Karaburun (NW Turkey): A Key Oligocene Section on the Margins of Paratethys*

M.D. Simmons1, M.D. Bidgood2, S. Ćorić3, A.I. Okay4, D. Shaw5, E. Tulan6, J. Mayer7, and G.C. Tari8

Search and Discovery Article #30653 (2020)**

Posted March 9, 2020

*Adapted from oral presentation given at 2019 AAPG Europe Region Regional Conference, Paratethys Petroleum Systems Between Central Europe and the Caspian
Region, Vienna, Austria, March 26-27, 2019
**Datapages © 2020. Serial rights given by author. For all other rights contact author directly. DOI:10.1306/30653Simmons2020
1
Halliburton, 97 Jubilee Avenue, Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4RW, UK & The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, UK
(mike.simmons@halliburton.com)
2
GSS (Geoscience) Ltd, 2 Meadows Drive, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire AB51 0GA, UK
3
Geological Survey of Austria, Neulinggasse 38, 1030 Vienna, Austria
4
Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences, İstanbul Technical University, 34469 Maslak, İstanbul, Turkey
5
Biostratigraphic Associates (UK) Ltd, 17 Woodland Avenue, Stoke on Trent, ST6, UK
6
Montanuniversitaet Leoben, Peter Tunner Strasse 5, 8700 Leoben, Austria
7
OMV New Zealand Ltd, The Majestic Centre, 100 Ellis Street, 6011 Wellington, New Zealand
8
OMV Exploration & Production GmbH, Trabrennstrasse 6-8, A-1020 Vienna, Austria

Abstract

Oligocene strata of the İhsaniye Formation crop out at Karaburun located on the Black Sea Coast of Turkey approximately 60 km northwest of
Istanbul. This is primarily a succession of marls (in part rich in organic carbon), although coarser units are present in parts of the succession.
The precise age and depositional environment of this succession has been the subject of some discussion in the literature; consequently, we
have used well- preserved assemblages of calcareous nannoplankton, foraminifera, and palynomorphs present to determine the detailed
biostratigraphy, age calibration, and palaeoenvironments of the section. The succession is significant to petroleum geologists because it
represents a lateral equivalent to Oligocene-aged source rocks in the Black Sea Basin that are variously attributed to the Maykop Suite and
Ruslar Formation. Age-equivalent source rocks also occur in the Thrace Basin. Interpretation of the succession is therefore useful for providing
insight into regional palaeogeography and relative sea-level change, both of which have a bearing on the regional distribution of petroleum play
elements within this sector of Paratethys. The outcrop represents a complex story of onlap against an Eocene reefal limestone high, with an
active fault partly controlling deposition. Nonetheless, all three biostratigraphic disciplines used suggest that the studied section can be
biostratigraphically calibrated to the Early Oligocene (Early Rupelian). Biozonal subdivision and detailed correlation is possible within this age
bracket. Deposition occurred dominantly in outer neritic (shelf) – bathyal (slope) depositional settings. It is notable that the İhsaniye Formation
at Karaburun is mostly marly (as opposed to purely siliciclastic) and contains a fully open marine diverse fauna with no evidence for restriction
and/or only limited evidence for bottom-water anoxia within its lower part. This may reflect a proximity to a Tethyan marine connection to the
south by means of the Thrace Basin. The restriction (semi-marine isolation) noted in age equivalent strata in other parts of the Black Sea Basin
was not observed at Karaburun.
 References Cited

Dinu C, Wong HK, Tambrea D, Matenco L (2005). Stratigraphic and structural characteristics of the Romanian Black Sea shelf.
Tectonophysics 410: 417-435. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2005.04.012.

Mayer J, Rupprecht BJ, Sachsenhofer RF, Tari G, Bechtel A, et al. (2018). Source potential and depositional environment of Oligocene and
Miocene rocks offshore Bulgaria. In: Simmons MD, Tari GC, Okay AI (editors) Petroleum Geology of the Black Sea. Geological Society
London Special Publications 464: 307-328. doi: 10.1144/sp464.2.

Natal’in B, Say AG (2015). Eocene – Oligocene stratigraphy and structural history of the Karaburun area, southwestern Black Sea coast,
Turkey: transition from extension to compression. Geological Magazine 152: 1104-1122. doi:10.1017/s0016756815000229.

