High-resolution sequence stratigraphic correlation in the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)-Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) peritidal carbonate deposits (Western Taurides, Turkey)

Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)- Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) inner platform carbonates in the Western Taurides are composed of metre-scale upward-shal lowing cyclic deposits (parasequences) and important karstic surfaces cappi ng some of the cycles. Peritidal cycles (shallow subtidal facies capped by tidal-Aat laminites or fenestrate limestones) are regressive- and transgres sive-prone (upward-deepening followed by upward-shallowing facies trends). Subtidal cycles are of two types and indicate incomplete shallowing. Submer ged subtidal cycles are composed of deeper subtidal facies overlain by shal low subtidal facies. Exposed subtidal cycles consist of deeper subtidal fac ies overlain by shallow subtidal facies that are capped by features indicat ive of prolonged subaerial exposure. Subtidal facies occur characteristical ly in the Jurassic, while peritidal cycles are typical for the Lower Cretac eous of the region. Within the foraminiferal and dasyclad algal biostratigraphic framework, fou r karst breccia levels are recognized as the boundaries of major second-ord er cycles, introduced for the first time in this study. These levels corres pond to the Kimmeridgian-Portlandian boundary, mid-Early Valanginian, mid-E arly Aptian and mid-Cenomanian and represent important sea level falls whic h affected the distribution of foraminiferal fauna and dasyclad flora of th e Taurus carbonate platform. Within the Kimmeridgian-Cenomanian interval 26 third-order sequences (types and 2) are recognized. These sequences are th e records of eustatic sea level fluctuations rather than the records of loc al tectonic events because the boundaries of the sequences representing 1-4 Ma intervals are correlative with global sea level falls. Third-order sequences and metre-scale cyclic deposits are the major units u sed for long-distance, high-resolution sequence stratigraphic correlation i n the Western Taurides. Metre-scale cyclic deposits (parasequences) in the Cretaceous show genetical stacking patterns within third-order sequences an d correspond to fourth-order sequences representing 100-200 ka. These cycle s are possibly the E2 signal (126 ka) of the orbital eccentricity cycles of the Milankovitch band. The slight deviation of values, calculated for para sequences. from the mean value of eccentricity cycles can be explained by t he currently imprecise geochronology established in the Cretaceous and miss ed sea level oscillations when the platform lay above fluctuating sea level . Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.