Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anatomy of carbonate mounds from the Middle Anisian of Nakhlak (Central Iran): architecture and age of a subtidal microbial-bioclastic carbonate factory

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Facies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Anisian succession of Nakhlak (in Central Iran) is characterized by a siliciclastic succession with minor carbonate units, with massive carbonate mounds up to 50 m thick in its upper part. The mounds, constrained in age to the late Bithynian (Ismidicus Zone) by ammonoids and conodonts, are characterized by a flat top and a lateral pinch-out marked by clinostratified slopes (about 15° in dip). Stratigraphic and microfacies analyses document an inner part of the mound characterized by massive microbial carbonates with open-space structures (stromatactis) filled with fine-grained internal sediments and marine cements. Isolated sponges (up to 5 cm), serpulids and bryozoans are present, which grew on the calcimicrobial limestone. A narrow bioclastic margin (mainly with crinoids and brachiopods) produces most of the slope facies (consisting of bioclastic grainstone and packstone, with intraclasts from the inner part of the mounds) which interfinger basinward with volcaniclastic sandstones. The demise of carbonate productivity is marked on the top of the carbonate mounds by a condensed surface, rich in ammonoids, glaucony grains, and articulated crinoids, documenting a rapid drowning. Paleolatitude data support deposition in a tropical setting, and sedimentological constraints indicate deposition close to the fair-weather wave base, within the photic zone. The late Bithynian Nakhlak carbonate mounds developed before the appearance (documented since the Pelsonian in different parts of the world) of scleractinians which, despite the favorable environmental conditions, are absent at Nakhlak. The Nakhlak mounds thus represent one of the last occurrences of the microbial factories (which developed after the Permo-Triassic extinction event and persisted for most of the Middle Triassic, but with a gradually increasing role played by scleractinians) before the first appearance of the Mesozoic corals.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alavi M, Vaziri H, Seyed-Emami K, Lasemi Y (1997) The Triassic and associated rocks of the Nakhlak and Aghdarband areas in central and northeastern Iran as remnants of the southern Turanian active continental margin. Geol Soc Am Bull 109:1563–1575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angiolini L, Gaetani M, Muttoni G, Stephenson M, Zanchi A (2007) Tethyan oceanic currents and climate gradients 300 m.y. ago. Geology 35:1071–1074

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagheri S, Stampfli GM (2008) The Anarak, Jandaq and Posht-e-Badam metamorphic complexes in Central Iran: New geological data, relationships and tectonic implications. Tectonophysics 451:123–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balini M, Nicora A, Berra F, Garzanti E, Zanchi A, Levera M, Zanchetta S, Mossavari F, Rakhmati M (2009) The Triassic of Nakhlak (Central Iran). In: Brunet MF, Wilmsen M, Granath JW (eds) South Caspian to Central Iran basins, vol 312. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ, London, pp 287–321

    Google Scholar 

  • Balini M, Lucas SG, Jenks JF, Spielmann JA (2010) Triassic ammonoid biostratigraphy: an overview. In: Lucas SG (ed) The Triassic timescale, vol 334. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ, London, pp 221–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Berra F, Rettori R, Bassi D (2005) Recovery of carbonate platform production in the Lombardy Basin during the Anisian: paleoecological significance and constrain on paleogeographic evolution. Facies 50:615–627

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brayard A, Vennin E, Olivier N, Bylund KG, Jenks J, Stephen DA, Bucher H, Hofmann R, Goudemand N, Escarguel G (2011) Transient metazoan reefs in the aftermath of the end-Permian mass extinction. Nature Geosci. doi:10.1038/NGEO1264

  • Davoudzadeh M, Seyed-Emami K (1972) Stratigraphy of the Triassic Nakhlak Group, Anarak region, Central Iran. Geol Surv Iran Report 28:5–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Fantini Sestini N (1988) Anisian ammonites from Gebze area (Kokaeli Peninsula, Turkey). Riv Ital Paleont Strat 94:35–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Fantini Sestini N (1990) Kocaelia gen. n. (Family Beyrichitidae) from Middle Anisian. Riv Ital Paleont Strat 95:343–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Flügel E (2004) Microfacies of carbonate rocks. Analysis, interpretation and application. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Flügel E, Stanley GD Jr (1984) Reorganization, development and evolution of post-Permian reefs and reef organisms. Palaeontogr Am 54:177–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Germani D (2000) Conodonti dell’Anisico medio nella Tetide occidentale: Tassonomia, biostratigrafia e filogenesi. University of Milano, Tesi di dottorato

