The possible tectonic activities are Tanjero basin. It is possible that later in
observed as following: the early Tertiary, the position of the slope
At the beginning of the deposition of was acted as geoflexture for the existing
the lower sequence (proved to include present anticlines.
Kometan, Shiranish and part of Tanjero The sequence stratigraphy proved that
Formation, the studied area suffered from the facies of the Tanjero Formation have
clear deepening. This is proved from field migrated to south and southwest in such
work which is demonstrated by deposition way that the position of the shelf, slope
of deep pelagic Kometan Formation over and basin is changed during lower and
shallow marine reefal Qamchuqa upper sequence mostly by forced
Formation. This transgression may be regression. This regression is due to
reflection of prominent subsidence due to eustatic sea level change with the aid of
tectonic loading of the existed platform. tectonic uplift of source area and possibly
The over loading is happened by colliding part of the basin.
of Iranian and Arabian plate by which the The high thickness and coarseness of
former thrusted over the latter and the Kato conglomerate is evidence for
advanced toward position of the Tanjero above-mentioned facts. The high tectonic
basin. The thrust uplifted the area, which and elevated source area is opposed in
is located to the north and northeast of the the basin by slight subsidence and general
studied area (source area) gradual shallowing, which is in some
This is probably started from time, demonstrated by incised valleys
Campanian and continues till the (see Karim 2004) [4]. In some cases, they
beginning of Tertiary and forming active have scoured the shelf down into the
continental margin. Uplifting created a Shiranish Formation such as the Iran and
southwest advancing positive tectonic Qandil sections (Fig.2) At Iranian section
front (frontal part of Iranian plate). The the thickness of formation consists only of
continuous erosion of this front shed large Kato conglomerate and typical lithology
quantity of clastic sediment into the of Tanjero Formation is absent.
4
Subsidence of the Upper Cretaceous basin one. We called this relation between the
(Marouf, 1999) [10]. two formations “a sleeping man on a
But in the present study it is proved that carpet” which means that Tanjero is the
nearly all the typical lithology of the man and Shiranish Formation is the”
formation is deposited during major carpet”.
forced regression (LST), which is The paleocurrent direction (see Karim
discussed in detail below. 2004) [4] indicates the general direction
Present ideas of south and southwest, which shows no
The following ideas of the present study any separation of the region called
are based on fieldwork, recent new “miogeosyncline” and “unstable shelf”
sedimentological and stratigraphic from each other during Upper Cretaceous.
principles which are applied on the Previously these two zones were assigned
studied area. for sedimentation of Tanjero and Shiranish
Same tectonic setting of Shiranish and Formations respectively. In the present
Tanjero Formations: study the miogeosyncline basin
While the tectonic of Tanjero (previously assigned basin for Tanjero
Formation is exaggerated in the above- Formation) is changed to upper
published ideas, nothing is mentioned Cretaceous depocenter and unstable shelf
about tectonic of Shiranish Formation. In to Upper Cretaceous basin center (Fig.7).
the present study, Tanjero Formation is Both basin center and depo-centers
neither sedimentologically nor combined to form a broad southwest
tectonically separated from basin of sloping Zagros initial foreland basin.
Shiranish Formation. Also the unstable Which bordered, from northeast, by
shelf and previous miogeosyncline is recently uplifted (or over-thrusted)
united in single basin named Upper positive land, which was migrating
Cretaceous Early Foreland Basin, all these continually. Karim( 2004)[4] found both
are deduced from the following: land plant and 500m of boulder
The contact between the two conglomerate which are direct evidence
formations is gradational and they for positive land mountain belt). This
laterally interfingering Bellen et al. terrestrial land by initial drainage pattern
(1959) [3] and Buday, 1980) [1]. This was which most possibly of parallel type.
also observed in the field by the present This pattern is formed at the front of the
author. The same above authors thrust sheet (or reverse fault) formed a
mentioned that Shiranish basin extends scarp. This pattern included many deep
to unstable shelf (to near central Iraq) valleys through which water and
(Fig.6 and 7). Therefore, according to sediments of many small watersheds
traditional and sequence stratigraphy, both (possibly less than 400km2 for each
formations form one sequence, one drainage basin) were delivered (drained)
depositional basin, and affected by one to the basin (Fig. 7). During relative sea
cycle of sea level changes. Therefore both level fall (LST) these valleys, more and
formations must be put in one single basin more advanced towards the basin by
of same tectonic setting. scoring of the delta plain and shelf
In all areas of distribution of both sediments of previous HST. During this
formations, the extent of Shiranish sea level fall, the coarse sediments are
Formation is more than Tanjero deposit as alluvial fans in the coastal area
Formation. Therefore the former of the basin and part of these fans were
formation acts as a carpet for the latter built in to the main body of the sea
7
forming fan delta (Fig.7). The valleys the foreland is a continental part of the
mentioned above are called incised crust and is the edge of craton or platform
valleys; three of these valleys are area. In this study the Tanjero basin is
ascertained and mapped in the field. These considered to be initial foreland basin so
valleys are filled with Kato conglomerate the above definition can be applied to
on the shelf and with both alternation of this basin when considerable amount of
sandstone and conglomerate on the Upper activity is given to the basin because of its
slope and sandstone and shale at lower early development. The applicability of
slope and basin floor. In North America the definition is attributed to the
Bhattacharya and Willis (2001) [11] following:
described, in detail, a lowstand system The basin of Tanjero formation was
tract in foreland basin during relatively stable as compared to thrust
Cenomanian. The content of the lowstand sheets and over-folded source area of the
is much similar to that of lower part of formation which located in the Iran
Tanjero Formation in the view of Territory. Another reason for relative
lithology, trace fossil (cruziana and stability of the basin is the basin shows
skolithos) and sedimentary structures no igneous activities. In other side, more
(HCS, Cross bedding)(see Karim 2004) active area is the source area of the
[4]. Formation which includes Qulqula
Although Kolosh Formation has nearly Formation, Ophiolite Complex and Qandil
same lithology as the Tanjero Formation, Group. All these represent the orogenic
it is tectonically separated from belt of the above definition.
miogeosyncline and regarded as a unit of As seen in sequence stratigraphy sea
unstable shelf by above authors. In the level fall and rise of the formation is
rd
present study, the three formations nearly coinciding with the 3 order
(Shiranish, Tanjero and Kolosh) have eustatic sea level change. This is mean
given same rank of tectonics (early that the tectonic was not so intense to
foreland basin or syn -collision active obscure the effect of eustatic sea level
margin). The only difference is the change.
possible depocenter migration toward The final reason for relative stability of
southwest for about 25 km (estimated the basin is the fact that the basin of
only) as regarded to position Tanjero Tanjero Formation is characterized by
Formation. Even Aqra-Bekhme growth of the thickest and best reefal
Formation is included in the basin as limestone. These limestones include both
reefal facies on local submerged Aqra-Bekhme Formation and Kato
paleohighs. Mixed Carbonate-Siliciclastic Succession.
Recording of abundant plant debris is Both the formation and the succession are
good evidence for existing of lands that consisting of thick rudist and large foram
surround the basin. For this and other bearing limestone which proves the
evidence cited above the basin is called relative stability of the basin with constant
foreland basin. subsidence as all other basins. All these
Initial (early) foreland basin prove that the Tanjero basin was not
Bate and Jackson (1980) [12] defined tectonically so active such as estimated
foreland basin as: previously. This is true also for depth
A stable area marginal to an orogenic belt, which was shallower than that assigned
toward which the rocks of the orogenic before. Einsele (2000, p.606) [13] called
belt were thrust or over folded. Generally,
8
this type of initial foreland basin transition zone between foreland and
“remnant basin” which is more active and remnant basin.
deeper than the foreland basin. According Balambo and Qamchuqa Formations
to him it is largely filled with deep-water were forming the platform during Lower
flysch sediments and confined with, on Cretaceous and Tanjero Formation
one side, by pre-existing passive started deposition on top of these
continental margin (platform) (western formations after rapid subsidence. This
desert in case of Iraq) with wedge of older rapid subsidence led to the deposition of
clastics and carbonate sediments. On the Kometan Formation. Later, when the
other side, an approaching thrust belt source area was uplifted and sea level was
confines the formation. lowered (during most times) Tanjero
Qulqula Radiolarian Formation formation was deposited.
(accretionary prism) represented the thrust In foreland basins, sediment shallows
belt (in case of Tanjero basin) (Fig.5B). up from deep water to shallow marine and
This prism (after erosion) is shedding then continental sedimentation (Mail,
relatively large volume of various clastics 1995) [14]. This type of shallowing is
in the form of turbidites and mass flow exactly applicable for Tanjero Formation
deposits into the basin. The actual position and Red Bed Series, which have gradation
of Tanjero Formation may be located in contact (in some place) in the area of the
9
is discussed in detail in the paragraph on In this study, the above two characteristics
sequence stratigraphy. are attributed, partly, to the following:
The 25 km migration of the depocenter The source area (Qulqula Formation) is
is attributed to sea level change and basin composed of 30% variegated marl,
fill which are both well enhanced by calcareous shale; 40% thin bedded chert
progressive southeast advancement of and 20% of limestones. These sediments
thrust sheet of Iranian plate. are easily weathered and eroded during
Upper Cretaceous stormy climate.
Sediments: as an apparent indication of The source area, hinterland and
high tectonic foreland, was steep sloping and highly
As mentioned before both Tanjero and deformed during the collision of the
Shiranish Formations were sharing same Arabian and Iranian plates (continental –
basin and exchanging position laterally continental colliding phase). It is likely
and vertically (Fig.6 and 7) The Tanjero that at that time the brittle bedded chert
Formation basin was active and relatively and soft marls are so intensely jointed and
high tectonic but when compared to fractured that helped rapid weathering, the
Shiranish Formation, its tectonic is highly erosion and creation of deep valleys.
exaggerated this is due to the high The bedded cherts, although brittle,
thickness and alternation of coarse and they shaped into hard and sharp edged
fine sediments. This gives, apparently not boulder and gravel (with some blocks) by
really, the exceptionally high tectonics jointing. During transport in streams,
during deposition. But when one studies these act as millstone for grinding and
the nature and lithology of the source area, breaking up the clasts and the underlying
one realizes why the formation has high rock too. All these helped enormous
thickness and compositionally different amount of material to be available for
lithologies. transporting and
11
forcefully emplaced upward by flowage contact between the two (Einsele, 2000)
like salt domes or tooth past (see Costa [13]. In Tanjero this arrangement of
and Venderville, 2001 for principle of sediment is very clear in Kato Mountain
diapirism in convergent setting, p.123- (Plate 5.1.2 and 5.2) where coarse
151) [17 . The softness of these rocks also conglomerate (coastal sediments) rests on
led the ophiolite to rest in the core or shale of shelf of the lower sequence.
boundary of the prism and later Moreover in Iranian section and
outcropped during erosion of the source Kometan section (Fig.2) Kato
area. This is can be ascertained by the conglomerate rest on the pelagic marl of
fact that the lower part (e.g., Kato Shiranish Formation.
conglomerate) of the Tanjero Formation As a result of the forced regression, the
does not contain any type of igneous thick pile of lowstand system tract is
boulders and gravels while the upper part deposited. This forced regression is
contains these rocks. affected by eustatic sea level change and
The high thickness may be partly most possibly enhanced by tectonic
returned to climate of Upper Cretaceous, uplift of the source area. The uplift is also
which was stormy and wet. In this accompanied by progressive horizontal
connection Haq (1991 p. 34) [18] advancing (closing) of the source area.
mentioned that increased albedo during The lithology of the Tanjero Formation
lowstand favors extreme climate, and this, revealed that the source area (hinterland)
in turn lead to enhanced thermal contrast was mainly comprised of accretionary
of land and sea, between surface and prism of Qulqula Formation and minor
bottom of seawater. He also added that amount of ophiolite (exposed only during
the extreme climate increase weathering deposition of upper part), which was
and erosion on land. pushed southwestward toward early
foreland basin (Shiranish and Tanjero
Types of regressions basins). The grain size and roundness (fine
The main succession of the Tanjero grain size and rounded clasts) of the
Formation is sandwiched between a igneous pebbles showing that the outcrops
forced regression and normal regression of the ophiolite are located more remote
from the base and the top respectively as distance than the chert ones.
follows: Normal Regression
Forced regression in Tanjero Formation In contrast to forced regression at
Posamentier et al. (1992) [19], has lower part of the formation, the upper part
defined forced regression as basinward suffered from normal regression, which
movement of the shoreline, caused by happened during the end of highstand
relative sea-level fall and independent system tract. According to Einsele (2000)
sediment supply. While Ainworth and [13] this type of regression also occurs
Crowley (1994) [20] defined it as during stable sea level and occurs as a
progradation of the shoreline in response result of sediment fill of the basin and not
to relative sea-level fall in which the rate as a result of relative sea level fall. The
of sediment supply exceeds the rate arrangement of sediments is coarsening
accommodation space added. upward which shows no omission of any
The most important evidence of the member of gradation facies succession.
forced regression is rapid coarsening In Tanjero Formation, this type of
upward, i.e. the resting of coarse regression is occurred during deposition
sediments on fine ones with erosional of the upper part in which the sediment
13
supply exceeded the available accommo- for comparing with that of Tanjero
dation space so that shallow bioclast and Formation. When the comparison is made
biogenic limestone, as a part of upper part, in all aspects, Tanjero basin is more
is deposited. These limestones contain similar to Atlantic type continental margin
abundant large forams and pepecypod than Pacific one, while the previous
bioclast. In some places, the high stand studies such as Jaza (1991) [22] and
Kato mixed carbonate-siliciclastic Numan (1977) [23] put the formation in a
succession is overlain by Tagaran basin more similar to Pacific type
conglomerate, which may be the deposit continental margin. This is because the
of shelf margin system tract (SB2). latter margin has subduction trench and an
under-thrusting oceanic plate while
Low subsidence and high sea level fall Atlantic type margin has no such features.
All authors previously studied Tanjero According to Hyndman (1970, p.7) [24]
Formation, agreed that it is characterized continental margin of the pacific type may
by rapidly subsiding basin. But the present revert to Atlantic type with dying out of
study proved the opposite (in the studied under-thrusting of the oceanic plate under
area), as follows: the continent, cessation of seismic activity,
As previously mentioned in this study, filling and uplift of the trench sediments,
the typical lithology of the formation is and welding of the continental to the
deposited above an unconformity (SB1) oceanic plate. This was what happens to
during sea level fall (LST). This sea level the basin where Tanjero formation is
fall occurred by forced regression. This deposited. This is because the basin (or
means that the sea level falls were more northern part (coastal area) of the basin)
than subsidence. It is most probable that was most probably Pacific type during
the eustatic sea level fall is enhanced by Lower Cretaceous (Qulqula and Balambo
tectonic uplift. This tectonic uplift is Formations) but changed to pacific type
associated with source area and probably during collision of Iranian continent with
part of the basin (the shelf of lower Arabian one after dying out of oceanic
sequence). The evidence of the tectonic plate and uplift of Qulqula formation,
enhanced eustatic sea level fall is the high which according to Karim (2003a) [5]
thickness of incised valleys sediment was forming sediments of trench before
fills. In discussion of the foreland basin, colliding.
Einsele (2000, p.8) [13] mentioned that
clastic material influx from the rising Conclusion
mountain belt often keeps pace with or 1-The previously the basin of Tanjero
exceeds subsidence and cause basin Formation is considered as trench or
filling. But during deposition of middle miogeosyncline but in this study
part the basin suffered from rapid clear changed to early foreland basin.
subsidence demonstrated by deposition of 2-In contrary to previous studies, all parts
Shiranish- like lithology (Pelagite and of the formation have given same degree
Hemipelagite facies). of tectonics. Moreover, the basin of
formation combined tectonically with that
Atlantic type continental margin of underlying Shiranish Formation in a
Atlantic and Pacific type continental single basin, which is called initial Zagros
margin (Dickinson 1971) [21], as two Foreland Basin.
different depostional basins between 3-In this basin Tanjero Formation is
continental and oceanic floor, can be used deposited in near shore area, while
14
Shiranish Formation is deposited in the 5.The whole basin was deposited in front
central part of the basin. southwest advancing of Iranian plate
4. Most parts of the formation is deposited causing continuous migration of
by forced regression (sea level fall depocenter.
enhanced by tectonic uplift.
References
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16