Calcareous nannofossils biostratigraphy and Paleoclimatology of the Bekhme Formation, Bekhere anticline, Dhouk area, Kurdistan region, Northern Iraq

Abstract

A Detailed Calcareous nannofossil study conducted on the Bekhme Formation that is cropped out at the Southern limb of the Bekhere anticline, eastern ward of the Dohuk city near Bajlur village, northern Iraq. The Bekhme Formation is composed of marly limestone, Organic limestone and fossiliferous limestone. The nannopaleontological classification of these calcareous nannofossils led us to determine thirty-four genus/species belonging to nine families. The nannobiostratigraphic analysis suggested three calcareous nannofossils biozones from oldest to youngest are: (1) Quadrum sissinghii Interval Zone; (2) Quadrum trifidum Interval Zone; (3) Tranolithus phacelosus Interval Zone. These biozones suggest that the studied section from the Bekhme Formation is the Middle to Late Campanian, and it refers to temperature fluctuations which considered as possible warm time period at subtropical areas.