https://zpaleo.znu.ac.ir/ Paleontology en daily 1 Sat, 23 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0330 Sat, 23 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0330 https://zpaleo.znu.ac.ir/article_731726.html Geoparks, as areas with unique geological features, play a significant role in the conservation of natural heritage, the promotion of environmental education, raising public awareness, and the development of sustainable tourism. UNESCO, by formulating international standards and criteria, has provided a framework for the identification, protection, and responsible utilization of these areas. Countries with high geological and geomorphological diversity possess considerable potential for the designation of UNESCO Global Geoparks. Iran, with its complex tectonic setting, climatic diversity, and rich geological phenomena, is considered one of the promising regions in this regard. Located in the northwest of the country, the Maragheh Plain, with its unique paleontological features, diverse volcanic structures, and outstanding geomorphological landscapes, holds a strong potential for becoming a UNESCO Global Geopark. The main objective of this study is to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the geological capabilities, sustainable tourism potential, and the degree of conformity of the Maragheh Plain with the criteria of successful international geoparks. The research method is based on an analytical and comparative approach, focusing on the identification and examination of the requirements and challenges involved in the official designation of this region. The findings of this study can serve as a scientific foundation for policymakers and stakeholders in the fields of natural heritage conservation and sustainable tourism development in the Maragheh Plain and similar regions of Iran. https://zpaleo.znu.ac.ir/article_731736.html In order to stratigraphic study of Miocene strata in the Southwest of Zanjan, one stratigraphic section has been sampled and studied in the Sheykh Jaber area. Miocene strata in this area (Qom Formation) are consist of 300 meters of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, thin to thick bedded limestone and argillaceous limestone. Forty samples have been selected and studied from these strata. Qom Formation in this section are overlaid by sand stone and siltstone layers of Upper Red Formation and overlay the red conglomerate of Lower Red Formation by erosional surface (unconformity boundary). Qom formation has no complete base and top layers in this section. This fact can confirm unconformities boundary at the top and base of this formation. Qom Formation in this section can divided in to the two stratigraphic package: 1- lower package is consist of conglomerate, sandstone and thin bedded limestone with intrusive rocks. 2- upper package is consist of medium to thick bedded fossiliferous limestone with sandstone and conglomerate intercalation. https://zpaleo.znu.ac.ir/article_731742.html The Dalan and Kangan formations and their equivalents, as the main hosts of the world's largest natural gas reserves, are distributed across major fields in Bahrain, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The outcrops of these formations in central Saudi Arabia represent one of the most complete and representative sections of this economically significant reservoir. Based on lithostratigraphic data, this study presents an integrated framework for the distribution of these formations from the lower boundary of the Dalan Formation to the upper boundary of the Kangan Formation in Iran, and from below the Pre-Khuff Unconformity to the lower boundary of the Sudair Formation in Saudi Arabia. The results indicate that, moving from Saudi Arabia towards the Persian Gulf, the thickness of the deposits increases, shallow sabkha and tidal facies gradually evolve into shallow-marine facies, and the lithology becomes more diverse and laterally extensive. https://zpaleo.znu.ac.ir/article_731781.html The lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy are carried out for the first time in the Pungalla section and have not previously been described. Forty samples were collected for this study in the Sulaimaniyah area, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The study succession is located within the low-folded zone. The lithology of the succession here is composed of massive fossiliferous limestone, marly limestone, bedded highly joined and fractured oolitic limestone, and coralline limestone. For the first time, these rock units are described in detail. It is possible to attribute them to the Shurau, Tarjil, Bajwan, Anah, Jeribe, and Fatha formations. It bears a frequent number of benthic and planktic foraminifera and other fossil groups such as echinoid fragments, bryozoans, calcareous algae, bivalve, gastropods, and coral that are concentrated within the rock units. Six foraminiferal biozones were identified in the studied section: Austrotrillina paucialveolata- Austrotrillina brunni Assemblage Zone (SBZ21); Praerhapydionina delicata- Peneroplis evolutus Concurrent-Range Zone (SBZ22A-BZ22B); Meandrospina anahensis- Austrotrillina asmariensis Assemblage Zone (SBZ23); Austrotrillina howchini- Peneroplis farsensis Interval Zone (SBZ24); Ammonia beccari- Dendritina rangi Assemblage Zone (SBZ250); and Paragloborotalia opima-Dentoglobigerina prasaepis  Assemblage Zone (P21). These marker foraminifers' biozones suggest an Oligocene to early Miocene age. They are correlated with comparatively well-known biozones from other parts of the Tethys region, which shows a good comparison. https://zpaleo.znu.ac.ir/article_731848.html Late Eocene sediments in the Suli Chai area of ​​the Tarom Mountains, north of Zanjan, have extensive outcrops of sandstone and lithic tuff layers that have preserved abundant footprints of mammals and birds. Two new specimens containing three-toed footprints of mammals have been found in a number of debris boulders in these units. Examination of these footprints shows that two types or forms of footprints can be identified among them. One of the types is similar to previously reported specimens (Moropopus elongatus), which is characterized by having lateral digits with little divergence and elongation. The second type (Lophiopus) is larger in size and has a high divergence of lateral digits and no elongation. The simultaneous presence of these two types in one surface could indicate that they belong to the same track maker but with differences in sexual dimorphism, maturity level, or different behavior of the locomotory organs. However, the possibility of the existence of two different species of trackmakers is also possible. These new findings reveal some unreported features of previous samples and indicate the high potential of the study area for new discoveries. https://zpaleo.znu.ac.ir/article_732357.html In the present study, 275.5 meters of deposits from the upper part of the Pabdeh Formation and the lower part of the Asmari Formation were studied in one of the wells of the Marun oil field. In this well, the boundary between the Pabdeh Formation and the Asmari Formation is gradual and continuous, and their dominant lithology is shale, marl, calcareous shale, and limestone. Biostratigraphic study led to the identification of three Assemblage biozones of Late Eocene-chattian age. The first biozone (Globigerina spp - Turborotalia cerroazulesis - Hantkenina Assemblage Zone) is in the Late Eocene time period and is related to the upper part of the Pabdeh Formation, and the second biozone (Lepidocyclina - Operculina - Ditrupa Assemblage Zone) are of Rupelian, chattian - chattian age and are related to the base of the Asmari Formation, and the third biozone (Archaias asmaricus - Archaias hensoni - Miogypsinoides compalanatus Assemblage Zone) is related to the lower part of the Asmari Formation and is determined to be of chattian age. In this well, based on the cyclolog study, five negative boundary levels and four positive boundary levels were identified, and based on the identified boundary levels, two sedimentary cycles were introduced. The first sedimentary cycle was between NB1000 -1000 PB levels and based on the biostratigraphic study, the age of this sedimentary cycle was determined to be late Eocene and the second sedimentary cycle was between NB2000 - 2000 PB levels and based on the fossil data, its age was determined to be Rupelian, chattian - chatian. The Eocene-Oligocene boundary in this well coincides with PB1000 and also the maximum sea level coincides with NB2000.