Plant macrofossiles of the Laleband formation (Late Triassic), Ramsar coal-bearing region, Northern Iran

The Shemshak Group is well-exposed in Ramsar coal-bearing region and consists of four formations; Ekrasar, Laleband, Kalariz and Javaherdeh. The Laleband Formation lies conformably and gradationally on top of Ekrasar formation and its upper contact is conformable and sharp under Kalariz formation. It contains scattered plant macrofossils of Norian-Rhaetian age. The studied section contains well-preserved and scattered plant macrofossils belonging to three orders as Equisetales, Filicales and Pinales. Based on the occurrence of Neocalamites sp. cf. N. carcinoides, Dictyophyllum sp. cf. D. exile, Clathropteris meniscoides and Cycadocarpidium erdmani and stratigraphic position of fossil bearing layers, Late Norian – Early Rhaetian age is suggested for the studied beds.