Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

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Sedimentary Geology

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/sedgeo

Litho- and biostratigraphy of the early Eocenelarger benthic

foraminifera-dominated carbonates of the central Tethys domain,
Zagros Foreland Basin, SW Iran
Umid Kakemem a,b,⁎, Laura J. Cotton c, Nasrin Hadavand-Khani a, Roghayeh Fallah-Bagtash a,
Nicolas Thibault b, Kresten Anderskouv b
a
Department of Petroleum and Sedimentary Basins, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
b
Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
c
Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen K,Denmark

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The Early Paleogene Tethyan domain saw the development of large platform carbonates rich in large benthic fo-
Received 10 May 2023 raminifera (LBF), of which the Taleh Zang Formation in Lurestan Basin, SW Iran, represents an excellent example.
Received in revised form 18 July 2023 The LBF assemblage is dominated by alveolinids, together with a variety of foraminiferal genera such as
Accepted 19 July 2023
Nummulites, Rotalia, Sackesaria, Assilina, Operculina, and Glomalveolina. Smaller benthic foraminifera, calcareous
Available online 28 July 2023
algae, gastropods, echinoids, and bivalves constitute minor components of the carbonate. Biostratigraphy analy-
Editor: Dr. Brian Jones sis of the LBF is conducted on two distinct sections of the Taleh Zang Fm. The sections referred to as TZ-1 and TZ-2
have respective thicknesses of 87 m and 132 m. This analysis has constrained the formation age to the early
Ypresian within Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZs) 5–7. Facies analysis supports the major accumulation of these suc-
Keywords: cessions in a shallow water environment within the euphotic zone. We recognize 9 distinct facies and microfacies
Facies analysis representing four main depositional environments including tidal flat, lagoon, bioclastic shoal, and shallow open
Stratigraphic framework marine. These environments are distributed along a low-angle homoclinal ramp and form the foundation of a
Larger foraminifera stratigraphic interpretation characterized by intervals displaying shallowing and deepening trends. Three
Biodiversity
shallowing-upward intervals have been identified within the Taleh Zang succession. The determined intervals
Homoclinal carbonate ramp
cannot be solely attributed to global sea level fluctuations and support a significant impact of the regional struc-
Taleh Zang Fm.
Amiran Basin tural context resulting from collision-induced uplift and variable subsidence rates. The identified intervals exhibit
local and regional correlation and compatibility on the Arabian Plate, providing robust confirmation of the signif-
icant roles played by both tectonics and eustasy at a regional scale.
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

1. Introduction
The Paleogene was characterized by greenhouse and hothouse cli-
mates, with several remarkable hyperthermal events such as the
Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) (e.g., Zachos et al.,
1993; Sloan and Thomas, 1998; Pearson et al., 2007) (Fig. 1). The sedi-
mentary expression of these climatic modes in Iran was the develop-
ment of large carbonate platforms along ramps formed during an
early flexural stage of a foreland basin. These carbonates in the Zagros
basin that are represented by the Taleh Zang Formation were rich in
large benthic foraminifera (LBF) and especially alveolinids. Alveolinid-
⁎ Corresponding author at: Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource
Management, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen,
Denmark.
E-mail address: umidk@ign.ku.dk (U. Kakemem).
dominated carbonate deposits were common along the Tethyan mar-
gins throughout the early to middle Eocene (e.g., Kulka, 1985;
Anketell and Mriheel, 2000; Racey, 2001; Beavington-Penney et al.,
2005; Jorry et al., 2006; Mateu-Vicens et al., 2012; Hadi et al., 2016,
2021; Sarkar, 2019) and a detailed LBF biostratigraphic zonation with
a zonal resolution better than 1 million years characterizes the entire in-
terval spanning the late Thanetian to Ypresian (Serra-Kiel et al., 1998;
see Figs. 1–2).
The Taleh Zang succession has been generally described in several
basin-scale studies (e.g., Homke et al., 2009; Saura et al., 2011, 2015),
but few communications discuss this succession in detail. Moreover,
the few studies that did present detailed descriptions of facies, biostrat-
igraphic zonation and sequence stratigraphy of the Taleh Zang Fm. do
not agree in their interpretations (Adabi et al., 2008; Bagherpour and
Vaziri, 2012). The stratigraphic zonation of the sections, the vertical suc-
cession of facies, and thereby the sequence stratigraphic interpretation

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2023.106477
0037-0738/© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

Fig. 1. Paleoclimatic context of the Eocene based on the Cenogrid from Westerhold etal. (2020) and as presented at https://www.marum.de/Binaries/Binary22795/CENOGRID-Cartoon-
withProjection-alternate.png. Larger foraminifera Shallow Benthic Zonation (SBZ) after Serra-Kiel etal. (1998). The studied interval spans SBZs 5 to 7 as highlighted in olive color.

in the two latter papers, differ significantly. While the discrepancies may
point to a highly dynamic basin evolution during deposition of the Taleh
Zang, it also calls for the need of more detailed case studies.
Larger benthic foraminifera are valuable indicators for
paleoenvironmental reconstructions. They are highly sensitive to en-
vironmental conditions, including temperature (e.g., Langer and
Hottinger, 2000; Prazeres et al., 2017). During the PETM, a rapid
global warming event, LBF assemblages underwent significant
changes, suggesting their responsiveness to elevated temperatures
(Scheibner et al., 2005; Scheibner and Speijer, 2008, 2009). How-
ever, it is important to consider other factors like nutrient availabil-
ity, light penetration, and carbonate saturation that may influence
LBF response (e.g., Zhang et al., 2019a, 2019b, 2020). Our study
acknowledges the paleoenvironmental importance of LBF along with
abundant calcareous algae and rareness/absence of other biota such as
corals for precise biostratigraphy, detailed microfacies, depositional envi-
ronment characterization and paleoenvironmental analyses to be carried
out since the LBF are highly facies dependent (see Hallock and Glenn,
1986; Renema, 2002; Beavington-Penney and Racey, 2004) during the
PETM and intervals of rapid climatic change.
The principal aim of this study is to contribute to a broader under-
standing of the sedimentological history of the early Paleogene central
Tethyan domain. We investigate the biostratigraphy and diversity of
larger benthic foraminifera (LBF), along with facies and microfacies
analysis, and its implications for paleoenvironmental reconstructions,
sea-level fluctuation trending, and paleoclimate studies. Specifically,

2
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
Fig. 2. Paleogeographic distribution of Eocene nummulitic carbonate accumulations. The studied area is highlighted by a red dot while black dots depict the position of known nummulitic
microfacies around the margins of the Neotethys.
After Hadi etal. (2016), inspired from Racey (2001) and Jorry etal. (2006).
the study provides new insights into the assemblage of LBF in the Taleh
Zang Formation, across an important interval of their evolution and can
help to fill the knowledge gap in this field.
2. Geological setting and stratigraphy
The Zagros fold belt is located at the NE margin of the Arabian Plate
and is part of the Alpine–Himalayan orogenic belt (Falcon, 1974). It is
resulted from the convergence between Arabia and Eurasia that led to
the closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean (Berberian and King, 1981;
Golonka, 2004; McQuarrie and Van Hinsbergen, 2013). The conver-
gence between the plates commenced during the Upper Jurassic to
Lower Cretaceous (e.g., Golonka, 2004). This convergence led to the
subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean beneath Eurasia and the obduction
of oceanic crust onto the Arabian margin. These processes eventually
contributed to the development of the Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic
arc (UDMA) and the Zagros imbricate zone (ZIZ) by the end of the
Pliocene on the Iranian Plate (e.g., Berberian and King, 1981) (Fig. 3a).
During the early Late Cretaceous, a major contraction event occurred,
leading to the formation of flexural basins in Kurdistan, Lurestan, Dezful,
Fars, and Oman (e.g., James and Wynd, 1965; Homke et al., 2009;
Piryaei et al., 2010; Saura et al., 2011; Laws et al., 2013). The final clo-
sure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean and continental collision occurred from
the late Oligocene to early Miocene (e.g., Stoneley, 1981; Agard et al.,
2005; Saura et al., 2015). Ongoing convergence and deformation
shaped the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt (ZFTB) during the Miocene
and Pliocene (e.g., Homke et al., 2004; Khadivi et al., 2010). The
ZFTB is divided into two zones, the High Zagros Zone (HZZ) and
the Simply Folded Zone (SFZ). The SFZ is further subdivided into
five structural provinces separated by major fault zones, including
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Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
the Lurestan province, to which the Taleh Zang succession belongs
(Fig. 3) (e.g., Berberian and King, 1981; Sepehr and Cosgrove, 2004).
The ZFTB was located further south during the Eocene, approximately
18°N, compared to its present-day location around 33°N (Müller et
al., 2016).
The Amiran foreland basin in the Lurestan area exhibits distinct
characteristics, reflecting the interplay between surface and deep pro-
cesses during their evolution (James and Wynd, 1965; Homke et al.,
2009; Saura et al., 2011, 2015). In the Lurestan province, the sedimen-
tary succession is up to 10.3 km thick (Alavi, 2007). The deposits repre-
sent twelve second-order sequences that are developed in various
tectono-sedimentary regimes caused by epeirogenic movements, sepa-
rated by unconformities (Sharland et al., 2001; Alavi, 2004; Heydari,
2008, Fig. 4).
The infilling deposits that include the Taleh Zang Formation repre-
sent a 2nd-order sequence bounded by regional unconformities that
can be recognized throughout the Zagros belt and inter-regionally in
the Arabian Plate. This sequence is known as megasequence X (Alavi,
2004), Sassan supersequence (Heydari, 2008), and AP10 (Sharland et
al., 2001) that with a small variation in age represents Lower Paleocene
to Upper Eocene (e.g., Pirouz et al., 2016), with a thickness variation in
different localities of the Zagros Basin from 350 m up to 900 m thick
(e.g., Habibi et al., 2017). The 2nd-order sequence consists of a
shallowing upward, mixed siliciclastic–carbonate succession, with
marked lateral changes in thickness, hiatuses and angular unconfor-
mities that have been attributed to both large-scale tectonics and
early folding (Alavi, 2004, 2007; Heydari, 2008; Casciello et al., 2009;
Homke et al., 2009). The base of the sequence is represented by deep-
marine turbidites of the Amiran Fm. which characterize the early trans-
gressive systems tract (TST) and are retrogradationally overlain by the
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

