Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Paleontology and paleoecology of coralline algal assemblages from the Early–Middle Miocene deposits in NW of the Zagros basin, Iran

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Carbonates and Evaporites Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paleontology and paleoecology of coralline red algal assemblages of Asmari carbonate platform in north-west Zagros basin (Lurestan province) are described. The Asmari Formation was deposited during the Burdigalian to Langhian interval. This Formation unconformably overlies Eocene dolomites of Shahbazan Formation and is conformably underlain by Gachsaran Formation. The thin section analysis of carbonate facies from Asmari Formation yielded a rich assemblage of coralline red algae that deposited on a carbonate ramp environment. These associations were predominant on inner and middle ramp settings. The coralline red algal assemblage comprises both geniculate and non-geniculate forms. Encrusting, encrusting to layered, arborescent and lumpy were the growth forms. The distribution of them across the ramp profile is related to the paleobathymetric position. Thin section analysis shows that Lithothamnion and Mesophyllum are the most abundant, whereas Lithoporella, Neogoniolithon, Sporolithon and Spongites are less abundant and Phymatholithon together with Corallina are rare. Neogoniolithon, Lithothamnion and Lithoporella were predominant in calm waters of euphotic-mesophotic inner ramp. Spongites and Corallina together with fragments of reworked melobesioids constituted the high energy parts of euphotic zone. Neogoniolithon is present in the shallower parts of a middle ramp. Deep and calm waters of the oligophotic zone in middle ramp characterized by the dominance of Mesophyllum and Lithothamnion. The presence of Lithoporella, Spongites and Sporolithon among the red algal assemblage indicates that carbonate production took place in warm waters of the tropical to subtropical zone.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdul Aziz H, Di Stefano A, Foresi LM, Hilgen FJ, Iaccarino SM, Kuiper KF, Lirer F, Salvatorini G, Turco E (2008) Integrated stratigraphy of early Middle Miocene sediments from DSDP Leg 42A Site 372 (western Mediterranean). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 257:123–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adams CG, Bourgeois E (1967) Asmari biostratigraphy: geological and exploration division. Iranian Oil Offshore Company, Report, p 1074

    Google Scholar 

  • Adey WH (1986) Coralline algae as indicators of sea-level. Sea-level research. Springer, Amsterdam, pp 229–280

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Adey WH, Macintyre IG (1973) Crustose coralline algae: a reevaluation in the geological sciences. Geol Soc Am Bull 84:883–904

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adey WH, Townsend RA, Boykins WT (1982) the crustose coralline algae (Rhodophyta; Corallinaceae) of the Hawaiian Islands. Smithson Contrib Mar Sci 15:1–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agard P, Omrani J, Jolivet L, Whitechurch H, Vrielynck B, Spakman W, Monié P, Meyer B, Wortel R (2011) Zagros orogeny: a subduction-dominated process. Geol Magn 148(5–6):692–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aguirre J, Braga JC (1998) Redescription of Lemoine’s (1939) types of coralline algal species from Algeria. Palaeontology 41:489–507

    Google Scholar 

  • Aguirre J, Riding R, Braga JC (2000) Diversity of Coralline Red Algae: origination and extinction patterns from early Cretaceous to the Pleistocene. Paleobiology 26:651–667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barattolo F, Bassi D, Romero R (2007) Upper Eocene larger foraminiferal-coralline algal facies from the Klokova Mountain (south continental Greece). Facies 53:361–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassi D (1995) Crustose coralline algal pavements from Late Eocene Colli Berici of northern Italy. Riv Ital Paleontol Stratigr 10:81–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassi D (1998) Coralline algal facies and their palaeoenvironments in the Late Eocene of Northern Italy (Calcare di Nago). Facies 39:179–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassi D (2005) The Upper Eocene crustose coralline algal pavement in the Colli Berici, north-eastern Italy. Annali dell’Università di Ferrara Mus Sci Nat 1:63–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassi D, Nebelsick JH (2000) Calcareous algae from the Lower Oligocene Gornji Grad Limestones of Northern Slovenia. Riv Ital Paleont Strat 106:99–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Bassi D, Nebelsick JH (2010) Components, facies and ramps: redefining Upper Oligocene shallow water carbonates using coralline red algae and larger foraminifera (Venetian area, northeast Italy). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 295:258–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassi D, Caranannte G, Murru M, Simone L, Toscano F (2006) Rhodalgal/bryomol assemblages in temperate type carbonate, channelised depositional systems: the Early Miocene of the Sarcidano area (Sardinia, Italy). In: Pedley HM, Carannante G (eds), Cool-water carbonates: depositional systems and palaeoenvironmental control, Geological Society, London, Special Publication, 255: 35–52

