Late Campanian – Maastrichtian Sequence Stratigraphy from Kurdistan Foreland Basin, N. Iraq

Abstract

The late cretaceous reservoir manifested by thick sequence of more than 1000 m of siliciclastics and Rudist carbonates within Zagros Fold–Thrust Belt, Kurdistan region, Northeast Iraq. The Late Cretaceous Kurdistan Foreland Basin was formed as a result of the ophiolites –radiolarites obduction of the Iranian plate on the Arabian plate. The studied successions from oil wells and outcrops are comprised are identified as third order cycle. The transgressive system tract manifests as marine hemi pelagic facies of the Shiranish Formation (late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian). Almost indicates the last Maximum flooding surface during the cretaceous with planktonic lime mudstone facies. The distal turbidites facies manifest highstand system tract (Early to middle Maastrchtain -Tanjero Formation).The overlying late highstand system tract represents either by the proximal turbidites, when there is tectonic influence, or during the quiescence times by the Hippurites reefal (late Maastrchtian-Aqra Formation). The overlying molasses facies associations of the Red Bed Series are separated by sequence boundary of type one, (more than 200mconglomerate). Accordingly, Kurdistan Foreland basin geometry and facies associations was mostly controlled by the reactivation of the deep cited transversal faults in additions to Eustatic sea level changes