Okay AI, Ӧzcan E, Hakyemez A, Siyako M, Sunal G, et al. (2019). The Thrace Basin and the Black Sea: the Eocene-Oligocene marine
connection. Geological Magazine 156: 39-61. doi: 10.1017/S0016756817000772.

Popov SV, Antipov MP, Zastrozhnov AS, Kurina EE, Pinchuk TN (2010). Sea-level fluctuations on the north shelf of the Eastern Paratethys in
the Oligocene – Neogene. Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation 18: 200-224. doi:10.1134/s0869593810020073.

Sachsenhofer RF, Popov SV, Bechtel A, Ćorić S, Francu J, et al. (2018). Oligocene and Lower Miocene source rocks in the Paratethys:
Palaeogeographic and stratigraphic controls. In: Simmons MD, Tari GC, Okay AI (editors) Petroleum Geology of the Black Sea. Geological
Society, London, Special Publications 464: 267-306. doi:10.1144/sp464.1.

Simmons MD, Bidgood MD, Connell PG, Ćorić, S, Okay AI et al. (2020). Biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironments of the Oligocene
succession (Ihsaniye Formation) at Karaburun (NW Turkey). Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences: 29: 28-63.
 Karaburun (NW Turkey): A Key
Oligocene Section on the Margins of
Paratethys
M.D. Simmons, M.D. Bidgood, S. Ćorić, A.I. Okay,
Exploration Insights D. Shaw, E. Tulan, J. Mayer & G.C. Tari

© 2017 Halliburton. All Rights Reserved.

Karaburun (NW Turkey): A Key Oligocene Section on the Margins of
Paratethys
Outcrop Description

 Geological Setting
 Lithological Description and Clarification of Stratigraphy
 The Importance of Biostratigraphy

Regional Significance

 Relationship to Regional Stratigraphy

 Recognition of Sea-Level and Reduced Salinity Events
 Connections to Global Ocean
 Petroleum Significance

Acknowledgements

 Halliburton, The Natural History Museum, GSS (Geoscience) Ltd, Paul

Connell, Geological Survey of Austria, Istanbul Technical University,
Biostratigraphic Associates Ltd, Montanuniversitaet Leoben, OMV
Karaburun Location Present and Past

Early Oligocene Paleodigital Elevation Model of the Eastern

Paratethys region
Geological Setting

 Lies on the southern margin of the

Western Black Sea Basin
 Separated from the Thrace Basin
by the Strandja Massif
 Lies close to the West Black Sea
Fault and the “Catalaca Gap”, a
possible connection between the
Thrace Basin and the Western
Black Sea

Okay et al. (2019)

Geological Setting

 Following final uplift of the

Strandja Massif and opening of the
Thrace Basin during the Eocene a
Late Eocene shelfal limestone
(Soğucak Fm) was deposited
 End Eocene sea-level drawdown
causes exposure and erosion
 Deposition recommences
principally within the Early
Oligocene with deposition of the
mostly open marine İhsaniye Fm at
Karaburun with more proximal
equivalents closer to the Strandja
Massif and in the Thrace Basin

Okay et al. (2019)

Issue: Unravelling the Stratigraphy at Karaburun – Contrasting Views

Natal’in & Say (2015)

Okay et al. (2019)
Issue: Unravelling the Stratigraphy at Karaburun - Excellent Microfossil
Content
 Olig Marls
Eroded top of Eocene Limestone

Eocene Limestone
Late Eocene Reefal Limestones
Early Oligocene Pebbly Sandstone Facies
Early Oligocene Marls with Occasional Debris Flows & Organic Matter
Enrichment
Early Oligocene Syn-Sedimentary Slumping
Early Oligocene Debris Flows
 Olig Debris
Olig Organic-rich Marls (NP21-22) Flows (NP23)

Olig Pebbly Sandstones (NP23)

Olig Marls (NP23)

Eoc Limestones
 Eoc Limestones

Olig Marls (NP23)

Olig Marls (NP23)

Olig Pebbly Sandstones (NP23)

Olig Pebbly Sandstones
(NP23)
Exploration Insights

© 2017 Halliburton. All Rights Reserved.

