• Home
  • Biozonation, Paleobathymetry and paleoenvironmental study of the Gurpi Formation in southwestern Iran

Share To

Article Url


Manuscript ID : IJES-1811-1270 (R4) Visit : 82 Page: 54 - 68

10.30495/ijes.2020.671657

Article Type: Original Research

Biozonation, Paleobathymetry and paleoenvironmental study of the Gurpi Formation in southwestern Iran

Subject Areas : Mineralogy

Taghi  Farmani 1 (Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran)
Ebrahim  Ghasemi-Nejad 2 (Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran)
Bijan  Beiranvand 3 (Exploration and Production Division, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Tehran, Iran)
Saeed  Maleki-Porazmiani 4 (Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran)

Received: 2018-12-06 Accepted : 2019-08-16 Published : 2020-01-01

Keywords: planktonic foraminifera, Palynofacies, Palynomorph, Tethys, Paleobasin,

Abstract :

Planktonic foraminifera and major palynomorph groups (i.e. terrestrial, marine, and amorphous organic matter) of the Campanian-Selandian strata of the Gurpi Formation were studied to evaluate the changes in the Zagros paleobasin in southwestern Iran. Planktonic foraminifera were categorized into four morphotypes according to their paleodepth, extending from Morphotype 1, comprising surface generalists, to Morphotype 4, comprising deep-water aphotic heterotrophic species. The relative amount of species belonging to Morphotype 4 is noticeable in the Campanian-Maastrichtian. It shows that the depth of the basin was generally greater than 200 m in the Late Cretaceous. Two major sea-level regressional phases could be recognized during the formation deposition. The first one occurred near the middle of the Maastrichtian in the Contusotruncana contusa Biozone, during which the relative abundance of terrestrial palynomorphs increased prominently, and the species belonging to Morphotype 4 became notably rare. This regression correlates well with the eustatic curves, suggesting that it was controlled by global factors. Also, the species belonging to Morphotype 4 disappeared in the Danian, the relative abundance of terrestrial palynomorphs increased, and the relative abundance of planktonic foraminifera (P%) decreased prominently. However, this regression does not correlate with the eustatic curves and indicates that local tectonic events should be considered. The palynofacies study of the strata shows that during the Campanian-Maastrichtian, the strata were deposited in a deep suboxic-anoxic setting (Palynofacies IX), whereas the Danian strata were deposited in a shallow-shelf setting (Palynofacies VI). The studies show that during the Selandian, the depth of the basin increased again.

References:


  1. Abrari N, Vaziri Moghaddam H, Taheri A, Seyrafian A (2011( Biostratigraphy and paleobathymetry of Gurpi Formation in south of Firuzabad. Geology of Iran 5(17): 49-60 (in Persion).
    2.
  2. Adams G, Fielding C R, Oboh-Ikuenobe F E (2017) Stratigraphy and depositional environments of the Mesaverde Group in the northern Bighorn Basin of Wyoming. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 485: 486-503.
    3.
  3. Agard P, Omrani J, Jolivet L, Mouthereau F (2005) Convergence history across Zagros (Iran): constraints from collisional and earlier deformation. International journal of earth sciences 94(3): 401-419.
    4.
  4. Ajirlu MS, Moazzen M, Hajialioghli R, (2016) Tectonic evolution of the Zagros Orogen in the realm of the Neotethys between the Central Iran and Arabian Plates: An ophiolite perspective. Central European Geology 59(1-4): 1-27.
    5.
  5. Alavi M (2004) Regional stratigraphy of the Zagros fold-thrust belt of Iran and its proforeland evolution. American journal of science 304(1): 1-20.
    6.
  6. Beiranvand B, Ghasemi-Nejad E, Kamali MR (2013) Palynomorphs’ response to sea-level fluctuations: a case study from Late Cretaceous–Paleocene, Gurpi Formation, SW Iran. Geopersia 3(1): 11-24.
    7.
  7. Beiranvand B, Zaghbib-Turki D, Ghasemi-Nejad E (2014) Integrated biostratigraphy based on planktonic foraminifera and dinoflagellates across the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg) transition at the Izeh section (SW Iran). Comptes Rendus Palevol 13(4): 235-258.
    8.
  8. Berger WH (1971) Sedimentation of planktonic foraminifera. Marine Geology 11(5): 325-358.
    9.
  9. Berger WH, Diester-Haass L (1988) Paleoproductivity: the benthic/planktonic ratio in foraminifera as a productivity index. Marine Geology 81(1-4): 15-25.
    10.
  10. Berggren WA, Pearson PN (2005) A revised tropical to subtropical Paleogene planktonic foraminiferal zonation. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 35(4): 279-298.
    11.
  11. Boersma A, Premoli-Silva IP (1991) Distribution of Paleogene planktonic foraminifera-analogies with the Recent?. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 83(1-3): 29-47.
    12.
  12. BouDagher-Fadel MK (2015) Biostratigraphic and geological significance of planktonic foraminifera. UCL Press.
    13.
  13. Coxall HK, D'Hondt S, Zachos JC (2006) Pelagic evolution and environmental recovery after the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction. Geology 34(4): 297-300.
    14.
  14. Cross AT (1964) Plant microfossils and geology: an introduction. In: Cross, A.T. (ed) Palynology in Oil Exploration. Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists Special Publication 11: 3-13.
    15.
  15. Darabi G, Moghaddam IM, Sadeghi A, Yusefi B (2018) Planktonic foraminifera and sea-level changes in the Upper Cretaceous of the Gurpi Formation, Lorestan Basin, SW Iran. Journal of African Earth Sciences 138: 201-218.
    16.
  16. Diester-Haass L (1978) Sediments as indicators of upwelling. In Upwelling ecosystems. Springer Berlin Heidelberg: 261-281.
    17.
  17. Douglas R G (1979) Benthic foraminiferal ecology and paleocology: a review of concepts and methods. In Foraminiferal ecology and paleoecology, 21-54. SEPM Short Course.
    18.
  18. El Atfy H, El Diasty W S, El Beialy S Y, Gheith AM, Batten DJ, Agha NN (2017) Palynofacies and geochemical analyses of the Upper Cretaceous–Eocene succession, western Sirte Basin, Libya: Palaeoenvironmental interpretation and implications for hydrocarbon generation potential. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 157: 148-163.
    19.
  19. El-Ayyat AM, Obaidalla NA (2013) Stratigraphy, sedimentology and tectonic evolution of the Upper Cretaceous/Paleogene succession in north Eastern Desert, Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences 81: 35-59.
    20.
  20. Esfandyari-Bayat M, Rameh H (2016). Biostratigraphy of the Gurpi Formation in Sepidan section, Interior Fars basin based on planktonic foraminifera. Geopersia, 6(2): 211-221.
    21.
  21. Esmaeilbeig MR (2012) Microbiostratigraphic study of the Gurpi Formation at Kuh-e Khaneh Kat (east of Shiraz). Geosciences 84: 31–36.
    22.
  22. Farouk S, Marzouk AM, Ahmad F (2014). The Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary in Jordan. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 94: 113-125.
    23.
  23. Fereydounpour M, Vaziri Moghaddam H, Taheri A (2014) Biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy of the Gurpi Formation at Deh Dasht area, Zagros basin, SW Iran. Acta Geol Sin 88: 1681–1695.
    24.
  24. Garnit H, Bouhlel S, Jarvis I (2017) Geochemistry and depositional environments of Paleocene–Eocene phosphorites: Metlaoui Group, Tunisia. Journal of African Earth Sciences 134: 704-736.
    25.
  25. Ghasemi-Nejad E, Hobbi MH, Schiøler P (2006). Dinoflagellate and foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Gurpi Formation (upper Santonian–upper Maastrichtian), Zagros Mountains, Iran. Cretaceous research 27(6): 828-835.
    26.
  26. Ghasemi-Nejad E, Head MJ, Naderi M (2009) Palynology and petroleum potential of the Kazhdumi Formation (Cretaceous: Albian–Cenomanian) in the South Pars field, northern Persian Gulf. Marine and Petroleum Geology 26(6): 805-816.
    27.
  27. Gibson TG (1988) Assemblage characteristics of modern benthic foraminifera and application to environmental interpretation of Cenozoic deposits of Eastern North America. Rev. Paleobiol., col. spec, 2: 777-787.
    28.
  28. Gold D P, White L T, Gunawan I, BouDagher-Fadel M K (2017) Relative sea-level change in western New Guinea recorded by regional biostratigraphic data. Marine and Petroleum Geology 86: 1133-1158.
    29.
  29. Gould SJ (1988) Trends as changes in variance: a new slant on progress and directionality in evolution. Journal of Paleontology 62(03): 319-329.
    30.
  30. Habib D (1982) Sedimentary supply origin of Cretaceous black shalesm. In Nature and Origin of Cretaceous Carbon-Rich Facies, Academic Press, London: 113-127.
    31.
  31. Hallam A (1967) Depth indicators in marine sedimentary environments. Marine Geology 5: 329-555.
    32.
  32. Haq BU, Hardenbol J, Vail PR (1987) Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic. Science 235(4793): 1156-1167.
    33.
  33. Hart GF (1986) Origin and classification of organic matter in clastic systems. Palynology 10(1): 1-23.
    34.
  34. Hemmati-Nasab M, Ghasemi-Nejad E (2008) Paleobathymetry of Gurpi Formation according to planktonic and benthic foraminifera. Journal of Science (University of Tehran) 34(1): 157-173 (in Persion).
    35.
  35. Jones RW (1987) Organic facies, in Advances in Petroleum Geochemistry 2 (eds J. Brooks and D. Welte). Academic Press: 1-90.
    36.
  36. Juliao-Lemus T, de Araujo Carvalho M, Torres D, Plata A, Parra C (2016) Paleoenvironmental reconstruction based on palynofacies analyses of the Cansona Formation (Late Cretaceous), Sinú-San Jacinto Basin, northwest Colombia. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 69: 103-118.
    37.
  37. Keller G (l996) The Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction in planktonic foraminifera:  Biotic constraints for catastrophe theories. In Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinctions, Biotic and Environmental changes,   W.   W.   Norton Company, New York, 49-84.
    38.
  38. Keller G, Adatte T, Stinnesbeck W, Luciani V, Karoui-Yaakoub N, Zaghbib-Turki D (2002) Paleoecology of the Cretaceous–Tertiary mass extinction in planktonic foraminifera. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 178(3): 257-297.
    39.
  39. Keller G, Punekar J, Mateo P (2016) Upheavals during the Late Maastrichtian: Volcanism, climate and faunal events preceding the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 441: 137-151.
    40.
  40. Kelly DC, Bralower TJ, Zachos JC, Silva IP, Thomas E (1996) Rapid diversification of planktonic foraminifera in the tropical Pacific (ODP Site 865) during the late Paleocene thermal maximum. Geology 24(5): 423-426.
    41.
  41. Lipps JH (1966) Wall structure, systematics, and phylogeny studies of Cenozoic planktonic foraminifera. Journal of Paleontology 1257-1274.
    42.
  42. Lipps JH (1979) Ecology and paleoecology of planktic foraminifera. In Foraminiferal ecology and paleoecology. SEPM Short Course: 62-98.
    43.
  43. Lutze GF (1980) Depth distribution of benthic foraminifera on the continental margin off NW Africa. Meteor Forschungs-Ergebnisse C, 32: 31-80.
    44.
  44. Mateo P, Keller G, Punekar J, Spangenberg J E (2017) Early to Late Maastrichtian environmental changes in the Indian Ocean compared with Tethys and South Atlantic. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 478: 121-138.
    45.
  45. Miller KG, Kominz MA, Browning JV, Wright JD, Mountain GS, Katz ME, Sugarman PJ, Cramer BS, Christie-Blick N, Pekar SF (2005) The Phanerozoic record of global sea-level change. Science 310(5752): 1293-1298.
