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Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and bio-events of the Coniacian–lower Campanian succession in the Kurdistan region, northeastern Iraq

  • S. I. Geology of Africa
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Abstract

The calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and bio-events of the Coniacian–lower Campanian succession are examined from the Dokan section, northeastern Iraq, along the southern Tethyan margin. In the Dokan section, calcareous nannofossils are affected by dissolution and silicification. The vertical stratigraphic distribution of calcareous nannoplankton allows identifying eight nannofossil zones (CC13/UC9 to CC20/UC15b). These calcareous nannofossil zones are correlated with planktonic foraminiferal biozones. Calcareous nannofossils calibrated by planktonic foraminiferal biozones suggest that (1) the Turonian–Coniacian boundary can be approximately delineated within the Marthasterites furcatus (CC13) Zone and the base of the planktonic foraminiferal Dicarinella concavata Zone, (2) the Coniacian–Santonian boundary can be delineated at the base of the nannofossil Zone CC16 and close to the base of the D. asymetrica Zone, and (3) the Santonian–Campanian boundary can be located approximately in the uppermost part of the nannofossil Zone CC17 and near the uppermost part of the planktonic foraminifera D. asymetrica Zone.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the editor Prof. Zakaria Hamimi (Banha University), Prof. Mohamed Boukhary (Ain Shams University), Prof. Michael Wagreich (University of Vienna), and Prof. Omar Cherif (National Authority for Remote Sensing & Space Sciences (for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

    Mahmoud Faris

  2. Department of General Sciences, College of Education and Languages, Charmo University, Chamchamal, Iraq

    Rawand B. N. Jaff

  3. Exploration Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Nasr City, 11727, Egypt

    Sherif Farouk

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  1. Mahmoud Faris
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  2. Rawand B. N. Jaff
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  3. Sherif Farouk
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Correspondence to Sherif Farouk.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on New Advances and Research results on the Geology of Africa

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Faris, M., Jaff, R.B.N. & Farouk, S. Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and bio-events of the Coniacian–lower Campanian succession in the Kurdistan region, northeastern Iraq. Arab J Geosci 12, 153 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4316-1

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