The Maastrichtian‐Danian in the SW Zagros Fold‐Thrust Belt (S. Iran): An Integration of Planktonic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy and Gamma‐Ray Spectrometry

• Published in: Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition
• Main Authors: MOGHADDASI, Abdolreza, VAZIRI‐MOGHADDAM, Hossein, SEYRAFIAN, Ali
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2020
• Subjects: Planktonic foraminifera
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1755-6724.14292; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1755-6724.14292; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1111/1755-6724.14292

Abstract In this study, the Maastrichtian‐Danian boundary was measured and sampled in two stratigraphic sections, the north and south flanks of the Dehnow anticline in Coastal Fars, Southern Iran. This boundary was also investigated in the drilled exploratory well‐1 in the same region. The lithology of the Maastrichtian‐Danian deposits consists of glauconitic, phosphatic argillaceous limestones and marlstones. 30 genera and 77 species of planktonic foraminifera have been determined. The recognized biozones are the Gansserina gansseri Interval Zone, and the Contusotruncana contusa Interval Zone, which indicates latest Campanian to middle Maastrichtian age for the upper part of the Gurpi Formation. In addition, the Eoglobigerina edita (P1) Partial Range Zone, Praemurica uncinata (P2) Lowest Occurrence Zone, Morozovella angulata (P3) Lowest Occurrence Zone and Globanomalina psudomenardii (P4) Taxon Range Zone represent a Danian to Thanetian age for the lower part of the Pabdeh Formation. From the absence of the Abathomphalus mayaroensis Interval Zone, Pseudoguembelina hariaensis Interval Zone, Pseudotextularia elegans Interval Zone, Plummerita hantkeninoides Interval Zone, Guembelitria cretacea (P0) Partial Range Zone and Parvularugoglobigerina eugubina (Pα) Total Range Zone, it can be deduced that there is a paraconformity across the Maastrichtian–Danian boundary in the studied area, this hiatus encompassing the late Maastrichtian and the earliest Danian. Danian deposits from the study area contain reworked glauconitized macrofossils, planktonic and benthic foraminifera of the Cretaceous. The obtained surface gamma‐ray spectrometry logs resemble the exploratory well‐1 gamma‐ray wireline log.