Nannostratigraphy and investigation of sedimentation conditions of the lower boundary and the upper boundary of the Aitamir Formation in the east and west Kopet Dagh,northeast of Iran

By attention to the stratigraphic value of calcareous nannoplanktons for the age determination of sedimentary beds, for the first time Late Cretaceous calcareous nannofossil taxa, their distributions and relative abundances were recorded from the lower and the upper boundary of Aitamir Formation located in northeast Iran. In the present study, biostratigraphy and paleoecological conditions were reconstructed. The Aitamir Formation comprises glauconitic sandstones and olive-green shales. In this work, samples were prepared with smear slides, and nannofossils of these boundaries are listed and figured. They were photographed under a light microscope. Based on nannoplanktons and as a result of biostratigraphic studies, the age of the lower boundary of the Aitamir Formation in the east Kopet Dagh is Early/Middle Turonian, the age of the lower boundary in the west Kopet Dagh is Late Turonian/Early Coniacian, the age of the upper boundary of the Aitamir Formation in the east Kopet Dagh is Late Santonian, and the age of the upper boundary of this Formation in the west Kopet Dagh is Early Campanian. Based on paleoecological interpretation, the Aitamir Formation was deposited in a shallow marine environment, at relatively low latitude. A deepening trend of the sedimentary basin is recognized passing from Aitamir Formation to the overlying Abderaz Formation while in the lower boundary from Sanganeh to Aitamir Formation depth decreased.