Sequence stratigraphic significance of sedimentary cycles and shell concentrations in the Aitamir Formation (Albian-Cenomanian), Kopet-Dagh Basin, northeastern Iran

Albian-Cenomanian siliciclastic shallow marine sediments of the Aitamir Formation, Kopet-Dagh Basin, northeastern Iran, form strongly asymmetric fining-coarsening-upward cycles, which are interpreted as recording changes in relative sea level (deepening-shallowing cycles). These cycles correspond to depositional sequences, in which deposits of the lowstand systems tract are not present, the sequence boundary coinciding with the transgressive surface. Shell concentrations are found in distinct positions within the depositional sequence: as transgressive lags at the base of the transgressive systems tract (TST), in the maximum flooding zone (MFZ), and at or close to the top of the highstand systems tract (HST). They are dominated by bivalves (mainly oysters) and/or ammonites and differ from each other in a number of stratigraphic, sedimentologic, palaeoecological and taphonomic features, such as species diversity, preservation quality, orientation, percentage of disarticulation, and degree of biogenic alteration. Characteristic features of concentrations at the base of the TSTs are moderate time-averaging, distinct basal erosional surface, sorting, a chaotic to preferred convex-up orientation, and nearly total disarticulation of shells. They are suggestive of an environment in which reworking and local transport was frequent events. Similar features are shown by concentrations near the tops of the HSTs, except that the shells were largely concentrated in lenses rather than in beds as in the transgressive lags. Associated sedimentary structures indicate deposition above fair weather wave base in a high-energy environment. Concentrations occurring in the MFZ, in contrast, are autochthonous and highly time-averaged, having accumulated during times of low rates of sedimentation below storm wave base. This is supported by their high preservation quality (comparatively high percentage of articulated shells, shells of infaunal organisms commonly preserved in life position), high glauconite content and biogenic alteration being the most important taphonomic features. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.