Foraminifera from the clay pulp of the Shugo mud volcano (Taman Peninsula)

Abstract

The foraminiferal assemblages from the mud volcanic breccia of the Shugo mud volcano (Kerch-Taman volcanic region, Taman peninsula) was studied in order to clarify the stratigraphic section of this region. Mud volcanic breccia contain shells of Miocene foraminifera, numerous well preserved Middle Eocene (Lutetian), and Upper Cretaceous (Santonian, Campanian, and Maastrichtian) species. The poorer preservation of the Cretaceous shells may be associated with the composition of the accommodating rocks, probably represented by terrigenous and carbonate-terrigenous turbidites. Finding the remains of the Upper Cretaceous and Middle Eocene foraminifera in the mud volcanic breccia indicates the presence of strata of this age in the section.