  • Bassi D, Checconi A, Hohenneger J, Iryu Y, Nebelsick JH (2008) Present-day and fossil rhodolith pavements compared: their potential for analysing shallow-water carbonate deposits. Sediment Geol 214:74–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassi D, Caranannte G, Checconi A, Simone L, Vigorito M (2010) Sedimentological and palaeoecological integrated analysis of a Miocene channelized carbonate margin, Matese Mountains, Southern Apennines, Italy. Sediment Geol 230:105–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bassi D, Iryu Y, Humblet M, Matsuda H, Machiyama H, Sasaki K, Matsuda S, Arai K, Inoue T (2012) Recent macroids on the Kikai-jima shelf, Central Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Sedimentology 59:2024–2041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basso D, Vrsaljko D, Grgasović T (2008) The coralline flora of a Miocene maërl: the Croatian “Litavacˮ. Geol Croat 61:333–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Bé AWH, Tolderlund DS (1971) Distribution and ecology of living planktonic foraminifera in surface waters of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In: Funnell BM, Riedel WR (eds) Micropaleontology of the oceans. Cambridge University Press, London, pp 105–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Benisek MF, Betzler C, Marcano G, Mutti M (2009) Coralline-algal assemblages of a Burdigalian platform slope: implications for carbonate platform reconstruction (northern Sardinia, western Mediterranean Sea). Facies 50:375–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berberian M, King GC (1981) Towards a paleogeography and tectonic evolution of Iran. Can J Earth Sci 18(2):210–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berggren WA, Kent DV, Swisher III CC, Aubry MP (1995) A revised Cenozoic geochronology and chronostratigraphy. In: Berggren WA, Kent DV, Hardenbol J (eds), Geochronology, time scale and global stratigraphic correlations: a unified temporal framework for an historical ecology. SEPM Spec Publ 54:129–212

  • Bicchi E, Ferrero E, Gonera M (2003) Palaeoclimatic interpretation based on Middle Miocene planktonic foraminifera: the Silesia Basin (Paratethys) and Monferrato (Tethys) records. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 196(3):265–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bijma J, Faber WW Jr, Hemleben Ch (1990) Temperature and salinity limits for growth and survival of some planktonic foraminifers in laboratory cultures. J Foram Res 20:95–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bizon G (1979) Planktonic foraminifera In Bizon, G. et al. Report of the Working group on Micropaleontology. In: 7th International congress on the mediterranean Neogene, Athens, 3–1340P

  • Bizon G, Bizon JJ (1972) Atlas des principaux foraminiferes planctoniques du basin méditerranéen. Oligocène à Quaternaire. Editions Technip, Paris: 316P

  • Blanc-Valleron MM, Pierre C, Caulet JP, Caruso A, Rouchy JM, Cespuglio G, Sprovieri R, Pestrea S, Di Stefano E (2002) Sedimentary, stable isotope and micropaleontological records of paleoceanographic change in the Messinian Tripoli Formation (Sicily, Italy). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoeocol 185:255–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boichard R, Burollet PF, Lambert B, Villain JM (1985) La plate-forme carbonaté e du Pater Noster, est de Kalimantan (Indonésie). Total Comp Fr Pét Paris Notes mém 20:1–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Borsetti AM, Cati F, Colalongo ML, Sartoni S (1979) Biostratigraphy and absolute ages of the Italian Neogene. Ann. Geol. Hellen. 7th Inter. Conf. Mediterranean Neogene, Athens, 183–97 P

  • Bosence D (1983a) Description and classification of Rhodoliths (Rhodoids, Rhodolithes). In: Peryt TM (ed) Coated grains. Springer, Berlin, pp 217–224