Fig. 3. (a) Subdivisions of the Zagros Mountain orogenic belt. Zagros imbricate zone (ZIZ), Zagros fold-thrust belt (ZFTB), Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic arc (UDMA), Zagros deformational
front (ZDF), Oman Line (OL), High Zagros Fault (HZF), Main Zagros Reverse Fault (MZRF), Balarud Fault (BF), Mountain Front Fault (MFF), Kazerun fault zone (KZ), Zagros deformational
front (ZDF) (after Alavi, 2004), and six main tectonostratigraphic provinces of the ZFTB (after Motiei, 1993); (b) geological map of the study outcrop sections at the Sultan anticline,
Lurestan Basin along with showing the approximate location of the sections (TZ-1 and -2) at the Sultan fold (Geological Map of Pul-e-Dokhtar, scale 1:100,000; Takin and Macleod, 1970).

carbonates of the Taleh Zang Fm. representing the late TST (Alavi, 2004;
Homke et al., 2009). The Taleh Zang Fm. is superseded by the
coarsening upward siliciclastic Kashkan Fm. at the early highstand sys-
tems tract (HST) while the shallow water carbonates of the following
Shahbazan Fm. formed the late HST (e.g., Alavi, 2004). The MFS of the
sequence is coincident with the major maximum flooding surface of
Sharland etal. (2001) for the Arabian Plate, of the middle Eocene
(Lutetian) age. The closure of the Neo-Tethys seaway during the
Eocene–Oligocene transition event and the buildup of the Antarctic ice
cap caused a significant sea-level fall, resulting in a major subaerial
unconformity, which marked the end of the 2nd-order sequence
(Alavi, 2004, 2007; Homke et al., 2009). Within this 2nd order se-
quence, 3rd-order sequences including the Taleh Zang Fm. occurred.
The correlation of the Zagros lithostratigraphy log and the 2nd-order
supersequences with the eustatic sea-level curve of Haq etal. (1987) is
shown in Fig. 4.

4
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
Fig. 4. Stratigraphy of the Zagros mountains in a NW–SE trend showing the Upper Cretaceous, Paleogene and lower Neogene deposits and the main structural subdivisions of the ZFTB
(after James and Wynd, 1965; Ala, 1982) together with 2nd order megasequences and supersequences of Alavi (2004) and Heydari (2008).
Field photographs depicting the Taleh Zang Formation and its under-
lying Amiran and overlying Kashkan (and Asmari) Formations in the TZ-
1 and TZ-2 sections are presented in Fig. 5. These photographs were
taken during fieldwork in the study area, where the Taleh Zang Forma-
tion is prominently exposed and exhibits a diverse range of sedimentary
bedding. The basal Amiran and overlying Kashkan (and Asmari) Forma-
tions are also well-preserved in this area and exhibit a distinct litholog-
ical variation, resulting in varying weathering profiles and distinct
vegetation patterns. The figures provide a comprehensive visual repre-
sentation of these formations and will be utilized to support our sedi-
mentological interpretations.
3. Methodology
Sampled successions of the Taleh Zang Formation are exposed on
the NW–SE Sultan anticline. The TZ-1 exposure represents a thicker,
likely more distal section composed of thin to thick- to very thick-
bedded limestone forming a mild weathering profile, while the TZ-2 ex-
posure was located in a more proximal part of the basin, exhibiting
higher cliffs in the landscape that consist predominantly of medium to
thick-bedded limestones. TZ-1 is 132 m thick and located at 33°17′46″
N, 47°36′20″ E, and TZ-2 is approximately 12 km away with 87 m thick-
ness at 33°13′48″ N, 47°42′28″ E. A total of 58 samples were taken from
TZ-1 and 40 from TZ-2 following a fixed interval sampling. Asemi-
quantitative allochem point-count analysis was performed on the thin
sections using the Baccelle and Bosellini (1965) diagrams.
The biostratigraphy is based on the Shallow Benthic Zones of Serra-
Kiel etal. (1998, 2020). Comparison to Wynd (1965) biozones is also in-
cluded. Facies and microfacies identification and environmental inter-
pretations are based on the matrix, textural features, fabric, fauna and
flora, and extrabasinal grain content following Burchette and Wright
(1992) and Flügel (2010) Taleh Zang supplemented by works from
Hallock and Glenn (1986), Murray (1991), Hottinger (1983, 1997),
Geel (2000), Pomar (2001), Romero etal. (2002), and Beavington-
Penney and Racey (2004). In addition, marine rim-cement was used
to assess the amount of bioturbation and water energy of the paleo-
environment (e.g., Burchette and Wright, 1992).
4. Results
4.1. Field description: lithostratigraphy and lithofacies
The fieldwork assessment in both localities reveals distinct lithostra-
tigraphic successions characterized by variations in vegetation type and
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Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
density, weathering profile, lithology, and color tone. The Taleh Zang For-
mation is predominantly composed of limestone, forming prominent
high cliffs. When compared to the underlying siliciclastic Amiran Fm.
and overlying Kashkan Fm., the Taleh Zang Fm. exhibits well-defined
stratification but displays minimal presence of sedimentary structures
and easily identifiable trace fossils, with the exception of bioturbation.
The Taleh Zang succession does not exhibit a clear cyclic stratigraphic
pattern in grain-size variation and bedding. However, specific intervals
observed during fieldwork, which include both shallowing and deepen-
ing trends, show distinct stratification. The base of the deepening trends
displays better stratification with thicker beds, while the upper part of
the shallowing trend, or the entire shallowing trend itself, consists of me-
dium to thick beds and even very thick massive limestone with stratifica-
tion not as well-developed as in the deepening trend. Regarding the grain
size, the limestone exhibits a massive calcilutite to biocalcarenite texture.
The dominant grain sizes are calcilutite and biocalcarenite, although
biocalcirudite can also be observed in the upper and lower parts of the
shallowing and deepening trends, respectively.
Five main lithofacies have been identified within the Taleh Zang Fm.
in both sections, and their characteristics are described as follow
(see Figs. 6–7 for their vertical variation and Table 1 for the dominant
corresponding facies and microfacies):
LF1 is characterized by the presence of siliciclastic material within a
lime matrix, along with minor occurrences of mollusks, echino-
derms, and hyaline shell larger benthic foraminifera. This lithofacies
comprises thick to medium beds of sandy limestone, exhibiting ir-
regular and chaotic variations in siliciclastic grain size. However, a
general coarsening-upward sequence is observed, particularly pro-
nounced at the base of TZ-1. The color ranges from dark to pale
brown, with varying shades.
LF2 is identified as thin to medium beds of brownish to yellowish
limestone containing bivalves, alveolinids, hyaline shell larger ben-
thic foraminifera, and evidence of bioturbation. This lithofacies
shows the highest concentration of iron-oxide in the rock matrix
and rare occurrences of iron nodules.
LF3 is marked by the presence of medium to thick beds of cream to
yellowish limestone. Rare fragments of bivalves can be observed
within this lithofacies. It exhibits significant bioturbation and con-
tains uncommon occurrences of echinoderms, nummulitids, mol-
lusks, and prevalent alveolinids.
LF4 is distinguished by the occurrence of thick to very thick beds of
cream escarpment limestone, which contains scattered mollusks
and LBF, particularly alveolinids.
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

Fig. 5. Field photographs exhibiting the Taleh Zang Fm. and its basal Amiran and overlying Kashkan (and Asmari) Fms. in the TZ-1 (a) and TZ-2 (b) sections, respectively, (c) 3rd-order
sequence stratigraphic architecture of the Taleh Zang Fm. at TZ-1 section, (d) the hashed lines are showing an incision into the sandy limestone interbeds of the Taleh Zang Fm. at the
TZ-2 section, (e) this photo is showing the thin- and medium-bedded limestones of the Taleh Zang Fm. at the lower part of TZ-1 section, (f) thick-bedded limestones of the lower part
of the Taleh Zang Formation at TZ-2 section.

