Document Type : Original Research Paper
Authors
1 M.Sc. Student, Research Institute for Earth Sciences, Geological survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Research Institute for Earth Sciences, Geological Survey of Iran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Upper Jurassic rocks are well developed at the western part of the Binalud Range (northeast Iran). These consist mainly of limestone, marlstone and marl with few intercalations of sandstone and conglomerate. The thickness of this succession in the study section (Bormahan, northwest of Neyshabour) is 1084 meters and can be subdivided into 6 members. The lower boundary with the dark siliciclasts of ?Kashafrud Formation (Upper Bajocian / Lower4 Bathonian) is sharp. The upper boundary with buff and cliff-forming carbonates of the ?Mozduran Formation (Upper Jurassic) is transitional. Ammonites are the most important and abundant macrofossils.Totally more than 300 specimens have been collected, comprising 21 genera and 36 species.The relative abundances at the family level are: Phylloceratidae (48%), Perisphinctidae (42%), Oppeliidae (6%), Haploceratidae (2%), Aspidoceratidae (1%) Based on the ammonite fauna 15 biozones are recognized which can be fairly good compared with the ammonite biozonation of Sub-Mediterranean Province. According to the ammonite fauna an Early Bathonian to Kimmeridjian age is proposed.The ammonite fauna is closely related to those of the Sub-Mediterranean Province, indicading a permanent faunal exchange.
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