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bosence D (1983b) The occurrence and ecology of Rhodoliths (Rhodoids, Rhodolithes). In: Peryt TM (ed) Coated grains. Springer, Berlin, pp 225–242

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bosence DWJ (1984) Construction and preservation of two recent coralline algal reefs, St. Croix, Caribbean. Palaeontology 27:549–574

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosence D, Pedley HM (1982) Sedimentology and palaeoecology of a Miocene coralline algal biostrome from the Maltese islands. Palaeoeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 38:9–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga JC, Aguirre J (2001) Coralline algal assemblages in upper Neogene reef and temperate carbonates in Southern Spain. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 175(1):27–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga JC, Aguirre J (2004) Coralline algae indicate Pleistocene evolution from deep, open platform to outer barrier reef environments in the northern Great Barrier Reef margin. Coral Reefs 23:547–558

    Google Scholar 

  • Braga JC, Martín J (1988) Neogene coralline-algal growth-forms and their palaeoenvironments in the Almanzora River Valley (Almeria, SE Spain). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 67(3):285–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga JC, Bosence DWJ, Steneck RS (1993) New anatomical characters in fossil coralline algae and their taxonomic implications. Palaeontology 36:535–547

    Google Scholar 

  • Braga JC, Martín JM, Betzler C, Aguirre J (2006) Models of temperate carbonate deposition in Neogene basins in SE Spain: a synthesis. In: Pedley HM, Carannante G (eds), Cool-water carbonates: depositional systems and palaeoenvironmental controls: Geological Society, Special Publications, 255:121–135

  • Braga JC, Vescogni A, Bosellini FR, Aguirre J (2009) Coralline algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) in western and central Mediterranean Messinian reefs. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 275(1):113–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga JC, Martín JM, Aguirre J, Baird CD, Grunnaleite I, Jensen NB, Puga-Bernabéu A, Sælen G, Talbot MR (2010a) Middle-Miocene (Serravallian) temperate carbonates in a seaway connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea (North Betic Strait, S Spain). Sed Geol 225(1):19–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga J, Bassi D, Piller W (2010b) Paleoenvironmental significance of Oligocene-Miocene coralline red algae-a review. Int Assoc Sedimentol Spec Publ 42:165–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandano M, Ronca S (2014) Depositional processes of the mixed carbonate–siliciclastic rhodolith beds of the Miocene Saint-Florent Basin, northern Corsica. Facies 60:73–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandano M, Vannucci G, Pomar L, Obrador A (2005) Rhodolith assemblages from the lower Tortonian carbonate ramp of Menorca (Spain): environmental and paleoclimatic implications. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 226(3):307–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandano M, Tomassetti L, Pedley M, Matteucci R (2009a) Heterozoan carbonates in oligotrophic tropical waters: the Attard member of the lower coralline limestone formation (Upper Oligocene, Malta). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 274:54–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandano M, Frezza V, Tomassetti L, Pedley M, Matteucci R (2009b) Facies analysis and palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the late Oligocene Attard Member (lower Coralline Limestone Formation), Malta. Sedimentology 56(4):1138–1158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandano M, Cornacchia I, Raffi I, Tomasseti L (2016) The Oligocene-Miocene stratigraphic evolution of the Majella carbonate platform (Central Apennines, Italy). Sed Geol 333:1–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busk HG, Mayo HT (1918) Some notes on the geology of the Persian oilfields. J Inst Petrol Technol 5:5–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Cahuzac B, Poignant A (1997) Essai de biozonation de l’Oligo-Miocène dans les bassins européens à l’aide des grands foraminifères néritiques. Bull Soc Géol Fr 168:155–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Canals M, Ballesteros E (1997) Production of carbonate particles by phytobenthic communities on the Mallorca-Menorca shelf, northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Deep Sea Res II 44:611–629

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Checconi A, Bassi D, Carannante G, Monaco P (2010) Re-deposited rhodoliths in the Middle Miocene hemipelagic deposits of Vitulano (Southern Apennines, Italy): coralline assemblage characterization and related trace fossils. Sed Geol 225:50–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cita MB, Premoli Silva I (1971) In Iaccarino S (1985): Mediterranean Miocene and Pliocene Planktonic foraminifera. In: Bolli HM, Saunders JB, Perch-Nielsen K (eds), Plankton Strat. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 283–314

