Facies and sedimentary environment of the lower Akhoreh Fm (Middle Miocene), Shurab section, north of Nain

In this study, the lowermost part of Akhore Formation with Middle Eocene age at the Shurab section, in the north Naein, east Isfahan has been studied. In this research, a stratigraphic section with 505 meters thickness is measured and ten lithostratigraphic units differentiated and composed of a thin basal conglomerate followed by the alternation of mostly purple sandstones and shales.This succession covered the Naein Ophiolite Complex,. Lithofacies analysis led to the identification of six coarse-grained facies (Gcm, Gp, Gh, Gci, Gmg, Gmm), two medium-grained (Sm, Sh) and three fine-grained (Fl, Fm, Fsm) as well as pedogenic fearute (P). Lithofacies studies led to identification of five facies associations which have been deposited in the sub environments of Sediment Gravity flow (SG), Sandy-bedform (SB), Floodplain (OF), Gravel-bar (GB), Foreset macroforms (FM) for braided river. The study of this succession provides us with important information on the geodynamic evolution of central Iran during the Middle Eocene.