Non-Fusulinid Foraminifera of the Upper Pennsylvanian Finis Shale, Including the Description of an Enigmatic Taxon

Abstract

The Upper Pennsylvanian Finis Shale Member of the Graham Formation, Cisco Group (Virgilian Series) can be characterized by its foraminiferal assemblage. Although the chronostratigraphic position of the Finis Shale has been disputed for most of this century, the occurrence of Virgilian age foraminifera supports recent research placing the Finis at the base of the Cisco Group. The mid-unit shales of the Finis contain the highest generic diversity of foraminifera, and also contain an enigmatic taxon, Finisia martini, described herein.