Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Scientific Quarterly Journal of Geosciences

Identification and Study of Mammal Footprints of Eocene Sediments in North of Birjand

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors
1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2 Rodentology Research Department, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Paleoichnological study of 46 footprints of vertebrates in the Chahkand region (North of Birjand) shows that they belong to Pantodonts and Dinocerata, which are two orders of extinct herbivores. The most famous genera are Coryphodonts from order Pantodonts and Uintatheres and Tithanotheres from order Dinocerata that lived from the Late Paleocene to the Eocene time. Stratigraphic and petrographic studies show that this region is mainly composed of silisiclastic and carbonate sediments as well as volcaniclastic sediments including 3 facies and 8 subfacies.  Footprints are mostly observed in lime mud sediments that are deposited in shoreline condition.
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