TITLE:
Continental Trace Fossils in the Semnan Area (Northern Iran)
AUTHORS:
Mousa Bagheri, Sadat Feiznia, Mehran Arian, Rahim Shabanian, Rahim Mahari
KEYWORDS:
Continental Ichnology; Coprinisphaera Ichnofacies; Quaternary; Trace Fossils; Semnan
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Geology,
Vol.3 No.2,
April
26,
2013
ABSTRACT: Continental ichnology has been taking an
ever increasing importance in stratigraphy. In this paper, Continental Trace
Fossils in Semnan area have been studied. Semnan Province is one of the 31
provinces which is located in the north of Iran. In the East of Semnan City,
Quaternary deposits occupy about 93% of the surface area, of which the Alluvial
represents one of the most important geomorphological features in the area.
Nevertheless, the outspread ichnological studies in Semnan City have received lesser attention in Continental Trace Fossils. Based on the systematic
ichnology, 6 trace fossils are distinguished, namely Celliforma isp, Coprinisphaera isp, Palaeophycus tubularis, planolithes isp, Tombownichnus plenus, and Skolithos isp. The
existence of Rhizoliths along with the tetrapod footprints and the
survey of lithofacies all indicate that the trace fossils are related to Coprinisphaera ichnofacies. Based on ichnological and sedimentary facies
analysis, the Continental Trace Fossils, in the study area, are located in the
flood plain, point bar, and playa environment.