Depositional History of Jahrum Formation based on Distribution of Benthic Foraminifera and Strontium Isotope Stratigraphy on the Bushehr area

In order to determine the depositional environment and age of the carbonaceous Jahrum Formation, benthic foraminiferal assemblage of upper Eocene in the Jahrum Formation carbonates, located in Gisakan Mountain, 10 km east of the Borazjan city and adjacent fields, were studied. Based on the foraminiferal distribution and abundance, the paleoenvironment were reconstructed. Due to the presence of Nummulites fabianni and based on strontium isotopic analyses, the age between 33.7-35Ma (Priabonian) was determined. The mean sedimentation rate of ~ 2 m/10000 yr. was calculated. This study indicated Asmari Formation deposited after a hiatus, more than four million years (Rupelian stage). Gradual decreases of the sea level and hence the distribution of large benthic foraminifera resulted in the deposition of six sedimentary facies along the inner-middle to outer carbonate ramp system. These facies, from deep to shallow parts of the basin, include argillaceous carbonates containing planktonic foraminifera that were deposited in a hemipelagic to pelagic environment (which is the transition zone from the Pabdeh to Jahrum Formation), carbonate facies of operculina wackestone to packstone related to the outer carbonate ramp, discocyclina /nummulites wackestone to packstone facies deposited in the middle to outer ramp, nummulites wackestone facies occurred in the middle ramp, nummulites orbitolites wackestone to packstone belong to the middle to inner ramp, and finally the orbitolites/bioclast packstone deposited in the inner ramp.