Biostratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Gurpi Formation at Deh Dasht Area,Zagros Basin,SW Iran

A rich assemblage of planktonic foraminifera has been studied from an outcrop of the Gurpi Formation, the hydrocarbon source rock in the southwest Iran, Deh Dasht area(Kuh-e Siah anticline). Based on the distribution of the planktonic foraminifera, eight biozones have been recognized that included:Dicarinella concavata Interval Zone(Earliest Santonian), Dicarinella asymetrica Total Range Zone(Santonian to Earliest Campanian), Globotruncanita elevata Partial Range Zone(Early Campanian), Globotruncana ventricosa Interval Zone(Middle to Late Campanian), Radotruncana calcarata Total Range Zone(Late Campanian), Globotruncanella havanensis Partial Range Zone(Late Campanian), Globotruncana aegyptiaca Interval Zone(Late to latest Campanian), Gansserina gansseri Interval Zone(Latest Campanian to Early Maastrichtian). These biozones indicates that the Gurpi Formation deposited during the Early Santonian- Early Maastrichtian. These biozones are compared to the most standard biozones defined in Tethysian domain. Based on distribution of morphotype groups of planktonic foraminifera, planktonic to benthic ratio(P/B) and content of carbonate, nine third-order sequences are recognized.