  • Cita MB, Premoli Silva I (1973) In Iaccarino S (1985): mediterranean miocene and pliocene planktonic foraminifera. In: Bolli HM, Saunders JB, Perch-Nielsen K (eds), Plankton Strat. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 283–314

  • Colman-Sadd S (1978) Fold development in Zagros simply folded belt, southwest Iran. AAPG Bull 62:984–1003

    Google Scholar 

  • Daraei M, Amini A, Ansari M (2014) Facies analysis and depositional environment study of the mixed carbonate–evaporite Asmari Formation (Oligo-Miocene) in the sequence stratigraphic framework, NW Zagros, Iran. Carbonates Evaporates 30:253–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Stefano A, Verducci M, Lirer F, Ferraro L, Iaccarino SM, Hüsing SK, Hilgen FJ (2010) Paleoenvironmental conditions preceding the Messinian Salinity Crisis in the Central Mediterranean: integrated data from the Upper Miocene Trave section (Italy). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 297:37–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drinia H, Antonarakou A, Tsaparas N, Kontakiotis G (2007) Palaeoenvironmental conditions preceding the Messinian Salinity Crisis: a case study from Gavdos Island. Geobios 40:251–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehrenberg SN, Pickard NAH, Laursen GV, Monibi S, Mossadegh ZK, Svana TA, Aqrawi AAM, McArthur JM, Thirlwall MF (2007) Strontium isotope stratigraphy of the Asmari Formation (Oligocene–Lower Miocene), SW Iran. J Pet Geol 30:107–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erlich RN, Barrett SF, Bai JG (1990) Seismic and geologic characteristics of drowning events on carbonate platforms. AAPG 74:1523–1537

    Google Scholar 

  • Erlich RN, Longo AP, Hyare S (1993) Response of carbonate platform margins to drowning: evidence of environmental collapse. In: Louks RG, Sarg JF (eds), Carbonate sequence stratigraphy. AAPG, Tulsa, OK, Memoir Classification of carbonate rocks. AAPG Memoir 57:241–266

  • Falcon N (1969) Problems of the relationship between surface structure and deep displacements illustrated by Zagros range. In: Kent PE, Satterthwaite GE, Spencer AM (eds) Time and place in Orogeny. Geological Society, London, pp 9–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Flamand B, Cabioch G, Payri C, Pelletier B (2008) Nature and biological composition of the New Caledonian outer barrier reef slopes. Mar Geol 250:157–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foresi LM, Iaccarino S, Mazei R, Salvatorini G (1998) New data on middle to late Miocene calcareous plankton biostratigraphy in the Mediterranean area. Riv Ital Paleont Stratigr 104:114–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster P (2001) The potential negative impacts of global climate change on tropical montane cloud forests. Earth Sci Rev 55(1):73–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Golonka J (2004) Plate tectonic evolution of the southern margin of Eurasia in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Tectonophysics 381(1):235–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottschalk J, Riveiros NV, Waelbroeck C, Skinner LC, Michel E, Duplessy JC, Hodell D, Mackensen A (2016) Carbon isotope offsets between species of the genus Cibicides (Cibicidoides) in the glacial sub-Antarctic Atlantic Ocean. Paleoceanography 31:1583–1602

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grall J, Le Loc’h F, Guyonnet B, Riera P (2006) Community structure and food web based on stable isotopes (δ 15N and δ 13 C) analysis of a North Eastern Atlantic maerl bed. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 338(1):1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halfar J, Godinez-Orta L, Mutti M, Valdez-Holguín JE, Borges JM (2004) Nutrient and temperature controls on modern carbonate production: an example from the Gulf of California, Mexico. Geology 32(3):213–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallock P (1985) Why are larger foraminifera large? Paleobiology 11(02):195–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hallock P, Glenn EC (1986) Larger foraminifera: a Tool for Paleoenvironmental analysis of Cenozoic carbonate depositional facies. Palaios 1:55–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hemleben C, Spindler M, Anderson OR (1989) Modern planktonic foraminifera. Springer, New York, pp 1–363

