Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Danian sediments and the K/Pg boundary determination using calcareous nannofossil from Sulaimani area, Kurdistan Region/Iraq

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Carbonates and Evaporites Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The nature of the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K/Pg) boundary in the Kurdistan region of northeastern Iraq is still under debate. Most studies have considered the Danian sediments to be mostly missing. Another hypothesis suggests that a conglomerate represents the contact between the Cretaceous and Paleogene. We examined the succession of the Deramazan and Chinarok sections in Sulaimani area to examine calcareous nannofossil assemblages and the biostratigraphy around the boundary and the Danian sediments; previously, the calcareous nannofossil has not been applied to this sequence. The rock strata in the study sections are characterized by alternations of sandstone, siltstone, shale and marlstone within the Tanjero Formation (late Campanian–Maastrichtian) and the overlying Kolosh Formation (Paleocene–early Eocene). The current study shows that deposition across the boundary in both sections was continuous with no discernible break or pause in sedimentation; it is biostratigraphically delineated by the first occurrences of Biantholithus sparsus, Cruciplacolithus spp. and Coccolithus pelagicus plus an acme of Thoracosphaera operculata of biozone NP1 that indicates no hiatus. The successions in both sections also highlight the occurrence of the early Danian sequence at the bottom of the Kolosh Formation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Plate 1
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Plate 3
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdel-Kareem MR (1986) Planktonic foraminifera and stratigraphy of the Tanjero Formation (Maastrichtian), Northeastern Iraq. J Micropaleontol 32(3):215–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afghah M, Farhoudi G (2012) Boundary between upper cretaceous and lower paleocene in the zagros mountain ranges of southwestern Iran. Acta Geol Sin. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-6724.2012.00663.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Qayim BA (1994) Evolution of flysch basin along the northeastern margin of the Arabian plate. 3rd conference on the geology of the Middle East (Geocome III), pp 347–373

  • Al-Qayim BA, Omar A, Koyi H (2012) Tectonostratigraphy overview of the Zagros Suture Zone, Kurdistan Region, Northeast Iraq. Geoarabia/Gulf Petrolink, Bahrain 17(4):109–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Qayim BA, Kharajiany SO, Wise SW, (2020) Biostratigraphic analysis of the K/Pg boundary using calcareous nannofossils from the Sulaimani area of the Kurdistan region, Iraq. Kuwait J Sci

  • Bellen R, Van Dunnington H, Wetzel R, Morton D (1959) Lexique Stratigraphique, Int. Asie, Iraq 3c, 10a, p 333

  • Bown P (1998) Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, 1st edn. Chapman and Hill, Durango, p 314

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Brlek M, Korbar T, Košir A, Glumac B, Grizelj A, Otoničar B (2014) Discontinuity surfaces in Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene carbonates of central Dalmatia (Croatia): glossifungites ichnofacies, biogenic calcretes, and stratigraphic implications. Facies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-013-0378-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buday T (1980) Regional Geology of Iraq. In: I.I.M Kassab, S.Z. Jassim (Eds) Stratigraphy. D. G. Geological Surveys and Mining Investigation Publications, p 445

  • Buday T, Jassim S (1987) Regional geology of Iraq: tectonism, magmatism and metamorphism. State Establish Geol Surveys Min Investig 2:352

    Google Scholar 

  • Consorti L, Köroğlu F (2019) Maastrichtian-Paleocene larger Foraminifera biostratigraphy and facies of the Şahinkaya Member (NE Sakarya Zone, Turkey): insights into the Eastern Pontides arc sedimentary cover. J Asian Earth Sci 183:103965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2019.103965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • di Carlo M, Accordi G, Carbone F, Johannes Pignatti J (2010) Biostratigraphic analysis of Paleogene lowstand wedge conglomerates of a tectonically active platform margin (Zakynthos Islands, Greece). J Mediterranean Earth Sci 2:31–92. https://doi.org/10.3304/JMES.2010.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esmeray-Senlet S, Altiner S, Altiner D, Miller K (2015) Planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, microfacies analysis and sequence stratigraphy across the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary in the Haymana Basin, Central Anatolia, Turkey. J Sediment Res 85:489–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ezampanah Y, Scopelliti G, Sadeghi A, Jamali A, Yazdi-Moghadam M, Shadan H (2018) Biostratigraphy and isotope stratigraphy of upper Maastrichtian-Danian marine deposits of the Kopet-Dagh Basin, northeast Iran. Cretaceous Res 90:97–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farouk S, Marzouk A, Ahmad F (2014) The cretaceous/paleogene boundary in Jordan. J Asian Earth Sci 94:113–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hippolyte J, Müller C, Sangu E, Kaymakci N (2015) Stratigraphic comparisons along the Pontides (Turkey) based on new nannoplankton age determinations in the Eastern Pontides: geodynamic implications. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 428:323–358. https://doi.org/10.1144/SP428.9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jassim S, Goff J (2006) Geology of Iraq. Brno, Dolin, Prague and Moravian Museum, p 341

    Google Scholar 

  • Karim K (2004) Basin analysis of Tanjero Formation in Sulaimaniya area, NE-Iraq. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of Sulaimani, p 135

