Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the early miocene aged lice formation outcropping in the Çağlayancerit region (Northeast of Kahramanmaraş)

Çağlayancerit district (Kahramanmaraş) is located on an important tectonic zone where allochthon and autochthon units that are tectonic related to each other coexist. In this study, detailed planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Lice Formation, one of the autochthon units cropping out in the region, was investigated. The eigth planktonic foraminifera genus and twenty planktonic foraminifera species were identified in a total of 82 samples taken from three stratigraphic sections measured in the region. The Globigerinoides trilobus Interval Zone (MMi3 Zone) was determined in the Lice Formation with these planktonic foraminifera genus and species. While planktonic foraminifera species diversity is generally low in sandstone-dominated levels, it is relatively higher in marl levels. In addition to planktonic foraminifera species and small benthic foraminifera species were observed to be abundant at some levels. The coexistence of these two different fossil assemblages shows that the relative sea level and physicochemical conditions in the basin change from time to time.