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Palynostratigraphy and Foraminiferal Stratigraphy of the Early Miocene Qom Formation in the Northeastern Margin of the Tethyan Seaway

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Abstract

Lower Miocene strata are exposed in the northwest of Ashtian, in the Central Iran Zone. Biostratigraphy of the Qom Formation was investigated using dinoflagellate cyst and benthic foraminifera. The stratigraphic distribution of the dinocysts lead to the identification of two distinctive stratigraphically non-continuous palynozones viz., Caligodinium amiculum (late Aquitanian) and Cordosphaeridium cantharellus (early Burdigalian) zones. This biozonation is equivalent to that recognized in Northwest Europe. Moreover, the presence of such stratigraphically distinctive taxa as Borelis melo curdica, Meandropsina iranica, Elphidium sp. 14, and Miogypsina sp. enabled the identification of the two consecutive biozones: the Elphidium sp. 14—Miogypsina Assemblage Subzone and the Borelis melo group Meandropsina iranica Assemblage Zone. The late Aquitanian–Burdigalian age is collectively attributed, therefore, to the studied section. This age assignment is based on the dinocysts and foraminifer species compared with other stratigraphic sections. The close resemblance of the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages of the Qom Basin with Northwest Europe and the northwestern Tethys during the Oligocene-early Miocene indicates a marine connection and faunal exchange between the two regions.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This article benefited greatly from the collaboration of Hassan Mafi during the field work. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Popov Sergey for his constructive comments.

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  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Imam Khomeini International University, 34149-16818, Qazvin, Iran

    Afsaneh Dehbozorgi

  2. Department of Human Studies, University of Ferrara, 441221, Ferrara, Italy

    Saeed Maleki

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Afsaneh Dehbozorgi, Saeed Maleki Palynostratigraphy and Foraminiferal Stratigraphy of the Early Miocene Qom Formation in the Northeastern Margin of the Tethyan Seaway. Paleontol. J. 57, 833–847 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0031030123070031

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