PALEOCLIMATIC INSIGHTS ON THE CENOMANIAN-TURONIAN OCEANIC ANOXIC EVENT (OAE2) FROM NORTHERN IRAQ BASED ON CALCAREOUS NANNOFOSSILS AND GEOCHEMICAL DATA

Abstract

Calcareous nannofossils, mineralogical and geochemical investigations are carried out on the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary of the Gulneri Formation in the Azmir, Dokan and Degala sections, northern Iraq. Regarding the calcareous nannofossil data CC11 and CC12 biozones were identified. A detailed investigation was carried out to identify calcareous nannofossils species. On the basis of their stratigraphic distribution, two biozones were proposed in this study; Quadrum gartneri Interval Biozone (CC11) part and Lucianrhabdus maleformis Interval Biozone (CC12) part. Correlation with other calcareous nannofossils biozones from regional schemes led to conclude that the age of the Gulneri Formation in the studied sections is the early Turonian. Mineralogical (X-ray diffraction XRD) and trace elements geochemistry (X-ray fluorescence XRF) data along with the dominance of calcareous nannofossil Watznauria that indicates warm and arid climatic condition prevailing in the Cenomanian-Turonian transition.