LF5 represents the dolomitized intervals within the Taleh Zang Fm.
It is characterized by the presence of yellow to whitish thick beds
to massive limestone exhibiting a hard replacement texture. Addi-
tionally, rare to common vuggy pores can be observed within this
lithofacies.
4.2. Biostratigraphy
The Ypresian, following the Paleocene/Eocene boundary is an impor-
tant interval of overturning and diversification in larger foraminiferal
biodiversity and evolution. This high rate of evolution is reflected by
the excellent resolution provided by the SBZ scheme in this interval, es-
pecially across the early Ypresian characterized by 5 distinct zones from
56 to 53 Ma, hence averaging a 600 kyr resolution.
The assemblages from both TZ-1 and TZ-2 sections are moderately
diverse and contain genera well-known from the Eocene of the broader
Tethyan region. The assemblages are dominated by Alveolina and
alveolinids, occurring with nummulitids, large flat soritids and
Sakesaria. The overall assemblage remains consistent through both sec-
tions, although in TZ-1 levels with larger foraminifera are more frequent

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U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

Fig. 6. Vertical distribution of larger benthic foraminiferal, other fossil assemblages and biostratigraphy of the Taleh Zang Fm. at TZ-1 succession at the Sultan anticline (legend in Fig. 7).

below 40 m in the section. Due to the indurated nature of the limestone,
identifications were made from petrological thin sections only, and
therefore species level identifications were not possible in the majority
of cases (Figs. 6–7).
Alveolinids of the genera Glomalveolina and Alveolina range
through almost the entirety of both sections TZ-1 and TZ-2.
Glomalveolina is found relatively consistently from ~10 m to 120 m
in TZ-1 and from the base to ~83 m in TZ-2, with some specimens
showing similarity to G.lepidula. Glomalveolina, as a genus, has a
range from the middle Paleocene to middle Eocene — SBZs 3 to 11
(Hottinger, 1974; Serra-Kiel et al., 1998, 2020). Glomalveolina
lepidula ranges from SBZs 5 to 9 (Serra-Kiel et al., 1998). Several

7
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
Fig. 7. Vertical distribution of larger benthic foraminiferal, other fossil assemblages and biostratigraphy of the Taleh Zang Fm. at TZ-2 succession at the Sultan anticline.
species of Alveolina are present but due to a lack of axial and equatorial
sections, they remain here in open nomenclature. In particular, large
flosculinized forms are found throughout the sections. The presence of
a diverse range of large flosculinized Alveolina rules out a Paleocene
age. Paleocene Alveolina are small, simple forms (e.g., Alveolina
korresensis; Serra-Kiel et al., 2020). The genus Alveolina has a last occur-
rence in the upper part of the Middle Eocene (SBZ 18 Serra-Kiel et al.,
1998; Less and Özcan, 2012).
8
Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
Nummulites is relatively common, occurring consistently throughout
TZ-2 and the lowermost ~30 m of TZ-1, with only one higher occurrence
at ~80 m. Species are non-reticulate forms. At a genus level, this further
confirms an Eocene age (Figs. 6–7). Operculina and Assilina are compar-
atively less frequent in the section. In TZ-1 they are found mostly to-
ward the bottom of the section, with only 1 occurrence of Operculina
and 3 of Assilina above 31 m. In TZ-2 Operculina occurs more frequently
and is recognized between 5 and 70 m, whereas Assilina is rare and only
 Table 1
Distribution and characteristics of the identified facies and microfacies along with the dominant corresponding lithofacies across the early Eocene in the two studied outcrops of the Taleh Zang succession.

Facies association Code Facies and microfacies Environment Main Allochems Allochem Energy Sedimentary SMF/RMF
type corresponding properties level features (Flügel, 2010)
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.

lithofacies
Skeletal Non Size Sorting
skeletal
Major Minor

Inner Tidal flat F1 Quartz-rich skeletal Upper intertidal LF1 – Gastropods, bivalves and Quartz Arenite Medium Medium – SMF26/RMF24
ramp carbonate echinoids grains to good to high
F2 Lime mudstone and Lower intertidal to LF4–5 – Undetected shell fragments Quartz Lutite – Low Parallel SMF25/RMF22
dolomudstone very shallow grains lamination,
subtidal bioturbation,
fenestral
fabrics
Lagoon F3 Bioclast imperforate Very shallow LF2–4–5 Gastropods, miliolids, Echinoids, ostracods, bryozoans, Quartz Lutite Poor Low Bioturbation SMF24/RMF21
foraminifera subtidal-proximal dasycladacean algae bivalves grains to
wackestone lagoon arenite
F4 Foraminifera algae Restricted central LF3 Dacycladacean algae, Miliolids, echinoids, alveolinids, Peloids Lutite Poor Low Microbial SMF22/RMF17

9
wackestone/packstone lagoon coralline algae such as valvulinids, Opertorbitolites to micritization
Distichoplax biserialis douvillei arenite
F5 Bioclastic alveolinid Less restricted LF2–3–4 Alveolinids, Orbitolites Dasycladacean algae valvulinid, Peloids Arenite Poor Low Microbial SMF18/RMF20
wackestone/floatstone distal lagoon sp., Opertorbitolites rotaliids, Nummulites, to micritization
douvillei, Opertorbitolites Haplophragmium sp., Miscellanea, rudite
sp., miliolids Sackesaria dukhani
F6 Bioclastic Distal open LF3–4 Orbitolites sp., Alveolina Nummulites sp., Opertorbitolites Quartz Arenite Poor to Low to Bioturbation SMF18/RMF26
mixed-foraminiferal lagoon-leeward sp., miliolids douvillei, rotaliids, valvulinid, grains, to medium medium
wackestone/packstone shoal dasycladacean algae peloids rudite
Shoal F7 Bioclastic alveolinid Carbonate shoal LF2–3 Alveolina rotundata, Sackesaria dukhani, Orbitolites sp., Peloids, Arenite Good High Microbial SMF11/RMF27
packstone/grainstone Glomalveolina sp., Operculina sp., Opertorbirolites ooids, micritization
Glomalveolina aff. douvillei, Nummulites sp., rare
lepidula, and milliolids echinoids intraclasts
Mid-ramp Shallow F8 Bioclastic nummulitid Middle ramp LF2 Nummulites sp., Sackesaria dukhani, echinoids, Quartz Arenite Poor to Medium Geopetal SMF10/RMF13
open wackestone/packstone alveolinids, Operculina bivalves, gastropods grains to medium to low fabric,
marine sp., Opertorbirolites rudite bioturbation
douvillei
Outer Relatively F9 Bioclastic planktonic Outer ramp LF2–3 planktonic foraminifera Echinoids, bivalves, ostracods, – Lutite Poor Low – SMF3/RMF5
ramp deep open mudstone/wackestone such as Globorotalia and Haplophragmium sp. to
marine Globigerina arenite
Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
found in two levels around 40 m. Operculina has a long range through
most of the Paleogene and Neogene to present day. Assilina, like
Alveolina, has a last occurrence within SBZ 18, again, indicating an
Eocene age.
The foraminifera Sakesaria is within the Subfamily Lockhartiinae,
and a key taxon in the “Lockhartia Sea” that extended across the Tethyan
region in the early Eocene (Hottinger and Bassi, 2014). Sakesaria occurs
in the lowermost 32 m of TZ-1 and from 5 to 82 m in TZ-2. As a genus
Sakesaria is known from Paleocene–early Eocene SBZ 3 to SBZ 7
(Hottinger and Bassi, 2014; Benedetti and Papazzoni, 2022).
The large flattened soritids, Orbitolites and Opertorbitolites have
ranges from Early to Middle Eocene and Late Paleocene to Early Eocene
respectively (Boudagher-Fadel, 2008).
The LBF assemblage therefore indicates an Ypresian age within SBZ 5
to SBZ 7 (Serra-Kiel et al., 1998, 2020). The presence of Sakesaria
constrains the age to SBZs 3 to 7, and is further narrowed by the
flosculinized Alveolina to early Eocene SBZs 5–7. All other LBF taxa pres-
ent are known from the Ypresian and therefore support this age. In
comparison to the biostratigraphy of Wynd (1965), the sections are
within subzone no. 44 on the basis of the presence of Opertorbitolites,
also indicating an early Eocene age (Figs. 8–9).
The age of the Taleh Zang succession in this study is comparable to
that of Homke etal. (2009). Bagherpour and Vaziri (2012) described a
Paleocene to Eocene section of the Taleh Zang, assigned to SBZs 3–4
and SBZs 6–7. However, within the Paleocene part of the section
Alveolina sp. is recorded but not specifically imaged, while Alveolina
have been recently reported from the latest Thanetian of western Te-
thys (Serra-Kiel et al., 2020) and eastern Tethys (Zhang et al., 2019a,
2019b), these are smaller unflosculinized forms, and without documen-
tation in the paper it is possible there is some discrepancy in age.
4.3. Facies and microfacies description
In the Taleh Zang succession, a comprehensive analysis of field
and petrographical observations has allowed for the recognition of
nine distinct facies and microfacies that are observed in both studied
sections. These classifications were based on careful examination of
various parameters, including rock texture, grain size, sorting, lime
mud volume, as well as the characteristics and associations of fossils
present within the samples. The key sedimentological characteristics
of the identified facies and microfacies are summarized in Table 1
and Figs. 10–11.
4.3.1. Quartz-rich skeletal carbonate (F1)
The sandy limestone facies primarily consists of up to 30–40 % mod-
erately to well-sortedsub-rounded to sub-angular quartz grains (with
diameters ranging from 50 to 400 μm). In addition, the facies comprises
unidentifiable carbonate fragments ranging from fine to medium sand-
size, exhibiting moderate to well-sorted characteristics. The carbonate
fragments include a variety of skeletal allochems, including green
algae, gastropods, bivalves, echinoids, and larger benthic foraminifera
fragments such as miliolids, rotaliids, and Assilina sp. The matrix is pri-
marily made up of major sparry calcite cement and minor lime mud
as well as minor occurrence of destructive dolomitization. These sandy
limestone beds, with thicknesses reaching up to 2 m, display gradual
boundaries with other microfacies (Fig. 10a–b).
4.3.2. Lime mudstone and dolomudstone (F2)
This microfacies consists mainly of dense, tightly packed fine-
grained microcrystalline lime mudstone (Fig. 10c–d). Some samples
(mainly in TZ-1 section) are also composed of silt-sized well-sorted
sub-angular quartz grains (up to 10 %). This microfacies is characterized
by a scarcity of bioclastic allochems. The sparse allochems are often un-
identifiable and sometimes filled with large dolomite rhombs.
Reworked small foraminifera and skeletal silt to fine sand size grains
are the main allochemical components (<5 % of the rock) and evaporite
10
Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
crystals and/or molds occur. The lime mudstones are slightly to moder-
ately dolomitized. Dolomicrite crystals are anhedral and sometimes
euhedral. Other sedimentary features observed in this microfacies in-
clude parallel lamination and filaments (0.5 to 2 mm-thick), fenestral
fabrics and bioturbation.
4.3.3. Bioclast imperforate foraminifera wackestone (F3)
This microfacies consists of mainly gastropods (both complete and
fragmented), orbitolinids, and miliolids scattered in a dominantly
muddy matrix (>50 % of the biota's abundance; ≤2 mm). Other bioclast
fragments with lower density are alveolinids and dasycladacean algae.
Frequent echinoids, bivalves, ostracods, and bryozoans can also be ob-
served. Silt-sized quartz grains are present in minor amounts. Based
on the majority of the biota, this microfacies can be categorized as a
microfacies association including (a) bioclast gastropod wackestone
(F3-G) (Fig. 10e), (b) bioclast miliolid wackestone (F3-M) (Fig. 10f),
and (c) bioclast orbitolinid wackestone (F3-O) (Fig. 10g). In some sam-
ples, the rocks show high recrystallization and the majority of the
bioclasts have been dissolved and a thin micrite envelope can be seen
around molds, which were filled with sparry calcite cement during
diagenesis.
4.3.4. Foraminifera algae wackestone/packstone (F4)
The algal microfacies (Fig. 10h–i) is characterized by the presence of
calcareous green algae (e.g.,dacycladacean algae) and broken pieces of
the coralline algae Distichoplax biserialis, both in concentrations of
15–20 %. Miliolids, echinoids, alveolinids, valvulinids, Opertorbitolites
douvillei, ostracods, small gastropods and bivalves are among less fre-
quent allochems (≤20 %). Microbial micritization, calcite cementation
and replacement (hematitization) are abundant in this microfacies.
4.3.5. Bioclastic alveolinid wackestone/floatstone (F5)
This microfacies is characterized by the occurrence of alveolinids
(≥40 %; <1–2.5 mm in diameter) and other frequent skeletal fragments
such as Orbitolites sp., Opertorbitolites douvillei, miliolids, dasycladacean
algae, bivalves, echinoids, valvulinids, small rotaliids, and gastropods rang-
ing in abundance from 20 to 30 %. Peloids, Nummulites, Opertorbitolites sp.,
Haplophragmium sp., Miscellanea, and Sackesaria sp. altogether constitute
about 10 %. In some samples, where Soritidae are abundant, this
microfacies also appears as alveolinid orbitolite wackestone/packstone
and alveolinid opertorbitolite wackestone in both sections (Fig. 10j–k).
Micritization, replacement (hematitization), and fracturing are the most
important diagenetic processes. Fractures and inter- and intragranular
pores are mostly filled with calcite sparry cement.
4.3.6. Bioclastic mixed-foraminiferal wackestone/packstone (F6)
The amount of allochems in this microfacies ranges from 40 to
60 %, albeit with a mean close to 50 %. The most prevalent fossils
are Orbitolites sp., Alveolina sp., miliolids (up to 20 %), and 30 to 40 %
skeletal fragments of Nummulites sp., Opertorbitolites, Sackesaria sp.,
small Rotalia sp., Haplophragmium, valvulinid, dasycladacean algae, os-
tracods, bivalves, echinoids, gastropods and peloids. The micritic matrix
contains <5 % silt-sized, angular to sub-rounded detrital quartz
(Fig. 11a–b). Diagenetic processes that have been observed in F6
include selective dolomitization, fracturing, micritization, mechanical
compaction, aggrading neomorphism, bioturbation, and replacement
(hematitization and pyritization).
4.3.7. Bioclastic alveolinid packstone/grainstone (F7)
This microfacies comprises limestones with varying bedding thick-
nesses ranging from 0.5 to 1 m, also including very thick limestone. Re-
garding the majority of the associated biota, F7 can be considered as the
shoal microfacies association that is further sub-divided into three
microfacies. These microfacies comprise predominant sand-size
allochems and show good to medium sorting. These microfacies are
(a) imperforate foraminifera peloid packstone/grainstone (F7-P) (Fig.
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

