Morphogenesis of Balkhania balkhanica Mamontova, 1966 (benthic foraminifera) from Lower Cretaceous successions along the northern Tethyan margin (NE and Central Iran): Time and environmental control

Among large benthic foraminifera, Balkhania genus is one of the most valuable taxon that has been used to better constrain the biostratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous successions along the Tethyan carbonate platforms. The species Balkhania balkhanica is considered as biostratigraphical index for the Barremian-Aptian interval. This study is focused on the B. balkhanica-bearing intervals of the Tirgan and Taft formations from two sections, deposited on the carbonate platform of the Iranian Tethyan margin (Kopet-Dagh Basin, NE Iran and Yazd Block, Central Iran). The age of the studied sections has already been determined in previous works. In present research, morphology and stratigraphical and ecological distribution of the recorded specimens are interpreted. According to the morphological changes, two morphotypes of B. Balkhanica have been introduced. Small-size morphotype is recorded in the Upper Valanginian to Upper Hauterivian interval of the Tirgan Formation. The Upper Barremian to Lower Aptian successions are mostly associated with larger sized specimens having a coarse quartz agglutinated wall, and named arenaceous morphotype. Their wall is in contrast to the Turkmenistan type specimens having a calcite microgranular-agglutinated wall. Inherent evolutionary factor suggests an evolutionary trend of this species from smaller to larger sized specimens during the Late Valanginian to Early Aptian. A preliminary study of the depositional environment also indicates an environmental control for this type of morphological variation. It suggests that the small-size morphotype mostly occurred in an under-stress shallow-water environment, while the larger size morphotype was associated with deeper and more stable outer-shelf environments.