Lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of Dalichai Formation in the Bāghi stratigraphic section, northwest of Esfarāyen, based on ammonitic fauna

Document Type : مقالات پژوهشی

Authors

• Vahid Karabi
• Abbas Ghaderi
• Ahmad Raoufian
• Ali Reza Ashouri

Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.22067/sed.facies.v12i2.76590

Abstract

Introduction
The Binalud Mountains in the northeast of Iran is a limited structural unit between the central Iran, Kopet-Dagh, and Alborz Mountains, mainly considered as a southeastern extension of Alborz Mountains (Lammerer et al., 1983; Eftekhar-Nezhad & Behroozi, 1991; Alavi, 1992; Seyed-Emami & Schairer, 2011). Jurassic successions, which have very well extended outcrops in the eastern Alborz and Binalud Mountains, were the main topic of the publications by Seyed-Emami & Schairer (2010), Wilmsen et al. (2009a,b), Raoufian et al. (2011, 2014), Seyed-Emami and Raoufian (2017), Seyed-Emami et al. (2018). Dalichai Formation in the eastern Alborz and Binalud Mountains comprises a thickness of marl and marly limestone, with an abundance of ammonite fauna which is the most important characteristic of the formation in the Binalud Mountains. This fauna in the Alborz and Binalud has long been considered in different papers (e.g., Shafeizad et al., 2005; Seyed-Emami et al., 2008, 2013, 2015, 2018; Raoufian et al., 2011, 2014). In this research, an outcrop of Dalichai Formation in the Bāghi stratigraphic section, northwest of Esfarayen city, was lithostratigraphycally and biostratigraphically studied.
Materials and Methods
The base of the measured stratigraphic section is located in 37°11′45.34″ and 57°16′21.89″, 29 km northwest of Esfarayen city (Esfarayen to Jajarm route). After field studies, reviews of lithofacies in the field, and drawing the log, 540 in situ ammonite specimens were obtained from the section. They are kept in the Museum of the Geology Department at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The biometric details of ammonite specimens, including the dimensions of the specimens, size, depth, and diameter of the umbilical area, the number, arrangement, and shape of ribs, marginal keels, nodes, suture lines, and apertural shape, have been studied. The studied ammonitic fauna are typically Northwest Tethyan and belongs to the Submediterranean Province with episodic Mediterranean and Subboreal affinities (Seyed-Emami et al., 2013). It reflects the relationship between these regions with other parts of the Paleotethys sidelines during the Jurassic time.
Discussion and Conclusion
In the Baghi section, the Dalichai Formation unconformably overlies the siliciclastic Shemshak Formation and gradationally underlies the cliff-forming carbonate rocks of Lar Formation. The Dalichai Formation, with a thickness of 655 meters, is divided into ten separate informal members and is mainly composed of marls, limestone, and marly limestone. One of the most important features of the Dalichai Formation in this section is the abundance of ammonite fauna, especially in the lower half of the section. Due to the specific color, lithology, and abundance of ammonite fauna, the second member is a key member.
Paleontological studies in this research is led to the determination of 96 species, 26 subgenera, 39 genera, 20 subfamilies, 14 families, and 6 superfamilies belonging to 3 suborders of Ammonitida. According to the mentioned assemblage, 17 standard biozones are recognized, consisting of Grantiana, Parkinsoni, Zigzag, Retrocostatum, Bullatus, Gracilis, Anceps, Coronatum, Athleta, Lamberti, Transversarium, Bifurcatus, Bimammatum, Planula, Platynota, Hypselocyclum, and Acanthicum. These biozones show the age of late Bajocian – late Kimmeridgian for the Dalichai Formation. The studied ammonitic assemblages are closely related to the other Middle-Late Jurassic fauna from Iran and further peri-Mediterranean regions, which correlates with the Sub-Mediterranean province.
References
Alavi M., 1992. Thrust tectonics of the Binalud region. NE Iran. Tectonics, 11 (2):360–370.
Eftekhar-Nezhad, J., & Behroozi, A., 1991. Geodynamic significance of recent discoveries of ophiolites and Late Paleozoic rocks in NE-Iran (including Kopet Dagh). Abhandlungen der Geologischen Bundesanstalt Wien, 38: 89–100.
Lammerer, B., Langheirich, G., & Danai, M., 1983. The tectonic evelotion of the Binalud mountains (NE -Iran), in geodynamic project (geotraverse) in Iran. Geological Survey of Iran, Report no. 51:91–102.
Raoufian, A., Joly, B., Seyed-Emami, K., Ashouri, A.R., Majidifard, M.R., & Ameri, H., 2014. Phylloceratoidea du Jurassique moyen et supérieur du Nord-Est de l’Iran (Monts Binalud). Annales de Paléontologie, 100 (4): 311–325.
Raoufian, A., Seyed-Emami, K., Ashouri, A.R., Majidifard, M.R., & Joly, B., 2011. Middle and Late Jurassic Phylloceratidae from the Binalud Mountains (Northeast Iran). Sedimentary Facies, 3 (2): 68–87. (in Persian).
Seyed-Emami, K., Fürsich, F.T., Wilmsen, M., Majidifard, M.R., & Shekarifard, A., 2008. Jurassic ammonite fauna of the Shemshak Formation at Shahmirzad, Iran. Acta Palaeontol Polonica, 53: 237–260.
Seyed-Emami, K., Raoufian, A., & Mönnig, E., 2015. Macrocephalitinae (Ammonoidea, Middle Jurassic) from North and Central Iran. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, 278 (3): 257–279.
Seyed-Emami, K., Raoufian, A., & Zand-Moghadam, H., 2018. Late Bajocian and Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) ammonites from the Dalichai Formation north of Damghan (Alborz, North Iran). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, 288 (2):183–203.
Seyed-Emami, K., & Raoufian, A., 2017. Ammonites from Bathonian and Callovian (Middle Jurassic) North of Damghan, Eastern Alborz, North Iran. Zitteliana A, 89: 253–270.
Seyed-Emami, K., Schairer, G., Raoufian, A., & Shafeizad, M., 2013. Middle and late Jurassic ammonites from the Dalichai formation west of Shahrud (East Alborz, North Iran). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, 267 (1): 43–66.
Seyed-Emami, K., & Schairer, G., 2010. Late Jurassic (Oxfordian, Bimammatum Zone) ammonites from the eastern Alborz Mountains, Iran. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, 257: 267–281.
Seyed-Emami, K., & Schairer, G., 2011. Late Jurassic (Oxfordian, Bifurcatus and Bimammatum zones) ammonites from the eastern Alborz Mountains, Iran. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, 260: 11–20.
Shafeizad, M., & Seyed-Emami, K., 2005. Lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Dalichai formation west of Shahroud (Eastern Alborz). Geosciences. 12 (55): 98–113. (in Persian).
Wilmsen, M., Fürsich, F.T., Seyed-Emami, K., Majidifard, M.R., & Taheri, J., 2009a. The Cimmerian orogeny in northern Iran: tectonostratigraphic evidence from the foreland. Terra Nova, 21: 211–218.
Wilmsen, M., Fürsich, F.T., Seyed-Emami, K., & Majidifard, M.R., 2009b. An overview of the lithostratigraphy and facies development of the Jurassic System on the Tabas Block, east-central Iran. In: Brunet, M.F., Wilmsen, M., Granath, J., (ed.), South Caspian to Central Iran basins. Geological Society of London, Special Publications, 312: 323–344.

