obtained from the measurements of the
foraminifera of bentonik species contained in
measuring section stratigraphy, several fossils
the lower layer can be seen in the distribution
of small bentonic foraminifera were found.
figure of bentonik foraminifera below (Figure
Based on the results of micropaleontology
5)
analysis, we found several species of small
Jumlah Fosil (%)
6 5,5
bentonic foraminifera in the lower layer, 5
5

namely: (a). Ammobaculites sp. (b). Cibicides 4 3,5

3 3 3
3
2 2 2 2 2
cana Bermudez, (c). Dentalina mucronata 2
1
1,5 1,5
1 1
1 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5

Neugeboren, (d). Dentalina quadrulata 0

Cushman and Laiming, (e). Dentalina

semilaevis Hantken, (f). Discorbis sp. (g).
Ellipsoglandulina exponens (H. B. Brady), (h).
Figure 5. Diagram of the distribution of bentonik
Lagena asperiodes Galloway and Morrey, (i). foraminifera on the centipede at the
Nama Spesies
bottom of the Ralla River.
Nodogerina soluta (Reuss), (j). Nodosarella Small foraminifera bentonik species found in
decurta (Bermudez), (k). Nodosarella the upper layer based on the results of
hologlypta Bermudez, (l). Nodosarella micropaleontology analysis that is: (a).
salmojraghii Martinotti, (m). Nodosarella Cibicides pseudongerianus (Cushman) (b).
Subnodosa (Guppy), (n). Nodosarella Nodogerina challengeriana Thalmann, (c).
tuckerae (Hadley), (o). Nodosaria pyrula Nodogerina. heterosculpata Bermudez, (d).
d'Orbigny, (p). Nodosaria raphanistrum Nodosarella decurta (Bermudez), (e)
(Linne), (q). Nodosaria soluta (Reuss), (r). Nodosarella sp. (f). Nodosarella tuckerae
Siphogerina taberana Bermudez, (s). (Hadley), (g). Nodosaria soluta (Reuss), (h).
Siphonodosaria paucities (Galloway and Nodosaria sp. (i). Nonion grateloupis
Morrey),(Figure 4). (d'Orbigny), (j). Pleurostumella schuberti
Cushman, (k). Siphonodosaria sp. (l).
Siphotextularia catenata (Cushman), (Gambar
6).
Figure 6. Foraminifera bentonik is found in the
centipede at the top of the Ralla River.
Figure 7. Diagram of the distribution of bentonik
foraminifera in the upper layer of the
Ralla River.
Interpretation of the Ancient Deposition
Environment
The determination of the deposition
environment of the rock layer in the research
area is based on the content of small
foraminifera of bentonik species found in each
litological layer. 
The parameters for determining the deposition
environment in the research area using the

Analysis of the level of abundance of small classification of deposition environments

foraminifera species of bentonik species according to Bandy (1967) in Pringgoprawiro

contained in the upper layer can be seen in the and Kapid (2000) are as follows:

distribution figure of bentonik foraminifera Ralla River Path

(Figure 7).  The Ralla River is composed of limestone

lithology with limestone inserts, with a
composition of rocks that are carbony and
found sedimentary structures in the form of
laminates. In detail, it will be explained in
layers, ranging from the oldest layer to the
youngest layer.
The lower layer layer is composed of
limestone litology. The determination of
the precipitation environment in this layer
is based on the analysis of the microfossil
content of bentonik species. Based on the
3
results
Jumlahof the
3 analysis of micropaleontology
Fosil (%) 2,5
data, the deposition
2
2
environment of the layer is
1,5 1,5 1,5
determined1,5based on the
1 biostratigraphic
1 unit
1
0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5 0,5
of the pool0,5zone while still paying attention to
0
the abundance of certain species based on the
distribution of bentonik fossils (Figure 12).

