Microfacies, sedimentary environmental model and relative sea level change of marly strata of the Qom Formation in Zarrin-Abad section, South of Zanjan

In order to reconstruct the sedimentary environment of marly strata related to the upper parts of Qom Formation, one stratigraphic outcrop have been studied. Studied section is located in the Zarrin-Abad area (South of Zanjan) and is composed of 135 meters of marls and argillaceous limestones. Theses strata are limited by thick bedded limestone (related to the F Member of the Qom Formation) at the base. There is a thick bed of evaporate layer at the top of these strata with sharp boundary that can be stratigraphically related to the Upper Red Formation. Based on petrographic and texture studies, eight microfacies have been identified. These microfacies are related to the distal parts of inner shelf, patch reef, slope, toe of slop and deep shelf sub environments. Based on microfacies analysis we can propose an open shelf as sedimentary environment for these strata. Relative abundance of allochems show one cycle (rise and fall) in relative sea level along the stratigraphic column that can be correlated with eustasy curve.