Fig. 8. Photomicrographs showing the foraminiferal taxa used for defining Upper Thanetian–Lower Ypresian for the Taleh Zang Formation. (a) Sackesaria sp.: TZ-1; T1-9, (b) Sackesaria sp.:
TZ-2; T2-39, (c) Operculina sp.: TZ-2; T2-19, (d) Operculina sp.: TZ-2; T2-24, (e) Nummulites sp.: TZ-1; T1-8, (f) Assilina sp.: TZ-2; T2-19, (g) Haplophragmium sp.: TZ-1; T1-19, (h)
Valvulinids: TZ-1; T1-15, (i) Opertorbitolites douvillei: TZ-1; T1-18.

11c), (b) miliolid alveolinid grainstone (F7-A) (Fig. 11d), and (c)
bioclast packstone/grainstone (F7-B) (Fig. 11e), attributed to leeward
shoal, central shoal, and seaward shoal, respectively.
Microfacies F7-P, which is dominated by grainstone texture, good
sorting, and small to medium sand-sized grains, consists primarily of
miliolids and peloids as the major allochems. Fragmented and micritized
orbitolinids, intraclasts, cortoids, alveolinids, and other unknown
fragmented biota are present in smaller amounts.
Microfacies F7-A, which has grainstone texture with medium to
coarse sand-sized grains and good sorting, is primarily composed of
miliolids and alveolinids, including Alveolina sp., Glomalveolina sp., and
Glomalveolina aff. lepidula, forming up to 60 % of the biota. Orbitolinids,
Rotalia sp., echinoids, Nummulites sp., and Operculina sp. are present in
smaller amounts (each accounting for 1 to 5 % of the biota). Peloids
and intraclasts are also seen in a minor amount.
Microfacies F7-B, which has a packed and grain-dominated texture,
sand-sized grains, and moderate sorting, contains imperforate forami-
nifera such as Alveolina sp., miliolids, and Orbitolites sp. forming 30 to
40 % of the biota. Perforate foraminifera, including Assilina sp.,
Operculina sp., Rotalia sp., and Nummulites sp., with a frequency of
up to 50 % of the identified biota, are also present. Echinoids, bi-
valves, and ostracods are present with very low density, each
accounting for up to 5 % of the biota.
The diagenetic fabric of this microfacies is characterized by marine ce-
mentation, micritization, fracturing, and local replacement (hematitization
and pyritization).

11
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

Fig. 9. Photomicrographs showing the foraminiferal taxa used for defining Upper Thanetian–Lower Ypresian for the Taleh Zang Formation. (a) Alveolina reicheli: TZ-2; T2-29, (b) Alveolina
erki: TZ-1; T1-14, (c) Opertorbitolites douvillei: TZ-1; T1-47, (d) Alveolina pisiformis: TZ-2; T2-15, (e) Alveolina rotundata: TZ-1; T1-6, (f) Alveolina globosa: TZ-2; T2-6, (g) Alveolina
pasticillata: TZ-2; T2-36, (h) Glomalveolina aff. lepidula: TZ-1; T1-22, (i) Glomalveolina sp.: TZ-1; T1-18, (j) Alveolina pasticillata: TZ-2; T2-6.

12
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
Fig. 10. Thin-section photomicrographs revealing the identified facies and microfacies. Tidal flat: (a–b) Quartz-rich facies with skeletal fragments (F1), (c–d) lime mudstone and
dolomudstone (F2); restricted lagoon: Bioclast imperforate foraminifera wackestone (F3) including (e) bioclast gastropod wackestone (F3-G), (f) bioclast miliolid wackestone (F3-M),
(g) bioclast orbitolinid wackestone (F3-O), (h–i) foraminifera algae wackestone/packstone (F4); less restricted lagoon: (j–k) Bioclastic alveolinid wackestone/floatstone (F5).
4.3.8. Bioclastic nummulitid wackestone/packstone (F8)
The microfacies is predominantly composed of wackestones and
packstones with a subordinate occurrence of grainstone. Small and large
benthic foraminifera are the primary constituents, with perforate forms
being more dominant than imperforate forms. F8 can be sub-divided
into two microfacies based on the faunal association and texture. The
first microfacies, F8-E, is a bioclast echinoid nummulitid packstone
(Fig. 11f), composed of Operculina sp., Nummulites sp., Rotalia sp., Assilina
sp., and echinoids, with protected marine porcelaneous foraminifera, such
as miliolids and alveolinids, present in minor quantities (<10 % of biota).
Red algae are present but in low density. The second microfacies, F8-N, is
a bioclast nummulitid wackestone (Fig. 11g), with an increased volume of
lime mud and dominant biota comprising Operculina sp., Nummulites sp.,
Sackesaria, Rotalia sp., Assilina sp., and echinoids in a wackestone texture.
Ostracods, bivalves, and brachiopods, as well as fragmented planktic fora-
minifera, are present in very low densities. F8-E has better sorting than
F8-N. Sub-rounded silt size detrital quartz grains are present in both
sub-microfacies but in very low density. The sub-microfacies show
micritization, geopetal fabric, and replacement, including hematitization
and pyritization. The fragmented tests of the identified foraminifera are
filled with crystalline calcite.
4.3.9. Bioclastic planktonic mudstone/wackestone (F9)
This microfacies is characterized by the dominance of planktonic fo-
raminifera, such as Globorotalia and Globigerina (≤10 %), alongside
13
Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
echinoids and thin-shelled bivalves (10–15 %). In some thin sections,
bioclast debris, ostracods, and Haplophragmium sp. are also present in
a common frequency (≤10 %) within a lime mud matrix (Fig. 11h). Dia-
genetic features are mainly sparry calcite cement, filled fractures, and
replacements (hematitization and pyritization).
5. Discussion
5.1. Paleoenvironmental interpretation
5.1.1. Inner platform facies and microfacies
One facies (F1) and six microfacies (F2–7), with bedding varying in
thickness from 0.4 to 1 m of massive limestone, are distinguished.
Inner platform facies and microfacies were deposited on a tidal flat, re-
stricted lagoon, less restricted lagoon, open lagoon or shoal setting.
These microfacies are arranged from proximal to distal environments
as follows.
5.1.1.1. Tidal flat
5.1.1.1.1. F1. Mixed carbonate–siliciclastic sediments composed of
carbonate bioclasts (intrabasinal) and terrigenous origin (extrabasinal)
components have been reported by several researchers (i.e. Mount,
1985; Chiarella et al., 2017; Nikfard, 2023). The occurrence of gastro-
pods, echinoids, bivalves, green algae and LBF within intervals rich in
sand-size quartz grains suggests the influence of an external source
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

