The early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a) based on calcareous nannofossils at Garau Formation (Kabir-Kuh anticline), West Iran

In order to study the early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a (OAE 1a), calcareous nannofossils are investigated at the late Barremian ‒ early Aptian sediments of the Garau Formation at south west of the Kabir-Kuh anticline, Qaleh-Darreh section. Ninety species of calcareous nannofossils from 43 genus and 15 families are identified along with marker species like Hayesites irregularis and Eprolithus floralis. Based on index calcareous nannofossil taxa, the studied interval is located between the uppermost part of the CC6/NC5 and the early part of CC7/NC7A. The first occurrence of H. irregularis, the marker of the Barremian ‒ Aptian boundary, used as an index species between CC6/NC5E and CC7/NC6. Statistical analysis of the calcareous nannofossil assemblages at the studied interval indicate the presence of nannoconid decline at the Barremian ‒ Aptian boundary and early Aptian and nannoconid crisis at CC7a/NC6B biozone. Nannoconid crisis is one of the main markers of the early Aptian OAE 1a that is recorded from different parts of the world at the Tethys and Boreal realms, Atlantic and Pacific oceans at the early Aptian (NC6 biozone). At the current study the early Aptian OAE 1a is recorded from the Garau Formation based on calcareous nannofossil assemblages.