Palynostratigraphy of the oligo-miocene Denizli Çardak molasse basin

ABSTRACT This study deals with palynological investigations fiom the Oligocene of the Çardak - Tokça basin whose sediments exposed in the North of Acıgöl, between the Çardak and Tokça village, S W Turkey. The Acıgöl group forming the basin fill consists of five major formations which are namely fiom bottom to top Armutalam, Çardak, Hayrettin, Tokça and Bozdağ. Armutalam formation unconformably overlies sedimentary unite of the Lycian Nappes. It is composed of alternations of greenish ophiolitic conglomerates and cross laminated mudstone with coal and sandstone lenses. Çardak formation is laterally and vertically transitional with underlying Armutalam and overlying Hayrettin formation. This formation consists, fiom the base upwards, of planar bedded coarse grained sandstone, bioturbated mudstone, mudstone with conglemerate intercalation and poorly sorted reddish conglomerates. Hayrettin formation is laterally and vertically transitional with overlying Tokça formation. It includes cross bedded, bioturbated greyish sandstones and fossilliferus limestones which is called Sankavak reef member. The formation comprises coal horizons. These coal layers are not economical to mining. Tokça formation generally consists of mudstones with intercalated coals and sandstones. It contains ecological reef member namely Üçtepeler. Üçtepeler reef mmember includes abudant coral colony. The formation comprises economic coal seams. The thickness of coal layers varies between 35 and 120 centimetres. The uppermost unit of the Acıgöl group is Bozdağ formation. The relation between the Bozdağ and Tokça formations is not clear. It is made up of local cross bedded conglomerate, sandstone and bioturbated mudstone alternation.' The Mio- Pliocene and Quaternary sediments overlie the Acıgöl group unconformably. 48 samples and 4 measured sections were taken from the Hayrettin and Tokça formations. A total of 55 genera and 104 species were recorded from the Hayrettin and Tokça formations. Of these, 48 genera and 99 species are of spores and pollen and the others fungal spores, dinoflagellates, and incertae cedis. A new species, which is named Tricolpopollenites akgiinii has been established. The presence of Aglaoeridia cyclops, Boehlensipollis hohli, Slowakipollis hipophâeoides, Mediocolpopollis compactus ssp. ellenhaunensis, Dicolpopollis kockeli, and accompanying Leiotriletes adriennis, Leiotriletes dorogensis, Verrucatosporites aliemts, Verrucatosporites scutulum, Intratriporopollenites instructus, Subtriporopottenites simplex and Tricolpopollenites henrici collectively indicate mat the age of these formations is the Lower - Middle Oligocene. Palynolocigal studies and sedimentological features demonstrate that the Hayrettin formation was deposited near deltaic conditions. The presence of Nypa (Spinozonocolpites ) pollen indicates brakish water to marine coastal enviroment Tokça formation was deposited in lakes and flood plains of dense lowland and upland vegetation. The presence of Sparganiaceaeae - Typhaceae {Sparganiaceaepollenites ) and Aglaoeridia cyclops in the Tokça formation are true indicators of fresh water habitatThe palynological data suggest a subtropical climate during the deposition of coal seams embedded in both Hayrettin and Tokça formations. IV