  • Kassab I (1974) Biostratigraphy of upper cretaceous-lower tertiary of North Iraq. Colloque Afr Micropaleontol 1:277–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Kharajiany SO (2019) Calcareous nannofossils biostratigraphy and depositional model of the late Maastrichtian–early Danian succession of Sulaimanyah area, Kurdistan region/Iraq. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation, College of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Regional Government/Iraq, p 243

  • Köroğlu F, Kandemir R (2019) The bio-lithoclastic carbonate facies analysis: Şahinkaya Member Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) skeletal carbonate deposit, Sakarya Zone, NE Turkey. Carbonates Evaporites 34(4):1737–1755. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-019-00523-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martini E (1971) Standard tertiary and quaternary calcareous nannoplankton zonation. In: Farinacci A (ed) Proceedings of the second planktonic conference, vol 1970, Rome

  • Mukhopadhyay S (2016) Planktonic foraminiferal zonation and sea-level changes in the upper Maastrichtian-middle Danian successions of Meghalaya, India. Stratigraphy 13(4):245–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogorelec B, Dolenej T, Drobne K (2007) Cretaceous-tertiary boundary problem on shallow carbonate platform: carbon and oxygen excursions, biota and microfacies at the K/T boundary sections Dolenja Vas and Sopada in SW Slovenia, Adria CP. Paleogeogr Paleoclimatol Paleoecol 255(1–2):64–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okada H, Bukry D (1980) Supplementary modification and introduction of code numbers to the low-latitude coccolith biostratigraphic zonation (Bukry, 1973; 1975). Mar Micropaleontol 5(3):321–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omidvar M, Safari A, Vaziri-Moghaddam H, Ghalavand H (2016) Facies analysis and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of upper cretaceous sequences in the eastern Para-Tethys Basin, NW Iran. Geol Acta 14(4):363–384. https://doi.org/10.1344/GeologicaActa2016.14.4.3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omidvar M, Safari A, Vaziri-Moghaddam H, Ghalavand H (2018) Foraminiferal biostratigraphy of upper cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) sequences in the Peri-Tethys basin; Moghan area, NW Iran. J Afr Earth Sci 140:94e113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Özer S, Meriç E, Görmüş M, Kanbur S (2009) Biogeographic distribution of rudists and benthic foraminifera: an approach to Campanian-Maastrichtian palaeobiogeography of Turkey. Geobios 42(5):623–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perch-Nielsen K (1979) Calcareous nannofossils from the Cretaceous between the North Sea and the Mediterranean. Aspekte der Kreide Europas, IUGS Series A 6:223–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Perch-Nielsen K (1981) New maastrichtian and paleocene calcareous nannofossils from Africa, Denmark, the USA and the Atlantic, and some Paleocene lineages. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 74:7–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Perch-Nielsen K (1985a) Mesozoic calcareous nannofossils. In: Bolli H, Saunders J, Perch-Nielsen K (eds) Plankton Stratigraphy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 329–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Perch-Nielsen K (1985b) Cenozoic calcareous nannofossils. In: Bolli H, Saunders J, Perch-Nielsen K (eds) Plankton stratigraphy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 427–554

    Google Scholar 

  • Romein A (1979) Lineages in early paleogene calcareous nannoplankton. Utrecht Micropaleontol Bull 22:231

    Google Scholar 

  • Sari B, Aysegul Y, Taner K, Maria Rose P (2016) Planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils record in the upper Campanian-Maastrichtian pelagic deposits of the Malatya Basin in the Hekimhan area NW Malatya, eastern Anatolia. Cretaceous Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2015.12.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senemari S, Azizi M (2012) Nannostratigraphy of Gurpi formation (Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary) in Zagros Basin, Southwestern Iran. World Appl Sci J 17(2):205–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharbazheri K (2009) Biostratigraphy of the cretaceous/tertiary boundary in the Sirwan Valley (Sulaimani Region, Kurdistan, NE Iraq). Geol Carpath 60(5):381–396

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sissingh W (1977) Biostratigraphy of Cretaceous nannoplankton. Geologie en Mijnhouw 56:37–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Solak J, Tasli K, Koc H (2017) Biostratigraphy and facies analysis of the upper cretaceous–Danian? platform carbonate succession in the Kuyucak area, western Central Taurides, S Turkey. Cretaceous Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2017.06.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Starkie S (1994) Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy and Depositional History of the Late Cretaceous to Early Miocene Sequence of Iraq. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Department of geological science/Postgraduate unit of Micropaleontology, University College of London/London/UK, p 325

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Rodrigo Guerra and Atef Qasim for their discussions of the nannofossils identified, and Bashdar Jalil for his assistance during the field work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan, Iraq

    Soran O. A. Kharajiany & Basim A. Al-Qayim

  2. Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4100, USA

    Sherwood W. Wise Jr.

Authors
  1. Soran O. A. Kharajiany
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sherwood W. Wise Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Basim A. Al-Qayim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Soran O. A. Kharajiany.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kharajiany, S.O.A., Wise, S.W. & Al-Qayim, B.A. The Danian sediments and the K/Pg boundary determination using calcareous nannofossil from Sulaimani area, Kurdistan Region/Iraq. Carbonates Evaporites 35, 82 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-020-00609-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-020-00609-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation