Diatom as an alternative for biostratigraphy research in Karangsambung

Paleogene stratigraphy of Karangsambung consists of Karangsambung and Totogan olistostrome deposit. The previous biostratigraphy research for those formations used the olistostrome matrix as the main sample. In fact, the olistostrome matrix is also a mixed material that might consist of the mixed material of the older and young sediment, making this sample unrepresentative for biostratigraphy analysis. The previous biostratigraphy research based on the matrix sample should be evaluated and should also consider new criteria for the representative sample. The most suitable biostratigraphy analysis sample from the olistostrome deposit is soft fraction sediment and laminated sediment which represent the suspension deposition phase in the part of olistostrome depositional process. On the other hand, diatom biostratigraphy could be applied in the representative sample related to the diatom living strategy in deep marine as lamination form and also their progressive spreading in Cenozoic. However, the application of diatom biostratigraphy in olistostrome deposit is still new and it lacks of reference, especially for diatom research in Indonesia. Though the application would be difficult to realize, it might open the chance for new research and discovery in Karangsambung biostratigraphy.