    46.
  46. Murray JW (1976) A method of determining proximity of marginal seas to an ocean. Marine Geology 22(2): 103-119.
    47.
  47. Nederbragt AJ, Erlich RN, Fouke BW, Ganssen GM (1998) Palaeoecology of the biserial planktonic foraminifer Heterohelix moremani (Cushman) in the late Albian to middle Turonian Circum-North Atlantic. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 144(1): 115-133.
    48.
  48. Olsson RK, Nyong E (1984) A paleoslope model for Campanian-lower Maestrichtian foraminifera of New Jersey and Delaware. Journal of Foraminiferal Research 14(1): 50-68.
    49.
  49. Orabi OH, Hassan HF (2015) Foraminifera from Paleocene–early Eocene rocks of Bir El Markha section (West Central Sinai), Egypt: Paleobathymetric and paleotemperature significance. Journal of African Earth Sciences 111: 202-213.
    50.
  50. Orabi OH, Zahran E (2014) Paleotemperatures and paleodepths of the Upper Cretaceous rocks in El Qusaima, Northeastern Sinai, Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences 91: 79-88.
    51.
  51. Premoli Silva I, Verga D (2004) Practical manual of Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera. International school on planktonic foraminifera, Italy.
    52.
  52. Punekar J, Keller G, Khozyem HM, Adatte T, Font E, Spangenberg J (2016) A multi-proxy approach to decode the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 441: 116-136.
    53.
  53. Riding JB, Head MJ (2018) Preparing photographic plates of palynomorphs in the digital age JB. Riding and MJ Headpalynology. Palynology, 42(3), 354-365.
    54.
  54. Rodgers MA (1979) Application of organic facies concept to hydrocarbon source evaluation. Proceedings 10th World Pet. Cong 2: 23-30.
    55.
  55. Schmidt DN, Thierstein HR, Bollmann J (2004) The evolutionary history of size variation of planktic foraminiferal assemblages in the Cenozoic. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 212(1): 159-180.
    56.
  56. Schiøler P, Rogers K, Sykes R, Hollis CJ, Ilg B, Meadows D, Roncaglia L, Uruski C (2010) Palynofacies, organic geochemistry and depositional environment of the Tartan Formation (Late Paleocene), a potential source rock in the Great South Basin, New Zealand. Marine and Petroleum Geology 27(2): 351-369.
    57.
  57. Sliter WV, Baker RA (1972) Cretaceous bathymetric distribution of benthic foraminifers. Journal of foraminiferal Research 2(4): 167-183.
    58.
  58. Traverse A (2007) Paleopalynology. Springer Netherlands.
    59.
  59. Tyson RV (1984) Palynofacies investigation of Callovian (Middle Jurassic) sediments from DSDP Site 534, Blake-Bahama Basin, western Central Atlantic. Marine and Petroleum Geology 1(1): 3-13.
    60.
  60. Tyson RV (1993) Palynofacies analysis. In Applied micropalaeontology. Springer Netherlands: 153-193.
    61.
  61. Tyson RV (1995) Sedimentary Organic Matter: Organic Facies and Palynofacies. Springer Netherlands.
    62.
  62. Van der Zwaan CJ (1990). Palynostratigraphy and palynofacies reconstruction of the Upper Jurassic to lowermost Cretaceous of the Draugen Field, offshore mid Norway. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 62: 157-186.
    63.
  63. Van der Zwaan CJ, Jorissen FJ, De Stigter HC (1990) The depth dependency of planktonic/benthic foraminiferal ratios: constraints and applications. Marine Geology 95(1): 1-16.
    64.
  64. Vaziri Moghaddam H (2002) Biostratigraphic study of Ilam and Gurpi Formations based on planktonic Foraminifera in SE of Shiraz, Iran. Journal of Science Islam Repub Iran 13: 339–356 (in Persion).
    65.
  65. Vaziri Moghaddam H, Kameli A, Ghiami M (2006) Biostratigraphy of Gurpi Formation in type section and Sabzeh Kuh section, Journal of Science (Kharazmi University) 6(3): 802-826 (in Persion).
    66.
  66. Whitaker M (1984). The usage of palynology in definition of Troll Field geology. In Reduction of uncertainties in innovative reservoir geomodelling. ‘Offshore’ Northern Seas Conference (No 6).
    67.
  67. Wilson B (2003) Foraminifera paleodepths in a section of the early to middle Miocene Brasso Formation, central Trinidad. Caribbean Journal of Science 39(2): 209-214.
    68.
  68. Zarei E, Ghasemi-Nejad E (2006) Paleoecology of Gurpi Formation at type section. Journal of Science (University of Tehran) 32(2): 133-141 (in Persion).
    69.

Related articles

The rights to this website are owned by the Raimag Press Management System.
Copyright © 2021-2024

Home| Login| About Us| Contact Us|
[فارسی] [العربية] [fa] [ar]