GEOSCIENCES
Year:2015 | Volume:24 | Issue:94 (STRATIGRAPHY & SEDIMENTOLOGY)|Papers Count:35

In this research, the biostratigraphy of the Gurpi Formation in Kuh-e-Sefid section in east of Ramhormoz is studied. The thickness of the Gurpi Formation is 190.5m and consists mainly of shale, argillaceous limestone and marl. The lower boundary with the Ilam Formation is comformable with sharp lithology and upper boundary with the Pabdeh Formation is unconformable with a gap between Late Maastrichtian and Late Paleocene. In this study, 47 species belonging to 17 genera and 8 biozones of planktonic foraminifera were recognized. The biozones consist of Dicarinella asymetrica zone, Globotruncanita elevate zone, Globotruncana ventricosa zone, Radotruncana calcarata zone, Globotruncanella havanensis zone, Globotruncana aegyptiaca zone, Gansserina gansseri zone, and Racemiguembelina fructicosa zone. The age of the Gurpi Formation based on these biozones is Late Santonian to Late Maastrichtian in this section.

The early Carboniferous Mobarak Formation is well exposed in the north of Damghan. It consists of fossiliferous limestone, marly limestone and grey shales. 31 species from 23 genera including: Rossirhynchus adamantinus (Gaetani, 1964), Tomiproductus elegantulus (Tolmmachev, 1924), Pustula cf. altaica (Tolmachev, 1924), Leptagonia analoga (Phillips, 1841), Hemiplethrorhynchus crassus (Gaetani, 1968), Tylothyris cf. planimedia (Cvancara, 1958), Lamellosathyris aff. Lamellose (Leveille, 1835),Punctospirifer aff. Scabricosta (North, 1920) have been identified from the Labrud section. Four brachiopod assemblage zones show spanning from the Tournaisian to early Visean. The Mobarak Formation at this section overlies the Geirud Formation conformably and underlies the Dorud Formation (?) disconformably.

The Gurpi Formation has a wide extent in the Zagros Sedimentary Basin.It has received considerable attention due to its unique stratigraphic position, chronostratigraphic importance, and floral and faunal diversity and abundance.In order to biostratigraphically classification and correlation of theGurpi Formation in Kuh-e-Gach andKuh-e Kurdeh sections (Lar region, Fars province), this study concentrated on the calcareous nannofloral content of sediments.From the prepared 300 microscopic slides, a total of 53 species from 30 genera belonging to 15 families were determined, described and photographed. The distribution of nannofloral assemblage of the Gurpi Formation in Kuh-e Kurdeh reveals presence of CC18 to CC24 zones indicating an Early Campanian to Early Maastricht ian age, while in Kuh-e Gach CC19 to CC24 zones with an age range of Early Campanian to Early Maastricht ian are present. Occurrence of various speciesof low latitude affinities points toward such positioning of depositional basin of the Gurpi Formation.

The Middle Jurassic rocks are widely distributed and superbly exposed in the Alborz Mountains (Northern Iran). In the central part of the mountain range, near Mahdishahr (Northern Semnan), the Dalichai Formation, from the underlying conglomerate and sandstones of Shemshak Formation to the limestones of the overlying Lar Formation, is completely exposed on the southern slopes of the kuh-e-Rahband. At this area, the sedimentary succession with nearly 122 m thickness subdivided into four members starting with marl and medium to thick-bedded grey limestones to marly limestones. The lower boundary with the siliciclastics of the underlying Shemshak Formation is disconformity, whereas the upper boundary with the light and cliff-forming carbonates of the Lar Formation is rather inconspicuous and transitional. The Dalichai Formation in the east of Mahdishar section is fossiliferous. The ammonite fauna consist of 5 families, 22 genera and subgenera and 40 species, among them 8 species are recorded for the first time from Iran. Based on the ammonite fauna, 9 biozones were recognized that indicated the age of the Dalichai Formation in the investigated area ranges from the Upper Bajocian? to Upper Oxfordian. Pleobigeographically, the fauna shows close relationship to west Europe and sub-mediterranean regions. This indicates a paleogeographic position of the area at the northern Tethys during the Middle Jurassic.

In order to study the paleoecology of the Aptian gastropods, the Bafgh section with 380 meters thickness, in East of Yazd were studied in detail. In this region, a variety of different fossil groups, including macrofossils (gastropods, ammonites and echinoids) and microfossils (foraminifers and ostracods) are present and suggest an Aptian age for this section. 11 genus and species of gastropods are reported for the first time from this section. The microfossils and macrofossils assemblage all show a shallow environment with a suitable conditions for the time of sedimentation in the study area.

