Palynology of the Upper part of the Ga'ara Formation in the Western lraqi Desert

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8 [ 4] ISSN 1021 - 6812

MU'TAH Lil-Buhooth Wa AI-Dirasat

(Series B: Natural and Applied Sciences Series)

(Issue Subject: Geology)

A Refereed and Indexed Journal

Published by

The Deanship of Scientific Research and Graduate Studies

MU'TAH UNIVERSITY

Mu'tah / Jordan

c---------------------------------------------------------Vot 8 Number [4] Rajab 1414 A.H Decomber 1993

I .

Palynology of The Upper Part of The Ga'ara Formation In The Western Iraqi Desert

ABSTRA,Cl'

Nineteen core Samples from three shallow boreholesin the Ga'ara Depression, West-. .

ern Iraqi Desert, were studied palynomgyically;nine Were prO!]nctiVe, yielding highly

varie<land well-preserved mios{JQre assemblages,;

A total of 98 rniospore species belonging to 56 genera were recovered, including eight

newly described species: Cyclogranisporites bantusbiin, sp., Echinatispons gaaraensis

n. sp.,Neoraislrickia barti; n. sp. Convolutispora iraqiensis Itsp" Rotaspora naqibii n.

sp., RotaspOTa sayyabii n, sp., Diaphanospra rntbaensis lli sp" and Radiizonates ravnii

IL sp.

Tbe miospore assemblages contain a mixture of eletuents, nomWlyassociated with

Upper Carboniferous and Lower Permian miospore floras, characteristic of the Cathay

siaJ:.! botanical province. Carboniferous genera such as Torispora, Thymospora, Puncta~

tosporites, Cadiospora, Schopfites, Cyclograoispori!es and Florinites are abundant, sug

gesting that the Cathaysian province WaS a refuge area during the Early Permian.

Associated pollen la"a include Harniapollerdtes, Vittatin,!, Striatopodocarpites, Vesi~

caspora, Platysaccus and Potonieisporiles,_ assemblages are characteistic of Permian.

Consequently, the Ga'ara Formation is interpreted as being of Early Permian (Autunian)

age.

Dommant rniospores are1elate<j. tp ferns, seed ferns and cordai!es, commonly associat

ed with swamp floras, athoughthe cordiates mayhaveinbabited a wide variety of nich

es. Deposition of Ga'ata sediments probably took place in a meandering river plain syS

tem, boradered by swamplancL

78

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies Vol. 8, No. 4. 1993

INRODUCTION

Amer D. Nader Fa1ah H. Khale f Rehab A. Y ousif

The Ga'ara Fonnation is the oldest exposed lithostratigraphic unit in the

Western Iraqi Desert (Figure 1). The Ga'ara is outcropping in an east-west

elongated depression with dimensions of approximately 60 by 30 km bor

dered by cliffs up to lOOm above the surface, located some 60 km north of

Rutba city and considered as the most prominent geomorphological feature

of the area (Figure 2).

The Ga'ara Fonnation comprises lenses of sands tones in claystones and

siity claystones (Figure 3). Varicolored; white, pink, beige, yellow, brown

and purple; sandstones fonn about 40% of the totaJ sedimentary sequence,

weakly cemented, cross-bedded, ripplebedded, quartzose and ferrugineous

in places. The individual lense range from a fraction of meter in thickness to

about 30 meters, and is traceable laterally to as much as several kilometers,

although most are less than one kilometer in extension. The dominant lithol

ogy of the Ga'ara, however, is claystone of variable colour, changing both

vertically and laterally over short distances.

The exposed portion of the Ga'ara is approximately lOOm thick. The total

thickness was unknown until the recent KHS/l borehole drilling which en

countered the contact of the Ga'ara and underlying Suffi Formation at a

depth of 728m, thus giving a total thickness for the Ga'ara of 828m.

79


31

35'

]5'

33" \ i i -L,

32· .:::...-

37'

3D'

29' 50 ,

40'

t. I

i

I j

f

o FaJlba

Study Area

SCALE 1: 5 om 000

o 50 100 150 200 250Km , I

,,.

Fig.r 1 ): - Locotion mop,

Fig, 1

80

• K,rkuk

H'

, r-' \ J

'\ BOQlJba ..... ,

"

• BAGHDAD .., , ..........

45'

47'

, '\

Amardj , i i I -""'1

! Basrah

i ;

, \

4 B'

37'

- 33"

Mu'tab Journal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4 . .1993 Amer D. Nader Falab H. Khalaf Rehab A. Yousif

o 35 Km ~,~~

LEGEND

~ U.EOCENE ~ (RATGA_MUGUR MEMBER)

Ftm M.EOCENE U:ill (RATGA_OAMLOUK MEMBER)

r:-:l L,EQCENE L.....:..J (RATGA_SWAB MEMBER I

fi;i7o]i1 M-_U"PALEQCENE I!!l.il!.l.l!l [AKASHAT)

rW&0;1 l.PALEOCENE (jEED)

!7ZZJ MAESTRICHTIAN (J EED)

U-CAMPANIAN_MAESTRICHTIAN (HARTHA)

F-=-a U.JURASSILLCRETACEOUS ---- (SAGGAR I

~ L.JURASSIC(UBAIO ... HUSSAINIYAT)

~ M. JURASSfC (AMIJ + MUHAWIR )

[]]I] U.TRIASSIC [MULUSSAt ZORHAURAN J

D PERMIAN [GA'ARA I

o BOREHOLES

Fig 121.:-GeoIogical map of the Western desert showing loaalities of boreholes studied.

