Stratigraphy, sedimentology and coal petrography of tertiary units in Gelibolu Peninsula (Çanakkale)

The aim of this study is to determine stratigraphical, sedimentological, organic petrographical and palinological features of the coal bearing Paleogene and Neogene formations cropping out around Tayfur and Cumalı villages in the Gelibolu Peninsula. Eocene to Pliocene aged marine and terrestrial sediments that bear coal levels are represented by two formations; Late Oligocene Osmancık Formation and Miocene Gazhanedere Formation.Petrographic analysis results of all coal samples tend to have similar coal petrographic properties. Huminite is the most abundant maceral group and most abundant maceral is gelinite in all coal samples. Besides, small amounts of liptinite (mostly less than %9) and inertinite (mostly less than %8) are observed within the coals. The mineral matter of coal samples is made of clay minerals, pyrite (mainly framboidal pyrite), calcite and quartz. The reflectance measurements indicate that the rank of coals is sub bituminous.According to palynological investigations, there are differences between palynological counting results of collected samples from two coaly levels. Depend on this differences, samples are separated two sporomorph assembly (Sporomorph Assembly A and B). Late Oligocene climatic values detected by the samples demonstrate that deposition occur in hot humid climatic conditions. The amount of annual precipitation of Late Miocene samples fall below 1000 mm. This is probably related to the drought of the Late Miocene.Results of trace elements analysis of two coaly levels are generally similar but some trace element show dissimilarity. As, U, Mo and W concentrations in Late Miocene coal samples and Ni, Y, Cs, Rb concentrations in Late Oligocene coal samples have higher values.KEY WORDS: Stratigraphy, sedimentology, coal petrograhy, palynology.