Foraminiferal distribution and biostratigraphy of the Lower Miocene Qom formation, north of Bijar, NW Iran

This study is based on larger benthic foraminifera that dominate the Lower Miocene shelf carbonates of the Qam-cheqai section, NW Iran. During the time of deposition, the investigated area was positioned on the Eurasian side of the Tethyan Seaway between the Eastern and Western Tethys. Seven porcelaneous and hyaline perfo-rated species were determined, including Praebullalveolina curdica, Peneroplis evolutus, Androsina cf. diyarbakiren-sis, Sivasina egribucakensis, Miogypsina cf. intermedia, Operculina complanata, and Amphistegina bohdanowiczi. The presence of Miogypsina cf. intermedia, and Praebullalveolina curdica allowed to correlate the assemblage with SBZ 25 Zone, indicating a Burdigalian age. The results of this study extend the paleogeographic distribution of the endemic taxa Androsina and Sivasina eastwards as far as Central Iran.