In this research, we documented a paleontological study on the basis of planktic foraminifera, in five stratigraphic sections (Type, Padeha village, Shorab, Abderaz village and Qarehso) across the Santonian-Campanian transitional boundary in the eastern Kopeh-Dagh sedimentary basin. In all sections, no M. testudinarius Schlotheim (cosmopolitan species) was identified, which its last occurrence datum (LOD) is widely used to define the base of the Campanian stage. Several planktic foraminiferal biohorizons close to the Santonian/Campanian boundary were recorded, including the LOD’s of Ventilabrella austiniana Cushman, Dicarinella concavata (Brotzen) and Dicarinella asymetrica (Sigal), and the first occurrence datum (FOD) of Contusotruncana patelliformis (Gandolfi). The Santonian/Campanian boundary was placed in the upper part of the Dicarinella asymetrica Total Range Zone at the top of the Abderaz Formation in the type section and other sections in Shorab, Abderaz village, Padeha village, and at the base of the Abtalkh Formation in the Qarehso section. The acquired bio-models for the study sections are quite comparable with that of Gale et al, 2008 in WDS section, North Texas. On the basis of quantitative analysis of the planktic and benthic foraminiferal assemblages, the sparse presence of keeled planktic foraminifera and planktic foraminifera (%P) indicates that a shallow marine condition was prevailing just above the Santonian/Campanian boundary in the type section, Shorab, Abderaz and Padeha village sections. In addition, the abundance of such foraminifera (keeled planktic foraminifera and planktic foraminifera) reflects deeper water depths in the Qarehso section at the same time. Besides, estimation of the planktic to benthic ratio, which is based on the Van der Zwaan equilibrium, confirms that in the base of Campanian at one of the study sections (Qarehso section) the water depth was 160 m.

In this research, the Campanian –Maastricht ian deposits in Jupar section, Central Iran have been studied to determine bio zonation and Pale obathymetry of the deposits. The planktonic and benthic foraminifera were studied in order to assign palaeobathymetry of the Campanian- Maastrichtian deposits. A depth of 490- 650 m was assigned for most parts of the sediments according to planktonic/epibenthic ratio and the regression equation D = e (3.58718+ (0.03534 × %P*)). In the present investigation, 58 planktonic species of 27 genera have been identified. The Campanian -Maastrichtian deposits is divided into 7 biozones on the basis of planktonic foraminifera, which are cosmopolitan and consist of biozone1-Globotruncanita elevata Partial Range Zone, Biozone2- Globotruncana ventricosa Interval Zone, Biozone3- Globotruncanita calcarata Interval Zone, Biozone4- Globotruncanella havanensis Partial range zone , Biozone5- Globotruncana aegyptiaca Interval zone, Biozone6- Gansserina gansseri Interval zone, and Biozone7- Contusotruncana contusa Interval Zone.

In order to study of the systematic and paleoecology of Cretaceous (Aptian-Early cenomanian) Brachiopods, the Estakhrooyeh section in NW Baghin, west of Kerman City with 190 m in thickness was studied and sampled. The Middle part of this section contains diverse assemblages of macrofossils such as Brachiopods, Echinoderms, Gastropods, Bivalves and Corals. This biostratigraphic research resulted in to examine 5 genera and 10 species of brachiopoda of Sellithyrididae family for the first time from this section. The Brachiopods indicate Aptian-Early Cenomanian ages for these sediments. The Faunal assemblages suggest a shallow and suitable environment prevailed during the deposition of the strata.

The Sarvak Formation in Well AZ 354 of Ahwaz Oil Field attains a thickness of 1712 meters and contains creamy to white and occasionally gray limestone. The recorded foraminifera indicate upper Albian to lower Turonian age for this formation. In order to study pale obathymetry and sea level changes during depositional course of the formation, three common methods were used: in the first method, the absolute number of benthic foraminifera and percentage of Hyaline, Agglutinate and Porcelaneous tests and their ratio were determined. In the second method, the ratio of Planktonic foraminifera to Epifaunal benthic foraminifera was determined via using Van der Zwaan equation, Depth= e (3.58718+(0.03534´%P), the obtained average depth was 130 meters for the most parts of the formation. In the third method, the morph otypes of planktonic foraminifera were used for determination of depth. Based on this method for the lower and middle parts, first and second morph otype groups (shallow areas indices) are abundant, showing a shallow sea. For the upper part the third morph otype groups (deeper areas indices) are abundant, indicating an open marine environment. The results showed that generally, the major parts of the Sarvak Formation has been deposited in a neritic environment and in the upper parts, depositional environment turned into a deeper one and reached the upper bathyal depths (340 m).

The Lower- Middle Jurassic strata are well developed in northeast of Jajarm (E Alborz). At the study section, the Shemshak Group has a maximum thickness of 585 m, consisting of grey silty sandstones and light- green siltstones with brown sandstones, subdivided into 3 formations ofAlasht, Shirindasht and Fillzamin. The lower boundary of the Shemshak Group at Golbini sectionwith the red bauxite horizon of the underlying Elikah Formation is disconformity due to the EarlyCimmerian tectonic event.Its upper boundary with marly limestone and marl of the Dalichai Formation is disconformity, too. In the Shemshak Group at the study section, summing up 186 fossil specimens were collected, among which the ammonoids with 67 specimens clearly predominate and belonging to 6 biozones (ThouarsenseZone, Pseudoradiosa Zone, Aalensis zone, Opalinum Zone, Murchisonaezone, ConcavumZone) have been recognized. Based on the ammonite fauna, the age of the Shemshak Group in the investigated area ranges from the Upper Toarcian to Upper Aalenian. Pale obiogeographically, the fauna shows close relationship to Northwestern Europe and Sub-Mediterranean regions. This indicates a pale ogeographical position of the area at the northern Tethys during the Lower-Middle Jurassic.

In this research, the brachiopod fauna from the Tournaisian (Early Carboniferous) Mobarak Formation located in the Eastern Alborz Mountains, North Iran have been analyzed. 745 specimens have been collected from the Abrendan section, located in north of the Damghan Town. The specimens classified into 36 species of 27 genera and 5 undetermined species and genera of 5 subfamilies in 8 orders: Leptagonia analoga (Phillips, 1836), Delepineineae gen et sp. Ind., Geniculifera sp. Ind., Dictyoclostinae gen et sp. Ind., Geniculifera sp. Ind., Buxtonia sp. Ind., Marginatia vaughani (Muir-Wood, 1928), Marginatia sp. Ind., Tomiproductus elegantulus (Tolmatchoff, 1924), Tolmatchoffini gen. Et. Sp. Ind., Pustula cf. P. Altaica Tolmatchoff, 1924, Pustula cf. P. Kondomensis Sarytcheva, 1963, Pustula spp., Schellwienlla sp. A, Derbyiidae gen. Et sp. Ind., Rhipidomella michelini (Léveillé, 1835), Rhipidomella sp. A, Rhipidomella sp. B, Schizophoria (Schizophoria) resupinata (Martin, 1809), ?Ptychomaletoechia sp. Ind., Hemiplethorhynchus crassus Gaetani, 1968, Rossirhynchus adamantinus Gaetani, 1964, Paraphorhynchus aff. P. Elongatum Weller, 1905, Athyris sp. Ind., Cleiothyridina kusbassica Beznosova in Sarytcheva et al., 1963, Gerankalasiella sp. Ind., Composita megala (Tolmatchoff, 1924), Composita subquadrata (Hall, 1858a), Densalvus sp. Ind., Martinia sp. Ind., Ectochoristites sp. Ind., Prospirinae gen. Et. Sp. Ind., Athylopherous sp. Ind., Paralellora sp. Ind., Unispirifer (Unispirifer) striatoconvolutus (Benson & Dun in Benson, Dun & Browne, 1920), Unispirifer (Unispirifer) sp. A, Unispirifer (Unispirifer) sp. B, Imbrexia sp. Ind., Fusella sp. Ind., Syringothyris carteri (Hall, 1857), Syringothyris skinderi Sokloskaja, 1963 in Sarytcheva et al., 1963, Pseudosyrinx sp. Ind. A species of Molusca Rostrochonca, Hippocardia alborza Hoare & Aghababalou, 2001 has been also found. The quantitative biostratigraphic analysis of the brachiopod assemblages bed by bed collected along the Abrendan section allowed the recognition of three concurrent range biozones: the Schizophoria (S.) resupinata-Pseudosyrinx sp. Ind. Biozone, the Composita subquadrata-Geniculifera sp. Ind. Biozone, and the Cleiothyridina kusbassica-Unispirifer (U.) striatoconvolutus biozone. Most of the brachiopod taxa in the biozones range from the Tournaisian to the Visean. However, some are restricted to the Tournaisian, confirming the age suggested by foraminifers in the upper part of the formation. The statistical and paleogeographical analysis show that the North Iran Brachiopods are mostly close to the coeval faunas from N America and Russia. This confirms the presence of an equatorial current flowing southeastward along the Gondwanan margin.

The thick layers of late Aptian- early Cenomanian deposits in the northwest of Kerman, which consist of mainly marl and limestone has been sampled and studied. The thickness of the succession in the Basab area is 380 meters and is subdivided into 4 distinct and informal units that named Lower Basab Marl, Lower Basab Limestone, Upper Basab Marl and Upper Basab Limestone. The base of this section overlies paraconformably the Jurassic (Liassic) sandstones, while the upper boundary is an erosional surface and covered by the Neogene deposits. Among the macrofossil assemblages that found in this section, the Oysters that belong to three families of Gryphaeidae, Palaeolophidae and Ostreidae are more abundant. The Gryphaeidae family with 80% is more abundant than other families and discussed in this paper. Seven genera and species of this family are reported. Palaeoecological studies and taphonomy effects on the surface of specimens show a warm, shallow environment (intertidal and sublittoral) with a high energy during the deposition of the strata. The Oysters in studied area is very similar to those specimens reported from Egypt in the Wadi Qena Basin.

The Halashi 1 section in south of Kermanshah, West Iran with a thickness of 243 m consists of chert, limestone, mudstone, marlstone and shale and can be divided into 10 Beds/Bedsets. From the studied section, which led to identification the genus Pantanellium that is one of the most prolific genera among Mesozoic radiolarians, 143 samples were collected. In present study, five species including Pantanellium whalenae, Pantanellium cf. riedeli, Pantanellium cumshewaense, Pantanellium squinaboli and Pantanellium cf. lanceola were identified that indicated an Early Tithonian age for the studied section. Identification of species is according to the pore frame number and the configuration, which are important criteria in the taxonomy of the family Pantanelliidae.

The Kopet-Dagh basin is located in the northeast of Iran, in the triangle border of Iran, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan and consists of the marine Jurassic to Neogene strata. The Abtalkh Formation is one of the thickest lithostratigraphic upper Cretaceous units in the eastern Kopet-Dagh basin and is composed of light gray, green to bluish marl and silty marl. The Abtalkh Formation conformably overlies the Abderaz Formation, which contains marls and chalky limestones and is conformably overlain by the Nayzar Formation, which consists of sandstone, silty marl and limestone. The Abtalkh Formation contains very aboundant, rich and good to moderately preserved calcareous nannofossil assemblages of Tethyan realm. The total 220 samples in the jalilabad and 467 samples in the Abtalkh Village stratigraphic sections, representing the oldest and youngest strata of upper Abderaz, Abtalkh and base of Nayzar successions, were collected. The thickness of Abtalkh Formation in the Jalilabad stratigraphic section is 1325.8m and for the Abtalkh Village stratigraphic section is 1765m. One hundred sixteen nannoplanktonic species belonging to forty three genera and fifteen families were identified. The biostratigraphic study allowed the recognition of the calcareous nannofossil biozones of Sissingh (1977) emended by Perch-Nielsen (1985) and Burnett (1998). From bottom to top, part of CC19, CC20, CC21, CC22, part of CC23a biozones and UC14dTP, UC15bTP, UC15cTP, UC15dTP subzones and UC16 biozone were identified in the Jalilabad section. The Abtalkh Village section in the middle of eastern Kopet-Dagh basin is started with CC20 (UC15bTP) biozone and continued to CC23a (UC16) biozone. Nearly more than 30 calcareous nannofossil species were reported for the first time in Iran. The results of this study indicated that the age of Abtalkh Formation spans from early to uppermost Late Campanian for these two sections in the Kopet-Dagh basin.

Two stratigraphic sections of Tang-e-Chenarbashi (712 meters) and Tang-e-Bavolak (870 meters) in the Kabir kuh anticline were selected for investigating planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Sarvak Formation. These sections encompass of pelagic facies and containing rich microfauna of Middle Albian to Cenomanian. The results of this study show the age of Middle Albian for lower strata of the Sarvak Formation. First appearance of Biticinella breggiensis correspond with the onset of Upper Albian strata, and is a cosmopolitan marker for Middle and Late Albian boundary. Also, based on investigated biozones including Ticinella roberti Zone, Ticinella primula Zone, Biticinella breggiensis Zone, Rotalipora ticinensis Zone, Paracostellagerina libyca zone, Microhedbergella rischi zone, Rotalipora cushmani Zone, Whiteinella archaeocretacea Zone, several para conformities have been recognized in the examined sections.

The basal unit of the Pabdeh Formation at Bisheh-Deraz section composes of 47m purple to green to grey shale and marl. These beds gradually change to shale and argillaceous limestone in the top of the section. In order to study paleoecology and pale oenvironment of these beds, palynological evidences including palynofacies, abundance and diversity of dinocysts and environmental index have been investigated. Four Palynofacies types including IV: shelf to basin transition, VII-VIII: distal dysoxic-anoxic shelf, IX: distal suboxic-anoxic basin) have been differentiated that propose a distal suboxic-anoxic basin as depositional setting. According to the microfacies of planktonic foraminiferal Wakestone/Packestone a deep environment is proposed as the depositional basin. Using such parameters as palynofacies evidences, C/PPC ratio, AOM/MP ratio, abundance and diversity of dinocysts and environmental index, three system tracts related to one sequence (3rdorder) with one sequence boundary type 2 and one maximum flooding surface have been determined. In general, the factors all together show a deepening upward trend through this rock unit.

The Upper Triassic sediments in the Central Iran are known as Nayband Formation. They are a set of carbonatic and detritic sediments that can be divided into several members. The carbonatic Bidestan and Howz-e Khan members contain a diverse fauna and flora. In order to study and identify the taxonomic inventory of the Howz-e Khan member, two profiles were studied in the Naybandan area. The first one is located in southwest of Dig-e Rostam and the second one in southwest of the type locality, which were both sampled systematically. Moreover, unsystematic samples were taken from different parts of the area, which led to the recognition of various algae, foraminifera and sponges. This paper introduces the following sphinctozoan sponges: Nevadathalamia variabilis, Amblysiphonella sp., Discosiphonella sp., Kashanella irregularis, Paradeningeria alpina, Tabasia maxima, Tabasia media, and Tabasia minima. The lithological and sedimentary structures as well as the microfacies indicate that the Howz-e Khan member has been formed in a shallow marine, near the coastal environment. These circumstances provided perfect conditions for patch-reef-forming organisms (here: sphinctozoan sponges) in the carbonates of the Howz-e Khan member.

The Persian Gulf has an area about 240000 km2, considered as the northern part of the counterclockwise movement of Arabian Plate and as a recent example of Holocene carbonated sedimentary environment in dry (arid) climate. The basin volume, regarding to its average depth (36m), is estimated about 87,000km3. The present study was done in order to examine the sea level changes and determine the rate of sedimentation of Holocene deposits in the northeast of Persian Gulf. A complete and undisturbed core from the Holocene deposits (1070 cm length) located in the south of Rajaee port in the Hormozgan province was prepared. Following the exact description of this core, based on the objective observations, 52 samples were taken according to the facies divisions and they were sediment logically and geochemically tested. The granulometric analysis, mineralogy by XRD method, abundance percentage of elements by ICP-OEC device and polarograph, percentage of organic matter by the Rock Eval device, percentage determination of carbonates by automatic calcimeter device were done for all samples and 10 samples were dated by 14C AMS method. The granulometric results indicated that most of the deposits are mud containing sand and gravel. The gravels are mainly related to shell fragments. The amount of carbonates varies from 17 to 84 percent. The silisiclastic deposits include quartz, feldspar, muscovite, pyroxene and clay minerals such as kaolinite, chlorite, montmoryonite, illite and paligorskite. The chemical and biochemical sediments are mainly calcite, dolomite and aragonite. The percentage of organic matter contained in the sediments varies from 0.02 to 0.13. The variation curve of calcium and strontium, which indicates intrabasinal sediments, is correlated to sea level changes in combination with objective evidences such as grain size, sediment type, and amount of organic matter, texture and structure of sediments. The abundance of most elements especially Al, Mg, Mn, Cr, Ba with continental origin, revealed a reversed relation with the sea level variations. In addition, two significant phases of rapid transgression have occurred from 6800 to 3700 and from 9300 to 7900 years ago. The dating results showed that the average rate of sedimentation in the study area is about 1mmper year (966mm/ka).

The Meyghan Playa is an inland closed basin, which is located in center of the aquifer Arak plain. This playa is a seasonal lake and from hydrological point of view acts as erosional base level of region and is appropriate site for precipitation clastic and chemical deposits. For mineralogical and sediment logical investigations 94 sediment samples were collected from the playa. 19 samples from surface sediments in transect to the center of playa and 31 specimens from 7 cores were systematically collected and studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The clay minerals include Illite, Chlorite, Kaolinite, Vermiculite and Smectite. Illite and Chlorite are the most important clay minerals in the playa. Origins of clay minerals in the Meyghan playa are generally detrital, occurred by physical weathering and indicate composition of bed rock. The study of surface sediments indicate that amount of clay minerals from margin to center of the playa such as another detrital mineral (Quartz) is decreased. In addition, amount of them towards depth is increased. Therefore it shows the presence of a high water level and cold - humid climate in the past (late Pleistocene).

