Early-Middle Miocene from Kotaphi hill section (Nicosia, Cyprus): preliminary biostratigraphy and paleoceanographic implications

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Published: Dec 2, 2013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/bgsg.10899
Keywords:
Agrokipia village Pakhna Formation Cyprus Sphenolithus heteromorphus Middle Miocene Climate Optimum
M. Athanasiou
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment
M. Triantaphyllou
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment
M. Dimiza
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment
A. Gogou
Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, 190 13 Anavyssos, Attiki
I. Bouloubassi
Laboratoire d’Océanographie et du Climat, Expérimentation et Approche Numérique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris Cedex 05, France
E. Tsiolakis
Geological Survey Department of Cyprus, 1 Lefkonos Street, 2064 Strovolos Lefkosia Cyprus
G. Theodorou
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment
Abstract

Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy from Kotaphi Hill section allowed not only the biostratigraphic zonation of the Miocene units but also provided evidence for a distinct warm phase known as the Middle Miocene Climate Optimum (MMCO). Kotaphi Hill section is located in Agrokipia village (Nicosia region, Cyprus) and consists of cyclic marine deposits of the Pakhna Formation. High resolution sampling has been conducted and 84 samples were collected. Preliminary results indicated that several important calcareous nannofossil events can be consistently recognized along the studied section. High abundances of Discoaster druggii and Highest occurrence (HO) of Sphenolithus procerus suggest the presence of NN2 biozone while, LO of Sphenolithus belemnos has been used to recognize the base of biozone NN3. Upwards, Lowest Common Occurrence (LCO) of Sphenolithus heteromorphus marked the NN3-4 boundary-level. Biozone NN4 in Kotaphi Hill section is featured by high abundance of S. heteromorphus whereas total absence of the species together with the LO of Helicosphaera walbedorfensis mark the Paracme Beginning (PB) of S. heteromorphus interval. High abundance of warm indicators such as Discoasterids, S. heteromorphus, S. moriformis and Helicosphaera carteri observed in our material may partly reflect the warm phase of MMCO. Key words: Agrokipia village, Pakhna Formation, Cyprus, Sphenolithus heteromorphus, Middle Miocene Climate Optimum.

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  • Palaeontology, Stratigraphy and Sedimentology
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