The late Albian–Turonian carbonate platform succession of west-central Jordan: stratigraphy and crises

Abstract

The lithology and the faunal content of late Albian–Turonian inner shelf deposits of present-day west-central Jordan have been investigated to provide an integrated stratigraphic framework and to subdivide times of platform growth and platform crises. Biostratigraphic data are based on ammonites and calcareous nannofossils, supplemented by foraminifers and ostracodes. Ammonite occurrences of the mantelli to woollgari biozones and three ammonite-bearing marker horizons facilitate a precise subdivision of early Cenomanian–late Turonian deposits. As the distribution of benthic foraminifers represents a sensitive tool for environmental reconstructions, five benthic foraminiferal assemblages are established. Five units, based on stratigraphic and palaeoecological data, are defined and allow long-range correlations and a subdivision of three phases of platform growth and two platform crises. The first crisis, of middle Cenomanian age, is mainly indicated in the central study area, while the second crisis affected the entire platform within the Cenomanian/Turonian-boundary interval. Both events are locally highlighted by a dysoxic facies that shifted southwards during the late Cenomanian and occurred again in the central area during the early Turonian.