Palaeoecology of the Rupelian-early Chattian (Oligocene) aged Tokça Formation outcropping east of Çivril (Denizli): Quantitative climatic correlations
Abstract: In this study, based on the palynological and foraminiferal the contents, palaeoclimatic,palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological interpretations of the Tokça Formation outcropping on theÇardakTokça Basin have been made. Limestones at reefal character in the Tokça Formation is knownas the Üçtepeler reef member. Tokça formation can informally be divided in three parts as the lowerside of reef, reef and upper side of reef. Succession under the reef consists chiefly of conglomerate,sandstone, mudstone alternation. In some places, there are plant debris and hematite bearing levels.Suquence on the reef is generally made up of sandstone and mudstone alternation, not availableconglomerate in any level and contains many thin coal seam. Besides, coal seam operated occurs at thelower sides of the sequence. Palynological assemblage has been obtained from both the sequences of thelower side and upper side of the reef. In the assemblage, Laevigatosporites haardti, Pityosporitesmicroalatus, Momipites punctatus, Caryapollenites simplex, Tricolpopollenites liblarensis ssp. fallax,Tricolpopollenites retiformis and Tricolporopollenites cingulum ssp. oviformis are dominant. Inaddition, dinoflagellates representing shallow marine environment have been identified. The richforaminifera community from the Üçtepeler reef member have been described. According toLepidocyclina (Eulepidina) dilatata dArchiac, Miogypsinoides sp. (primitivel forms), Austrotrillina sp.and Cycloclypeus sp., the age of the deposition has been determined as the lower sides of the UpperOligocene. When palynological and foraminiferal data has been evaluated with together, deposition ofthe Tokça Formation took place under marine influence. Sea level during deposition reefal limestoneshas reached its highest level. The statistical palaeoclimatic results indicate that the Tokça Formationwas deposited under subtropical conditions receiving the high rainfall. The quantitative climatic resultsobtained from the Rupelianlower Chattian Oligocene Tokça Formation compared with coeval basinsfrom Europe, the temperatures of that period in Anatolia suggests reaching a higher temperatures.