Fig. 2

81


B.H.100/B/85

10

OR9

20

----- ORe

30 OR7

50 -----OR"

eR5

I R' Rl

eR2 60 ----- .~

~ 00 Gravel.

.. 0 .... o 0 0

Pebble. o 0 0

°0 " ..

--~ Cloystone.

B·H· TIg

30

40

50

.'!l.Q":" :c):"t!:

.-.

oR 15 ORll.

OR 13

oR 12

• R 11

eR 10

B·H·UBSA

10

20

30

OR19 eR!B OR/7

40 eR16

SCALE 1 :500

D Sandstone.

o Productive samples.

e Non productrve samples.

Fig.[ 3 J:- Lithostrotigrophic succession ond positions of sorrples

from the studied boreholes

Fig. 3

82

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies VoL 8, No. 4. 1993

MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

Amer D. Nader Falah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Yousif

This study is based on the analysis of nineteen core samples obtained from shallow bureho1es namely B.H. 100/B/85, T19 and B.H. UB8A. Nine

samples yielded rich, well-preserved miospore assemblages; the other are

barren.

Samples are processed as follows: 70-90 g of each crushed sample is

treated with 10% HCI to remove carbonates, 37% HF for 24 hours to re

move silica, and the remaining organic material is oxidised briefly with 70%

HN03. Permanent slides were prepared using Canada Balsam as a mounting

medium. Ten slides of each sample are examin~d microscopically.

" Counts of all miospore types in the prepared slides are made to ascertain

the quantitative composition of the plant microfossils. (Fig. 4). Figured

specimens are located on assemblage slides and are housed in the collection

of the Department of Geology, Mosul University, Mosul, Iraq, registered

number RI-RI9. Optical photographs were taken with the Olympus micro

scope BH.2 and the stage coordinates quoted relate to that microscope.

83

Palynology of The Upper Part of The Ga'ara Formation In The Weslern Iraqi Desert

SYSTEMATIC PAL YNOLOGY

Anteturma Proximegerminates Ptonie [l]

Turma Triletes Reinsch emend. Dettmann [2]

Suprasubturma Acavatitriletes Dettmann [2]

Subturma Azonotriletes Luber emend. Dettmann [2]

Infraturma Apiculati (Bennie & Kidston) Potonie [3]

Subinfraturma Granulati Dybova & Jachowicz [4]

Genus Cyclogranisporites Potonie & Kremp [5]

Type species C. leopoldii (Kremp) Potonie & Kremp [5]

Plate 4, figure 3-6

Diagnosis. Miospore radial, trilete. Amb circular, margin undulate; off

polar compression common. Laesurae simple, distinct, extending to equator,

usually showing little deviation in the middle. Exine covered with evenly

distributed, losely packed grana, 1-1.5 ~m in height and basal diameter. 40-

60 elements proj ect at equator. Exine 1 ~m thick at margin, compression

folds rare. '> •.. '

Size. 36(42)50 ~m diameter (25 specimens measured); holotype 42.5 fig

ure4.

Holotype. Borehole 1001B185. Preparation RI, Slide Rl-2, Plate 4, figure

4.

Derivation of Name. The specific epithet is in honour of Iraqi hydrogeol

ogist, the late Prof. Mahdi Saleh Hantush.

Comparison. C. hantushii differs from other species of Cyclogranispor

ites by its long leasurae which reach the equator and give the appearance of

84

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4. 1993

dividing the miospore into three portions.

Amer D. Nader Falah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Y ousif

Subinfraturma Nodati Dybova & Iachnowicz [4]

Genus Echinatisporis Krutzsch [6]

Type species. E. longechinus KllJtzsch [G]

Echinatisporis gaaraensis n. sp.

Plate 6, figures 5-7

Diagnosis. Miospore radial, trilete. Amb rounded. Laesurae usually indis

tinct, simple, two-thirds of spore radius. Ornament evenly distributed, fine

tapering spinae, less than 1 [.Lm in diameter,L5"-2 [.LW long. occasionally fal

cate. 50-70 spinae project at the periphery. Exine I [.Lm thick, folding rare.

Size. 30(36)47.5 [.Lm diameter (30 specimens measured). holotype 37.5

[.Lm.

Holotype. Borehole 100/B/85. Preparation R2, slide R2-6, Plate 6, figure

5.

Derivation of name. The specific epithet is derived from the Ga'ara De

pression.

Comparison. E. gaaraensis differs from E. knoxiae Ravn [7] (formerely

Acanthotriletes echinatus [Knox] Potonie & Kremp [8] in being larger in

size, and in having shorter spinae.

