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New contribution to biostratigraphy of a foraminiferal-condensed section within the Naopurdan Group, Chwarta, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region/Iraq

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Abstract

Sixteen samples collected for a biostratigraphic study of the Naopurdan Group in the Sulaimani Area to determine the age of its strata. The study succession is located within the Zagros High Fold and Thrust Belt. The lithology of the succession here is composed of marlstone, shale, siltstone, sandstone, marly limestone and a limestone bed. Hence, for the first time this limestone bed describes in detail; it is 4 m bed of brown, stiff, Alveolinidae-nummulitic limestone. It bears a frequent number of large benthic and planktic foraminiferas that are concentrated within the limestone bed. It is detected within the Naopurdan succession from Chwarta, Sulaimani area, Kurdistan Region/northeastern Iraq. The determined fossil assemblages in the bed includes both benthic and planktic foraminiferas. The identified-benthic foraminiferas are: Alveolina (Glomalveolina) levis, Alveolina elliptica, Alveolina aragonensis, Alveolina solida, Nummulites fabianii, Nummulites, Assilina spira and Assilina exponens. While the identified-planktic foraminiferas are: Acarinina (Globorotalia) esnaensis, Globigerinatheka mexicana, Globigerina venezuelana, Globigerinatheka kugleri, Globigerinatheka index, Catapsydrax martini, Subbotina triloculinoides and Subbotina triangularis. The biostratigraphic zonation of the succession confirms the Lutetian age/middle Eocene. It lies into the A. elliptica, Assillinoides exponens, Nummulites globulus Assemblage Zone and G. kugleri, G. index, G. venezuelana Assemblage Zone. This study demonstrates that the lithology of this limestone/condensed section is equivalent to the Avanah Formation of the Zagros Low Fold and Thrust Belt since they have similar lithology and fossil contents. This condensed section has not previously described within the fine clastics of the Naopurdan Group.

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  1. University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

    Pshtiwan M. Ahmad, Soran O. A. Kharajiany & Araz O. S. Al-Khafaf

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  1. Pshtiwan M. Ahmad
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  2. Soran O. A. Kharajiany
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Correspondence to Soran O. A. Kharajiany.

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Ahmad, P.M., Kharajiany, S.O.A. & Al-Khafaf, A.O.S. New contribution to biostratigraphy of a foraminiferal-condensed section within the Naopurdan Group, Chwarta, Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region/Iraq. Carbonates Evaporites 37, 57 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-022-00797-y

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