Стратиграфическая схема верхнего мела азербайджанской части Малого Кавказа

A. A. Alizade, H. Alijula, R. H. Momedzade. Stratiwaphic scheme oi the Upper Cretaceous in the Azerbaidzanian part oi Lesser Caucasus. Compilation of unified strati graphic schemes is of particular importance in the large-scale geological investigations of Azerbaidzan. In the proposed stratigraphic schemes all six stages of the Upper Cretaceous are paleontologically proven and subdivided into different zones which show conciderable persistence in range and areal distribution. Paleontological, geographical, ecological and facial criteria are used in the subdivision. Zones contribute to a better understanding of the subordination of the lithostratigraphic units mapped, in respect of the subdivisions in the European time scale. The Cenomanian Stage is distinctly divided by ammonites and foraminifers, the Turonian - by rudistids and plankton foraminifers. The Coniacian, Santonian and Campanian are distinguished by Inoceramus fauna and foraminifers, the Upper Campanian and Maastrichtian – by cephalopods, echinoids and foraminifers. The studies of the Lesser Caucasus fauna indicate common features with that of the Tethyan geosynclinal provinces. Wide and unbroken connections of the Late Cretaceous Lesser Caucasus basins with the open seas of the Mediterranean determined the Mediterranean type of the Lesser Caucasus complexes. The zonal cheme derived for the Lesser Caucasus is compared and correl ated to other schemes from different regions in the Caucasus.