Biostratigraphy of Pabdeh Formation in Emamzadeh Soltan Ebrahim section, northwest of Izeh city in Khuzestan Province, southern Iran

The Pabdeh Formation is well-developed at Kamestan Anticline، locating in Emamzadeh Soltan Ebrahim area، northwest of Izeh city. This Formation was measured and sampled in the studied area. Based on planktonic foraminifera، a new biozonation was established. The Pabdeh Formation has a thickness of 548m in the Kamestan Anticline and it can be divided into 4 lithologic units، in ascending stratigraphic order، including: shale (133m)، limy marl (113m)، limestone (106m) and marly limestone (196m). The limestone unit contains benthonic foraminifera، but three of them have planktonic foraminifera. All samples were studied for foraminifer taxa by using transmited light microscope and scanning electron microscope. A total of 146 species (45 genera) were identified that 95 of the species belong to planktonic (19 genera) and 51 benthonic (26 genera) foraminifers. Based on stratigraphic distribution of identified foraminifers، 9 biozones were established throughout the studied interval (598m). 8 biozone belong to the planktonic foraminifers of Pabdeh Formation and the remainder to the uppermost part of the Gurpi Formation. Besides of the above mentioned planktonic foraminifers biozones، a benthonic foraminifera was recognized within the limestone unit of Pabdeh Formation and it corresponds to biozone of 44 Wynd 1965). Based on stratigraphic potential of the above mentioned biozones، a Late Paleocene (Selandian) – Middle Eocene (Lutetian- Bartonian) age is suggested for the Pabdeh Formation، at the Kamestan Anticline in northwest of Izeh.