Stratigraphic architecture and evolution of the Karaisali formation, northwest part of the Adana basin

This study has been done on the Miocene platform carbonates cropping out around Karaisalı-Bucak-Çokak area, which widely exposed with excellent outcrops at the northern margin parts of the Adana Basin. Different detailed studies took place on these carbonate such as facies mapping, detailed sketching on high resolution photos, 51 measured sections, 87 detailed petrographical analyses, 5 nannofossil analyses, 45 microfossil, 55 etching section and 351 samples. 9 facies associations with 28 lithofacies and 6 subfacies were identified from these carbonates which recognizable and attributable to back reef, reef core, reef front, fore reef to slope, inner reef depression, off reef and basinal sedimentary environment. Nannofossil data shows that deposition of carbonate platforms of the Karaisalı formation developed within Langhian-Serravallian time interval. The Stratigraphic architecture of carbonate platforms can be allocated into full sequences with three sequence boundary. Retrograding platform dominated developed in Late Burdigalian. Dynamic sea level and carbonate optimum in Langhian successively created carbonate platform to aggrading with minor progradation and eventually retrogradation. Faster and rapid subsidence in Serravallian created basin down and relative sea level resulted depositional record around the Serravallian platform to basinward. Intensity of tectonic regime in Middle Serravallian created gravitational instability that resulted exotic carbonate blocks rolling down into the basin from the Paleo highs.