Ostracoda Initial Identification of Early Miocene (Qom Formation) in West of Ashtian, Central Iran
Abstract
The Ostracoda of Qom Formation in a stratigraphical section in the west of Ashtian, Central Iran, were studied in terms of paleontological criteria and faunal relationships with adjacent areas. In this section, the Qom Formation overlies the Lower Red Formation with a gradual contact and disconformably overlain by Upper Red Formation. The systematic studies of the fauna yielded 12 genera and 3 species of Gastropods from 12 families. Common stratigraphic ranges of determinate ostracoda with the presence of coexistence foraminifera, give the age of Early Miocene (Aqitanian) for these layers. The Miocene ostracoda faunas, relatively similar to Ashtian section, reported from other parts of the Tethys, show a possible passage, having been open during this interval.