Abstract

A section of the Pabdeh Formation dating back to the Paleocene-Oligocene has been sampled in the Zagros Basin in Southwest Iran for palynological investigations and evaluation of thermal maturity and hydrocarbon generation potential. In total, 125 rock samples were collected and processed palynologically. The samples yielded rich assemblages of dinoflagellate cysts, and 65 cyst species were identified. Some index species allowed us age dating and establishment of seven dinoflagellate cyst zones in accordance with the existing European zonation. The dinoflagellate cyst zones allowed precise age assignment of the formation under study to late Paleocene to early Oligocene. For thermal maturity evaluation, spore and pollen grain color were correlated against the standard color chart prepared by the Shell Oil Company. The properties of the samples, according to palynomorph color changes, suggest that this formation is potentially oil prone and may have produced oil.

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