Nama Spesies
In accordance with the analysis, there are types i.e. at a depth (30.48-91.44 m) –
of abundant bentonik species that are used to (91.44-182.88 m).
determine the deposition environment of the The results of the analysis of
lower layer, namely Ellipsoglandulina micropaleontology data conducted
exponens (H. B. Brady), Nodogerina laevigata on the upper layer show the
Bermudez, Nodosarella decurta (Bermudez), deposition environment of the layer,
Nodosarella Subnodosa (Guppy), Nodosarella which is determined based on the
tuckerae (Hadley), Nodosaria raphanistrum biostratigraphic unit of the pool zone
(Linne), (Table 1). while taking into account the
abundance of certain species types

Transisi Neritik Bathyal

based on the distribution of bentonik
fossils (Figure 6).
Kandungan Fosil
Abyssal

Hadal

Bentonik
In accordance with the analysis, there are types
Middle
Middle

Upper
Outer

Outer
Inner

of abundant bentonik species that are used to

Ellipsoglandulina exponens (H. determine the deposition environment of the
B. Brady)

Nodogenerina laevigata upper layer, namely Cibicides

Bermudez

Nodosarella decurta Bermudez. pseudongerianus (Cushman), Nodogerina

Nodosarella Subnodosa

(Guppy)
challengeriana Thalmann, Nodosarella
Nodosarella ttuckerae (Hadley)

Nodosaria raphanistrum
(Linne)
decurta (Bermudez), Nonion grateloupis
(d'Orbigny), Siphonodosaria sp. (l).
Table 1: Determination of the deposition
environment based on the small Siphotextularia catenata (Cushman), (Table
foraminiferous content of bentonic 2).
species in the lower layer (Deposition
Environment According to Bandy,
1967).

Based on the availability of bentonik

fossils comparable to the
classification of the deposition
environment according to Bandy
1967, it can be concluded that the
lower layer is deposited in the
Table 2: Determination of the deposition
Middle Nertik – Outer Neritic zone environment based on the small
foraminiferous content of bentonic
 species in the upper layer (Deposition Eocene upper-middle Eocene central part of
Environment According to Bandy,
1967). the middle. While the age of the ralla river
track is the Upper Lower Eocene-the Lower
Based on the availability of bentonik fossils Upper Eocene.
Conclusion
Transisi Neritik Bathyal

Based on the data obtained from the results of

Kandungan Fosil observations in the field and laboratory
Abyssal

Hadal
Pantai Terbuka

Bentonik
analysis of each layer of litology in the
Middle

Middle
Upper
Outer

Outer
Inner

research area, it can be concluded that:

Cibicides pseudongerianus
The ancient deposition environment of
limestone units in the research area was
(Cushman)

Nodogerina challengeriana

Thalmann

Nodosarella decurta Bermudez.

determined based on the appearance and
Siphonodosaria sp.

Siphotextularia catenata abundance of bentonik species found in each

(Cushman)

comparable to the classification of deposition
environments according to Bandy 1967, it can
be concluded that the upper layer is deposited
in the Middle Nertik–Outer Neritic zone at a
depth of (30.48–91.44 m)–(91.44–182.88 m).
Relative Age 
The determination
environment of a lithology is very closely
related to the age of the formation of the
lithology. The determination of relative age is
intended to find out the sequence of the
process of deposition of sedimentary material
until the formation of a sedimentary rock. 
The parameters for determining the relative
age of each observation layer in the study area
are based on the small foraminifera content of
planktonic
Zoning, 1969 and POSTUMA, 1971.
Based on the analysis of planktonic fossils
contained in the research area, we can find out
the age of the research area, namely on the
trajectory of the Ralla River aged lower
Nonion gratloupis (d’orbigny) litological layer, where the Ralla River Pass
and the Ralla River Pass were deposited in the
Central Nertic zone-Outer Nertik at a depth of
30.48–182.88 M. 
 
The cycle of changes in the ancient deposition
environment of batugamping units in the
research area, namely on the trajectory of the
of the deposition
Ralla River, has three cycles, namely Central
Neritik – Outer Neritik, Outer Neritik –
Central Neritik, and Central Neritik – Outer
Neritik.
Based on the analysis of planktonic fossils
contained in the research area, we can find out
the age of the research area, namely on the
trajectory of the Ralla River aged lower
Eocene upper-middle Eocene central part of
the middle. 
species comparable to Blow
Thank You
In particular, the author would like to express
his gratitude to the Dean of the Faculty of
Engineering, Hasanuddin University, and the
Chairman of the Department of Geological
Engineering, Universitan Hasanuddin, who has
given the author the opportunity to conduct
this research. The author expresses his
gratitude to all those who have helped so
that this research can run smoothly.

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