Fig. 11. Thin-section photomicrographs showing the identified microfacies. Open lagoon (inner to middle platform): (a–b) Bioclastic mixed-foraminiferal wackestone/packstone (F6);
shoal setting: Bioclastic alveolinid packstone/grainstone (F7) including (c) imperforate foraminifera peloid packstone/grainstone (F7-P), (d) miliolid alveolinid grainstone (F7-A), and
(e) bioclast packstone/grainstone (F7-B); middle platform: Bioclastic nummulitid wackestone/packstone (F8) including (f) bioclast echinoid nummulitid packstone (F8-E) and (g) bioclast
nummulitid wackestone (F8-N); outer platform: (h) Bioclastic planktonic mudstone/wackestone (F9).

supplying a substantial amount of siliciclastic material that affected de-
posits in a very proximal part of carbonate-producing areas (e.g.,
Beavington-Penney et al., 2006 and references therein; Chiarella et
al., 2017). The minor presence of lime mud coupled with a high
abundanceof sparry calcite cement in the matrix and moderately to
well-sorted and sub-rounded grains indicates a depositional setting
characterized by high hydrodynamic energy, specifically wave agitation,
in a very shallow water environment (e.g., Jorry et al., 2006) in the
upper part of the intertidal zone (Omidpour et al., 2021a, 2021b).
5.1.1.1.2. F2. The fine-grained nature of this microfacies, bioturbation
(burrows), low abundance of biota, authigenic evaporates, parallel lami-
nation resulting from microbial activities and the existence of silt-sized
quartz grains indicate deposition in a low-energy environment, near the
emergent localities above the water level and perhaps in intertidal mud-
flat settings, under arid conditions within the inner ramp (Flügel, 2010;
Adabi et al., 2016). The silt-sized quartz grains may have been wind-
blown or originate from erosion of the underlying deposits of the tidal
zone in the lower part of the intertidal zone to very shallow proximal
subtidal (e.g., Kakemem et al., 2016; Fallah-Bagtash et al., 2022).
5.1.1.2. Restricted lagoon
5.1.1.2.1. F3. Microfacies F3-G with a low diversity of organisms,
presence of miliolids, abundant lime mud, and gastropods indicate
low-energynear-shore shallow subtidal to intertidal e.g.,inner ramp-
lagoon, where both temperature and salinity variations are severe
thus representing a stressful environment where gastropods dominate
(e.g., Purser and Seibold, 1973; Scholle and Ulmer-Scholle, 2003;
Kakemem et al., 2016; Jafarian et al., 2017).
Sub-microfacies F3-M and -O exhibit a similar frequency of miliolids
and orbitolinids, respectively. The foraminiferal assemblages are char-
acterized by low to moderate density and low diversity. The orbitolinids
with agglutinating walls, and miliolids with porcelaneous walls suggest
deposition in a shallow and calm water setting with limited water circu-
lation in the proximal parts of a restricted lagoon (e.g., Hottinger, 1983;
Renema and Troelstra, 2001; Nebelsick et al., 2005). The predominance
of miliolids and Orbitolites, compared to the other porcelaneous LBF, fur-
ther indicates a protected shallow platform environment with relatively
high salinity, limited water circulation and turbulence, and a soft sub-
strate where seagrass meadows dominate the euphotic zone
(Hottinger, 1983; Geel, 2000; Hottinger, 2001; Beavington-Penney
and Racey, 2004; Brandano et al., 2009a, 2009b; Pomar et al., 2014).
5.1.1.2.2. F4. The presence of green algae, and Distichoplax biserialis
accompanied with restricted marine LBF such as miliolids and
Opertorbitolites sp. scattered in an abundant lime mud matrix suggests
a low-energy warm water environment with restricted circulation rep-
resenting an inner ramp-lagoonal setting (e.g., Heckel, 1972; Romero et
al., 2002; Beavington-Penney and Racey, 2004; Scheibner and Speijer,
2008; Adabi et al., 2016; Jafarian et al., 2017). Furthermore, Distichoplax
is related to an oligo-mesotrophic nutrient regime in the lower inter-
tidal to restricted shallow subtidal domains (Sarkar, 2018).
5.1.1.3. Less restricted lagoon
5.1.1.3.1. F5. Owing to the diverse bioclasts and relatively sparse
amounts of micrite, this microfacies indicates more dynamic environ-
ments compared to previous microfacies. Fossils of this microfacies are
characterized by shallow-water benthic foraminifera, specially
Orbitolites sp., alveolinids, miliolids, and rotaliids. The miliolids and
rotaliids (both large and small) can be found in deep lagoonal settings
from hypersaline to less restricted conditions (BouDagher-Fadel,
2008) with turbulent water at water depths of 0 to 40 m (Geel, 2000).
The alveolinids associated with miliolids, orbitolitids and the occurrence
of micritized skeletal fragments in the micritic texture, reflect a
protected shallow water inner ramp-lagoonal setting where microbial
activity is relatively abundant (Wray, 1977; Hottinger, 1983; Tucker

14
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
and Wright, 1990; Luterbacher, 1998; Rasser et al., 2005; Tomás et al.,
2016). According to Boudaugher-Fadel (2018), the Alveolina and their
co-occurrence with large miliolids indicate deposition in a back-shoal
setting.
5.1.1.4. Open lagoon
5.1.1.4.1. F6. The extensive micritization of bioclasts, bioturbation,
and rich faunal assemblages suggest that deposition of this microfacies
occurred close to the fair-weather wave base (FWWB) under almost
normal marine salinity, with minimal restriction from open marine wa-
ters. However, storm events may have had some impact on the close to
normal water condition (Flügel, 2010). We interpret this microfacies as
deposited in the distal inner ramp (open lagoon) and to a lesser extent
in a proximal middle ramp setting.
5.1.1.5. Shoal setting
5.1.1.5.1. F7. The sub-microfacies F7-P, with a packstone/grainstone
texture, extensive micritization, and high density of peloids, along
with good sorting and mostly small to medium sand size allochems,
suggests a domain close to the protected platform and under the influ-
ence of waves that have washed away the lime mud. This has facilitated
primary marine cementation in a leeward shoal environment
(Hottinger, 1983; Rasser et al., 2005).
In the sub-microfacies F7-A, the presence of medium to coarse sand
size allochems, good sorting, and primary rim-cement around the
grains, indicates continuous wave action in a high energy central shoal
environment close to the normal waters of open marine, above the
fair-weather wave base (Boudaugher-Fadel, 2018; Kakemem et al.,
2016, 2021, 2023).
The sub-microfacies F7-B displays a high density of normal marine
foraminifera with a perforate wall, along with alveolinids and protected
marine biota. It has a grain-dominated texture and evidence of fair-
weather wave action, suggesting a dynamic environment with high
wave energy in a seaward carbonate shoal setting above the fair-
weather wave base and within the euphotic zone (Harris et al., 1997;
Pomar, 2001; Brandano and Corda, 2002; Pomar et al., 2004;
Boudagher-Fadel and Lokier, 2005; Bassi et al., 2009; Brandano et al.,
2009a, 2009b; Nebelsick et al., 2013; Adabi et al., 2016).
5.1.2. Middle platform microfacies
The middle platform microfacies association is divided into two
microfacies based on its faunal association and texture. The outcrop
beds have a thickness ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 m and are composed of fo-
raminifera and detectable nummulitids, which are present in a micritic
matrix.
5.1.2.1.1. F8. Nummulites have been documented from a wide range
of open marine environments, such as the Seeb Fm. in Oman (Racey,
1994), the Jdeir Fm. offshore Libya (Anketell and Mriheel, 2000), and
the El Garia Fm. in Tunisia (Racey, 2001), indicating a mid-ramp setting.
They have also been described from sandy near-shore deposits of the
southern Tethys (Herb, 1988) and Eocene inner shoal ramps (Sinclair
et al., 1998). Operculina is common at the base of the photic zone, at
water depths of 30 to 130 m (e.g., Hohenegger, 2000), and reaches its
highest frequency over a specific depth range of 80 to 100 m
(Beavington-Penney and Racey, 2004). They live on soft carbonate sub-
strate in low energy water of open marine environments with medium
light conditions in the oligophotic zone below the FWWB and above the
storm wave base (SWB; Gilham and Bristow, 1998; Beavington-Penney
and Racey, 2004). Consequently, it is inferred that Operculina occurs in a
broader environmental range than other nummulitids (BouDaugher-
Fadel, 2018). Sinclair etal. (1998) reported Operculina as deposited
in a lower mid-ramp environment below the FWWB. Based on the
density of normal marine benthic foraminifera (Operculina, Assilina,
Nummulites) as well as the abundance of mechanical abrasion-
resistant biota (echinoids) associated with protected marine biota
15
Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
(miliolids and alveolinids), the F8 microfacies are deposited within the
base of the photic zone to the oligophotic zone of a mid-ramp domain
(e.g., Pomar, 2001; Brandano et al., 2009a, 2009b; Pomar et al., 2014;
Kakemem et al., 2016). The accumulation occurred through the produc-
tion of in situ open marine allochems and the transport of protected ma-
rine biota of the inner platform by waves and currents, with their
density decreasing from the proximal (represented by F8-E) to the dis-
tal middle platform (represented by F8-N).
5.1.3. Outer platform
The rock bodies representing the outer platform are not common in
both studied successions of the Taleh Zang Fm. The associated
microfacies is identified based on the low to common frequency of
planktonic allochems scattered in a micritic texture. Beds are typically
a minimum of 0.1 to 0.2 m thick.
5.1.3.1.1. F9. Planktic foraminifers are commonly found in recent
marine environments, such as the Persian Gulf, where they can be
observed up to a depth of 100 m at the Strait of Hormuz gateway
(Hughes Clarke and Keij, 1973). They have also been reported in sig-
nificant amounts at depths exceeding 200 m in the Gulf of Mexico
(Hunter, 1976). The quantity of planktonic foraminifera is controlled
by two factors: distance from the shoreline and water depth (Van der
Zwaan et al., 1990).
The high concentration of lime mud in the matrix and the domi-
nance of planktonic foraminifera as the major biotic constituents indi-
cate that the sedimentation of F9 occurred in the calm waters of the
offshore open marine (outer platform) domain below the SWB (Geel,
2000). Such environments are characterized by low hydrodynamic en-
ergy and normal salinity below the photic zone (>200 m) but above
the calcite compensation depth (Romero et al., 2002; Cosovic et al.,
2004; Brigaud et al., 2009; Flügel, 2010).
5.2. Depositional model
The Taleh Zang Formation in the Amiran Basin is predominantly
composed of LBF, with minor amounts of green algae, while corals are
either absent or rare. The skeletal components suggest a gradual in-
crease in water depth, starting from the euphotic zone, as indicated by
organisms such as orbitolitids and alveolinids, and progressing to the
oligophotic large and flat nummulitids, as well as photic-independent
biota such as echinoids and ostracods. There is no evidence of a signifi-
cant separation on the slope, as there are no wave-resistant coral frame-
works, calciturbidites, slump and slide structures, oncoids, or aggregate
grains that indicate rimmed shelf settings.
Vertical microfacies variations suggest that during a relative sea-
level fall, the shallow-ramp microfacies belts shifted basinward, with
detrital grains transported into the basin by river-fed tidal channels.
There is no evidence of subaerial exposure, nor are there any consider-
able evaporites, or resedimented lowstand deposits, suggesting a low
slope angle for the depositional carbonate ramp setting.
Carbonate ramps typically develop in sedimentary basins with gentle
gradients that cover vast areas. The subsidence in these areas is flexural,
occurring in foreland basins and along the distal passive margins of low
latitudes (e.g., Burchette and Wright, 1992; Dorobek, 1995; Bosence,
2005).
The presence of a carbonate ramp is primarily governed by the initial
isolation of this locality from significant siliciclastic sediment supply
within a broad geographical extent in the Amiran Basin. The Amiran
Foreland Basin, spanning up to 550 km2 in length and 140 km2 in
width, is a constituent of a passive continental margin predominantly
consisting of carbonate units during the Cenozoic era. The basin has un-
dergone stable, gradual, and persistent subsidence.
The deposits in the study area are mainly characterized by carbonate
mud, fine-grained biota in shallow water settings, and coarse-grained
skeletal components in shallow water shoal settings which passed
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

seaward into fine-grained carbonate products in mid- and outer-ramp
settings. According to Pomar (2001), mud-dominatedfine-grained car-
bonate production in a low-angle depositional profile in euphotic,
oligophotic, and aphotic zones forms homoclinal ramps.
The evidence clearly indicates that the carbonate succession in this
study was deposited on a homoclinal ramp without a distinct break in
slope for the deposition of sediments of the Taleh Zang Formation at
the Amiran Basin (Fig. 12).
5.3. Trending
Intervals that include shallowing and deepening trends were deter-
mined based on petrographic studies that led to identifying nine sedimen-
tary facies and microfacies, and associated depositional environments
coupled with field observations, which include the thinning and thicken-
ing of sedimentary layers (see Fig. 13). In the studied sections, there are
no indications of subaerial exposure, thus the boundaries (Bs) between
the intervals that include a shallowing and a deepening trend are placed
at the top of the most proximal facies and microfacies superseded by
shallowing trends. Surfaces that separate the trends in an interval are
placed at the most distal microfacies.
The Taleh Zang Formation is composed of three intervals (see Fig. 5
for field photographs). The interval boundaries are marked by progres-
sive transitions in the most proximal basin setting, as evidenced by the
presence of massive continental deposits such as conglomerates and/or
the highest density of siliciclastic deposits at the base and top of the
Taleh Zang Formation. Transitional interface surfaces as Bs are also de-
fined based on abrupt changes in microfacies and/or bathymetry further
seaward. The defined intervals are deepening–shallowing trends,
consisting of a deepening trend (DT) characterized by retrogradational
microfacies such as lagoonal and mid-to-outer ramp microfacies, a max-
imum transgression characterized by a shallowing trend (ST) with pro-
gradational microfacies such as shoal, lagoonal, and tidal flat
microfacies, and the highest flood stage that is located at the most
basinward microfacies and separates the basal DT from the overlying
ST (Fig. 13).

Mean sea level

t
fla

FWWB Euphotic zone

al
Tid

Mesophotic zone
Riv
er SWB
Oligophotic
zone

Lagoon
l
oa
Sh
Seaward
Leeward

SW NE
Proximal Distal
Tidal flat Proximal Lagoon Distal
Shoal Middle ramp Outer ramp
Inner ramp
Homoclinal ramp
F1 F4 F8
F2 F5 F7 F9
F3 F6

Quartz
Valvulinid
Soritidae Rare
Green algea Common
Rotaliid Abundant
Peloid
Miliolids
Alveolinid
Red algae
Nummulitid

Echinoid
Mollusca
Planktonic foraminifera

Components Algae Echinoid Benthic foraminifera Planctonic foraminifera Molluscan Miliolid Alveolinid
Nummulitid Soritidae Peloid Detrital quartz

Fig. 12. Proposed depositional model for the Taleh Zang Fm. according to the identified facies and microfacies. The distribution of the identified Alveolinidae and Soritidae in the paleo-
environments is shown in the model.

16
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

The TZ-1 section appears to represent a more distal section than TZ- outer ramp deposits. Despite the differences in section thickness,
2 with a greater thickness, consisting of relatively deep-water outer the identified intervals exhibit identical thickness variations from the
ramp microfacies, while the TZ-2 section is an example of a more prox- base to the top of the sections (Fig. 13), which can be described as
imal section dominated by shallower microfacies and relatively fewer follows.

Fig. 13. Vertical log of the TZ-1 (left) and TZ-2 (right) sections showing lithology, facies and microfacies associations, sedimentary environments and identified intervals at Sultan Anti-
cline. In the charts, microfacies associations, numbered 1–9, refer to the microfacies codes. SB: sequence boundary, HST: highstand systems tract, TST: transgressive systems tract, MFS:
maximum flooding surface.

