2017 | 70/3 | 163–177 | 7 Figs. | 1 Tab. | 5 Pls. | www.geologia-croatica.hr Journal of the Croatian Geological Survey and the Croatian Geological Society 1. INTRODUCTION The Lycian nappes consist of nappe piles and they tectonically overlie the relatively autochthonous metamorphosed Menderes Massif to the W–NW and the unmetamorphosed Bey Dağları Autochthon to the E–SE (Fig. 1) in SW Turkey (de GRACIAN- SKY, 1972; ÖZGÜL, 1976; POISSON, 1977; GUTNIC et al., 1979; ŞENGÖR & YILMAZ, 1981; ŞENEL, 1991; 1997a, b, 2007; COLLINS & ROBERTSON, 1998, 2003; OKAY & TÜYSÜZ, 1999; GÖNCÜOĞLU, 2011; POURTEAU et al., 2016). The Lycian nappe packages comprise several tectono-sedimen- tary units, which are dominated by thick Mesozoic carbonate rocks and are tectonically overlain by ophiolite nappes (de GRA- CIANSKY, 1972; ÖZGÜL, 1976; ŞENEL, 1997a, b, ÖZER et al., 2015, etc.). Tectono-stratigraphic characteristics and the direction and timing of the translation of the Lycian nappe piles have been studied in detail for almost 50 years by several researchers as the allochthon is unique in the eastern Mediterranean region in hav- ing an extensive, well-preserved deformation record (COLLINS & ROBERTSON, 1998). Because of the complex geological his- tory of the Lycian nappes, the original positions of the nappe se- quences are still debated. Some authors favour a northern origin (north of the Menderes platform) for all the nappe piles (de GRA- CIANSKY, 1968, 1972; GUTNIC et al., 1979; ŞENGÖR & YILMAZ, 1981; COLLINS & ROBERTSON, 1997, 1998, 1999; Lithostratigraphy and planktonic foraminifera of the uppermost Cretaceous–Upper Palaeocene strata of the Tavas nappe of the Lycian nappes (SW Turkey) Bilal Sarı Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Geological Engineering, Tınaztepe Campus, 35160, Buca-İzmir, Turkey; (bilal.sari@deu.edu.tr) doi: 10.4154/gc.2017.14 Abstract The Lycian nappes lying on top of the para-autochthonous metamorphosed Menderes and un- metamorphosed Bey Dağları successions in SW Anatolia belong to the Tauride segment of the Anatolide-Tauride Block. The Tavas nappe is one of several nappe slices of the Lycian nappes and forms structurally the lowermost tectono-stratigraphic unit. The upper part of the Tavas nappe succession is represented by planktonic foraminifera-bearing uppermost Cretaceous cherty micritic limestones and calciturbidites of the Babadağ Formation and Lower Palaeogene micritic limestones and calciclastic rocks of the Faralya Formation in the study area. Lithostrati- graphic characteristics and planktonic foraminiferal assemblages of the two formations in the Bozburun hill locality (S of Köyceğiz) are documented for the frst time in three stratigraphic sec- tions in this study. The uppermost part of the Babadağ Formation mainly comprises of alterna- ting calciclastic and micritic limestones, which include diverse planktonic foraminiferal assem- blages of mainly keeled morphotypes. The presence of Racemiguembelina fructicosa and Abathomphalus mayaroensis within the assemblages indicates a late Maastrichtian age for the uppermost part of the succession. Two sections of the overlying Faralya Formation comprise mainly planktonic foraminifera-bearing laminated micritic limestones, brecciated limestones and mudstones. Planktonic foraminiferal assemblages of the laminated micritic limestones are domi- nated by keeled Late Palaeocene morphotypes. The occurrence of Morozovella acuta and Glo- banomalina planoconica at the base of two sections suggests a Thanetian age for the deposits. The boundary between the Babadağ and Faralya formations is characterized by a stratigraphic gap ranging from the latest Maastrichtian to the earliest Selandian. The gap was linked with the frst of the three main events, when ophiolite obduction and incorporation of the Köyceğiz Thrust Sheet into the Lycian allochthon occured. Cretaceous limestone clasts and foraminifers within the Thanetian calciclastic rocks of the Faralya Formation could be clues to that exposure and erosion. Article history: Manuscript received June 06, 2017 Revised manuscript accepted October 04, 2017 Available online October 31, 2017 Keywords: Late Cretaceous, Maastrichtian, Palaeocene, Babadağ Formation, Faralya Formation, Tavas nappe, Lycian nappes, SW Turkey GÖNCÜOĞLU, 2011), while some suggest a dual origin, which explains the root of the nappe piles originating from two basins, one located to the north of the Menderes Platform and the other located between the Menderes and the Bey Dağları platforms (POISSON, 1984; OKAY, 1989; ÖZKAYA, 1990, 1991; COL- LINS & ROBERTSON, 2003; ARSLAN et al., 2013). Several names have been ascribed for the same nappe piles through the years. A brief summary of names attributed for the Tavas nappe is given in Table 1. The Tavas nappe (ŞENEL, 1997a), (the low- ermost tectono-stratigraphic unit of the Lycian nappes) comprises Table 1. Correlation of several names attributed to the Tavas nappe. GRACIANSKY (1972) Karadere serie, Tekedere serie, Haticeana serie POISSON (1977) Boz Dağ massif ERAKMAN et al. (1982) Darıyer serie, Ahat serie, Haticeana serie KONAK et al. (1987) Tavas unit OKAY (1989) Göbecik Tepe unit ÖZKAYA (1990) Tavas thrust slice ŞENEL et al. (1994) Tavas nappe COLLINS & ROBERTSON (1998) POURTEAU et al. (2016) Teke Dere nappe COLLINS & ROBERTSON (2003) Teke Dere thrust sheet