فصلنامه پژوهش های چینه نگاری و رسوب شناسی
سال سی و ششم شماره 3 (پیاپی 80، پاییز 1399)

In this study, 110 m of carbonate rocks from one well of the Dariyan Formation in the central part of the Persian Gulf were investigated by using 390 thin-sections and gamma ray data. In order to determine the depositional sequences of this formation, facies analysis led to the identification of nine microfacies in five sub-environments deposited in a carbonate ramp platform. The sea-level changes at the time of deposition of the Dariyan Formation have resulted in formation of three third-order complete depositional sequences. To determine the boundaries by gamma deviation method, each gamma ray data was subtracted from the average data in the whole well and then the obtained values were added together to calculate cumulative deviation from the mean value. Three units and the associated main boundaries were identified by the first level analysis. The second level analysis, which was done separately on all three units, other sequence boundaries (except the boundary at a depth of 1127.2 m) were identified. Comparing the determined boundaries resulting from this method with sequence stratigraphic studies based on the core analysis results indicates that this tool is valuable in determining sequence stratigraphic boundaries in carbonate formations.

The present study investigates the geochemical properties of potential source rocks in the eastern Caspian Basin from Alborz structural zone. For this purpose, sections of Suchelma and Purva in south of Neka and an outcrop in south of Sari were selected. The studied samples of sedimentary source rocks of the Paleocene age were analyzed based on Rock-Eval analysis method. The results of Rock- Eval pyrolysis and organic petrography results of probable source rock sediments in one of the exploration wells of Gorgan plain were also studied. According to the results, most of the outcrops samples are immature and were deposited in a regressive continental environment. The samples of exploration borehole studied, are good in terms of organic matter richness but in terms of the amount of kerogen maturation are immature. According to the results of this study, these samples have weak hydrocarbon generating power and total organic carbon content of about 1% as well as kerogen type III. It was also specified in the determination of organic facies that most of the mentioned samples show deep environmental conditions adjacent to orogenic and continental sites and are deposited in a regressive environment.

In order to assess the concentrations of heavy metals in stream sediments of eastern and southeastern drainages of the Angouran Zn-Pb mine, stream sediment samples were selected from 77 stations. Results of samples analysis demonstrate that concentrations of As, Sb, Cd, Pb and Zn are higher and Co is less than the averages of upper continental crust in most stations. The elements correlation analysis indicates that there are intermediate to very strong positive correlations between Pb, Zn, Cd, Sb and As, and Co has no correlation with other elements. Investigation of distribution maps, enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index demonstrate that the highest enrichment and pollution in the study area related to Pb, Zn, Cd, Sb and As which are concentrated at the northern and northeastern parts of the study area (Allahlou-Chay catchment). Investigation of the relationship between the obtained data and geology of the study area demonstrates that the origin of these elements concentrations are geogenic and related to mineralizations and alterations. Exploitation activities at the Angouran Zn-Pb mine caused increasing the concentration of heavy metals and their entry into the surface waters which with the result of expansion of mentioned elements to northeast of study area and Allahlou-Chay catchment.

The Permian deposits (Doroud Formation) are exposed in a wide area of central Alborz. A stratigraphic section of Permian deposits in the Eram section (South Neka) has been selected for the study of facies, depositional environments, sequence stratigraphy, and diagenetic processes. The 320 m thick Doroud Formation in the study area mainly consists of intercalation of limestones and sandstones. Field and petrographic studies of thin sections led to identifying four siliciclastic petrofacies and three carbonate microfacies. These facies are deposited in four facies belts, including fluvial, coastal, lagoon, and shoal. The low diversity of facies and the gradual change of facies belts, the absence of turbidites, and the absence of large barrier reef indicate that the Permian deposits in the study area were deposited on a carbonate ramp. Also, based on the absence of turbidite deposits of a deep marine environment, it can be deduced that the depositional environment of the Doroud Formation is homoclinal. Two third-order depositional sequences have been identified in the studied interval of the Doroud Formation. Different diagenetic processes have been affected on the studied interval in the study area, most notably dolomitization, cementation, mechanical and chemical compaction, pyritization, fracturing, and neomorphism.

