Benthonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous (Middle Cenomanian-Coniacian) Sequences of the Bey Daglari Carbonate Platform, Western Taurides, Turkey

Identification of the benthonic foraminiferal assemblages from ten stratigraphic sections from the inner platform limestones of the Middle Cenomanian-Coniacian successions of the Bey Daglari carbonate platform (BDCP) allowed the recognition of one biozone and two subzones. The lower part of the platform limestones (Middle-Upper Cenomanian) is represented by relatively rich benthonic foraminiferal assemblages, while the upper part (Turonian-Coniacian) contains poor assemblages. The benthonic foraminiferal assemblages determined in the BDCP are dominated by long-ranging species. The shorter-ranging, stratigraphical index species have been selected to date the Upper Cretaceous platform limestones of the BDCP based on the distributions of the species in the circum-Mediterranean region. The Pseudolituonella reicheli-Pseudorhapydionina dubia Concurrent Range Zone is defined from the Middle-Upper Cenomanian platform limestones. The biozone includes the Cisalveolina lehneri Subzone and the Coxites zubairensis Subzone of Middle Cenomanian and Upper Cenomanian age respectively. The first occurrences of Moncharmontia apenninica-compressa and Pseudocyclammina sphaeroidea indicate the Late Turonian and the Coniacian respectively.