After Early Cimmerian orogenic stage, due to marine transgression, the Nayband Formation Norian_Rethian (Upper Triassic) in age deposited in the Central Iran Zone. Because of transforming of aragonite and high Mg calcite into low Mg calcite during diagenesis, recognition of original carbonate mineralogy based on petrographic studies is difficult. In this research, original carbonate mineralogy and type of carbonates (tropical, temperate and polar) of the Nayband Formation in Darbidkhoon, Tarz, Gitry and Kuhbanan stratigraghic sections have been studied using geochemical evidences. The trace elements (Na, Sr, Fe, Mn) and isotopes (and) data of the Nayband Formation carbonates is located inside or close to the aragonitic tropical Fahlian Formation (Lower Cretaceous), the Ilam Formation (Upper Cretaceous), the Kangane Formation (Lower Triassic) and the Mozduran Formation (Upper Jurassic) limestones, because of aragonitic original carbonate mineralogy. The results of elemental and isotopic analysis correlate with the petrographic evidences and paleogeographic map of the Upper Triassic.

Due to some environmental variations such as sea level fluctuation and the Hangenberg mass extinction event, geochemical variations of elements have occurred in the Devonian-Carboniferous transition, which some of these elements are useful indicators to display the source of sediments and the sea level changes. In this transition, Sr is one of these elements has a reverse relation with sea level changing and a direct relation with amount of sediment deposition. Trace elements such as Sr, Fe, Mn, Mg, Al, and Ca display the depositional environment conditions and their changing is affected by indoor and outdoor environmental conditions such as pH, Eh, climate, etc. This study has focused on investigation of elemental changes at the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary in the Khoshyeilagh and Mobarak Formations in the Labnesar section, North of Damghan.The elemental changing in Brachiopoda shells and its containing sediments has the same trend as they show the fossil samples are in situ. The environmental situation of fossil organisms and their involving sediments in the study section were semi close to open sea with anoxia conditions. The black shale at D-C boundary shows LREE richer than HREE that confirmed its continental source. The variation of some elements such as Mn, Fe, Na at D-C boundary in the Labnesar section indicates of LMC (low magnesium calcite) in the Brachiopod shells and involving sediments. The quantity variations of Mn and Sr in D-C boundary are related to sea level fluctuations. These elements are influenced by the sea level changes and impress the amount of other elements such as Fe, Al, Ti, Mg, Ca, Na, and K. The median amount of Na at the boundary indicates a moderate salinity.

Evaporites include wide range of chemical deposits, which are precipitated in surface or near surface, from the concentrated brine by evaporation. Diagenetic processes are important factors can effect on reservoir quality. The Oligo-Miocene Asmari reservoir comprise of siliciclastic and carbonate sequences in the Mansouri Oil Field and reservoir quality of these rocks are affected by diagenetic processes during the time. One of the most important processes is anhydrite cement, which spread as layer, poikilotopic, pores filler and pervasive, early nodular, nodular- burial, scattered crystals, fracture and vein filler in the reservoir. Spread of anhydrite cement has a negative impact on the reservoir quality. On the other hand, the higher solubility of anhydrite cement than carbonate cement can have a positive effect on the reservoir quality. The Interplay of digenetic processes and anhydrite texture is visible in increasing or decreasing of characteristics of the Asmari reservoir. The result of this study shows that anhydrite (during diagenesis) as a cement with poikilotopic fabric and pervasive texture of porosity filler has the most important role in reduction of reservoir quality, but the processes such as dissolution has the main role in increasing of reservoir quality of the Asmari Formation in the Mansouri Oil Field.

The Oligocene Qom Formation deposits in NW Central Iran (NE Delijan) are widespread in NE-SW trend. Four members of the Qom Formation (unknown, a, b& c1) in the study area consist of mainly marly limestone, limestone, sandy limestone and a minor amounts of sandstone. It disconformablyoverliesthe Lower Red Formation and the upper boundary is covered by the recent alluvium. Based on the benthic foraminifers assemblage, these deposits are attributed to Oligocene (Rupelian- Chattian). Petrographic consideration led to identification of 12 carbonatemicrofacies and one sandstone facies that may have been deposited in a homoclinal ramp and in 4 sub environments including tidal flat, lagoon, bioclastic bar and open marine. Sequence stratigraphy analysis led to identification of 8 3rdordersdepositional sequences bounded by type I and type II sequence boundaries. Comparison between interpreted relative sea level curve with global sea level curve shows reasonable correlation with the lower and upper sequence boundaries of this formation and also Rupelian- Chattianboundary and the differences in other sequence boundaries can be related to local tectonic activity in the sedimentary basin of Qom Formation and the local sea level changes.

