Micropaleontology of kırkgecit formation at kovancılar (Eastern Elazığ) area

In this study, benthic foraminiferal assamblages of Eocene units have been investigated. These units are located at Kovancılar region, eastern part of Taurus Orogenic Beit. The age of rock units ranges from Cretaceaus to Quaternary in the studied area. The oldest rock unit is Upper Cretaceaus aged Elazığ Magmatics that consist of volcanic rocks such as andesites, basalts. The Kırkgeçit formation, Middle-Upper Eocene (Bartortian-Priabonian), is represented by the intercalation of conglomerate, fossiliferous sandstone, marl, sandy limestone, mudstone, algal limestone that is characterized by shallow marineenvironment, overlies the magmatics disconformably. Also, Karabakir formation Upper Miocene-Pliocene, is composed of lake deposits (conglomerate, sandstone, claystone, limestone) and continental basalts, spreads over Kırkgeçit formation disconformably. Later, Plio- Quatemary aged Palu formation characterized by a continental environmen twith mud matrix, mean- coarse grained gravels, lays upon disconformably the other units. The youngest unit of the sequence is Quaternary aged alluvium whih consists of varisus gravel size, sand, silt; is present in the river channels and cros out widely study area. The Kırkgeçit formation is wide spread in the study area. Four stratigraphic sections were mesaured from the formation. 36 genera of benthic and plantkic foraminifera, 21 species of benthic foraminifera have been systematically determined from the samples olotained from the stratigraphical sections. Two benthic foraminiferal zones have been distinguished in marl, sandstone, sandy limestone and limestone of Middle-Upper Eocene Kırkgeçit formation. These are respectively; Nummulites petforatus Range Zone is Middle Eocene (Bartonian), the other is Nummulites fabianii Range Zone in Upper Eocene (Priaboniyen). KEY WORDS: Benthic foraminifera, Elazığ-Kovancılar, Middle-Upper Eocene, Range Zone. VII