Keywords

• Ammonite
• Middle-Upper Jurassic
• Dalichai Formation
• Baghi section
• Binalud
• Iran

Main Subjects

• Systematic Paleontology & Biostratigraphy

---

References

امانی، ر.، هادوی، ف.، قادری، ع.، خدادادی، ل.، 1396. زیست چینه نگاری سازند چمن‌بید در برش قرونه، رشته کوه‌های بینالود براساس نانوفسیل‌های آهکی، رخساره‌های رسوبی، 10 (2): 193-212.

افشارحرب، ع.، 1373. زمین شناسی ایران: زمین شناسی کپه‌داغ. سازمان زمین شناسی و اکتشافات معدنی کشور، 275ص.

بهفر، ن.، سیدامامی، ک.، مجیدی فرد، م.ر.، بهفر، ا.، 1390. سنگ چینه شناسی و زیست چینه شناسی سازند دلیچای در برش طالو، شمال خاوری دامغان با توجه ویژه به آمونوییدا. فصلنامه علوم زمین، 82: 39-52.

سربندی فراهانی، ط.، مجیدی فرد، م.ر.، کبریایی‌زاده، م.ر.، محمدی، م.، 1393. مطالعه سنگ چینه نگاری و زیست چینه نگاری زیای آمونیتی سازند دلیچای در برش مهدی‌شهر (شمال سمنان). فصلنامه علوم زمین، 94: 27-38.

افتخارنژاد، ج.، 1359. تفکیک بخش‌های مختلف ایران از نظر وضع ساختمانی در ارتباط با حوضه‌های رسوبی. نشریه انجمن نفت، 82: 19-28.

بلورچی، م.ح.، افشارحرب، ع.، 1365. نقشه زمین شناسی بجنورد، مقیاس 1:250000. سازمان زمین‌شناسی و اکتشافات معدنی کشور.

رئوفیان، ا.، زند مقدم،.، 1395. لایه‌های قرمز فشرده راهنمای فاز کششی ژوراسیک میانی در رشته‌کوه‌های البرز و بینالود. یازدهمین همایش انجمن دیرینه شناسی ایران، دانشگاه پیام نور طبس، صص 61-65.

قدمگاهی، م.، 1394. نانواستراتیگرافی سازند دلیچای در برش ناویا. پایان نامه کارشناسی ارشد، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد.

جعفریان، م. ب.، طاهری، ج.، 1371. نقشه­ زمین شناسی بجنورد به مقیاس 1:100000. سازمان زمین‌شناسی و اکتشافات معدنی کشور.

