JOURNAL OF STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY RESEARCHES
Year:2019 | Volume:35 | Issue:1 (74) |Papers Count:6

Diverse, moderately to well-preserved palynomorphs including acritarchs (sensu stricto), prasinophytes cyst, chitinozoans, scolecodonts, and spores occur in some surface samples (90 meters thereof) of the Niur Formation (200 m thick) at the Tikdar stratigraphic section, northern Kerman, Central Iran. The palynofloras embrace one species of prasinophyte cyst, 25 species (assigned to 14 genera) of acritarchs, 8 species (attributed to 6 genera) of chitinozoans, and 2 species (assigned to 2 genera) of spores. Based on the stratigraphic distribution pattern of acritarchs (sensu lato) one local assemblage zone (Evittia denticulata denticulata-Lophosphaeridium papillatum-Eupoikilofusa striatifera assemblage zone) is introduced in the strata investigated herein. The known stratigraphic importance of such acritarchs and chitinozoans as Eupoikilofusa striatifera, Geron amabilis, Spinachitina fragilis and Ancyrochitina convexa as well as the lack of Middle and Late Silurian index taxa allow for the host strata to be attributed to the Early Silurian (Llandovery). Notable abundance of transparent AOM in majority of the samples (except those labeled as 318– 326 and collected 38– 88 above the base) examined indicates sedimentation in a marginal marine setting with relatively low oxygen level. Such palynofacies data as proportion of blade-shaped to equidimensional opaque palynomacerals and AOM/marine palynomorphs ratio in the material studied tend to support such generalizations on the depositional environment

The Lower Cretaceous successions of the NE Iran in the sedimentary Kopet-Dagh basin are result from transgression of the Berriasian-Barremian marine, which are deposited after first erosional cycle (Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous). In this research, two stratigraphic sections of these successions, including the Tirgan Formation, described and studied in detail, and is provided a biostratigraphic framework for them. The new paleontological results of the Tirgan Formation are based on the benthic foraminifera. Some of them are reported for the first time (e. g. Conorbinella azerbaidjanica, Cuneolina composaurii, Feurtillia gracilis and Orbitolinopsis cf. nikolovi). Feurtillia gracilis taxon range zone offers the Valanginian age for the base parts of the Tirgan Formation as well genera and species; Balkhania balkhanica, Dictyoconus pachymarginalis and Orbitolinopsis cf. nikolovi confirm Late Barremian-Aptian age for the upper parts of this Formation. This study shows a diachrony in the age of base of the Tirgan Formation, so that transgressive successions start with Valanginian age (or probably Berriasian) in the Tirgan village section, however the Amirabad section shows Late Barremian age at the beginning of transgression.

The Late Precambrian Bayandor Formation has a thickness of 402 m and consists of shale and sandstone with dolomite interlayers (with a thickness of about 2 to 8 m) in the type section of the south-west of Zanjan. Based on fieldwork studies lithofacies of the Bayandor Formation belong to a coastal plain and shallow marine environments have been considered for this formation. Distribution and expansion of the dolomites in this formation are parallel with the sedimentary layers and has considerable lateral extension in the field. Carbonate sequences of these deposits have all been thoroughly dolomitized, due to the effects of dolomitic fluids and it is difficult to recognize the original depositional textures. In these dolomites, the abundant chert nodules and blue-green algaes (stromatolites) clearly observed along with the sedimentary bedding. During the petrographic study, the dolomites of Bayandor Formation based on fabric and crystal size divided into the three groups including fine, medium and medium to coarse crystalline dolomites. In these samples the contents of 13C isotope are varies between-1. 63 to-2. 02 ‰ PDB and the contents of 18O isotope are varies between-5. 94 and-8. 15 ‰ PDB. These values are almost similar to the carbon and oxygen values of the Late Precambrian seawater. Based on fieldwork, petrography and geochemical results and also by determining of temperature formation (around 38° C), the source of magnesium for fine and medium crystalline dolomites are seawater, and likely the conditions for the formation of these dolomites are seepage-reflux dolomitization model during the shallow burial environments. With increasing temperature during the burial process, medium to coarse crystalline dolomites also formed from the previous ones. The oxygen isotope data for the medium to coarse crystalline dolomite does not show a significant difference with the fine and medium crystalline dolomites. This can show that these types of dolomites also formed during the shallow burial conditions and perhaps from the recrystallization process of the fine crystalline dolomites. These results in addition to a shallow marine sedimentary environment of the Bayndor Formation show that the formation of these dolomites might be because of seepage-reflux model by seawater during the shallow burial.

In this study, geochemical (including elemental and stable isotope) data were used for study of climatic changes during the deposition of Aptian carbonate of the Dariyan Formation in the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt. In order to study palaeotemperature fluctuations, oxygen stable isotope was used as a temperature sensitive proxy. Results of this study show an increasing of temperature at the beginning of early Aptian and two cooling episodes during late early Aptian and late Aptian in the studied deposits. Correlation of Sr/Ca ratio, carbon stable isotope values and temperature fluctuations trend in these deposits with other studies reveal that influx of carbon dioxide in atmospheric-oceanic system via sub-marine volcanism activities is main mechanism for increasing temperature. On the contrary, carbon outlet via burial of organic matter in deposits regarded as most important factor in decreasing temperature. Obtained data are in accordance with other studies and show that during deposition of the Dariyan carbonate deposits greenhouse condition was not dominated throughout the Aptian age, and cooling episodes occurred in some intervals.

In order to evaluate the contamination degree of sediments in Tiab mangroves (Hormozgan province) in terms of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) and heavy metals concentration, 16 sediment samples were collected from the study area. In addition to TPH and metal concentrations, physicochemical properties of sediments such as grain size, pH, total organic matter and organic carbon were measured using the standard methods. The concentrations of heavy metals and concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons was determined. Petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments narrowly varied from 0. 36 to 4. 89 (μ g/g). The highest TPHs concentrations are found in sediments from Tiab and Kolahi berth probably due to inputs from coastal anthropogenic activities. Using sediment quality guidelines and the contamination factor, it was found that there is no adverse biological effect in terms of TPH concentration. It was also revealed that metal concentrations in sediments ranged from 163 mg/kg for Ni to 8 mg/kg for Pb and their mean concentrations are all higher than the corresponding concentrations in the Persian Gulf sediments. Calculated enrichment factor showed that all metals (except for Ni) have low contamination level. However, the overall ecological risk is found to be moderate (78. 14) for all studied metals. The results of cluster and correlation analyses showed that most metals (Pb, Zn, Cr) are originated from natural source while total petroleum hydrocarbons alongside Ni and V were most likely derived from anthropogenic sources.

To supply water for drinking and industry, several water wells have been drilled in the Kopet-Dagh basin. These water wells have been drilled in the north and northeast of Bojnourd in the Tirgan Formation. There is a significant relationship between stratigraphy and water wells flow rates. Water wells which are drilled in the north-east of the area in comparison with those drilled in the east of the area, have higher flow rates. A complete stratigraphic section of Tirgan Formation (i. e. Baba Musa) with a thickness of 510 m was measured, sampled and studied as well as drilling log data of each of the water wells. The Baba Musa section can be divided into five rock units composed of limestone, marl and marly-limestone. Limestone rock units are considered as karst-aquifer and marly-limestone and marl are considered to be semi-permeable layers and impermeable, respectively. Water wells drilled in the upper limestone have the highest flow rates than other water wells. The wells that have not penetrated the entire upper limestone while penetrated the middle limestone and upper marly-limestone, although they are twice as deep, have a much lower flow rates. Therefore, the best water-bearing layer of the Tirgan Formation is the upper limestone.