SOURCE ROCK POTENTIAL OF LOWER-MIDDLE MIOCENE LACUSTRINE DEPOSITS: EXAMPLE OF THE KUCUKKUYU FORMATION, NW TURKEY

The purpose of this study was to examine the geological, stratigraphic and organic geochemical features of the Kucukkuyu Formation out-cropping on Biga Peninsula, NW Turkey. The Lower-Middle Miocene formation crops out around the Gulf of Edremit and near Bayramic-Can in the north of the Kazdag Mountains. The unit is composed of shale, siltstone and sandstone intercalations. The shale is bituminous and represents a potential source rock in the region. Shale samples from the formation were investigated. Rock-Eval pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance (Ro %), gas chromatography (GC), stable C isotope and total sulfur measurements were carried out. The shale is characterized by high total organic carbon (TOC) values (0.27 to 7.44 wt%, average 1.69 wt%), indicating a good potential source rock. The kerogen types are II and III, indicating the shale to be gas and oil-prone. T-max values are between 352 and 453 degrees C, the average value suggesting early catagenesis. The pristane/ phytane (Pr/Ph) values reveal suboxic and anoxic environments. Carbon preference index (CPI) and C isotope values reveal terrestrial OM. Geological and stratigraphic evaluations and total sulfur (TS) figures indicate that the Kucukkuyu Formation was deposited in a suboxic-anoxic, freshwater environment (lacustrine), developing brackish water conditions from time to time.