 Olig Marls (NP23) Olig Organic-Rich Marls
(NP21-22)
Major Inverted Normal Fault
Olig Pebbly Sandstones (NP23)
Revised Stratigraphy & Stratigraphic History (Simmons et al., 2020)
Regional Comparisons

 Widespread Solenovian
(NP23/CN03) salinity reduction not
observed
 End-Eocene sea-level drawdown
noted
 Early Oligocene sea-level
fluctuation seems closer to
eustasy than local relative curve
 Organic enrichment occurs in
earliest Oligocene upper NP21
(CNO1) – fits regional pattern
 Connection with global ocean via
Catalaca Gap seems likely – note
also open marine diverse fauna
Mayer et al. (2018) – Paratethys Summary
End-Eocene Incised Valley, Offshore Romania

Dinu et al. (2005)

 Olig Marls
Eroded top of Eocene Limeston

Eocene Limestone
Exploration Insights

© 2016 Halliburton. All rights reserved.

Local vs Global Sea-Level Trends

Popov et al. (2010): Paratethys Sea-Level

 Early Oligocene—Widespread Source Rock Deposition

Maykop, Belaya River

Sachsenhofer et al. (2018): Purple colours highlight organic enrichment

Organic-rich diatomite, Black Cape,

southern Bulgaria
Fluctuating but slightly Gradual & slow overall
lower % planktonics increase in % planktonics
Gradually declining
% planktonics
notable terrestrial input, low oxygen tolerant taxa
Organic-enrichment in CN01/upper NP21;
(CNO3) (CNO2) (CNO1)
Early Oligocene—Widespread Source Rock Deposition
Especially NP21-22

Sachsenhofer et al. (2018)

Karaburun Section Significance

 Fault-bounded depositional pattern

 Demonstrates dramatic exposure and
erosion of Late Eocene reefal limestones
 No evidence for Solenovian
(NP23/CNO3) salinity reductions as seen
elsewhere in Paratethys
 Rapid transgression during Early
Oligocene culminating in flooding of
Eocene topography in NP23/CNO3
 Early Oligocene sea-level fluctuation
seems closer to eustasy than local
relative curve
 Organic enrichment occurs in earliest
Oligocene upper NP21 (CNO1) – fits
regional pattern
 Connection with global ocean via
Catalaca Gap seems likely – note also
open marine diverse fauna
References

Dinu C, Wong HK, Tambrea D, Matenco L (2005). Stratigraphic and structural characteristics of the Romanian
Black Sea shelf. Tectonophysics 410: 417-435. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2005.04.012.
Mayer J, Rupprecht BJ, Sachsenhofer RF, Tari G, Bechtel A, et al. (2018). Source potential and depositional
environment of Oligocene and Miocene rocks offshore Bulgaria. In: Simmons MD, Tari GC, Okay AI (editors)
Petroleum Geology of the Black Sea. Geological Society London Special Publications 464: 307-328. doi:
10.1144/sp464.2.
Natal’in B, Say AG (2015). Eocene – Oligocene stratigraphy and structural history of the Karaburun area,
southwestern Black Sea coast, Turkey: transition from extension to compression. Geological Magazine 152: 1104-
1122. doi:10.1017/s0016756815000229.
Okay AI, Ӧzcan E, Hakyemez A, Siyako M, Sunal G, et al. (2019). The Thrace Basin and the Black Sea: the
Eocene-Oligocene marine connection. Geological Magazine 156: 39-61. doi: 10.1017/S0016756817000772.
Popov SV, Antipov MP, Zastrozhnov AS, Kurina EE, Pinchuk TN (2010). Sea-level fluctuations on the north shelf
of the Eastern Paratethys in the Oligocene – Neogene. Stratigraphy and Geological Correlation 18: 200-224.
doi:10.1134/s0869593810020073.
Sachsenhofer RF, Popov SV, Bechtel A, Ćorić S, Francu J, et al. (2018). Oligocene and Lower Miocene source
rocks in the Paratethys: Palaeogeographic and stratigraphic controls. In: Simmons MD, Tari GC, Okay AI (editors)
Petroleum Geology of the Black Sea. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 464: 267-306.
doi:10.1144/sp464.1.
Simmons MD, Bidgood MD, Connell PG, Ćorić, S, Okay AI et al. (2020). Biostratigraphy and palaeoenvironments
of the Oligocene succession (Ihsaniye Formation) at Karaburun (NW Turkey). Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences:
29: 28-63