The Lower Jurassic Ab-Haji Formation consists of siliciclastic sediments, which are widely exposed in the Tabas Block. This formation varies in thickness from tens of meters to more than 500 m in northern Tabas Block. The Ab-Haji Formation with avearge thickness of 75 meters presents in the Tabas Coal Mine area and consists mainly of sandstone, siltstone, claystone with a few thin interbeds of coal seams. Two outcrops and three exploration boreholes were studied in order to identify lithofacies and to interpret the depositional environment. The lithofacies analysis in outcrops imply two siliciclastic coarse grained (Gcm, Gt), four medium grained (St, Sp, Sr, Sh), two fine grained (Fl, Fm) and one coal lithofacies. Identified lithofacies can be grouped into four architectural elements including channel, point bar, crevasse splay and coastal plain swamps. The electorofacies and log motif analysis led to recognition and differentiation of architectural elements in exploration boreholes. The lithofacies and architectural elements show that the siliciclastic sediments of the Ab-Haji Formation were deposited in the meandering river system within a coastal plain with widespread swamps. The sediment logical analysis led to reconstruction of paleogeography in eastern part of the Tabas Block, which shows deposition of no nmarine to coastal plain environment in this part of the block.

The Albian - Turonian Sarvak Formation, the second major reservoir formation in south and southwest Iran is composed of mainly carbonate rocks. In this study, the upper part of Sarvak Formation in Siri Oil Fields was studied to determine facies, depositional environments, diagenetic processes and sequence stratigraphy analysis. The facies analysis led to the recognition of 12 microfacies in 5 facies associations, which deposited in a homoclinal carbonate ramp environment. The main diagenetic processes affected carbonates of this formation are bioturbation, micritization, cementation, dissolution, dolomitization, stylolitization, pyritization and fracturing. The most important cements in this formation are fine equant calcite cement, drusy mosaic calcite cement, coarse blocky calcite cement and syntaxial calcite overgrowth cement. Three third order sequences recognized in sequence stratigraphic studies for the upper part of Sarvak Formation taking into account of facies and diagenetic events in a sequence stratigraphic framework.

The Mozduran Formation in west of the Kopet-Dagh basin, NE Jajarm, is mainly composed of dolostone in top and base, and mudstone to grainstone limestones in the middle parts of Cheshme-Khan section. This formation in the Qezel-Tapeh2 well is composed of alternative limestone and shale layers. Based on the facies studies, four carbonate facies associations (open marine, barrier, lagoon and tidal flat) have been identified, including fifteen carbonate microfacies and two siliciclastic lithofacies. It is interpreted that the Mozduran Formation in this area were deposited in a homoclinal ramp of a carbonate platform. The sequence stratigraphy analysis led to distinguish five depositional sequences in the Cheshme-Khan section and four depositional sequences in the Qezel-Tapeh2 well. The lower boundary of the 1st sequence (paleosol layar in the Cheshme-Khan section) and the upper boundary of the latest sequence (continental deposits) of both sections are a “type 1” sequence boundaries, but other boundaries are interpreted to be a “type 2” sequence boundaries. The relative sea-level curve of the study area comparing to the global sea-level curve, shows a relatively correlation and some differences can probably be related to regional tectonic setting of the Kopet-Dagh basin due to subsidence along the longitudinal faults and sediment loading.

The Kahar Formation at its type locality in the Kahar Mountain, 75 km NW of Tehran, consists of about 1000 m of siliciclastic rocks (mainly mudrocks). This study focuses on the mineralogical and geochemical composition of these mudrocks to identify possible source areas and their tectonic setting. The optical microscopy and XRD studies suggest that the mudrocks are rich in quartz and feldspar (especially plagioclase) and have low phyllosilicates (mostly illite and chlorite). SEM-EDX petrographic investigation of mudrocks reveals that platy illite and chlorite may have formed during the diagenesis (illitization and chloritization). Classification of studied mudrocks based on the maturity index, indicate that they are tectic and phyllo-tectic types, deposited in basins related to an (continental) island arc tectonic setting. The Chemical Index of Alteration (average 70) and A–CN–K parameters indicate that a moderate chemical weathering has taken place in the source region of the Kahar mudrocks. In addition, the chemical composition of mudrocks suggests that the amount of sediment recycling is very low in the Kahar deposits. The geochemical discrimination diagrams, immobile trace element ratios and Rare Earth Elements of mudrocks suggest that the Kahar mudrocks were derived mainly from the felsic sources and deposited in the basins related to an island arc tectonic setting. The resulting model for the tectonic setting of the Kahar basin during the Late Neoproterozoic can be best explained by recently models that considered Iran as part of Peri-Gondwanan terranes, similar to the Avalonia and Cadomia arc terranes, occupying the northern margins of Gondwana.

