Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy of the Late Cretaceous‒early Paleocene interval in the Zagros basin (southeastern Tethys), Iran

Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy reveals a continuous depositional record through the Upper Cretaceous‒Paleocene succession in Zagros Basin; southwest Iran (southeastern part of Neo-Tethys), especially Cretaceous‒Paleogene and Danian‒Selandian boundaries. The upper Gurpi Formation lower Pabdeh were investigated. assemblages from these formations are characterized by abundant, diverse moderate- to well-preserved forms with Tethyan affinities. This study concentrates on two sections (the Kabir-Kuh sections) west Basin, which span biozones CC25c/UC20bTP NP6/NTp10B CC25b/UC20aTP NP5/NTp9 section. Late Maastrichtian abundance diversity studied intervals is high sharp decrease slightly above K/Pg boundary. boundary interval marked FO Biantholithus sparsus, an acme dinoflagellate cyst Thoracosphaera operculata, notable Cretaceous calcareous diversity, appearance new Paleocene taxa. An increased recorded similar that El Kef (Global Stratotype Section Point, GSSP, for boundary), Ellés (auxiliary section), Egypt, Atlantic Ocean elsewhere world. Reworked nannofossils base Danian along species. Lithoptychius ulii, pileatus janii at NTp8C; this level also second radiation Fasciculithus.Azam Mahanipour [[email protected]], Department Geology, Faculty Science, Shahid Bahonar University Kerman, Iran; Mohammad Parandavar [[email protected]], Paleontological Research Department, Exploration Directorate Oil Gas, NIOC, Tehran; Mohamed Youssef [[email protected]], South Valley University, 83523 Qena, Egypt.