Biostratigraphy of the Danian/Selandian transition: A case study from Kamestan anticline section, northwest of Izeh city in Khuzestan province, Southern Iran

The planktonic foraminifera turnover across the Danian-Selandian boundary (early to late Paleocene, ~60 Ma) has been studied in the Kamestan anticline section. The studied interval span planktonic foraminifera zones P2-P3. In this section Danian-Selandian boundary is located in Pabedeh – Gurpi Formations transition. Here, the boundary of Pabeh and Gurpi Formations is a transitional one and identified by with color change of from grey shale to purple shale of Gurpi Formation to Pabdeh Formation .

&#xa

Stratigraphy and the introduction of new biozonationes in the Pabdeh Formation (Tange Hatti section, Izeh zone, Khuzestan)

In order to determine stratigraphy and the introduction of biozonationes in the Pabdeh Formation based on the new planktonic foraminifera biozonationes in the Thethys strict, one stratigraphic sections in the Izeh zone at Gurpi anticline are selected and sampled. The thickness of the Pabdeh Formation in this section is 672 m., and 4 lithological units (Purple shale (106.25 m. thickness), Lower limestone and marl (50/75 m. thickness), Limestone (295 m. thickness) and Upper limestone and marl (220 m. thickness)) in Chahardeh stratigraphic section at Izeh zone. Biostratigraphic studies led to recognition of 30 genera and 141 species of planktonic foraminifera and then 21 biozones in realm (Wade et al. (2011) were identified. These identified biozones (P3-P5 (Paleocene),E1-E16 (Eocene), O1(Oligocene)) in the studied section in Izeh zone are in well correlated with biozones of Tethys region. Based on the indicated biozones and fossil contents, the age of the Pabdeh Formation is Middle Paleocene (Selandian) - Late Oligocene (Chattian)