Lithostratigraphy, facies and evaluation of sedimentation conditions of Late Miocene Lignite Beds based on paleontology and sedimetology evidence, in the eastern area of Tabriz

Lignite Beds of Tabriz are among of the Neogene formations in the northwestern area of the Iran, which is spread in the eastern suburb of Tabriz. Its sedimentary facies includes facies groups of fine grains clastics, sandstones, limestones and facies of lignite, tuff and microfacies and petrofacies under them. In this study, two stratigraphic sections of these sediments in the eastern part of Tabriz were studied and 171 samples and 42 thin sections were collected and studied. XRD analysis for mineralogy and SEM electron microscopy for 3-dimensional studies were used to identify microfossils. Identified fossils include the genera and species of gastropods, Pelecypods, ostracods, fish, diatoms, charophyte algae, and foraminifera. The studied fossil assemblages includes species from freshwater to euryhaline and marine. The identified sedimentary environments include the lake basin environment, the shallow coastal environment and the marshy lake environment. In  the studied sedimentary strata, strong fossil evidence and sedimentological evidence of the marine environment are not observed, at least during its lifetime. Therefore, it is concluded that the marine taxis in these deposits remain and are adapted from a former marine environment.