The Barinatxe section (Western Pyrenees) contains one of the most complete and expanded deep-water
succession of the early Eocene so far described. The succession, cropped out continuously along sea cliffs,
is rich in well preserved calcareous nannofossil.
The calcareous nannofossil study carried out in Barinatxe section, where a total of 70 autochthonous early
Eocene calcareous nannofossil species have been identified, has allowed us to identify Zones NP10, NP11,
NP12 and NP13. Furthermore, we have precisely pinpointed the succession of calcareous nannofossil
biohorizons and their relative position within the planktic foraminifer zones. The calcareous nannofossil
and planktic foraminifer intercalibration scheme resulted from this study does not agree with the current
standard biomagnetochronologic correlation scheme. In order to corroborate or contradict our observations
similar studies in sections of a wide range of latitudes and depositional environments are needed