Integrated Biostratigraphy, Depositional Setting and Geochemical Analyses for Petroleum Potential Evaluation of the Lower Cretaceous (Barremian – Albian) Strata of the Koppeh-Dagh Basin, Northeastern Iran

The lower Cretaceous rock units of the Koppeh-Dagh Basin of northeastern Iran were investigated here in terms of biostratigraphy, depositional setting and geochemical analyses to find out if they, alike other parts of the world, are rich in petroleum. For this purpose, a stratigraphic framework is established using calcareous nannofossil and palynological elements. A nannoplankton zonation based on which subzones of the zones CC7 – CC8 of Sissingh(1977) and their equivalent NC6 – NC8 of Roth(1978) was established indicating a Late Barremian–Albian age. Palynological assemblages led us to establish the local palynozone of Odontochitina operculata. A dominantly marginal basin to a transitional zone between shelf and basin under a dysoxic–anoxic condition with low to moderate sedimentation rates coincided with a gradual sea level rise was introduced as the environment of deposition for the strata via interpretation of the palynological parameters and quantitative palynology. The obtained data from Rock-Eval pyrolysis in compilation with palynofacies analysis reveals that the studied succession contains mainly gas-prone type III kerogen. The Spore Coloration Index(SCI) alongside with the Rock-Eval pyrolysis results(low values of HI and TOC) proves that these rock units locally produced natural gas during the time under consideration.     

Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of Campanian strata (Abtalkh Formation) from the eastern Koppeh-Dagh Basin,NE Iran

The Campanian of the eastern Koppeh-Dagh Basin (NE Iran) is generally considered to be represented by the upper part of the Abderaz and the Abtalkh formations. The Abtalkh Formation, which is studied here, reaches thicknesses of up to 1750 m in the area. The formation is characterized by abundant, diverse, and poor to moderately well preserved calcareous nannofossil assemblages of Tethyan affinity. The assemblages were studied in detail in two sections in eastern Koppeh-Dagh, allowing construction of a precise biozonation for this stage. The Abtalkh Formation at sections in Abtalkh village and Padeha spans biozones CC20 to CC23a (UC15b^TP to UC16). The results of this study indicate a late early to late Campanian age for the formation in the area. The most complete Campanian sequence is in the southeast, where the Padeha section is located. Nannofossil abundance and diversity decreases upwards, showing a trend from the base to top of the formation. Dominance of warm water taxa, and low abundance of high latitude taxa, confirm placement of the basin in low to mid palaeolatitudes during deposition of the formation.