Late Santonian-Early Maastrichtian calcareous nannofossils from marly deposits near Kerman (Central Iran)

Abstract

Abstract For the first time, the calcareous nannofossils of<br><br>marly deposits near Kerman (Bardsir area) have been studied.<br><br>This study presents the integrated (calcareous nannofossils)<br><br>biostratigraphy of the Bardsir section in the Kerman basin,<br><br>Central Iran. In most parts of Central Iran, the Upper<br><br>Cretaceous sequence is complete and continuous and is divided<br><br>into two groups: Cenomanian–Touronian flysch and<br><br>Campanian–Maastrichtian flysch. Flyschs composed of sets<br><br>of green marl sequences (Coniacian–Santonian) have been<br><br>separated to reduce the basin depth and refer to the relative<br><br>calm. Bardsir is located 57.6 km from Kerman (Central Iran).<br><br>The lithology of this area includes light green marl with layers<br><br>of calcareous siltstone, limestone, and flysch rocks. In this<br><br>study, 24 samples were taken and prepared with smear slide.<br><br>Most species were photographedwith a light microscope. As a<br><br>result of this study, 30 genera and 42 species of nannofossils<br><br>have been identified. A high-resolution calcareous nannofossil<br><br>biostratigraphic study has been carried out, allowing the<br><br>division of the studied section into eight biozones of Late<br><br>Santonian to Early Maastrichtian age (CC17–CC24).