Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

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

2 School of Geology, University College of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

At this research are studied late cretaceous sediments at Ziarat-kola section, Central Alborz, in order to Palaeobathymetry and sea level change. These sediments are with about 200m thickness consist of monotonous Marl and limy marl. Based on Planktonic foraminifera gain Upper Maastrichtian stage (Abathomphalus mayaroensis zone). In order toPalaeobathymetry and sea level change used to three methods common consisting of morphotype Planktonic foraminifera, ratio Planktonic foraminifera to benthic foraminifera and assigning genus and benthic foraminifera species. With morphotype analysis was indicated that third morphotype which are more deep index increase at the initial part and first morphotype that are shallow index increasing at middle section. In this manner, depth change was examinated to use two genus, Globotruncana (deep dweller) and Pseudoguembelina (Mixed layer dweller). In orther to assign paleodepth at this area used to Planktonic foraminifera to total foraminifera minus infaunal Benthic foraminifera and the regression equation [Depth = e (3. 58718 + (0. 03534 × %*p)].examination genus and Benthic foraminifera species depth index and such results gain at above method were indicating that this sediments in upper bathyal and middle bathyal. Thus, results indicate that beginning and end of are deeper from middle section.

Keywords

References
Abramovich, S., Keller, G., Stuben, D., Berner, Z., 2003- Characterization of late Campanian and maastrichtian planktic forminiferal depth habitats and vital activities based on stable isotopes. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol, 202:1-29.  
Alegret, L. and Thomas, E., 2001- Upper Cretaceous and lower Paleogene benthic foraminifera from northeastern Mexico. Micropaleontology, 47:269–316.
Alegret, L., Molina, E., Thomas, E., 2003- Benthic foraminiferal turnover across the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary at Agost (southeastern Spain): paleoenvironmental inferences. Marine Micropaleontology 48: 251-279.
Bé, A. W. H., 1977- An ecological, zoogeographic and taxonomic review of recent planktonic foraminifera. In Ramsey, A. T. S., (Ed.), Oceanic Micropaleontol. , 19:150–192.
Berggren, W. A & Aubert, J., 1975- Paleocene benthonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, paleobiogeography and paleoecology of Atlantic-Tethyan regions: Midway-type fauna; Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 18: 73-192.
Bolli, H. M. , Beckmann, J. P. and Saunders, J. B. , 1994- Benthic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the South Caribbean Region: Cambridge (Cambridge Univ. Press).
Caron, M., 1985- Cretaceous planktic foraminifera. In Bolli, H. M., Saunders, J. B., and Perch-Nielsen, K. (Eds.), Plankton Stratigraphy: Cambridge (Cambridge Univ. Press), 17–86.
Cushman, J.A., 1930- The foraminifera of the Atlantic Ocean, Part VII. Nonionidae, Camerinidae, Peneroplidae and Alveolinellidae. Bull—U.S. Nat. Mus., 104:1–79.
Douglas, R. G. and Savin, S. M., 1973- Oxygen and carbon isotope analyses of Cretaceous and Tertiary foraminifer from central north Pacific. In Winterer, E. L., Ewing, J. I., et. al., Init. Repts. DSDP, 17: Washington (U. S. Govt. Print. Office), 591–606.
Eicher, D. L. & Worstell, P., 1970- Cenomanian & Turonian, foraminifera from the Great Plains, United States. Micropaleontology, 16, 296-324.
Eicher, D. L., 1969- Cenomanian & Turonian planktonic foraminifera from the Western Interior of the United States. In: Bronni- Mann, P., Renz, H. H. (Eds.), Proceedings of the First International Conference on Planktonic Microfossils, vol. 2. E. J. Brill, Leiden, pp. 163-174.
Grimsdale, T. F. and Van Morkhoven, F. P. C. M., 1955- The ratio between pelagic & benthonic foraminifera as a means of estimating depth of deposition of sedimentary rocks. Proc. World Pet. Cong., 4th, Rome. Sect. l/D4, pp. 473-491.
