Petrography, sedimentary environment and sequence stratigraphy of Tarbur Formation in Shiraz area (Interior Fars)

The Campanian-Maastrichtian sequence in the Shiraz region of Inner Fars includes Gurpi and Tarbur formations. In order to study petrography and evaluate the evolution of the sedimentary environment and sequence stratigraphy of these sediments, two stratigraphic sections of Koh-e Qhale and Koh-e Shahrek Abarj in Marvdasht city of Fars province were selected and analyzed. Based on field studies, manual samples, and a detailed microscopic study of 250 thin sections prepared from the studied formations, it was identified that 14 facies (11 carbonate microfacies and three lithofacies) were deposited in a shelf carbonate platform. By studying about 1400 meters of Maastrichtian sediments, depending on the location of the sections under study, three third depositional sequences were identified and separated in terms of sequence stratigraphy. During the Campanian period and the formation of the LST systems tract towards the northeast of the studied area (Koh-e Qhale section), the clastic sediments of the lower part of the Tarbur formation and in the deeper parts of the sedimentary basin of the Gurpi formation were deposited equivalently. At the time of the highstand systems tract (HST facies) and high carbonate production rate in the steep part of the sedimentary environment, interlayered reef deposits (rudist packstone and rudist grainstone) were deposited between the limestones of the Tarbur Formation.