Micropaleontology and systematic determination of Miscellaneidae family in the Middle Paleocene–lower Eocene deposits in the north of Zahedan, Padagi stratigraphic sections

Miscellaneidae are Paleogene larger index microfossils (Middle Paleocene–Early Eocene) that are important for biozonation of shallow marine deposits. These large benthic foraminifera have distinct architecture and ornamentation schemes which differentiated them form Nummulitidae and Rotalidae families. Miscellaneidae have different taxa that essentially are usefulness for biostratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic investigations. For biostratigraphic studies, age and systematic determinations of miscellaneidae, Middle Paleocene–lower Eocene deposits of two outcrop sections are investigated in the Padagi village in the north of Zahedan. These stratigraphic sections mainly consist of alternation of marls, marly limestones and limestones with 237.5 m thickness for PE section and 222.5 m thickness for PEP section. Study of different Misellaneidae genera led to identifications of Miscellanea miscella, Miscellanea juliettae, Miscellanites primitives and Miscellanites minutus that shows standard biozone SBZ3–-SBZ6 and therefore suggested Late Paleocene–-Early Eocene age. Moreover, global distribution patterns of older species of Miscellaneidae represents that these species belong to the eastern Tethys basin.