No abstract

Three sections (Darzila, Hazar Kani and Basara) of the Oligocene –Early Miocene successions from Sulaimani area, Kurdistan region-NE Iraq, were measured and studied in order to interpret the biostratigraphic zonations at the Low and High Folded Thrust zones boundary, Low Folded Thrust zone, which are integrated with strontium stratigraphic dating. Accordingly, five biozones have been identified and they are:1- Nummulites vascus- Nummulites intermedius- Nummulites fichteli Assemblage Zone (Shallow Benthic Zone, SBZ 22A) represents the Rupelian age, 2- Lepidocyclina dilatata- Nummulites vascus - Nummulites fichteli Assemblage Zone (SBZ 22B-Early Chattian), 3- Praerhapydionina delicata- Archaias kirkukensis Assemblage Zone (SBZ23) representing the Late Chattian age, 4- Austrotrillina howchini- Peneroplis evolutus Assemblage Zone (SBZ24), almost point to the Aquitanian age and finally 5- Austrotrillina asmariensis- Dendritina rangi Assemblage Zone (equivalent to SBZ25) representing the Burdigalian age. Based on the distribution of the larger foraminifera and strontium stratigraphic dating, the Baba Formation is of Early to Late Oligocene age (Rupelian- Early Chattian), while the Bajawan Formation is of Chattian age, in addition to that, the Anah Formation is of Early Miocene age (Aquitanian) and the Jeribe Formation is of Burdigalian age. It is worthy to mention that the Oligocene-Miocene boundary has been identified in the studied area as well as, the gap duration between different formations of the Kirkuk Group, and the gap durations due to the absences of Serikagni, Euphrates and Dhiban formations.