Lithostratigraphy and microfacies analysis of Avanah Formation (Middle Eocene) in Gomaspan section northeast Erbil City, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Lithostratigraphy and microfacies analysis of the Avanah Formation (Middle Eocene) were studied in the Gomaspan section in the Bina Bawi anticline, northeast of Erbil city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The field observations refer that the formation attains 56 m of medium to thick bedded yellow limestone, grey dolomitic limestone and blue marly dolomitic limestone interbedded with thin beds of blue marl and dark grey shale with an interval of sandy limestone in the middle part and thin to medium bedded limestone interbedded with red mudstone. The petrographic study of 29 thin sections of Avanah carbonates revealed that the majority of the matrix is carbonate mud (micrite) with few microspar. The skeletal grains include benthic foraminifera, dasycladacean green algae, ostracods, calcispheres, pelecypods, rare planktonic foraminifera and bryozoa in addition to bioclasts. Non-skeletal grains encompass peloids, oncoids, intraclasts and extraclasts with common monocrystalline quartz. Based on the field observation and petrographic analysis, three different lithostratigraphic units were identified. They are in ascending order: A-Thick bedded dolomitic marly limestone interbedded with shale. B- Bedded dolomitic limestone interbedded with shale and marl. C- Thin to medium bedded limestone interbedded with red mudstone. Depending on detailed microfacies analysis of carbonate rocks, three main microfacies and 12 submicrofacies are recognized. From the sum of all petrographic, facies, textural analyses, it is concluded that Avanah Formation in Gomaspan section, was deposited in shallow marine environment, semi restricted lagoon, in lower and upper parts and open lagoon environment in the middle part interval.

Lithostratigraphy and microfacies analysis of Avanah Formation (Middle Eocene) in Gomaspan section northeast Erbil City, Kurdistan region, Iraq

Lithostratigraphy and microfacies analysis of the Avanah Formation (Middle Eocene) were studied in the Gomaspan section in the Bina Bawi anticline, northeast of Erbil city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The field observations refer that the formation attains 56 m of medium to thick bedded yellow limestone, grey dolomitic limestone and blue marly dolomitic limestone interbedded with thin beds of blue marl and dark grey shale with an interval of sandy limestone in the middle part and thin to medium bedded limestone interbedded with red mudstone. The petrographic study of 29 thin sections of Avanah carbonates revealed that the majority of the matrix is carbonate mud (micrite) with few microspar. The skeletal grains include benthic foraminifera, dasycladacean green algae, ostracods, calcispheres, pelecypods, rare planktonic foraminifera and bryozoa in addition to bioclasts. Non-skeletal grains encompass peloids, oncoids, intraclasts and extraclasts with common monocrystalline quartz. Based on the field observation and petrographic analysis, three different lithostratigraphic units were identified. They are in ascending order: A-Thick bedded dolomitic marly limestone interbedded with shale. B- Bedded interbedded with red mudstone. Depending on detailed microfacies analysis of carbonate rocks, three main microfacies and 12 submicrofacies are recognized. From the sum of all petrographic, facies, textural analyses, it is concluded that Avanah Formation in Gomaspan section, was deposited in shallow marine environment, semi restricted lagoon, in lower and upper parts and open lagoon environment in the middle part interval.

Stratigraphy and Depositional Environment of Mauddud Formation in Ratawi Oil wells of Southern Iraq

The Mauddud Formation is Iraq’s most significant and widely distributed Lower Cretaceous formation. This Formation has been investigated at a well-23 and a well-6 within Ratawi oil field southern Iraq. In this work, 75 thin sections were produced and examined. The Mauddud Formation was deposited in a variety of environments within the carbonate platform. According to microfacies analysis studying of the Mauddud Formation contains of twelve microfacies, this microfacies Mudstone to wackestone microfacies, bioclastic mudstone to wackestone microfacies, Miliolids wackestone microfacies,Orbitolina wackestone microfacies, Bioclastic wackestone microfacies, Orbitolina packstone microfacies, Peloidal packstone microfacies, Bioclastic packstone microfacies, Peloidal to Bioclastic packstone microfacies, Bioclastic grainstone microfacies, Peloidal grainstone microfacies, Rudstone microfacies. Deep sea, Shallow open marine, Restricted, Rudist Biostrome, Mid – Ramp, and Shoals are the six depositional environments in the Mauddud Formation based on these microfacies.

Microfacies and Depositional Conditions of Jurassic to Eocene Carbonates: Implication on Ionian Basin Evolution

In order to decipher the paleo-depositional environments, during the Late Jurassic to Early Eocene syn-rift stage, at the margins of the Ionian basin, two different areas with exposed long sequences have been selected, Kastos Island (external margin) and Araxos peninsula (internal margin), and were examined by means of microfacies analysis and biostratigraphy. On Kastos Island, based on lithological and sedimentological features, the following depositional environments have been recognized: an open marine/restricted environment prevailed during the Early Jurassic (“Pantokrator” limestones), changing upwards into deep-sea and slope environments during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous (Vigla limestones). The Upper Cretaceous (Senonian limestones) is characterized by a slope environment, whereas during the Paleogene, deep-sea and toe of slope conditions prevailed. In Araxos peninsula, Lower Cretaceous deposits (“Vigla” limestones) were accumulated in a deep-sea environment; Upper Cretaceous ones (Senonian limestones) were deposited in slope or toe of slope conditions. Paleocene limestones correspond to a deep-sea environment. In Araxos peninsula, changes occurred during the Cretaceous, whereas on Kastos Island, they occurred during the Paleocene/Eocene, related to different stages of tectonic activity in the Ionian basin from east to west.

MICROFACIES ANALYSIS OF CRETACEOUS SEDIMENTS OF DUKUL FORMATION, YOLA SUB-BASIN, NORTHERN BENUE TROUGH, NIGERIA: PALEO-ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

Carbonate microfacies analysis was conducted on the exposed sediments of Dukul Formation from Yola Sub-basin of the Northern Benue Trough with an objective to reconstruct the paleodepositional environment. The study revealed four (4) major microfacies; oyster wackestone, ostracod oyster wackestone-packestone, bioclastic wackestone and bioclastic packestone microfacies. The microfacies assemblages indicate and affirm that the Dukul Formation sediments were deposited in shallow marine (mid-inner ramp) environment under suboxic to relatively anoxic conditions due to sea-level drop. This is further supported owing to the occurence of corals, brachiopods, bivalves and ostracods immediately below the mean fair-weather wave base (FWWB)