Hart, M. B., 1980 a- the recognition of Mid-cretaceous sea level changes by means of foraminifera. Cretaceous Research, I, 289-297.
Hart, M. B., 1980 b- A water depth model for the evolution of the planktonic Foraminiferida. Nature (London, U. K.), 286:252–254.
Hart, M. B. and Carter, D. J., 1975- Some observation on the Cretaceous Foraminifera of south-east England. J. Foramin. Res., 5:114-126, figs. 1-10 Washington.
Hemmati-Nasab, M., Ghasemi-Nejad, E. Darvish-Zad, B., 2008- Palaeobathymetry of the Gurpi Formation Based on Planktonic and Benthic Foraminifera.  34:157-173.
Holbourn, A., Kuhnt, W., Soeding, E., 2001-Atlantic paleobathymetry, paleoproductivity and paleocirculation in the late Albian: the benthic foraminiferal record. Palaeogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol. 170: 171-196.
Jorissen, F. J., Fontanier, C. & Thomas, E., 2007- Paleoceanographical proxies based on deep-sea benthic foraminiferal assemblage characteristics. In: Proxies in Late Cenozoic Paleoceanography (Pt. 2): Biological tracers & biomarkers, edited by C. Hillaire-Marcel and A. de Vernal, Elsevier, 843 pp.
Keller, G., 1999- The Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass extinction in planktonic foraminifera: Biotic constrains for catastrophe theories, in: Macleod, N., & G. Keller, Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extions: Biotic & environmental changes. 49-83
 Li, L., Keller, G., 1998c- Diversitification and extinction in Campanian-Maastrichtian planktic foraminifera of northwestern Tunisia. Eclogea Geol. Helv. 91, 75-102.
Loeblich, A. R., JR. & Tappan, H., 1950- Foraminifera from the type Kiowa Shale, Lower Cretaceous of Kansas. Kansas, Univ., Pal. Contr., no. 6 (Protozoa art. 3), pp. 1-1 5, pls. 1-2 Nederbragt, A. J., 1991. Late Cretaceous biostratigraphy and development of Heterohelicidae planktic foraminifera. Micropaleontology, 37:329–372.
Nederbragt, A.J., 1991- Late Cretaceous biostratigraphy and development of Heterohelicidae planktic foraminifera. Micropaleontology, 37:329–372.
Petrizzo, M. R., 2001- Late Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera from the Kerguelen Plateau (ODP Leg 183): new data to improve the Southern Oceans biozonation. Cretaceous Res., 22:829–855.
Phleger, F. B., 1951- Foraminiferal distribution, pt. l, Ecology of foraminifera, northwest Gulf of Mexico. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. , 46: 1-88.
Robaszynski, F. and Caron, M., 1995- Foraminifères planctoniques du Crétacé: commentaire de la zonation Europe-Méditerranée. Bull. Soc. Geol. Fr., 166:681–692.
Robaszynski, F., Caron, M., Gonzales-Donoso, J. M., 1984- Wonders, A. A. H. and the European Working Group on Planktonic Foraminifera, Atlas of Late Cretaceous globotruncanids. Rev. Micropaleontol., 26:145–305.
Sliter, W. V. and Baker, R. A., 1972- Cretaceous bathymetric distribution of benthic foraminifera. J.Foraminiferal Res., 2:167–183.
Tappan, H., 1940- Foraminifera from Then Grayson Formation of northern Texas. Journal of Paleontology, v. 17, p. 93-126
Tappan, H., 1943- Foraminifera from the duck Creek Formation of Oklahoma & Texas. Journal of Paleontology, v. 17, p. 93-126
Van der Zwaan, G. J., Duijnstee I. A. P., Den Dulk M., Ernst S. R. & Kouwenhoven, N. T., 1999- Benthic foraminifers: proxies or problems? A review of paleoecological concepts; Earth Sciences Reviews 46, 213-236.
Widmark, J. G. V., 1997- Deep-sea benthic foraminifera from Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary strata in the South Atlantic Ocean: taxonomy and paleoecology. Fossils& Strata, 43:1–94.
Widmark, J. G. V. and Speijer, R. P., 1997- Benthic Foraminiferal Faunas and Trophic Regimes at the Terminal Cretaceous Tethyan Seafloor. PALAIOS, 12: 354-371.
Wonders, A. A., 1980- Middle & late Cretaceous planktonic Foraminifera of the western Mediterranean area. Utrecht Micropaleontology Bulletin, 24, 1-15
Wright, R. G., 1977- Planktonic-benthonic ratio in Foraminifera as paleobathymetric tool: quantitative evaluation. Annu. AAPG and Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral. Conv., Washington, D. C., 65.