Foraminiferous micropaleontology of cenozoic rocks Southeast of Kırıkkale

In the southeast of Kırıkkale; in the shallow sections of the transgressive Çevirme Formation located around Ceritkale and Hacıaliobası, there are limestones that outcrop. The unit, named the Dulkadirli Limestone Member, consists of gray-colored, medium to thick-bedded, sandy-silty, and massive limestones containing Nummulites and coral, gastropod, and bivalve shells, and is laterally and vertically transitional with the Çevirme Formation. During the field studies, 40 samples were collected, and paleontological evaluations of the samples identified a foraminifer community composed of Alveolina pasticillata, Gyroidinella magna, Sphaerogypsina globula, Neorotalia vienotti, Valvulina orali, Nummulites sp., Ornatorotalia sp., Operculina sp., Valvulammina sp., Textulariidae, and Miliolidae. The systematic identifications of the determined foraminifers were made. According to the Folk and Dunham classifications, the limestones were classified as wackestones and packstones. The ages and geological processes of the fossils found in the study area were examined in detail. According to the fossil fauna, the Çevirme Formation was determined to be a product of a well-preserved marine environment. The fossil fauna includes species such as benthic foraminifers and nummulites. These species are typically found in shallow marine environments, especially in continental shelf and coastal areas. Therefore, it was determined that the Çevirme Formation was formed in a continental shelf or coastal environment.