Sedimentary environment and sequence stratigraphy of the Routeh Formation in the west of Zanjan (Agh-Bolagh section)

˜یÏå [English]
In this study, for the first time stratigraphy and depositional history of the Routeh Formation have been evaluated in west of Zanjan (Agh-Bolagh section). These deposits with thickness of 102m consist of limestone, dolomitic limestone with the less frequency of thin-bedded calcareous shales. This sedimentary sequence with an unconformity overlies the quartz-bearing sandstones of Doroud Formation and is overlain by a laterite-bauxite horizon below the vermiculate-bearing limestone of Elika Formation. The main components of Routeh Formation contain different kinds of algae, small benthic foraminifera and with a less frequency echinoderm and brachiopod debris. Based on filed and laboratory studied eight sedimentary facies have been distinguished into the Routeh Formation. These facies due to the different types of allochems, texture and fossil content display a shallow-water marine environment during deposition of the Routeh Formation located at Palaeotethys passive southern margin. The absence of re-sedimented deposits like: turbidites, presence of micrite at the most of facies, lack of continues reefal facies and gradual facies change indicate that the Routeh Formation possibly were deposited in a ramp carbonate platform. Due to great diversity and abundance of algae and benthic foraminifera, this carbonate ramp is referred to as an “algae and foram-dominated carbonate ramp system”. Field observations, facies analyses and sequence stratigraphy studied led to the identification of one-third order depositional sequence into the Routeh Formation. This depositional sequence separated by type-1 sequence boundaries at below with quartz-bearing sandstones of Doroud Formation and at the top with laterite-bauxite horizon between Routeh and Elika formations