Microbiostratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous strata in South East of Maragheh, NW Iran

For the lithostratigraphy and microbiostratigraphical studies, a stratigraphical section (named Dareh-Goshayesh) has selected and is located in southeast of Maragheh city, south of eastern Azerbaijan province in the northwest of Iran. The thickness of successions in the selected stratigraphic section is measured about 223.6 m. The mentioned studied stratigraphic section is composed of two clastic and carbonate units. This succession unconformably overlaid the Lar Formation and is overlaid by the Upper Cretaceous strata paraconformably. Based on the micropaleontological studies, a diversified assemblage of foraminifera and calcareous algae has determined and the age of the studied stratigraphic section is inferred as Late Barremian-Late Aptian. Also, during these studies, four biozones are determined as follows: Palorbitolina lenticularis Range Zone, Balkhania balkhanica range zone, Orbitolina (Mesorbitolina) texana interval zone and Orbitolina (Mesorbitolina) parva. It would be the first report on the micropaleontology and lithostratigraphy in the studied area till now. . . . . .