    Google Scholar 

  • Hips K (2007) Facies pattern of western Tethyan Middle Triassic black carbonates: the example of Gutenstein Formation in Silica Nappe, Carpathians, Hungary, and its correlation to formations of adjoining areas. Sed Geol 194:99–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holzer HF, Ghasemipour R (1973) Geology of the Nakhlak Lead Mine area (Anarak District, Central Iran). Geol Surv Iran Report 21:5–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Keim L, Schlager W (2001) Quantitative compositional analysis of a Triassic carbonate platform (Southern Alps, Italy). Sed Geol 139:261–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiessling W (2010) Reef expansion during the Triassic: spread of photosymbiosis balancing climatic cooling. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 290:11–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kovacs S, Ralisch-Felgenhauer E (2005) Middle Anisian (Pelsonian) platform conodonts from the Triassic of the Mecsek Mts (south Hungary) their taxonomy and stratigraphic significance. Acta Geol Hungarica 48:69–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krystyn L, Balini M, Nicora A (2004) Lower and Middle Triassic stage and substage boundaries in Spiti. Albertiana 30:39–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehrmann DJ (1999) Early Triassic calcimicrobial mounds and biostromes of the Nanpanjiang basin, south China. Geology 27:359–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lehrmann DJ, Wei JY, Enos P (1998) Controls on facies architecture of a large Triassic carbonate platform: the Great Bank of Guizhou, Nanpanjiang Basin, south China. J Sediment Res 68:311–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morycowa E (1988) Middle Triassic Scleractinia from the Cracow-Silesia region, Poland. Acta Palaeontol Polonica 33:91–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Mounji D, Bourque PA, Savard MM (1998) Hydrothermal origin of Devonian conical mounds (Kess–Kess) of Hamar Lakhdad Ridge, Anti-Atlas, Morocco. Geology 26:1123–1126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mundil R, Palfy J, Renne PR, Brack P (2010) The Triassic time scale: new constraints and a review of geochronological data. In: Lucas SG (ed) The Triassic timescale, vol 334. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ, London, pp 41–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Muttoni G, Mattei M, Balini M, Zanchi A, Gaetani M, Berra F (2009) The drift history of Iran from the Ordovician to the Triassic. In: Brunet MF, Wilmsen M, Granath JW (eds) South Caspian to Central Iran basins, vol 312. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ, London, pp 7–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Neri C, Gianolla P, Furlanis S, Caputo R, Bosellini A (2007) Note Illustrative della Carta Geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:50.000, Foglio 029 Cortina d’Ampezzo. A.P.A.T. SystemCart, Roma, p 200

    Google Scholar 

  • Orchard MJ, Lehrmann DJ, Jiayong W, Hingmei W, Taylor HJ (2007) Conodonts from the Olenekian. Anisian boundary beds, Guandao, Guizhou Province, China. In: Lucas SG, Spielmann JA (eds) The global Triassic, vol 41. Albuquerque, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, pp 347–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne JL, Lehrmann DJ, Christensen S, Wei J, Knoll AH (2006a) Environmental and biological controls on the initiation and growth of a Middle Triassic (Anisian) reef complex on the Great Bank of Guizhou, Guzhou Province, China. Palaios 21:325–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payne JL, Lehrmann DJ, Wei J, Knoll AH (2006b) The pattern and timing of biotic recovery from the end-Permian extinction on the Great Bank of Guizhou, Guizhou Province, China. Palaios 21:63–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Playford PE (1984) Platform-margin and marginal slope relationships in Devonian reef complexes of the Canning Basin. In: Parcell PG (ed) The Canning Basin W.A. Proceedings of Geological Society of Australia/Petroleum Exploration Survey of Australia, Canning Basin Symposium Perth, 189–215

