Analyses carried out on benthonic foraminiferal assemblages of the Puentedey-Hornillalatorre formations
(Norcastilian Platform) are part of a multidisciplinary research with the main subject of understanding the
palaeoceanographic events that took place at the end of the Cretaceous within the Basque-Cantabrian
Basin. The study sections have been dated from the late Cenomanian to the late Turonian. A total of 98
benthonic species have been identified, which clearly correspond to shallow marine water microfauna. In
this context, some of the aspects about the palaeoenvironmental variations detected in Puentedey-Santelices
area are crucially provided by changes of the foraminiferal assemblages (Units 1 to 3), specific diversity
changes of the microfauna, the rate between different type of tests of benthonic, percentage of keeled,
incipiently keeled and globular planktonic foraminifera and oceanicity index. Thus, the dominant
foraminiferal assemblages, the great percentage of agglutinated tests, and the lower values of the oceanicity
index suggest a cool, acid, and bad-oxygenated internal platform (<100 m) waters palaeoenvironment
(Units 1-2). The inoceramid bivalves I. (Mytiloides), with thinner shells and grey colour are well-developed.
The Unit 3, marked by oxygenated internal platform waters palaeoenvironment, where I. (Mytiloides) are
replaced by I (I) lamarcki, with thicker shells and caramel colour