17
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
Fig. 13 (continued).
5.3.1. Interval-1
The basal interval-1 in both sections indicates the shift from the
underlying siliciclastic sediments of the Amiran Formation to the
carbonates of the Taleh Zang Formation. This transition is character-
ized by the most leeward microfacies (F1) in TZ-1 and lagoonal
microfacies in TZ-2, which represents a deepening–shallowing
trend.
18
Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
The DT in both sections comprises mainly thin to medium bedded
limestones exhibiting a general retrogradational and aggradational
microfacies pattern, which includes major lagoonal (F5–6) and shoal
microfacies (F7) in TZ-1, and lagoonal microfacies (F5–6) in TZ-2,
along with minor middle-ramp microfacies in both sections. With a
deepening-upward trend, the density and diversity of organisms in-
crease from early to late DT. The highest flood stage is identified by
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
the most seaward microfacies (F9) deposited at the relatively deep
marine outer-ramp adjacent and below the storm-wave-base (SWB)
at TZ-1, and the middle ramp microfacies (F8) at TZ-2.
The ST in both sections is characterized by a rapid progradational
stacking pattern from open marine microfacies (F8–9) toward the la-
goonal (F2; at TZ-1) and mixed, mainly thick-bedded, carbonate–
siliciclastic microfacies (F1; at TZ-1). The rapid shallowing-upward
trend of the ST at both sections is accompanied by a decrease in
biodiversity and -density.
5.3.2. Interval-2
The boundary between interval-1 and interval-2 at both sections is
defined by the top of F1, which was deposited in close proximity to a
carbonate-producing environment and/or a transition zone over a
short distance on the leeward inner-ramp from siliciclastic to carbon-
ates. This characteristic can be used to demonstrate the transition
boundary as a progressive transitional surface in both sections.
The DT in both sections mainly comprises of lagoonal microfacies
with a high density of hyaline LBF. The depositional trend exhibits a
rapid retrogradational stacking pattern, with TZ-1 consisting of thick
beds of massive limestone and dolomitic limestone and TZ-2 consisting
of thin to medium bedded limestone. The transition from the deepening
to shallowing portion as the highest flood stage at TZ-2 is characterized
by the development of middle-ramp microfacies (F8), which indicates
the most significant microfacies retrogradation in interval-2. Shoal
microfacies (F7) that exhibit the most density and diversity of biota in
TZ-1 define this surface.
The ST in both sections mainly comprises major thick bedded lime-
stone composed of restricted to very restricted marine lagoonal
microfacies. It exhibits a rapid progradational stacking pattern, indicat-
ing a rapid shallowing-upward trend. The biodiversity and density de-
crease from early to late RST.
5.3.3. Interval-3
In both sections, the basal transition surface of interval-3 marks a
progressive transitional surface. In TZ-1, the transition boundary is lo-
cated at the top of the peritidal microfacies (F2), showing evidence of fe-
nestral fabric but no clear subaerial exposure marks. In TZ-2, the
boundary is found at the top of the quartz-rich skeletal limestone facies
(F1), where a high density of siliciclastic supply is present in a mixing
zone adjacent to the pure carbonate environment.
The DT package in both sections displays a retrogradational stacking
pattern, with a higher aggradational tendency at TZ-1 than at TZ-2. Biodi-
versity and frequency generally increase from early to late DT, and the
highest flood stage at both sections is represented by open marine
microfacies with the highest density of normal marine biota, such as
Nummulites sp., Assilina sp., Echinoderms, and planktic foraminifera (F9).
Despite the gradual progradational stacking pattern of the ST ob-
served in both sections, it exhibits a chaotic pattern, particularly in TZ-
1; this can be attributed to its shallow environment with low bathyme-
try. The ST comprises predominantly shoal and distal lagoon microfacies
during the early ST, with a gradual increase in the frequency of proximal
lagoon and tidal flat facies and microfacies during the late ST. The bio-
density and diversity show a gradual decrease from early to late ST,
which is more pronounced in TZ-1. In both sections, the ST is primarily
composed of thin to medium bedded limestone during the early ST
transitioning to predominantly medium to thick bedded limestone in
the late ST. The end of the ST in TZ-1 is characterized by a high supply
of siliciclastic material identified as F1 in the mixing zone of the tidal en-
vironment and severe dolomitization in TZ-2 due to sea level regression,
which influences the underlying carbonates with meteoric waters. The
final interval boundary at the top of the Taleh Zang succession is marked
by a shift from the carbonates of the Taleh Zang Formation to the silicic-
lastic conglomerate of the Kashkan Formation in both sections.
On a larger scale, based on the stratigraphic cross-section of the
Amiran Basin in a NE–SW trend, as modified by James and Wynd
19
Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
(1965), both sections are located in the proximal settings of the basin
and show a general shallowing-upward trend in the defined intervals
at both sections.
The deepening–shallowing intervals observed in the Taleh Zang
were influenced by both tectonic and uplift, as well as global sea level
changes. The correlation of global sea level changes with the Arabian
Plate decreases from the southwest (Saudi Arabia) toward the northeast
(i.e.,Zagros Basin). This trend indicates a stronger influence of local tec-
tonics (Alavi, 2007; Saura et al., 2015; Pirouz et al., 2016) which deter-
mine the rate and/or location of subsidence and uplift. While the
deepening and shallowing trends in the Amiran Basin were indeed af-
fected by eustatic sea level changes, they do not align completely with
the global sea level curve of Haq etal. (1988). Instead, they demonstrate
a better correlation with local and regional sea level changes on the Ara-
bian Platform (Haq and Al-Qahtani, 2005) (see Fig. 14). This confirms
the impact of regional and local tectonic activity, leading to a disorderly
stacking pattern of the recognized intervals and notable variation in
thickness despite their close proximity (Fig. 14). These findings align
with the conclusions drawn by Pirouz etal. (2016), who examined the
factors influencing the sequence stratigraphic architecture of the
Neogene ZFB in Iran and came up with similar conclusions.
Ultimately, it can be concluded that during deposition of the Taleh
Zang Formation, the foreland basin was undergoing active tectonism re-
lated to crustal shortening and deformation due to the closure of the
Neotethys Ocean (e.g., Saura et al., 2015). Hence, both global sea level
cycles and regional/local tectonic events contributed to generating or
eliminating the basin's accommodation space at different rates, result-
ing in a complex architecture of stratigraphic sequences.
5.4. Climatic events: coral and LBF distribution
Coral boundstone microfacies associated with coralline red algae are
identified in a few outcrops of the late Thanetian age in the Lurestan
zone by Bagherpour and Vaziri (2012) and Shalalvand etal. (2022), as in-
dividual fragments in the TZ-1 and TZ-2, but are completely absence in
more southern successions of the Taleh Zang Fm. studied by Nikfard
(2023). During the Thanetian both the frequency and diversity of LBF
assemblages were lower than in the Ypresian part of the Taleh Zang
succession. Warmhouse conditions of pre-PETM (Zachos et al., 2008;
Westerhold et al., 2020) are associated with shallow marine settings
that witness the co-occurrence of LBF, corals, and symbiotic algae that
likely competed for trophic resources (Hallock, 2000; Scheibner and
Speijer, 2008; Sarkar, 2017; Martín-Martín et al., 2021; Tosquella et al.,
2022).
In contrast, the Ypresian shallow-water facies of the Zagros Basin
lack corals, as observed in Adabi etal. (2008), Bagherpour and Vaziri
(2012), Shalalvand etal. (2022), Nikfard (2023), and in this study. The
absence of corals in this region, located around the central Tethys, is
characteristic of the hothouse conditions following the PETM and the
Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. Coral growth still occurred in the
form of wave-resistant reef colonies in certain Tethyan locations, such
as SESpain and NWMorocco (about 30°N paleolatitude; Martín-Martín
et al., 2020, 2021, 2023; Tosquella et al., 2022) and the Pyrenean plat-
form (38°N paleolatitude; Scheibner and Speijer, 2008), due to more
favorable conditions for their development at higher latitudes. Con-
versely, corals were completely absent or reported as individuals with
rare frequency at lower latitudes such as in Iran (around 20°N
paleolatitude; Adabi et al., 2008; Bagherpour and Vaziri, 2012;
Nikfard, 2023), Oman (12°N paleolatitude; Racz, 1979; Nolan et al.,
1990), and Tibet (5°N paleolatitude; e.g., Wan et al., 2002).
During the Ypresian, characterized by elevated temperatures and
high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, associated changes in ocean
circulation, trophic regimes, and ocean alkalinity led to the decline
and demise of coral reefs with varying intensity based on paleolatitude,
which is more documented in the center/western Tethyan realm
(below 30° N) including this study in SWIran and more center/eastern
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al. Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477

Fig. 14. Regional cross-section of outcrops and near-surface successions showing a correlation between 4th-order sequences, deepening–shallowing intervals and global and regional sea
level changes. (Question marks were inserted where adequate information was not available in the original papers.) The cross-section encompasses the Taleh Zang Formation in the
Sultan Anticline (this study), its type-section at the Langar Anticline (Adabi et al., 2008), Khush-Ab anticline (Nikfard, 2023), a near-surface equivalent succession in Qatar (Umm Er
Radhuma Formation; Rivers etal. (2019)), the global sea level changes of Haq etal. (1988), and the Arabian platform sea level changes and its corresponding 4th-order sequences
(Haq and Al-Qahtani, 2005).

