Biochronostratigraphy of the Cenomanian-Paleocene platform margin carbonate successions in the Geyik Dağı area, Central Taurides, Türkiye

Slope to basin carbonate successions, ranging in age from the Cenomanian to the Paleocene, are exposed in the Geyik Dağı area that is part of the Anamas-Akseki autochthon (Geyik Dağı unit) cropping out in western Central Taurides (southern Türkiye). Biochronostratigraphic and sedimentologic features of the successions have been recently described from 3 stratigraphic sections. They are structurally separated into 2 successions. The lower succession is unconformably overlain by Eocene turbiditic sandstones. The upper succession is in a tectonic sheet between the Eocene sandstones and the Aladağ unit. Stratigraphic bases of the successions are not exposed in the study area. The both successions begin with poorly sorted skeletal limestones (mostly rudist fragments) intercalated with chaotic carbonate breccias (lithofacies A) that were deposited in a forereef/fault escarpment environment. The presence of Conicorbitolina conica and Orbitolina concava indicates that lithofacies A is early to mid-Cenomanian. The overlying bioclastic/lithoclastic packstones (lithofacies B) are intercalated with calcisphere wackestones with planktonic foraminifers giving Turonian-Santonian age and were accumulated on a platform slope environment. Lithofacies B gradually passes into lithofacies C composed of cherty calcilutites from the Campanian age. Lithofacies D is characterized by bioclastic packstones/wackestones with larger hyaline benthic foraminifers from the Maastrichtian age. Lithofacies E consists of cherty micritic limestones composed of wackestones containing planktonic foraminifers from the Maastrichtian age and from the Paleocene age in the uppermost 1 m. Allochthonous gravity flow-dominated slope to basin carbonates of the Geyik Dağı area can be correlated with the Kuşça limestone of the Maastrichtian-Lutetian age and Dumanlı formation of the Campanian-Maastrichtian age, despite the wider age range. They are interpreted as platform margin sediments and have importance for paleogeographic reconstruction of the Tauride carbonate platform.