*Corresponding author
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Doi: 10.22108/jssr.2020.120790.1139
http://ui.ac.ir/en
Journal of Stratigraphy and Sedimentology Researches University of Isfahan
Vol. 36, Issue 2, No. 79, Summer 2020
pp. 23-50
Received: 30.12.2019 Accepted: 11.03.2020
Sedimentary characteristics, sequence stratigraphy and geochemistry of the Tiz Kuh Formation in the
Pol-e-Zoghal section (South of Chalus)
Boshra Soleimani Porlak
M.Sc. Student of Sedimentology and Sedimentary Petrology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
boshra.soleimani21@gmail.com
Mohammad Hossein Adabi*
Professor, Department of Sedimentary Basin and Petroleum, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
m-adabi@sbu.ac.ir
Ehsan Dehyadegari
Assistant Professor, Department of Sedimentary Basin and Petroleum, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
e_dehyadegari@sbu.ac.ir
Abstract
In this study, the Tiz Kuh Formation of Aptian age in the Pol-e-Zoghal section (south of Chalus) with a thickness of 113 m was
evaluated for depositional environment, sequence stratigraphy, and elemental geochemistry. The Tiz Kuh Formation in this section
with disconformity lies on the Lower Cretaceous volcanic unit and associated disconformity of the Upper Cretaceous volcanic
subdivision. According to calcimetric studies, the Tiz Kuh Formation in this section is composed of limestone and argillaceous
limestone. Field and laboratory investigations led to the identification of eight microfacies belonging to 3 sub-environments of
lagoon, shoal, and shallow open marine. Gradual microfacies changes and the absence of large barrier reefs, oncoids, pisoids,
aggregate grains, and slump structure along with the presence of dasycladeceae family algae (e.g. Terquemella sp. and Bakalovaella
elitzae.) and gymnocodiaceae (Permocalculus sp.) confirm the existence of a ramp-type carbonate platform. This evidence may
indicate warm marine shallow very saline environment; These conditions highlight the shallow sedimentary and aragonitic
environment. Sequence stratigraphic studies in this section identified three third order sedimentary sequences associated with the
HST and TST with SB1 and SB2 sequence boundaries depositional sequence. In this study, sedimentary depth resulted in variation
of orbitolinid shape The results of the geochemical analysis, of major and minor elements, Sr / Na values of more than one, Sr / Mn
values (mean 7) and plotting of Sr / Ca values against Mn indicate that the primary mineralogy was aragonite and have been affected
by non-marine diagenesis in a closed to slightly open diagenetic systems. Variation of elements along the stratigraphic section
shows that the amount of Sr in the upper part decreases as the Mn content increases; These conditions indicate the greater impact of
meteoric diagenesis on the upper part.
Keywords: Tiz Kuh Formation, Alborz sedimentary basin, Sedimentary characteristics, Sequence stratigraphy, Geochemistry.
Introduction
The Tiz Kuh Formation is introduced by Assereto and
Ippolito (1964), derived from the Tiz Kuh near Pleur, which
contains two clastic and carbonate lithological units. At the
type locality, this formation is located between the Lar
Formation and the Cenomanian Rows (Aghanabati 2010).
Cartier (1971) defined the Chalus Formation and described it
as consisting of Lower Volcanic, Lower Limestone, Middle
Volcanic, Upper Limestone, and Upper Volcanic units
(Aghanabati 2010). The second member of the Chalus
Formation in the Pol-e-Zoghal section is known as the Tiz
Kuh Formation and is of Aptian age (Yarijoo et al. 2010). Since
few studies have been done on sedimentary properties of the
Tiz Kuh Formation in Alborz Zone, In the present study,
microfacies, sedimentary characteristics, elemental
geochemistry and sequence stratigraphy of the Tiz Kuh
Formation were studied in the Pol-e-Zoghal section south of
Chalus city.
Material & Methods
For the present study, one surface section of the Tiz Kuh
Formation in the south of the Chalus city (Pol-e-Zoghal
section) has been studied. The section measured a total
thickness of 113 m and consists of limestone, argillaceous
limestone, calcareous marl, and marl. During the fieldwork
studies, 135 rock samples from carbonate deposits and 3 marl
have been taken for petrographic studies. To accurately
determine the lithology of the Tiz kuh Formation in this
section on all samples, calcimetric analysis was performed
and the results were compared with Pettijohn 1975
classification. To differentiate ferroan and non-ferroan calcite
from ferroan and non-ferroan dolomite in thin sections, the
staining method of Dickson (1965) was applied. Sedimentary
sequences were determined based on the concepts of
sequence stratigraphy (Haq et al. 1987; Catuneanu 2006).
Elemental geochemistry analysis was performed form 38