Continental Trace Fossils in the Semnan Area (Northern Iran)

Mousa Bagheri, Sadat Feiznia, Mehran Arian, Rahim Shabanian, Rahim Mahari

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Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: 10.4236/ojg.2013.32009                

Abstract

Continental ichnology has been taking an ever increasing importance in stratigraphy. In this paper, Continental Trace Fossils in Semnan area have been studied. Semnan Province is one of the 31 provinces which is located in the north of Iran. In the East of Semnan City, Quaternary deposits occupy about 93% of the surface area, of which the Alluvial represents one of the most important geomorphological features in the area. Nevertheless, the outspread ichnological studies in Semnan City have received lesser attention in Continental Trace Fossils. Based on the systematic ichnology, 6 trace fossils are distinguished, namely Celliforma isp, Coprinisphaera isp, Palaeophycus tubularis, planolithes isp, Tombownichnus plenus, and Skolithos isp. The existence of Rhizoliths along with the tetrapod footprints and the survey of lithofacies all indicate that the trace fossils are related to Coprinisphaera ichnofacies. Based on ichnological and sedimentary facies analysis, the Continental Trace Fossils, in the study area, are located in the flood plain, point bar, and playa environment.

Keywords

Continental Ichnology; Coprinisphaera Ichnofacies; Quaternary; Trace Fossils; Semnan

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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