20
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
Tethyan realm localities, such as Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, Qatar, Somalia, and
India (see Martín-Martín et al., 2020, 2023; Tosquella et al., 2022;
Scheibner and Speijer, 2008; Sarkar et al., 2022 and references therein).
In contrast, the tropical predominance of LBF at that time is interpreted
as a better adaptation of these organisms to elevated ocean tempera-
tures, and/or associated environmental conditions of this hothouse cli-
mate mode (Hallock, 2000; Zachos et al., 2005; Scheibner and Speijer,
2008; Pomar et al., 2017). Although the density and diversity patterns
of the LBF are influenced by a complex set of ecological conditions, in-
cluding temperature, salinity, nutrients, light, depth, hydrodynamic en-
ergy, and substrate, the lower diversification of this group in most of the
eastern Tethys compared to most of the western Tethys suggests that
temperature was the most prominent factor that favored their growth
(Hallock, 2000; Cosovic et al., 2004; Kakemem et al., 2016; Scheibner
and Speijer, 2008; Pomar et al., 2017). Despite the variations in their
paleo-latitudinal locations, characterized by different temperature re-
gimes and pCO2 concentrations, a consistent transition from coralgal to
LBF/coralgal assemblages during the Thanetian, followed by a subsequent
shift to LBF-dominated assemblages during the onset of PETM, can be ob-
served and traced across diverse localities in the Tethyan realm. These lo-
calities encompass a wide range of paleolatitudes, including low (0°–20°),
intermediate (20°–30°), and middle paleolatitudes (above 30°) (see Fig.
2) (see Scheibner and Speijer, 2008; Martín-Martín et al., 2020, 2021,
2023; Sarkar et al., 2022; Tosquella et al., 2022).
5.5. LBF assemblage biodiversity
As stated above, the Ypresian age (SBZs 5–7) of the Taleh Zang sections
places them at a potentially important interval of LBF evolution and biodi-
versity. Larger benthic foraminifera underwent a substantial turnover
event around the Paleocene/Eocene boundary (e.g., Scheibner and
Speijer, 2008; Scheibner et al., 2005; Zhang et al., 2013; Beasley et al.,
2021) with a rapid diversification in the early Eocene (Hottinger, 1998;
Scheibner and Speijer, 2008). Areas of exceptionally high shallow marine
(including LBF) biodiversity are known as biodiversity hotspots and can
be tracked through the Cenozoic. During the Eocene, high biodiversity
was centered about the Western Tethyan hotspot which peaked in the
middle to late Eocene with over 20 genera (Yasuhara et al., 2022). From
the late Eocene through to the Oligocene, as the western Tethyan hotspot
declined, the Arabian Peninsula region became a new hotspot of biodiver-
sity (Renema et al., 2008; Yasuhara et al., 2022). The Taleh Zang sections
and Iran more broadly, occupy a region toward the eastern edge of the
central/western Tethyan hotspot, and opposite the Arabian Peninsula
hotspot in a unique intermediate position, making it a potentially impor-
tant region for understanding the development and extent of the hotspot
regions. The lower Eocene Taleh Zang section contains a total of 11–13
genera. The assemblage of the Taleh Zang sections is typical of the lower
Eocene period, characterized by the presence of alveolinids and rotaliids,
such as Sakesaria, which were widespread throughout the western Tethys
region (Benedetti and Papazzoni, 2022). Unfortunately, lower Eocene data
on biodiversity or assemblage richness is relatively patchy, and compari-
son can be made with only a few studies. Beasley etal. (2021) record 11
genera and 16 species from the UAE in the earliest Eocene, ‘SBZ 5+’ and
noted several variations in taxon ranges compared with previous publica-
tions, highlighting the need for more studies in regions with less well-
defined biota, including Iran. The assemblage contained a number of
rotaliid foraminifera, including Sakesaria, Miscellanea and Nummulites,
but unlike the Taleh Zang material completely lacked Alveolina. Within
northeastern India approximately 12 genera were identified in the SBZ 5
of the Lakadong limestone, immediately following the Paleocene–Eocene
Thermal Maximum (Sarkar et al., 2022). The Lakadong limestone assem-
blage primarily consists of glomalveolinids, miscellanaeids, rotaliids and
nummulitids, alongside a small number of Alveolina. The variation in as-
semblage composition between the regions may be facies related. Younger
Iranian assemblages in the Zagros Basin and Alborz regions are also known
to be rich in alveolinids, alongside nummulitids (e.g., Adabi et al., 2008;
21
Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
Hadi et al., 2019). Alternatively, it may indicate a slightly younger age
compared to the Beasley etal. (2021) and Sarkar etal. (2022), as Alveolina
increased in diversity and abundance through the Eocene (e.g.,
Hottinger, 1974; Serra-Kiel et al., 1998).
In the Middle Eocene, Renema etal. (2008) show a generic richness
of 5–8 in the Arabian Peninsula and 9–12 in the western Tethys hotspot,
indicating that Taleh Zang has high enough generic richness to have
been considered part of the Eocene Tethyan hotspot. However, the re-
cent update by Yasuhara etal. (2022) records >20 genera in the middle
to late Eocene of the Western Tethys, much higher than what we find in
the Taleh Zang.
Despite the difference in components, the generic richness in the
Taleh Zang is comparable to the earliest Eocene sites in UAE and India,
which in turn have similar values to those recorded for the Middle Eo-
cene in Renema etal. (2008). This could perhaps suggest that the
onset of the Tethyan biodiversity hotspots occurred earlier than the
middle Eocene, though this assertion would require the analysis of
many more records to better understand biodiversity dynamics of this
group in this important time interval.
When compared to other regions in the Tethyan realm, the Taleh Zang
succession falls approximately within the third platform stage of sedi-
mentation patterns as defined by Scheibner and Speijer (2008, updated
in Sarkar et al., 2022) as a prominent larger foraminiferal platform at
the onset of Eocene. This particular stage, covering SBZs 5–6 according
to the biozonation by Martín-Martín etal. (2020), is characterized by the
prevalence of large benthic foraminifera (LBF) as the primary carbonate
organisms across the Tethyan region. In contrast, the first stage is domi-
nated by corals, while the second stage exhibits coralgal–LBF faunal as-
semblages. It should be noted that the age of the Taleh Zang section has
been refined to SBZs 5–7, which suggests that it may be slightly younger
than the sections analyzed in the study conducted by Scheibner and
Speijer (2008). Furthermore, it is possible that the Taleh Zang section is
somewhat younger than the third stage defined by Pomar etal. (2017),
which occurs prior to the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO). This in-
terpretation is supported by the presence of a well-establishedLBF assem-
blage already observed in the Taleh Zang sections.
The dominance of LBF during the early Eocene has been extensively
documented in multiple areas of the Tethyan realm from low (5°S–0°)
to middle (above 30°) but more prevalent below intermediate
paleolatitudes (below 30°), including north Calcareous Alps (43°N,
Tragelehn, 1996), Pyrenees (Spain) (38°N, Scheibner et al., 2007;
Martín-Martín et al., 2020), Mesomediterranean Microplate (South
Spain) (35°N, Tosquella et al., 2022), north Morocco (30°N, Martín-
Martín et al., 2023), Turkey (30°N, Sirel, 1998), Tunisia (26°N, Stassen
et al., 2012), Egypt (20°N, Scheibner and Speijer, 2009), SW Iran (18°N,
Bagherpour and Vaziri, 2012; Nikfard, 2023), Qatar (12°N, Rivers et al.,
2019), Tibet (5°N, Zhang et al., 2020), NW Somalia (0°, Carbone et al.,
1993), and NE India (5°S, Sarkar, 2015; Sarkar et al., 2022). Throughout
the early Eocene of the Tethyan region, the association of Alveolina,
Nummulites, and Orbitolites is commonly observed (see Tragelehn, 1996;
Serra-Kiel et al., 1998; Scheibner et al., 2007; Scheibner and Speijer,
2008; Bagherpour and Vaziri, 2012; Sarkar, 2015; Martín-Martín et al.,
2020, 2023; Nikfard, 2023; Tosquella et al., 2022).
The presence of Sakesaria and other rotaliid LBF within the Taleh
Zang succession additionally indicates an affinity with the ‘Lockhartia
Sea’ assemblage, as described by Hottinger (2014), which is distributed
widely across the central-eastern Tethys (Hallock, 2000; Zachos et al.,
2005; Scheibner and Speijer, 2008; Zachos et al., 2008; Hottinger,
2014; Pomar et al., 2017; Martín-Martín et al., 2020, 2023; Coletti et
al., 2022; Tosquella et al., 2022).
6. Conclusions
(1) The Taleh Zang Formation consists mainly of limestone and
shows distinct stratification with lack of sedimentary structures
and trace fossils, except for bioturbation. It exhibits both
U. Kakemem, L.J. Cotton, N. Hadavand-Khani et al.
shallowing and deepening trends with grain sizes varying from
lutite to arenite and rudite. Five lithofacies are identified, charac-
terized by different rock types, allochems, bedding, and
weathering profiles. These include (LF1) siliciclastic sandy lime-
stone with varying grain sizes and fossils, (LF2) thin-bedded
limestone with molluscan, alveolinids, and bioturbation, (LF3)
medium-bedded limestone with bivalve fragments, bioturba-
tion, and diverse LBF, (LF4) escarpment limestone with scattered
mollusks and alveolinids, and (LF5) dolomitized limestone with
thick beds and vuggy pores.
(2) The carbonate succession of the Taleh Zang Fm. is characterized
by tropical–subtropical biota that mainly consist of larger benthic
foraminifera (LBF). The LBF assemblage comprises numerous
species of Alveolina along with a variety of foraminiferal genera
such as Nummulites, Rotalia, Sackesaria, Assilina, Operculina, and
Glomalveolina. Additionally, smaller benthic foraminifera, calcar-
eous algae, gastropods, echinoids, and bivalves are also detected
as additional carbonate microfacies components. The foraminifer
biostratigraphy of the LBF-dominated limestones of the Taleh
Zang Fm. shows that they were deposited during the late
Thanetian–early Ypresian (SBZs 5–7).
(3) Nine facies and microfacies from the most proximal to the distal
part of a carbonate platform (adjacent to and below the SWB)
were identified, with a prevalence of large benthic foraminifera
(LBF) and an absence of coral reef assemblages.
(4) According to the insight the identified facies and microfacies pro-
vide into the depositional settings, energy levels, and faunal com-
position of the different paleoenvironments within the Taleh
Zang Formation, three main environments are interpreted in-
cluding the inner platform (tidal flat, restricted lagoon, semi-
restricted lagoon, open lagoon, and bioclastic shoal settings)
(F1–F7), middle platform (F8), and outer platform (F9).
(5) The proposed conceptual depositional model is a homoclinal
ramp system, primarily composed of LBF with minimal coral
presence. The vertical microfacies variations indicate a relative
sea-level fall, with shifting shallow-ramp microfacies basinward.
There is no evidence of subaerial exposure or significant
lowstand deposits such as evaporites, and resedimentation, sug-
gesting a low slope angle for the carbonate ramp setting. The
model is also supported by gradual microfacies changes, the
presence of autochthonous biota and LBF, and predominance of
mud in various microfacies. Additionally, the absence of organic
build-ups, calciturbidite, slump and slide structure, and oncoid/
aggregate grains confirms continuity of all slope environments
without a distinct break.
(6) Based on petrographic studies, field observations, and microfacies/
bathymetric shifts, the Taleh Zang Formation is divided into three
intervals representing deepening and shallowing trends. Bound-
aries between intervals are placed at the top of the most proximal
facies superseded by shallowing trends. These intervals exhibit
progressive transitions in the basin setting, with evidence of conti-
nental deposits at the base and top. Despite the close proximity of
the studied sections, TZ-1 is much thicker than TZ-2 due to uplift
and different rates of subsidence linked to the enhancing influence
of local and regional tectonic activities related to the Arabo-Eurasia
collision along with global sea level changes.
(7) The Ypresian age of the Taleh Zang sections is significant for larger
benthic foraminifera evolution and biodiversity. Positioned be-
tween the Western Tethyan and Arabian Peninsula hotspots,
they offer insights into hotspot regions. The lower Eocene Taleh
Zang exhibits 11–13 genera, similar to early Eocene sites in the
UAE and India, suggesting early Tethyan biodiversity hotspots.
Falling within the third platform stage, it shows abundant larger
benthic foraminifera. The presence of Sakesaria and other rotaliids
indicates an affinity with the Lockhartia sea assemblage in the
central-eastern Tethys.
22
Sedimentary Geology 455 (2023) 106477
(8) Coral boundstone microfacies are identified in late Thanetian out-
crops of the Lurestan zone, while the early Ypresian shallow-water
facies lack corals in the Zagros Basin. The absence of corals in this
region is characteristic of hothouse conditions following the
PETM and the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. During the
Ypresian, coral reefs declined due to elevated temperatures and
changes in ocean circulation. In contrast, the prevalence of larger
benthic foraminifera (LBF) suggests their adaptation to the hot-
house climate. The transition from LBF/coralgal to LBF assemblages
can be observed across the Tethyan realm despite their different
paleolatitudes confirming the influence of hothouse condition.
Data availability
Data will be made available on request.
Declaration of competing interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial
interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influ-
ence the work reported in this paper.
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