Palynology, palaeoecology and palynofacies of the oligo-miocene sediments outcropping in the Yenice-Kalkım (Çanakkale) basin

In this thesis, palynology, palaeoecology and palynofacies of the Soma Formation outcropping in the Yenice-Kalkım Basin were studied. In the study area, lignite-bearing deposits are generally made up of mudstone, marl, siltstone, tuff, tuffite, sandstone and limestone. Formation starts mainly with thick lignite seams at base, and continues upward with fine-grained deposits and pyroclastics.Morever, lignite seams with gypsum and sulphur and volcanic levels occur at the top of the formation. During the field studies, partial stratigraphical sections were measured from the lignite-bearing deposits. The sections were derived from the Bengiler, Danişment, Linfa, Ünsa and Metehan open cast mines. Palynological samples from the lignite-bearing sediments were collected along the sections. In addition, volcanic samples for the radiometric analysis were collected from theDanişment, Linfa and Bengiler. According to radiometric data, the age of the lignite-bearing sediments in the Danişment and Linfa was assigned to the Late Oligocene. Furthermore, sporomorph contents of the Metehan and Ünsa sections indicate similar features the sporomorph assemblages of the Late Oligocene. Radiometric data of the Bengiler section point out that the age of the lignite-bearing sediments is of Early Miocene. According to these data, the age of the Soma Formation was assigned to the Late Oligocene-Early Miocene. The palynological assemblages of the Late Oligocene-Early Miocene were divided into vegetation groups according to their botanical affinities.The Late Oligocene assemblages predominantly include the elements of coniferous forest and riparian vegetation. Alsothe elements of the mixed mesophytic forest and broad-leaved forest are observed abundantly. Swamp forest, water and herbaceous plants represented inminorpercentages accompany to these assemblages.The Early Miocene palynological assemblages are similar to the Late Oligoceneassemblages. However the percentages of the swamp forest elements are more abundant in Early Miocene.According to these data, the Early Miocene basin is thought to be larger and deeper than the Late Oligocene.Palaeoclimate results on the basis of palynological assemblages generally range from 17,2-24,3 °C for the mean annual temperature, 5,5-12,5 °C for the temperature of the coldest month, 27,3-28,3 °C for the temperature of the warmest month in the Late Oligocene.Mean annual precipitation ranges from 1000 to 1355mm. Mean annual temperature for the Early Miocene is between 17,2 and 18,4°C.Temperatures of coldest and warmest months are similar to temperatures of the Late Oligocene.Mean annual precipitation ranges from 1187 to 1355mm. According to these values, it can be said that the sediments were deposited under warmer and more humid conditions for the Early Miocene. Since quantitative rainfall values of the Early Miocene were higher than the rainfall of the Late Oligocene, it indicates that the basin was larger. Also, leaf fossils from tuffite levels of the Bengiler and Sebepli open cast mines were collected. Palynofacies investigations of the samples from the Linfa open cast mine were done as well.Phytoclasts, amorph organic matter and palynomorph contents of the samples were investigated. According to percentages variations, distal and proximal facies were obtained from the samples of the Linfa open cast mine.