Introduction, Taphonomy and Palaeoecology of Late Aptian- Early Cenomanian Oysters (Family: Gryphaeidae), Basab Area, Northwest of Kerman

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.