Hi Hesam, Different species are common and well studied e.g., different species of Nummulites, Eulepidina, Archaias, Spiroclypeus, Miogypsinoides, Miogypsina, and Borelis, etc.

Please find some useful references related to your question.

Article Early Miocene larger benthic foraminifera from the northwest...

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0035159820300064

Dear Seyed Haroon Ali

Thanks for engaging in this discussion and recommending it. But my discussion point is exaclty the opposite, Qom formation comprehensively worked by Iraninan and intertaional researchers since 1960s and 1970s, but my question refers to important taxons from evolutionary, biostratigraphicaly and paleogeographicaly that are less worked

Here bye, I invite domestic and international researchers to add their opinions.

This discussion aims to introduce taxons that can help resolving questios regarding evolution and paleobiogeography as well as biostratigraphy of LBFs of Iran, which were neglected so far by researchers primarily because of lack of knowledge of existance of such taxons, thus they are less worked or not have been worked at all.

سلام دقيقا چه اطلاعاتي نياز داريد؟

The Paleogene L.B.F. are less worked in Iran especially Eocene Alveolinids, Nummulites and orthophragminids

Several Jurassic to Neogene LBF were first described from Iranian carbonates, and in general I would say that quite all forams groups were explored. there are still open opportunities on Iranian rotaliids and alveolinoids, in particular we still don't know exactly what happened to this group during the Late Cretaceous (especially Turonian-Campanian); it is highly probable that there are some undescribed or non reported species, with implications on biogeography and biostratigraphy.

Best

LC

As Lorenzo mentioned the most groups of LBF are worked by researchers in Iran. Nevertheless, I will point to some evolutionary trends that remain enigmatic in Iran, such as elongated specimens of the morphological types of Alveolina during Bartonian. Besides, I think also orthophragminids need more attention despite the fact that they are studied into many species and subspecies levels in the western and eastern Tethys regions but our data is still scarce on this group from Iran. with respect to the above points, in general, all of the LBF groups in the overall history of the Iranian platform require further efforts.

Paleogene and Jurassic strata hosts many LBFs which deserved a decent burial! Generally updated taxonomy in Iran is just in progress and unfortunately many published papers by iranian authors are bad geosciences and confusing! Among

iranian researchers on LBFs Mohsen Yazdi_Moghadam and Mehdi Hadi papers are more updated and promising.

The problem Mehdi Sarfy arose is actually the most urgent in terms of scientific solidity regarding both the approach to LBF research and quality of data one may extract from some(sometimes very bad) published works.

This is-to me- also catalized by the global inflactiom given by the unstoppable growing of IF-ISI journals combined with lack of expertise of reviewers choosen by the editorial boards.

Jurassic LBFs

During Early Jurassic as result of collision of Cimmerian block to Eurasia Iranian basin is formed in a foreland setting, therefore, thick sequences of siliciclastic deposits and absence or rarity of large-scale shallow carbonate platforms resulted in almost zero record of larger benthic foraminifera of Early Jurassic of Iran. During Bajocian in Middle Jurassic as suggested by Fursich et al. (2009), Mid Cimmerian tectonic event which is associated with onset of development of a wide spread back-arc basin, resulted in creation of deep basins in Alborz and Koppeh Dagh after a stratigraphic gap in Bajocian. The microfacies of these basins such as Dalichai and Lar Formations, usually associated with deep microfauna such as radiolarians, pelagic pelecypods, Saccocoma and other microcionids, and ammonoid shell fragments but larger benthic foraminifera are rarely observed in these assemblages. In Centra Iranian block (Shotori mountains, Tabas area), Fursich et al., 2003, reported low latitude carbonate depositional system in Callovian, Oxfordian and Early Kimmeridgian. Esfandiar Formation in this setting is predominantly reefal and Qal’ eh Dokhtar is slope to basinal setting. The deep and reefal nature of these formations probably were main reasons that so far LBFs are not reported (to my knowledge) from theses formations, however, carbonate large-scale system in Central Iranian Block during Middle to late Jurassic, demands more investigation for LBFs by researchers in this block.

In Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous of Zagros as mentioned by Dr Simmons, comprehensive work carried out by Dr Gollestaneh (1965) and reviewed by Dr Schlagintweit (2014). Since this study is rather old and many taxonomic changes occurred since then, more work in studied sections by researchers can add a lot to taxonomic knowledge of LBFs of Jurassic of Iran and may lead to introduction of new species as well.

In late Jurassic of shallow carbonate platform of Koppe Dagh basin, Mozduran Formation is studied by many researchers such as Schlagintweit (2019), LBFs in this formation associated with Dasycladales algea.

In Upper Jurassic in Moghan area (NW Iran), Sarfi et al. (2016), reported LBFs of Jurassic, which suggests, stratigraphic related setting in this region deserves more elaborate study by researchers.

Cretaceous LBFs of Iran part 1

Early-Middle Cretaceous LBFs in Iran especially in Zagros (eg. Sarvak and Kazhdumi Formations) and Central Iran ( eg. Taft Formation in Isfahan and Yazd block) is worked by several Iranian authors like Yazdi-Moghadam, Afghah, Moosavizadeh, Zand-Moghadam, Gheiasvand, to name a few, among them studies of Yazdi-Moghadam were more scientifically solid and lead to introduction of new species such as Persiconus sarvaki a new Orbitolinid species from Cenomanian of Sarvak Formation. Such studies in Central Iran (eg. Taft formation) specially on Orbitolinidae Martin, 1890 family, can help answering so many unresolved questions about taxonomy and FAD, LAD biostratigraphic uncertainties of marker taxons in Early cretaceous of Iran which can be palaeobiogeographically compared with other Tethysian basin members in Central, Southern and Eastern Tethys (Turkey, Spain, Italy, Greece, Romania and other Carpathian basin members). For instance, there is still debate that absence of rafters is a generic criterion for the genus Simplorbitolina or not, which can be resolved by studying more samples from formations in Iran where less studies were carried out. In Early Cretaceous, LBFs of Alborz basin (Tizkuh Formation) is also less worked, however, personally, I did not find LBFs of Early Cretaceous of Alborz in particular Orbitolinids as rich as Central Iran and Zagros basins. Orbitolinids of Early Barremian of Moghan area (NW Iran), which is located in Northern margin of the Neotethys, were also studied by Yazdi-Moghadam et al. (2017) which is promising for conduction of more researches on LBFs in this area. It must be mentioned here that Dr Schlagintweit cooperation and critics with and on Iranian authors’ work, helped a lot in improvement of the outcome of many researches on LBFs of Cretaceous of Iran which must be acknowledged. Works on other important LBFs Such as Alveolinoidea Ehrenberg, 1839 superfamily, is absolutely insufficient (in my view) in Early-Middle Cretaceous of Iran. Studies of Dr. Vicedo on this group of LBFs, really shed lights for those researchers who are interested to work on this group in Cretaceous of Iran.

Cretaceous LBFs of Iran part2

Dr Consorti’s PhD Thesis (2017) is one of good examples that Global Community Maturation Cycles (Cycle of Extinction and Recovery of LBFs) of LBFs such as Rhapydioninids (eg. Praetaberina, Pseudorhapydionina) and Rotalids (eg. Rotorbinella, Rotalispirella) are studied in Pyrenees and Iberian basins in Spain, Apennines in Italy and Zagros in Iran, in which LBFs became extinct during Cenomanian-Turonian extinction boundary (CTB) and diversified again during Coniacian-Santonian stages. Similar studies carried out by Iranian authors such as Kalanat et al. (2018) in Koppeh-Dagh basin (NE Iran), but unlike Consorti (2017), taxonomic study of LBFs is not included or Planktonic Foraminifera instead are the focus of such studies (Ezampanah et al, 2018). Among these LBFs, those that could survive Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, in my view, are of greater importance, for instance, Rotorbinella of Rotalids and Lacazina of Fabulariidae. In my opinion, such studies of these important group of LBFs needs to become focus of more researches in different basins of Iran.

Cretaceous LBFs of Iran part 3

In the Upper Cretaceous of Central Alborz, about 800 m of limestone, conglomerate, shale and sandstone disconformably overlie Tizkuh formation. This sequence is divided into three Units (K1, K2 and K3). According to geological map of Damavand of scale 1:100000 (Emami et al., 1997), K2 consists of cherty limestone and K3 consists of biogenic limestone. K3 unit has few exposures in Damavand. Obviously, in order to study LBFs of Late Cretaceous of Alborz, K3 unit must be the target. Probably, due to low exposure of this unit, studying LBFs of Late Cretaceous of Alborz was not intriguing enough for researchers. In Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary of Alborz mainly smaller and planktonic foraminifera were the focus of study by authors like, Rostami et al. (2018, 2020).

Few studies concerning LBFs of Late Cretaceous of Koppeh(Kopet)-Dagh Basin (NE Iran) is conducted, among them Ezampanah et al., (2018, Cretaceous Research J.) studied LBFs of late Maastrichtian of Kalat Formation (eg. Clypeorbis mammillatus, Siderolites, Lepidorbitoides). However, still elaborate taxonomic study of these LBFs was not included and other aspects such as biostratigraphy, paleobiogeography and paleoenvironment of LBFs were mainly discussed by the authors.

Epeiric carbonate platform of Khur area in Yazd block of Late Cretaceous of Central Iran, is studied by Wilmsen et al. (2018). In this research, LBFs of Coniacian to Campanian Haftoman Fm. were studied by Dr Schlagintweit and species such as Orbitoides media and Praesiderolites douvillei are reported. But according to Dr Wilmsen, macro and micro fossils are scarce in this formation, this in turn hampers more detailed study of LBFs in this formation. In this area Late Campanian-Maastrichtian Farokhi Fm. overlies Haftoman Fm. and consists of marly-calcareous beds which described by Wilmsen (2015) as moderately deep to shallow basin. Upper part of Farokhi Fm. bears planktonic foraminifera according to Wilmsen et al. (2015). No LBFs are reported by the authors from Farokhi Fm.

Paleogene and lower Neogene LBF are extensively worked and reports published from Indian outcrop sections and subsurface (Oil wells). All major groups of LBF which constitute index age markers as well as paleoenvironmental indicators are nicely documented / published. these can be used to taxonomically compare Iranian LBF by interested researchers.

Triassic LBFs of Iran

In my opinion the least worked LBFs of Iran belong to Triassic period in spite of vast carbonate system which is formed after separation of Cimmerian microcontent (Alborz, Central Iran, Sanandaj_Sirjan zones) from Gondwana supercontinent and its drift toward Laurasian margin in northern hemisphere during Late Permian to Early Triassic (Muttoni et al., 2009). The reason for that is not just the absence of hydrocarbon reservoirs in these zones, but I think it is mainly because lack of Iranian researchers knowledge about Triassic LBFs taxonomy specially Involutinidae Butschli, 1880, and Trocholinidae Kristan-Tollmann, 1963, emend Rigaud et al., 2013, families. Involutinids in general are evolutionary important group, since there is still debate about the origin of their aragonitic wall (Altiner and Payne, 2017).

Paleogene LBFs of Iran

Akbar Rahaghi during 1970s and early 1980s, single handedly conducted an absolutely thorough studies on Paleogene LBFs of Iran. The taxons he introduced still is the subject of many taxonomic references and revisions (eg. Serra-Kiel et al., 2016). In modern studies of Paleogene of Iran Dr. Hadi and Dr. Consorti actively published articles regarding Alveolinds, Nummulitids, Rotalids and Soritids LBFs of Paleogene of Iran. Yet, Rotalids of Paleogene of Iran demands more comprehensive study. Just in Paleocene more than 14 genera are members of Rotaliidae family which some (eg. Rotorbinella, Rotalispira, Laffitteina) are rooted in Cretaceous (Hottinger, 2014) and they are frequently observed in Paleocene facies of Iran. An enticing case study for interested researchers in Iran would be the genus Ornatorotalia of Rotalids. This genus first introduced by Benedetti et al. (2011) from early Eocene of Central and Southern Italy. Sirel and Deveciler (2017) also reported this genus from late Paleocene (Thanetian) and early Eocene (Upper Ypresian) of Turkey. Recently, Benedetti et al. (2020), reported Ornatorotalia pila from late Paleocene of Qorban member, Sachun Formation in Zagros. I personally observed Ornatorotalia in early Eocene samples from east of Iran. Therefore, more studies on this genus in Iran can help clarifying the stratigraphic range of this species in Tethys and may result in introduction of new species as well.

As mentioned previously by Dr Hadi in this discussion, another group of LBFs that are insufficiently worked, are Orthophragminids of late Paleocene and Eocene of Iran. In order to Taxonomically correctly study this group, the free specimens must be isolated from unconsolidated sediments and then equatorially controlled cross cuts through apparatus system would make it possible to determine this group to species level. Surface ornamentation of free specimens is also important in taxonomic study of this group. Studying frequent researches by Prof Ozcan of Turkey on this group, would pave the way for interested researches to investigate this group.

New taxa of LBF can principally be expected in any Mesozoic and Paleogene formation from Iran....it just needs to recognize them.....and dont forget the smaller taxa that are sometimes also of biostratigraphic imortance. In any case the excellent preservation of benthic foraminfera in some formations from Iran makes you want to more :-)

Really interesting about LBF i want to know about planktonic forams of Iran.

HI

I Think Cambrian - Devonian agglomerate foraminifers are very brilliant idea for the origin of foraminifers.

In the Soltanie Fm. Are shown Biconolites.