Sedimentology
Hadi Amin-Rasouli; Nasim Haghighat jou; Mahdi Moradi
Abstract
Kraftu cave, 67 km northwest of Divandareh in Kurdistan province, includes four floors. The bottom of the second floor, in the bat hall, is covered by thick guano deposits. SEM–EDX analyses of the guano deposits showed secondary sulfate (gypsum, cesanite), phosphate (phosphammite, brushite, taranakite, ...
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Kraftu cave, 67 km northwest of Divandareh in Kurdistan province, includes four floors. The bottom of the second floor, in the bat hall, is covered by thick guano deposits. SEM–EDX analyses of the guano deposits showed secondary sulfate (gypsum, cesanite), phosphate (phosphammite, brushite, taranakite, francoanellite, whitlockite, leucophosphite, spheniscidite, pyrocoproite), and nitrate (urea, niter) minerals, along with microorganisms and chitin. Occurrence of these minerals is due to changes in the pH (from acidic to alkaline) and moisture (wet and dry conditions) in the presence of microorganisms. Bat guano has accumulated in Karaftu cave during three different paleoclimate conditions, from base to top, including dry, wet, and dry conditions. A comparison between distributions of secondary minerals and Ce-anomalies along the profile represents that taranakite only forms in wet conditions, but whitlockite, urea, and cesanite only occur in dry ones. Therefore, they are significant indicators of climate in the geologic record, but other minerals, because they can be in both conditions, don't be so.Various reactions between the solutions derived from guano with substrate have resulted in phosphatization and dolomitization of bedrock. The abundance of chitin in the Karaftu cave guano deposits indicates that they are feces of insectivorous bats.
Sedimentology
Hadi Amin-Rasouli; Hossein Azizi; shahla mahmodyan
Abstract
The Upper Cretaceous succession (UCS) of the north Sanandaj-Sirjan zone consists of five units. The units are 2000 m thick, including shale, sandstone, limestone, intrafomational conglomerate with interbedded basaltic- andesitic lava. This succession is unconformably underlain by Lower Cretaceous and ...
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The Upper Cretaceous succession (UCS) of the north Sanandaj-Sirjan zone consists of five units. The units are 2000 m thick, including shale, sandstone, limestone, intrafomational conglomerate with interbedded basaltic- andesitic lava. This succession is unconformably underlain by Lower Cretaceous and overlain by Paleocene conglomerates. The geochemistry of the samples represents ratios of Al2O3/TiO2 (18-22), La/LuCN (5.43-24.4), La/Sc (0.51-2.53), Th/Sc (0.42-0.68), LREE/HREE (Nd/ErCN > 5), and negative anomalies of Eu/Eu* (0.26-0.89) and Nb/Nb* (0.14-0.82). These characteristics indicate that the samples are immature, first-order sediments, and were eroded from intermediate to acidic arcs in the subduction zone. The volcanic rocks were formed during the intracrustal melting of an altered oceanic slab at high pressures in the garnet-amphibolite facies. The geochemical compositions and vertical lithofacies stacking patterns of the UCS imply that the depositional environment has changed during sedimentation from a trench to trench slope and forearc basins arising from continent-ward migration of the magmatic arc. The activities of Late Cretaceous volcanism resulted in the upwelling of anoxic water, demise of planktonic, and formed pyrite in the deposits. Samples on the Th/Yb-Ta/Yb diagram fall in the ACM and WPVZ fields, indicating tectonic evolution from low-gradient subduction to extensional volcanic conditions.
Sedimentology
Hadi Amin-Rasouli; N. Haghighat jou; Mehdi Moradi
Abstract
Karaftu Cave is located in the 67 km northwest of Divandareh, Kurdistan province. It includes four floors, which the bottom of the second floor, in the bat’s hall, is covered by thick guano deposits. In this study, the distribution of trace elements plus rare earth elements, as well as age determination, ...
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Karaftu Cave is located in the 67 km northwest of Divandareh, Kurdistan province. It includes four floors, which the bottom of the second floor, in the bat’s hall, is covered by thick guano deposits. In this study, the distribution of trace elements plus rare earth elements, as well as age determination, based on 14C, of guano was investigated. Fresh guano decays through bacterial and fungal metabolism and can release organic and inorganic acids. Interactions between these acidic solutions with guano were caused by leaching and changing the distribution and ratios of elements. The rate of leaching is determined by changes in the patterns of distribution of elements and the ratios of Th/U and LREEs/HREEs. The Eu/Eu* and Ce/Ce* ratios are applied to obtain information about the paleoredox conditions of guano deposition. Based on this study, three different climatic conditions, including dry, wet, and dry terms, have been recognized. Geochemical data of guano samples on the La/Th-Hf and Th-Sc diagrams represent intermediate-mafic source rocks. Plot the samples on the Th-Sc-Zr/10 and La/Th-Sc/Ni diagrams, suggesting that their source rocks evolved in a continental island arc tectonic setting. Based on 14C dating, the onset of guano production is about 14260 ± 50 BP after the Last Glacial Maximum recorded worldwide and close to the study area in Zaribar Lake, Zagros Mountains, and Alpine Mountains. The average accumulation rate of guano deposits has been 3.7 mm/year in Karaftu Cave.
Hadi Amin-Rasouli; Y. Lasemi; M. Ghomashi; S. Zaheri
Abstract
The uppermost layers of the Pabdeh Formation in Kuh e-Asmari section consist of microbial (tufa and stromatolite) facies interpreted to have been deposited in a lacustrine environment. These deposits are unconformably overlain by basal anhydrite and transitional zone of the Asmari and Pabdeh Formations. ...
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The uppermost layers of the Pabdeh Formation in Kuh e-Asmari section consist of microbial (tufa and stromatolite) facies interpreted to have been deposited in a lacustrine environment. These deposits are unconformably overlain by basal anhydrite and transitional zone of the Asmari and Pabdeh Formations. The transitional zone is correlated with the lower Asmari (with a basal unconformity or correlative conformity) in the Gachsaran No. 31 and Aghajari No. 61 wells and in Kuh e-Mish, Shahzadeh Abdullah, Tang-Sorgh and Rag-Sefid surface sections. Therefore the basal anhydrite and transitional zone should be considered as a part of the Asmari Formation. The drastic facies change near the Pabdeh and Asmari contact is due to thrust-loading, relative sea-level changes and climatic variations close to Ruplian-Chattian boundary.
A. Bayat Gol; N. Abbassi; A. Mahboubi; R. Moussavi-Harami; H. Amin Rasouli
Abstract
Some of Paleozoic sediments from Alborz and Central Iran subzones from Mid-Iran zone evaluated for distinction of Palaeophycus and Planolites ichnofossils. These sediments include Shale Member of Lalun Formation, Shirgesht Formation, member 5 of Mila Formation and Geiroud Formation. A diverse ichnofauna ...
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Some of Paleozoic sediments from Alborz and Central Iran subzones from Mid-Iran zone evaluated for distinction of Palaeophycus and Planolites ichnofossils. These sediments include Shale Member of Lalun Formation, Shirgesht Formation, member 5 of Mila Formation and Geiroud Formation. A diverse ichnofauna has been found in these Formations, so Planolites and Palaeophycus are abundant between them. Ichnotaxa diagnosis and some determination problems of these ichnogenera was discussed here. Overall characteristics of Palaeophycus suggest dwelling structure made by predator or suspension-feeder and passive sedimentation in the open burrow. Planolites, on the other hand imply active backfilling structure in ephemeral burrows, which constructed by a mobile deposite-feeder. Planolites include unlined burrows with infilled sediments differ texturally from host rock. Whereas Palaeophycus is lined burrow filled by same sediments of surrounding matrix. Accordingly, Palaeophycus assemblage members made by opportunistic communities with r-selected population strategies in physically-controlled and unstable environment, whereas ichnofossils of Planolites assemblage are related to benthic communities with displaying K-selected or climax strategies in the stable environments and rather predictable conditions. Recognized ichnospecies of Planolites are P. montanus, P. annularis, P. terraenovae and P.beverleyensis. and ichnospecies of Palaeophycus include P. heberti, P. tubularis, P. striatus. P. sulcatus and P. alternates.
