Türkiye Jeoloji Bülteni

Shallow Marine Benthic Foraminifera Assemblage of the Early Eocene Succession in the Northern Araç (Kastamonu) and Paleoecological Interpretation

Abstract: Soğanlı Formation of Early Eocene age in the northeastern of Araç (Kastamonu) has been investigated inorder to determine their paleontology and palaeoecology. The sequence consists of gray, yellowish, clayeylimestone, rich in larger benthic foraminifers. The lower parts of clayey limestone are dominated byporcellaneous foraminifera such as Alveolina and Orbitolites and by dascylad algae. The top of the sectionis characterized by hyaline calcareous foraminifers such as Assilina and Nummulites. Idalina sinjaricaGrimsdale, Glomalveolina lepidula Schwager, A. cemali Sirel & Acar, A. rotundata kazancii Sirel & Acar A. erki Acar, A. ankarensis Sirel, A. pieroi Sirel & Acar, Lockhartia conditi (Nuttall), L. tipperi (Davies),Orbitolites complanatus Lamarck, Cyclopertorbitolites tokerae Özgen-Erdem, Assilina spinosa Davies& Pinfold, Nummulites sp., Cribrobulimina sp., Kathina sp., Neorotalia sp., Triloculina sp. have beendecribed along the section. The distribution of the larger benthic foraminifera indicates Early Eocene age.According to these assemblages, we interpret that deposition of the unit started in a restricted shallowerenvironment and continued in a shallow high energy environment.