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hohenegger J, Yordanova E, Nakano Y, Tatzreiter F (1999) Habitats of larger foraminifera on the upper reef slope of Sesoko Island, Okinawa, Japan. Mar Micropaleontol 36(2):109–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holcová K (2017) Calcareous nannoplankton and foraminiferal response to global Oligocene and Miocene climatic oscillations: a case study from the Western Carpathian segment of the Central. Paratethys Geol Carpath 68(3):207–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iaccarino S (1985) Mediterranean Miocene and Pliocene planktonic foraminifera. In: Bolli HM, Saunders JP, Perch-Nielsen K (eds), Plankton stratigraphy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 283–314

  • Iryu Y, Nakamori T, Matsuda S, Abe O (1995) Distribution of marine organisms and its geological significance in the modern reef complex of the Ryukyu Islands. Sed Geol 99(3):243–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson JH (1961) Limestone-building algae and algal limestones. Colorado School of Mines

  • Kováč M, Hudáčková N, Halásová E, Kováčová M, Holcová K, Oszczypko-Clowes M, Báldi K, Gy L, Nagymarosy A, Ruman A, Klučiar T, Jamrich M (2017) The Central Paratethys palaeoceanography: a water circulation model based on microfossil proxies, climate, and changes of depositional environment. Acta Geol Slovaca 9(2):75–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhnt T, Howa H, Schmidt S, Marié L, Schiebel R (2013) Flux dynamics of planktic foraminiferal tests in the south-eastern Bay of Biscay (northeast Atlantic margin). J Mar Syst 109:S169–S181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer M, Hottinger L (2000) Biogeography of selected ‘‘larger’’ foraminifera. Micropaleontol 46:57–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Laursen GV, Monibi S, Allan TL, Pickard NAH, Hosseiney A, Vincent B, Hamon Y, van Buchem FSP, Moallemi A, Druillion G (2009) Paper presented at: Shiraz 2009. In: 1st International Petroleum Conference and Exhibition: Shiraz, Iran. The Asmari Formation Revisited: Changed Stratigraphic Allocation and New Biozonation

  • Lees GM (1933) Reservoir rocks of Persian oil fields. AAPG Bull, pp 229

  • Lourens L, Hilgen F, Shackleton NJ, Laskar J, Wilson D (2004) The Neogene Period. In: Gradstein FM, Ogg JG, Smith AG (eds) Geological time scale. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 409–440

    Google Scholar 

  • Lund M, Davies PJ, Braga JC (2000) Coralline algal nodules off Fraser Island, eastern Australia. Facies 42:25–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maghfouri Moghaddam I, Roozpeykar A, Shirmohammadi Gh (2019) biostratigraphy of early Oligocene-early Miocene in Lorestan zone; SW Iran. Indian J Geomar Sci

  • Martindale W (1992) Calcified epibionts as palaeoecological tools: examples from the Recent and Pleistocene reefs of Barbados. Coral Reefs 11:167–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mateu-Vicens G, Hallock P, Brandano M (2008) A depositional model and paleoecological reconstruction of the lower Tortonian distally steepend ramp of Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). Palaios 23:465–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meulenkamp JE, Sissingh W (2003) Tertiary palaeogeography and tectonostratigraphic evolution of the Northern and Southern Peri-Tethys platforms and the intermediate domains of the African-Eurasian convergent plate boundary zone. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 196:209–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motiei H (1993) Stratigraphy of Zagros. In: Treatise on the geology of Iran. Geol Surv Iran Publ, Iran

  • Murray JW (1991) Ecology and palaeoecology of benthic foraminifera. Longman Harlow, Harlow, pp 1–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Mutti M, Hallock P (2003) Carbonate systems along nutrient and temperature gradients: some sedimentological and geochemical constraints. Int J Earth Sci 92(4):465–475

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nebelsick JH, Bassi D (2000) Diversity, growth forms and taphonomy: key factors controlling the fabric of coralline algae dominated shelf carbonates. In: Insalaco E et al. (Eds.), 2000. Carbonate Platform Systems: components and interactions. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 178:89–107

