From similarities of the geologic history, many middle Neogene areas in Chugoku and Kinki districts may be grouped up, and be classified into two geologic provinces, "Setouchi" and "Sanin". The latter is subdivided into three subgeologic provinces, "Hondogawa", "Shimane Peninsula" and "Oki Islands". Then, from the results of the comparative studies on smaller Foraminifera from these provinces, the writer established tentatively the microbiostratigraphical units, in descending order as follow, (5) Nonion pacificum-Rotalia cf. beccariz Zonule (4) Uvigerina subperegrina・ Epistominella pulchella Zonule (3) Cyclammina spp.-Haplophragmoides spp. Zonule (2) Lagenonodosaria scalaris sagamiensis-Uvigerina crasszcostata Zonule (1) Miogypsina kotoi-Operculina complanata japonica Zonule and finally found some-facts, that Neogene marine strata of "Setouchi" province seem to belong to (1) and (2) Zonules, of "Hondogawa" to (2), (3) and (4) Zonules, of "Shimane Peninsula" to (3), (4) and (5) Zonules, and "Oki Island" to only (4) Zonule. As to the geological age of these Zonules, (1) and (2) Zonules may be considered to be middle Miocene (F2-F3), (3) and (4) to be last Miocene (G), and (5) to be earliest Pliocene (H_I).
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