Biostratigraphy,Microfacies and Depositional Environment of the Sarvak Formation at the Pyun Anticline (Zagros Basin,Southwest of Iran)

The Sarvak Formation is a carbonate sequence of Late Albian–Early Turonian age in Zagros Basin in Iran. In this investigation, the Sarvak Formation at the Pyun Anticline section (Izeh Zone) has been studied. It consists of 797 m thick limestone which overlies the Kazhdumi Formation conformably and underlies the Gurpi Formation unconformably at the Pyun Anticline. A very rich fossil association (85 genera and 132 species) characterizes the Pyun section. Based on the stratigraphic distribution of diagnosed foraminifera, five biozones are established: 1, Muricohedbergella-Globigerinelloides sp. assemblage zone (Late Albian); 2, Praealveolina iberica-Chrysalidina gradata interval zone (Early Cenomanian); 3, Chrysalidina gradata-Cisalveolina fraasi (fallax) and C. lehneri interval zone (Middle Cenomanian); 4, C. fraasi (fallax) and C. lehneri-Praetaberina bingistani assemblage zone (Late Cenomanian); 5, Nezzazatinella picardi-Mangashtia- Dicyclina assemblage zone (Early Turonian). Based on the petrographic and sedimentological analyses, some 13 carbonate microfacies were identified. The investigated microfacies confirm a ramp-type paleoenvironment. These microfacies, from distal to proximal environments, consist of: MF1: planktonic foraminifera wackestone-packstone; MF2: Oligostegina planktonic foraminifera wackestone to packstone; MF3: planktonic-benthic foraminifers sponge spicules wackestone-packstone; MF4: rudist floatstone; MF5: rudist rudstone; MF6: bioclast intraclast grainstone; MF7: peloid intraclast grainstone; MF8: benthic foraminifers rudist grainstone-packstone; MF9: peloid bioclast grainstone-packstone; MF10: bioclast (benthic foraminifers) wackestone-packstone; MF11: peloid bioclast packstone; MF12: dacycladacea benthic foraminifera packstone-wackestone; MF13: miliolids wackestone-packstone.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S167498711300090X

The Khami group within the petroliferous Zagros Basin of Iran includes the Surmeh, Hith, Fahliyan, Gadvan and Dariyan formations. The Dariyan Formation, previously known as Orbitolina limestone is very signif-icant as a reservoir rock in the Zagros Basin. In this study, the age of the Dariyan Formation is examined based on biostratigraphic and paleontological investigations. 236 m of Dariyan Formation sediments in the sections at Kuh-e Rahmat （north） and Nour-Abad （west） of Iran were selected to study its biostratigraphy. According to the lithostratigraphic investigations, the Dariyan Formation in these sections is subdivided into three： lower, middle and upper, which include thin-bedded to medium-bedded and massive lime-stone. Micropaleontologic study of the Dariyan Formation has led to the recognition of two biozones in the Nour-Abad area and one biozone in the Kuh-e Rahmat stratigraphic column. Diagnostic foraminifera in these sections are as follows： Globigerinel oides algerianus Cushman and Ten Dam, Globigerinelloides fer-reolensis Moullade, Globigerinelloides maridalensis （Bolli）, Globigerinelloides paragottisi Verga and Permoli Silva, Hedbergel a aptiana Bartenstein, Hedbergel a excelsa Longoria, Hedbergel a luterbacheri Longoria, Hedbergella occulta Longoria, Hedbergella ruka （Banner et al.）, Hedbergella similis Longoria, Hedbergella trocoidea （Gandolfi）, Muricohedbergella delrioensis （Carsey）, Pseudoplanomalina cheniourensis Sigal, Con-icorbitolina conica d＇Archiac, Iraqia sp., Mesorbitolina parva Douglass, Mesorbitolina pervia Douglass, Meso-rbitolina ovalis Gorog and Arnaud-Vanneau, Mesorbitolina subconcava Leymerie, Mesorbitolina texana （Roemer）, Mesorbitolina ovalis-pervia Cherchi and Schroeder, Debarina hahounerensis Fourcade et al., Marssonel a trochus （d＇Orbigny）, Nezzazata sp., Orbitolina sp., Textularia sp.     

Boundary Between Upper Cretaceous and Lower Paleocene in the Zagros Mountain Ranges of Southwestern Iran

In the present study, over 3000?m of Upper Cretaceous sediments (Tarbur Formation) in seven stratigraphic, columnar sections were studied. The area is located in the Zagros mountain ranges of southwestern Iran, attributed to the converging continental Arabian Shield, and is interpreted as the result of subduction and collision. Based on foraminiferal studies of the Tarbur Formation in the sections, we have established many new biozones in the stratigraphic sections. However, investigations of the biozones indicate that there is no lithostratigraphic variation between the Upper Cretaceous and Lower Paleocene sediments in some of the studied sections. The concept of widespread formations and lithologic correlations is not applicable in this area, probably as a result of the tectonic unrest at that time. The biostratigraphic boundary between the Cretaceous and the Lower Paleocene is nevertheless well defined by the intraformational boundary in the sections.