  • Nebelsick JH, Bassi D, Drobne K (2000) Microfacies analysis and palaeoenvironmental interpretation of Lower Oligocene, shallow-water carbonates (Gornji Grad Beds, Slovenia). Facies 43:157–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nebelsick JH, Bassi D, Rasser MW (2011) Microtaphofacies: exploring the potential for taphonomic analysis in carbonates. In: Allison P, Bottjer DJ (eds) Taphonomy: process and bias through time. Topics in Geobiology 32:337–377

  • Perrin C, Bosence D, Rosen B (1995) Quantitative approaches to palaeozonation and palaeobathymetry of coral and coralline algae in Cenozoic reefs. In: Bosence DWJ, Allison PA (eds) Marine palaeoenvironmental analysis from fossils. Geological Society, London, Special Publication 83,181–229

  • Pippèrr M, Reichenbacher B (2010) Foraminifera from the borehole Altdorf (SE Germany): proxies for Ottnangian (early Miocene) palaeoenvironments of the Central Paratethys. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 289:62–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pomar L, Brandano M, Westphal H (2004) Environmental factors influencing skeletal grain sediment associations: a critical review of Miocene examples from the western Mediterranean. Sedimentology 51(3):627–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasser MW (2000) Coralline red algal limestones of the Late Eocene Alpine foreland basin in Upper Austria: component analysis, facies and paleoecology. Facies 42:59–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasser MW, Nebelsick JH (2003) Provenance analysis of Oligocene autochthonous and allochthonous coralline algae: a quantitative approach towards reconstructing transported assemblages. Palaeogeogr Paleoclimatol Palaeoecol 201:89–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasser M, Piller W (2004) Crustose algal frameworks from the Eocene Alpine foreland. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 206:21–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss Z, Hottinger L (1984) The Gulf of Aqaba: ecological micropaleontology. Spring Berlin Carbon Evaporites 25:145–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds L, Thunell RC (1985) Seasonal succession of planktonic foraminifera in the subpolar North Pacific. J Foram Res 15:282–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson RK (1924) The geology and oil measures of southwest Persia. J Ins Petrol Technol 1:256–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Rigual-Hernández AS, Sierro FJ, Bárcena MA, Flores JA, Heussner S (2012) Seasonal and interannual changes of planktic foraminiferal fluxes in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean) and their implications for paleoceanographic studies: two 12-year sediment trap records. Deep-Sea Res I Oceanogr Res Pap 66:26–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodgers JWW (1987) The Appalachian-Ouachita orogenic belt. Episodes 10:259–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roozpeykar A, Maghfouri Moghaddam I (2015) Sequence biostaratigraphy and paleoenvronmental reconstruction of the Oligocene-early Miocene deposits of the Zagros Basin (Dehdasht area, South West Iran). Arab J Geosci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-2064-4

  • Sadeghi R, Vaziri-Moghaddam H, Taheri A (2009) Biostratigraphy and paleoecology of the Oligo-Miocene succession in Fars and Khuzestan areas (Zagros Basin, SW Iran). Hist Biol 21(1–2):17–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadeghi R, Vaziri-Moghaddam H, Taheri A (2010) Microfacies and sedimentary environment of the Oligocene sequence (Asmari Formation) in Fars sub-basin, Zagros Mountains, southwest Iran. Facies https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-010-0245-x

  • Salmon KH, Anand P, Sexton PF, Conte M (2014) Upper ocean mixing controls the seasonality of planktonic foraminifer fluxes and associated strength of the carbonate pump in the oligotrophic North Atlantic. Biogeosci Discus 11:12223–12254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmuker B (2000) Recent planktonic foraminifera in the caribbean sea: distribution, ecology and taphonomy. Ph.D. Thesis, ETH Zurich: 1–179

  • Sen Gupta BK (1999) Foraminifera in marginal marine environments. In: Sen Gupta BK (ed) Modern Foraminifera. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp 141–159

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sepehr M, Cosgrove JW (2004) Structural framework of the Zagros fold thrust belt, Iran. Mar Pet Geol 21:829–843