  • Riding R (2000) Microbial carbonates: the geological record of calcified bacterial-algal mats and biofilms. Sedimentology 47:179–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riding R, Liang L (2005) Geobiology of microbial carbonates: metazoan and seawater saturation state influences on secular trends during the Phanerozoic. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 219:101–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlager W (2003) Benthic carbonate factories of the Phanerozoic. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 92:445–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senowbari-Daryan B, Zühlke R, Bechstädt T, Flügel E (1993) Anisian (Middle Triassic) buildups of the northern Dolomites (Italy): the recovery of reef communities after the Permian/Triassic crisis. Facies 28:181–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seyed-Emami K (2003) Triassic of Iran. Facies 48:91–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharkovski M, Susov M, Krivyakin B (1984) Geology of the Anarak area (Central Iran). Explanatory text of the Anarak quadrangle map 1:250 000. Geol Surv Iran Report TE/19:1–143

  • Shen J-W, Webb GE, Jell JS (2008) Platform margins, reef facies, and microbial carbonates; a comparison of Devonian reef complexes in the Canning Basin, Western Australia, and the Guilin region, south China. Earth-Sci Rev 88:33–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soffel H, Davoudzadeh M, Rolf C, Schimdt S (1996) New paleomagnetic data from Central Iran and a Triassic paleoreconstruction. Geol Rundsch 85:293–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley DG (2003) The evolution of modern corals and their early history. Earth-Sci Rev 60:195–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stefani M, Furin S, Gianolla P (2010) The changing climate framework and depositional dynamics of Triassic carbonate platforms from the Dolomites. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 290:43–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tozer ET (1972) Triassic ammonoids and Daonella from the Nakhlak Group, Anarak region, Central Iran. Geol Sur Iran Report 28:29–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb GE (2001) Famennian mud-mounds in the proximal fore-reef slope, Canning Basin, Western Australia. Sed Geol 145:295–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wendt J, Kaufmann B, Belka Z (2001) An exhumed Palaeozoic underwater scenery; the Viséan mud mounds of the eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco). Sed Geol 145:215–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zanchi A, Zanchetta S, Garzanti E, Balini M, Berra F, Mattei M, Muttoni G (2009) The Cimmerian evolution of the Nakhlak–Anarak area, Central Iran, and its bearing for the reconstruction of the history of the Eurasian margin. In: Brunet MF, Wilmsen M, Granath JW (eds) South Caspian to Central Iran basins, vol 312. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ, London, pp 261–286

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Fieldwork was funded by the MEBE projects ‘Stratigraphy of Selected Permian and Triassic Sections in Iran’ (leader M. Gaetani) and ‘Tectonic Evolution of the Yazd, Tabas and Lut Blocks (Central Iran) by Means of Palaeomagnetic, Structural and Stratigraphic Data’ (leader M. Mattei) in cooperation with the Geological Survey of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This work has been possible thanks to the fundamental support of Dr. M.R. Ghassemi and Dr. A. Saidi of GSI that are here warmly thanked. M. Mattei, G. Muttoni and A. Zanchi are thanked for support during field work. The paper benefited from the careful comments of two anonymous reviewers and from the helpful suggestions of the Editor M. Tucker. Special thanks also to the administration and the miners of the Nakhlak Mining Company for their kindness and hospitality. Technical support for the conodont study was kindly provided by Irene Vuolo.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra “Ardito Desio”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133, Milan, Italy

    F. Berra, M. Balini, M. Levera & A. Nicora

  2. Geological Survey of Iran, Azadi Square, Meraj Avenue, 13185-1494, Tehran, Iran

    R. Salamati

Authors
  1. F. Berra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Balini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Levera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Nicora
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Salamati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Berra.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Berra, F., Balini, M., Levera, M. et al. Anatomy of carbonate mounds from the Middle Anisian of Nakhlak (Central Iran): architecture and age of a subtidal microbial-bioclastic carbonate factory. Facies 58, 685–705 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-012-0299-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-012-0299-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation