TITLE:
Sedimentary Environment and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Asmari Formation at Khaviz Anticline, Zagros Mountains, Southwest Iran
AUTHORS:
Abdolhosein Kangazian, Mohammad Pasandideh
KEYWORDS:
Asmari Formation, Zagros Basin, Sequence Stratigraphy, Sedimentary Environment, Oligocene-Miocene
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.6 No.2,
February
16,
2016
ABSTRACT: The Oligocene-Miocene
Asmari Formation is a thick sequence of shallow water carbonates of the Zagros
Basin. Khaviz Anticline outcrop [near Behbahan city/Iran] was studied in this
research in order to interpret the facies, depositional environment and
sequence stratigraphy of the Asmari Formation succession. In this study, twelve
different microfacies types have been recognized, which can be grouped into
five (micro) facies associations: peritidal, lagoon, shoal, semi restricted
marine and open marine. The Asmari Formation represents sedimentation on a
carbonate ramp. According to the fauna data, the Asmari Formation is Oligocene
(Rupelian/Chattian) to Early Miocene (Burdigalian) in age at the study area.
Eight third-order depositional sequences are identified on the basis of
deepening and shallowing patterns in the microfacies. The depositional
sequences 0 and 1 (Rupelian-Chattian), 2, 3 and 4 (Chattian) were referred to
the lower while sequences 5and 6
(Aquitanian) were referred to the middle and sequence 7 (Burdigalian) was
referred to the upper Asmari Formation. The relative sea-level curve of the
Asmari basin and its matching with the global sea-level curves documented that
Global eustatic phenomena affected this basin.