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shabafrooz R, Mahboubi A, Vaziri-Moghaddam H, Ghabeishavi A, Moussavi-Hrami R (2015) Depositional architecture and sequence stratigraphy of the Oligo-Miocene Asmari platform; Southeastern Izeh Zone, Zagros Basin, Iran. Facies 61:423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-014-0423-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shirmohammadi G, Maghfouri-Moghaddam I, Azadbakht R (2016) Microbiostratigraphy of Asmari Formation in Northeastern of Ilam. Msc thesis. Lorestan University, pp. 118

  • Sierro FJ, Flores JA, Francés G, Vazquez A, Utrilla R, Zamarreno I, Erlenkeuser H, Barcena MA (2003) Orbitally-controlled oscillations in planktic communities and cyclic changes in western Mediterranean hydrography during the Messinian. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 190:289–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spezzaferri S (1995) Planktonic foraminiferal paleoclimatic implications across the Oligocene-Miocene transition in the oceanic record (Atlantic, Indian and South Pacific). Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 114(1):43–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spezzaferri S (1996) Paleoclimatic interpretation of the late Oligocene-early Miocene planktonic foraminiferal record from the Lemme-Carrosio section (northern Italy). Giorn Geol 58:119–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Sprovieri R, Di Stefano E, Sprovieri M (1996) High resolution chronology for late Miocene Mediterranean stratigraphic events. Riv Ital Paleontol Stratigr 102:77–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Steller DL, Riosmena-Rodríguez R, Foster MS, Roberts CA (2003) Rhodolith bed diversity in the Gulf of California: the importance of rhodolith structure and consequences of disturbance. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 17:273–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Steneck RS (1986) The ecology of coralline algal crusts: convergent patterns and adaptative strategies. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 17(1):273–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stocklin J (1968) Structural history and tectonics of Iran: a review. AAPG 52:1229–1258

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas E, Booth L, Maslin L, Shackleton NJ (1995) Northeastern Atlantic benthic foraminifera during the last 45.000 years: productivity changes as seen from the bottom up. Paleoceanography 10:545–562

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todd R (1960) Some observations on the distribution of Calcarina and Baculogypsina in the Pacific

  • Tomassetti L, Brandano M (2013) Sea level changes recorded in mixed siliciclastic–carbonate shallow-water deposits: the Cala di Labra Formation (Burdigalian, Corsica). Sediment Geol 294:58–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaziri-Moghaddam H, Seyrafian A, Taheri A, Motiei H (2010) Oligocene-Miocene ramp system (Asmari Formation) in the NW of the Zagros basin, Iran: microfacies, paleoenvironment and depositional sequence. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geologicas 27:56–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Venturelli R, Rathburn A, Burkett A, Brendan D, Ziebis W (2014) Epifaunal taxa in an infaunal world. GSA Annual Meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, paper 42–48

  • Woelkerling WJ, Irvine LM, Harvey AS (1993) Growth-forms in non-geniculate coralline red algae. Aust Syst Bot 6:277–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wynd J (1965) Biofacies of Iranian oil consortium agreement area. IOOC Rep 1082 (unpublished)

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Prof. Marco Brandano and Dr. Amit Ghosh for valuable suggestions and their helps. We would like to thank Prof. Abdel Galil A. Hewaidy, Dr. Sherif Farouk and Dr. Ebrahim Ied. Thanks due to Mohammad Chelehnia, Rohallah Vaziri and Mohsen Shadmand for their assistance during the fieldwork.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Lorestan University, Lorestan, Iran

    Asghar Roozpeykar, Iraj Maghfouri-Moghaddam & Bizhan Yousefi-Yegane

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

    Mehdi Yazdi

Authors
  1. Asghar Roozpeykar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Iraj Maghfouri-Moghaddam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mehdi Yazdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bizhan Yousefi-Yegane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Iraj Maghfouri-Moghaddam.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Roozpeykar, A., Maghfouri-Moghaddam, I., Yazdi, M. et al. Paleontology and paleoecology of coralline algal assemblages from the Early–Middle Miocene deposits in NW of the Zagros basin, Iran. Carbonates Evaporites 34, 1595–1618 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-019-00509-z

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-019-00509-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation