Sedimentology and depositional environment of the Kazhdumi Formation Sandstones in the northwestern area of the Persian Gulf

Abstract

Kazhdumi is one of the Bangestan Group formations aging late early Cretaceous (Albian). Three subsurface sections of the sandstone bearing part of Kazhdumi in the studied area located at northwest of the Persian Gulf are assessed for determining sedimentary facies and depositional environment. Based on the recognized facies, the sandstone bearing zones of Kazhdumi and their relevant paleoenvironments can be addressed as: the first one is the B sandstone zone which is deposited by river influenced conditions. The second one, the A sandstone zone which is deposited under a key limestone layer, is a transition interval showing the changes of river-dominated condition to marine one. The third one is the A sandstone zone deposited above the key limestone layer deposited in reduction condition in estuarine environment. Applying facies analyses results, isopach maps, porosity distribution maps and sandstone grain size study, the paleocurrent pattern is determined from the southwest to northeast.