Stratigraphic And Microfacies Study Of Upper Campanian - Lower Maastrichtian Succession (Shiranish Formation) In Bade Village, Bekhere Anticline, Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq

Abstract

The Upper Cretaceous Shiranish Formation outcropped close to Bade village and Bekhere anticline, Kurdistan region at northern Iraq and consists of alternating mixed tough grey limestone, marly limestone, marl beds interpreted as a middle - outer shelf – upper bathyal environments (basinal) depositional environment. Fifteen thin sections were studied under a polarized microscope to find out the petrographic component, fauna content, and for microfacies analysis. The major petrographic constituents are fossils, bioclastic grains, micrite matrix, and extraclast (quartz grains). Planktic foraminifera and nannofossils are the major particles within wackestone and packstone microfacies types. The planktonic foraminifera biozones from previous study (such as Globotruncana aegyptiaca, Gansserina gansseri, Racemiguembelina fructicosa, Plummerita hantkeninoides) and the recorded calcareous nannofossils biozones of Broinsonia parca, Reinhardtites levis, Arkhangelskiella cymbiformis, suggest a late Campanian to late Maastrichtian age.