The Sarvak Formation from the Bangestan Group, Late Albian to Cenomanian in age is an important petroleum reservoir in Iran. 5 outcrop sections in the Izeh zone, including the Bangestan Mountain as a type section with 831.5 m thickness, the Mangasht Mountain with 426 m thickness, the Payun Mountain with 480 m thickness, the north flank of Mish Mountain with 252 m thickness and the south flank of Mish Mountain with 348 m thickness were studied geochemically. The major elements (Ca, Mg), trace elements (Sr, Na, Fe, Mn) and carbon and oxygen isotopes studies indicate that the geochemical characteristics of the Sarvak Formation have been changed in the Izeh zone. High amount of Sr/Mn ratio and Sr content normalized to Ca and heaviest oxygen isotope of the Sarvak Formation carbonates in the north flank of Mish Mountain and some of the Bangestan Mountain carbonate samples indicate low amount of solution and closed diagenetic system in these outcrops compare to the Sarvak Formation carbonates in the south flank of Mish and Payun Mountains. The oxygen and carbon isotopes variation illustrate marine pheriatic digenesis in the north flank of Mish and Bangestan Mountains and meteoric diagenesis in the south flank of Mish, Mangasht and Payun Mountains. The geochemical difference, which observed in the studied sections at Izeh zone, could be related to the reactivation of deep seated structures such as the Hendijan and Bahregansar (Izeh) faults, which caused thickness, facies and diagenetic variations in these areas.

Artificial Neural Network methods (ANN) are computational methods, which capable to predict a specific log or classify different data. Unlike the digital computers, which require the completely definite and distinguished rules, the ANN methods do not need a pure mathematical model; rather like the human brain has the ability to learn by recognized and determined examples. The target of the present paper is to establish and prove the Petro physical Analysis as powerful approach in prediction and diagnosis of rock reservoir porosity by use of petro physical logs, in which by a high accuracy suggested Petro physical Analysis based solution the porosity can be estimated using conventional logging data. On the basis of the available petro physical data, the proposed method was examined in one of the southwest oil field of Iran. The obtained results of network analysis conditioning to reliability to data with different tests such as regression, root mean square and SPLine showed that the amount of network error in terms of available data in engineering range with a high acceptable safety factor could be used to predict and estimate porosity. This method with ability of cost reduction and viability can help and provide a large variety in this field for further extended research.

In this study, rock samples from the pabdeh and Gurpi formations of well#NH-01 in the Nosrat Oil Field subjected to geochemical evaluation techniques using Rock-Eval pyrolysis, bitumen extraction, Column Chromatography and gas chromatography. The result of geochemical study indicates Kerogen type II and III. However, most samples tend to related kerogen Type II suggesting that source rock was deposited in the anoxic to suboxic environments and most organic matter derived from marine and partly from terrestrial sources. The pabdeh Formation shows fair to good hydrocarbon potential and has already entered oil generation window, whereas the Gurpi Formation has Poor to fair hydrocarbon potential. The Gas chromatography conducted on these samples indicates that most samples are rich in saturated hydrocarbons and also suggests organic matter of the pabdeh and Gurpi formations are all indigenous.

The Sirri E (Esfand) and D (Dena) Oil Fields are located in the south of the Persian Gulf. The Upper Sarvak (Mishrif Member) Formation, late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Turonian) in age, is underlain by the argillaceous limestone of Khatiyah and by the late Turonian unconformity overlain by the Laffan Shale in mentioned two oil fields. On the basis of petrographic and geochemical evidences (elemental analysis such as Mg, Ca, Sr, Mn) and oxygen and carbon isotope values, aragonite was original carbonate mineralogy for the carbonates of the Upper Sarvak (Mishrif Member) Formation in (Well A) in the Sirri E Field. The geochemical studies and δ18O and δ13C illustrate that these carbonates were affected by meteoric diagenesis in hot and arid climate and in semi-closed to open diagenetic system with thin soil layer. Temperature calculation based on the oxygen isotope value of the least-altered sample and δw around of -1 SMOW for Cretaceous, show that the seawater temperature was around 34˚C during the deposition of the Upper Sarvak (Mishrif Member) Formation. With regards to the highly altered samples and light oxygen values the temperature should be probably related to the shallow burial diagenesis. Petrographic studies of thin sections of the well A in the Sirri E Field and the well B in the Sirri D Field show the effect of diagenetic processes such as micritization, dissolution, cementation, neomorphism, pressure solution, physical compaction, fracture and dolomitization on the reservoir quality of the Upper Sarvak (Mishrif Member) Formation. The most important diagenetic factor that increased the reservoir quality is dissolution, which occurred in the meteoric diagenesis. However, the most important diagenetic factor that decreased the reservoir quality is the expansion of various kinds of cement especially large blocky cement, which occurred in the burial diagenesis.