Microfacies Analysis and Depositional Environment of the Middle Eocene Avanah Formation in Haibat Sultan Area, Iraqi Kurdistan Region

The Avanah Formation (Middle Eocene) was studied in the Haibat sultan section at Bina Bawi Anticline, Northeast of Erbil city within Iraqi Kurdistan region. field observation indicated that formation occurs as Carbonate interbeds lower and middle parts Gercus Formation, which consists mainly light yellowish to creamy color, well-bedded, marly, dolomitic limestone with some intercalations sandstones marls reaching about 32 m thick characterized by lateral variations facies thicknesses. A petrographic study 16 thin slices carbonate rocks most matrix is composed micrite, a few microspars. Foraminifers, dasycladacean green alge, Ostracods make up skeleton grains. Non-skeletal grains include peloids, intraclasts, extraclasts. Depending on detailed microfacies analysis current study, five main fourteen submicrofacies were discovered. total all petrographic, textural investigations indicates Sultan area deposited shallow marine inner platform subtidal, intertidal, supratidal environments