Upper cretaceous and lower cenozoic foraminifera of three oil wells in northwestern Iraq

Author

Farouk Sunallah Al-Omari

Abstract

"Seventy-five samples of well cuttings and cores from the Iraq Petroleum Company Butmah Well No. 9, Ain Zalah Well No. 16 and Ain Zalah Well No. 17, in northwestern Iraq at approximately 36° 37' north latitude and 42° 41' east longitude, have been examined in detail. The lithologic descriptive term "marl" is replaced by calcareous shale or argillaceous limestone, and the term "globigerinal limestone" is not considered applicable. The foraminiferal fauna from the upper part of the Shiranish Formation prove to be of Maestrichtian age. The Mesozoic-Cenozoic boundary is recognized on the basis of "smaller foraminiferal" faunal assemblages; it is placed between the Maestrichtian and the Danian Stages. The Aaliji Formation yielded typical world-wide recognized Danian fossils at the bottom and Landenian forms in the upper part. The Danian Stage is established for the first time in Ain Zalah Well No. 17 and here is considered to be at the base of the Cenozoic Erathem. The Landenian State is introduced for the first time in the stratigraphic column of Iraq. Strata of Maestrichtian, Danian, and Landenian age yielded a foraminiferal fauna of 167 species and subspecies, belonging to 53 genera, 26 families, 8 superfamilies and two suborders. Of the genera present Globotruncana, Praebulimina, Bolivina, and Heterohelix have the greatest number of species and individuals in the Upper Cretaceous samples, and Globigerina and Globorotalia dominate the Paleocene (Danian and Landenian) fauna. The genera Chiloguernbelina, Rugoglobigerina, Pseudonodosaria and Globigerina are included in the taxonomic study, and the earliest representatives of the last genus are considered to be Danian in age"--Abstract, pages ii-iii.

Advisor(s)

Frizzell, Don L. (Donald Leslie), 1906-1972

Committee Member(s)

Wixson, Bobby G.
Spreng, Alfred C., 1923-2012
Beveridge, Thomas R. (Thomas Robinson), 1918-1978
Proctor, Paul Dean, 1918-1999

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Geology

Sponsor(s)

Iraq
V. H. McNutt Foundation

Publisher

University of Missouri--Rolla

Publication Date

1970

Pagination

xiii, 208 pages, 3 plates

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 174-204).

Geographic Coverage

Iraq

Rights

© 1970 Farouk Sunallah Al-Omari, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Foraminifera, Fossil -- IraqPaleontology -- CretaceousPaleontology -- Cenozoic

Thesis Number

T 2356

Print OCLC #

6019565

Electronic OCLC #

864029985

Recommended Citation

Al-Omari, Farouk Sunallah, "Upper cretaceous and lower cenozoic foraminifera of three oil wells in northwestern Iraq" (1970). Doctoral Dissertations. 2077.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/doctoral_dissertations/2077