رئوفیان، ا.، 1393. بررسی ردیف‌های رسوبی ژوراسیک میانی تا بالایی در حوضه ساختاری ـ رسوبی بینالود برمبنای مطالعات چینه شناسی، فسیل شناسی (زیای آمونیتی) و محیط رسوبی، رساله دکتری، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد، 436ص.

نبوی، م. ح.، 1355. دیباچه‌­ای بر زمین­ شناسی ایران. سازمان زمین­شناسی و اکتشافات معدنی کشور، 109ص.

Arkell, W.J., Furnish, W.M., Kummel, B., Miller, A.K., Moore, R.C., Schindewolf, O.H., Sylvester-Bradley, P.C., & Wright, C.W., 1957. Cephalopoda, Ammonoidea. In: Moore, R.C., (ed.), Treatise on Invertebrate Paleontology, Part L, Mollusca 4. Geological Society of America & University of Kansas Press. 490 p.

Alavi, M., 1991. Sedimentary and structural characteristic of the paleoTethys remnants in north eastern Iran. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 103: 983-992.

Cariou, E., & Hantzpergue, P., 1997. Biostratigraphie du Jurassique Quest-européen et Mediterranéen-zonations parallèles et distribution des invertébrés et microfossiles. Elf Aquitaine edition, 1-440.

Enay, R., & Cariou, E., 1997. Ammonite faunas and palaeobiogeography of the Himalayan belt during the Jurassic: Initiation of a late Jurassic austral ammonite fauna. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 134: 1-38.

Fernandez-Lopez, S., 2000. Lower Bathonian of Serra de Creu (Tivissa, Catalan Basin, Spain). Revue de Paléobiologie, 8: 45-52.

Fernandez-Lopez, S., 2001. Upper Bathonian ammonites of the Catalan Basin (Tivissa and Cap Salou, Spain). Hantkeniana 3: 25–39.

Fürsich, F.T., Wilmsen, M., Seyed-Emami, K., Cecca, F., & Majidifard, M.R., 2005. The upper Shemshak Formation (Toarcian–Aalenian) of the Eastern Alborz (Iran): Biota and palaeoenvironments during a transgressiv–regressive cycle. Facies, 51: 379–398.

Fürsich, F.T., Wilmsen, M., Seyed-Emami, K., & Majidifard, M.R., 2009a. Lithostratigraphy of the Upper Triassic–Middle Jurassic Shemshak Group of Northern Iran. In: Brunet, M.F., Wilmsen, M., & Granath, J.W., (eds.), South Caspian to Central Iran Basins. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 312: 129–160.

Seyed-Emami, K., Raoufian, A., & Zand-Moghadam, H., 2018. Late Bajocian and Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) ammonites from the Dalichai Formation north of Damghan (Alborz, North Iran). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, 288 (2):183–203.

Seyed-Emami, K., & Schairer, G., 2011a. Late Jurassic (Oxfordian, Bifurcatus and Bimammatum zones) ammonites from the eastern Alborz Mountains, Iran; second part. Neues Jahrbuch Geologie Paläontologie Abhandlungen, 260 (1): 11-20.

Seyed-Emami, K., & Schairer, G., 2011b. New Middle and Upper Jurassic ammonites from the Binalud Mountains (Mashhad region, NE Iran). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, 261 (3): 373-380.

Seyed-Emami, K., Schairer, G., & Alavi-Naini, M., 1989. Ammoniten aus der unteren Dalichai-Formation (Unterbathon) östlich von Semnan (SE-Alborz, Iran). Münchner Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen, A 15: 79–91.

Seyed-Emami, K., Schairer, G., & Behroozi, A., 1994. Einige Ammoniten aus der Kashafrud-Formation (Mittlerer Jura) E Mashhad (NE-Iran). Mitteilungen der Bayerischer Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und historische Geologie, 34: 145-158.

Seyed-Emami, K., Schairer, G., & Behroozi, A., 1996. Ammoniten aus dem oberen Bajoc (Mittlerer Jura) des SE–Koppeh Dagh und SE–Slborz (NE–Iran). Mitteilungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und historische Geologie,  36: 87–106.

Seyed-Emami, K., Schairer, G., & Bolourchi, M.H., 1985. Ammoniten aus der unteren Dalichy–Formation (oberes Bajocium bis unteres Bathonium) der Umgebung von Abe–Garm (Avaj, Nw–Zentraliran). Zitteliana, 12: 57–85.

Seyed-Emami, K., Schairer, G., Raoufian, A., & Shafeizad, M., 2013. Middle and Late Jurassic ammonites from the Dalichai Formation west of Shahrud (East Alborz, North Iran). Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, 267 (1): 43-66.

Seyed-Emami, K., Schairer, G., & Zeiss, A., 1995. Ammoniten aus der Dalichai–Formation (Mittlerer bis Oberer Jura) und der Lar–Formation (Oberer Jura) N Emamzadeh-Hashem (Zentralalborz, Nordiran). Mitteilungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und historische Geologie, 35: 39–52.

Stocklin, J., 1968. Structural History and Tectonic of Iran: A Review. American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, 52: 1229-1258.