Geo-Marine Letters

, Volume 38, Issue 2, pp 179–192 | Cite as

The end-Permian regression in the western Tethys: sedimentological and geochemical evidence from offshore the Persian Gulf, Iran

  • Vahid Tavakoli
  • Mehrangiz Naderi-Khujin
  • Zahra Seyedmehdi
Original
First Online:
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Accepted:

Abstract

Detailed sedimentological and geochemical records across the Permian–Triassic boundary (PTB) in five offshore wells of the central Persian Gulf served to interpret the end-Permian sea-level change in this region. A decrease in sea level at the PTB was established by petrographical and geochemical study of the boundary. Thin sections showed that Upper Permian strata are composed of dolomite with minor anhydrite, changing into limestone in Lower Triassic sediments. Brine dilution toward the boundary supports sea-level fall in the Permian–Triassic transition, reflected by a decrease in anhydrite content and a shallowing-upward trend from lagoonal to peritidal facies. Isotopic changes at the boundary are in favor of sea-level fall. Changes in both carbon (from about 4 to –1‰) and oxygen (from 2 to –5‰) stable isotopes show negative excursions. The shift in carbon isotope values is a global phenomenon and is interpreted as resulting from carbonate sediment interaction with 12C-rich waters at the end-Permian sea-level fall. However, the oxygen isotope shift is attributed to the effect of meteoric waters with negative oxygen isotope values. The increase in strontium isotope ratios is also consistent with the high rate of terrestrial input at the boundary. The effect of meteoric conditions during diagenesis is evident from vuggy and moldic porosities below the PTB. The following transgression at the base of the Triassic is evident from the presence of reworked fossils and intraclasts resulting from deposition from agitated water.

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Notes

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the University of Tehran for providing financial support for this research. We thank one anonymous reviewer and the journal editors for constructive comments that greatly helped to improve the manuscript.

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest with third parties.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Vahid Tavakoli
    • 1
  • Mehrangiz Naderi-Khujin
    • 2
  • Zahra Seyedmehdi
    • 3
  1. 1.School of Geology, College of ScienceUniversity of TehranTehranIran
  2. 2.Pars Oil and Gas CompanyTehranIran
  3. 3.Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth SciencesKharazmi UniversityTehranIran

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