Micropaleontological data from the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Chia Gara Formation (northeastern Iraq) – preliminary results

Authors

  • Alaa Al-Wazan Mosul University, College of Science, Geology and Petroleum Department, Al-Majmoaa, 84315, Mosul
  • Nisreen Aziz Mosul University, College of Science, Geology and Petroleum Department, Al-Majmoaa, 84315, Mosul
  • Ali Al-Juboury Al-Kitab University, College of Engineering, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Altun Kobri, 36014, Kirkuk
  • Justyna Kowal-Kasprzyk AGH University of Krakow, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków
  • Marina Molčan Matejová Comenius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Geology and Paleontology, Ilkovičova 6, 84105 Bratislava
  • Anna Waśkowska AGH University of Krakow, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków

Keywords:

Arabian Plate, open marine, biostratigraphy, radiolarians, calcareous dinocysts, calpionellids, foraminifera

Abstract

The Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Chia Gara Formation from northeastern Iraq (Surdash and Zeni Warte sections) is composed mainly of shales and limestones. The shales contain phacoid compressional structures in the lower part, while the limestones are rich in ammonites, which are mostly pyritized and oxidized. Poorly preserved microfossils include numerous radiolarians, as well as rare calcareous dinoflagellate cysts, benthic and planktic foraminifera, and – in the upper part of the sections – numerous nannoconids. Calcareous dinocysts, such as Colomisphaera tenuis (Nagy), Colomisphaera lucida Borza, and Colomisphaera cf. heliosphaera (Vogler) confirm the Late Tithonian and Berriasian age of the formation. The planktonic foraminifera Globuligerina bathoniana (Pazdrowa) suggests the (Middle? Upper?) Jurassic age of the lower part of the formation. In the upper part, the presence of Lilliputianella eocretacea (Neagu) and Hedbergella ?handousi (Salaj) confirmes the Early (?) Cretaceous age. The radiolarians obtained represent the Nassellaria order. The first occurrence of Pseudodicytomitra cf. carpatica (Lozyniak) and Holocryptocanium barbui Dumitrica, together with Loopus cf. primitivus (Matsuoka et Yao) and the genus Zhamoidellum confirm the latest Tithonian age in the lower part of the Zeni Warte section. A transition from predominantly clay-rich radiolarian facies to more calcareous nannoconus facies is noted. The presence of pelagic microfossils, along with the lithology, a limited influx of siliciclastic silt, and an absence of coarser siliciclastic materials, indicates that deposition occurred in an open marine, at least a deep shelf, environment.

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Published

2026-05-20

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