Sequence surfaces and paleobathymetric trends in Albian to Maastrichtian sediments of Ariyalur area, Cauvery Basin, India

Exposed Late Cretaceous (Albian–Maastrichtian) marine rocks of the Ariyalur area in the Cauvery Basin have been extensively studied based on biostratigraphy and paleobathymetry with paleobathymetric interpretation carried out using vertical and lateral relationships of rock facies, macro- and microfossil assemblages, textural characteristics and diagenetic changes of the lithologic units. The integration of these data reveals four Transgressive–Regressive (T–R) cycles, viz. Dalmiapuram, Garudamangalam, Sillakkudi and Kallankurichchi (in stratigraphic order). These T–R cycles have been compared with global published relative sea level curves of the study area. The major sea level changes during the Late Turonian and Late Maastrichtian in the study area correlate well with global sea level changes of Vail et al. (1977), Haq et al. (1987) and Miller et al. (2005). Based on biostratigraphy, stratal patterns and their relationship, the Late Cretaceous succession of the Ariyalur area is thus subdivided into four 2nd/3rd order sequences.