BENTHIC FORAMINIFERAL FAUNA OF MALATYA OLIGO-MIOCENE BASIN, (EASTERN TAURIDS, EASTERN TURKEY

In this study, systematic description of 28 benthic foraminiferal taxa were carried out which had been detected in Oligo-Miocene aged Muratlı and Petekkaya formations cropping out over wide areas around Akçadağ town, west of Malatya province in Eastern Taurids. Miogypsina globulina which is a cosmopolite species located in Burdigalian aged shallow marine carbonates is described on wide geographical areas ranging from Central America to Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean Tethys. Miogypsina polymorpha on the other hand was reported only from Indo-Pacific in stratigraphical records until today. Considering the association of these species, the assumption of a probable marine connection mentioned between Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean Tethys in Burdigalian period in the region was strongly supported. Also considering the presence of marker planktonic foraminiferal species Globoquadrina dehiscens and Sphenolithus delphix from nannoplanktons which are described in marls between Chattian and Burdigalian units it was determined that these marls most probably indicated Aquitanian age.