To analyze the sedimentary palaeoenvironment of the Gurpi Formation in Bisheh–Deraz section in south of Ilam, various factors including diversity and abundance of dinocysts, a ratio of Peridinioid to Gonyaulacoid (P/G) dinoflagellate cysts, palynofacies parameters and "selective preservation of organic matter" have been used. In lower parts of the Gurpi Formation of Campanian age is very argillaceous and then shallows up in the upper part of Lopha Limestone that contains the small size of bivalve shell debris. This is followed by a stagnant condition due to sea-level rise that favored the preservation of organic matter in early Maastrichtian. The Emam-Hassan Limestone with high percentages of non-fluorescent amorphous organic matter represents a basin environment. The Latter member is overlain by the marls of Late Maastrichtian. Microbiostratigraphy, sedimentology, and palynofacies observation indicate sea-level fall and a 3.5 Ma hiatus at the K/P boundary. This is followed by deepening and the deposition of the basal purple shale of the Pabdeh Formation. The relative sea-level changes curve drawn based on palynomorphs in this study is well in accord with the existing eustasy curves that indicate the great effect of eustasy factor relative to other factors.

Large benthic foraminifera (LBF) are important fossils with large tests and complex internal structures. In biostratigraphic studies of Paleogene large benthic foraminiferas from Alveolina, Assilina (Hottinger 1960; Drobne 1977), and Nummulites (Schaub 1981) are used for introduction of 20 shallow benthic zones in the western Tethys (Serra-Kiel et al. 1998). Large benthic foraminiferas in the eastern and western Tethys similarly described but are different with regard to taxonomy (Hottinger 1971). The Paleocene of western Neo-Tethys are dominated with coralgal reefs (e.g. Accordi et al. 1998; Turnsek and Drobne 1998; Baceta et al. 2005; Scheibner et al. 2007) although in the eastern Neo-Tethys, the large benthic foraminiferas are dominated (Wan et al. 2002; Afzal et al. 2009, 2011; Zhang et al. 2013). Based on high biodiversity of Lockhartia in the Paleocene of Ronikot Formation in India, eastern Neo-Tethys ocean is named Ranikothalia Sea (Davies 1937) or Lockhartia Sea (Hottinger 1998) that occupied southern Turkey in the west to the Tibet and Pakistan in the east and Egypt in the south (Hottinger 2007, 2014). Another important aspect of large benthic foraminifera biodiversity is that the Lockhartia genus has a distinct chronostratigraphic position in the Paleocene resemble that Alveolina, Assilina, and Nummulites in the Eocene. For example, Lockhartia retiata Sander 1962 and Lockhartia praeheimi Smout 1954 are accepted as index fossils of the shallow benthic zone 3. The objectives of this study are the determination of stratigraphic importance and migration trend of Miscellaniedae family across the Tethys ocean in the late Paleocene–early Eocene time.

For LBFs biostratigraphic investigations of the Hormak section, in field studies, 100 rock specimens are collected and 350 thin sections are prepared from them for the study of different genus and species of Miscellaniedae family. The systematic determination of this group of large benthic foraminiferas is, in the level of genus and species, are done by using a binocular microscope and then based on identified LBFs, the age of the Hormak section is suggested.

In the eastern Neo-Tethys, SBZ3 and SBZ4 are identified with increasing generic diversity and reflect the time in which LBF have experienced the new morphology (Hottinger 2001; Scheibner and Speijer 2008). In India basin (eastern Neo-Tethys) the mentioned biozones are initiated with the appearance of new taxonomic trends such as Rothalids (Kathina and Lockhartia), Miliolids (Triloculina and Quinqueloculina) Pellatispirids (Miscellanea), Alveolinids (Glomalvelina), Coskinolinids (Coskinon), Spirocyclinids (Saudia), Dictyoconids (Fallotella, Dictyoconus), Nummulitids (Ranikothalia, Assilina, and Operculina) and Lepidorbitoids (Daviesina, Orbithosiphon, and Setia) (Afzal et al. 2009) that are correlatable with a faunistic scheme in the other part of the Tethys (Hottinger 1997, 1998; Jauhri 1998; Serra-Kiel et al. 1998; Jauhri and Agarwal 2001; Jauhri et al. 2006; Green et al. 2008; Scheibner and Speijer 2008, 2009; Zamagni et al. 2008; Mathur et al. 2009; Tewari et al. 2010). Studies of different genera of Miscellaneidae in the thin sections and isolated forms led to the identification of Miscellanea miscella, Miscellanea juliettae, Miscellanites primitivus, Miscellanits minutus that accompanied with other fossils are suggested the late Paleocene–early Eocene age. In the Hormak section, SBZ3 and SBZ4 biozones are identified with Kathina, Triloculina, Idalina, Quinqueloculina, Miscellanea, glomalveolina, Ranikothalia, and Discocyclina that in respect to abundance and diversity, correlatable with eastern Neo-Tethys foraminiferal assemblage (Afzal et al. 2009).