Palynofacies analyses of coal bearing sediments in the Çanakkale-Çan basin (NW Turkey)

This study deals with palynofacies analyses of coal bearing Miocene sediments in the Çanakkale-Çan basin which is the most important coal basin in Biga Peninsula. For this purpose palynofacies analyses were carried out on core samples from three boreholes in the basin with the aim of define the facies, depositional energy, redox conditions and paleoenvironment.For the palynofacies analyses palynological kerogen categories were counted and five types of palynological kerogen were identified for analyses. These kerogens are; amorphous organic matter (AOM), opaque equidimensional phytoclast, opaque lath phytoclast, translucent phytoclast and palynomorphs. The studied sedimentary successions showed a rich palynological kerogen content. The phytoclast group shows a moderate abundance in lower parts of sedimentary successions in boreholes. In upper successions, the AOM group shows a moderate abundance and the abundance trend increases toward the top, there is a clear increase in the palynomorph group. Based on composition, distribution and abundance of palynological kerogen types, and the cluster, four palynofacies associations (PA) were recognized. The AOM group is dominant in PA 2, 3 and 4, whereas the phytoclast group shows a moderate abundance in PA 1. The palynomorph group shows the lowest value in PA 1 and highest value in PA 3. The palynofacies analyses of the studied successions allowed environmental reconstruction. PA 1 indicates oxic proximal conditions. PA 2, 3 and 4 correspond distal anoxic environment.Keywords: Palynofacies, palynological kerogen, Çanakkale-Çan Basin.