Subinfraturrna Baculati Dybova & Iachowicz [4]

Genus Neoraistrickia Potonie [3]

Neoraistrickia hartii n. sp.


Diagnosis. Miospore radial, trilete. Amb traingular, sides straight to

85


slightly concave, angles broadly rounded. Laesurae simple, straight, almost

reaching the equator. Exine covered with straight bacula of unequal size, 2-7

~m high and 1-3 ~m wide; tips of bacula truncated or slightly rounded. 20-

30 bacula project at equator. Apart from the presence of bacula, exine laevi

gate, 1-1.5 ~m thick. Compression folding of the "gulaferus" type common.

Size. 30-(42)47.5 ~m diameter (25 specimens measured), holotype 42.5

~m.

Holotype. Borehole 100/B/85, preparation RI, slide RI-4, Plate 7, figure

2.

Derivation of Name. The specific epithet is in honor of Dr. George F.

Hart of Lousiiana State University for his work on Permain palynofloras.

Comparison. N. pilata Singh [9] has more conspicuously concave sides

and the bacula are smaller and tend to be concentrated in the ridial regions.

Infraturma Murornati Potonie & Kremp [5]

Genus Convolutispora Hoffmeister, Staplin & Malloy [l0]

Type species. C. florida Hoffmeister, Staplin & Malloy [10] ,"

Convlutispora irqaiensis n. sp.

plate 8, figures, 2, 3

Diagnosis. Miospore radial, tril~te., Amb circular to subcircular. Laesurae

simple, straight, 3/4 to entirety of spore radius in length, one laesura nearly

perpendicular to the other two. Ornamentation consists of closely packed

anastomosing muri 1-3 ~m wide, 1-2 ~m high, enclosing lumina irregular in

size and shape that do not exceed the width of the muri. Exine 2-3 ~m thick.

Size. 27.5(30)32.5 ~m diameter (25 specimens measured), holotype 30

~m.

86

Mu'tab Journal For Research and Studies VoL 8, No. 4. 1993 Amer D. Nader Falab H. Khalaf Rehab A. Yousif

Holotype. Borehole lOO/B/S5, preparation RI, slide RI-2, Plate 8, figure

2,

Derivation of Name, After Iraq.

Comparison C. irqaiensis differs from nearly all other species of the ge

nus in its small size, and from all others in its combination of asymmetrical

laesurae and closely packed anastomosing muri. The asymmetricallaesurae

resemble those characteristic of the genus Leschikisporis Potonie [ll], but

the latter genus is reserved for smooth to finely granulose forms.

Convolutispora sp. A

Palte 8, figure I

Description. Miospore radial, trilete. Amb rounded. Laesurae simple,

straight, approximately 2/3 of spore radius, partly obscured by ornament of

distal surface. Ornamentation consists of low, flat and partly convolute ridg

es, evenly distributed and closely packed, 1-4 !lm high; individual elements

variable in size and shape from ridges to verrucae. Exine 1.5-2.5 !lm thick,

visible as a rim at the margin.

Size. 50(57)67.5 !lm diameter (6 specimens measured).

Remarks. C. sp. A is closely similar to C. sp. 1 of Ravn [7].

Genus foveosporites Balme [12]

Type species. F. canalis Balme [12]

Foveosporites sp. A

Plate 8, figure 5

Description. Miospore radial, trilete. Amb circular. Laesurae simple,

straight, 3/4 of spore radius. Ornament on both sides consists of circular to

vermiculate foveolae 1-3 !lm in maximum dimension. Distance between in-

87

Pa\ynology of The Upper Part of The Ga'ara Formation In The Western Iraqi Desert

dividual foveolae usually greater than 2 Ilm. Exine 2-3 Ilm thick.

Size. 42.5 Ilm diameter for single specimen observed.

Remarks. F. sp. A, is closely similar to Fovesoporites sp. 1 of Ravn and

Fitzgerald [13].

Subtunna Zonotriletes Waltz [14]

Infratunna Cingnlati (Potonie & Klaus) Dettmann [2J

Genus Rotaspora Schemel [IS]

Type Species. R. fracta schemel [15]

Rotaspora naqibii n. sp.

Plate 8, figures 12, 13

Diagnosis. Miospore radial, trilete. Amb triangular, sides convex, angles

broadly rounded. Laesurae simple, straight to slightly flexuose, extending 2/

3-3/4 of body radius. Exine around proximal pole and along laesurae dark

ened. Cingulum laevigate, narrow at apices, broad in interradial regions,

maximum width 3-5 Ilm. Exine laevigate, moderately thick, characteristical

ly dark brown in cctlour.

Size. 42(50)55 Ilm diameter (30 specimens measured), holotype 55 Ilm.

Holotype. Borehole 100/B/85, preparation RI, slide RI-3, plate 8, figure

13.

Derivation of Name. The specific epithet is in honor of Iraqi stratigrapher

the late Prof. Khorshed Mohammed AI-Naqib.

Comparison. R. naqibii differs from other species of Rotaspora in having

a smooth cingUlum, lacking a zona and in the characteristically thick, dark

brown exine.

88

Mu'tah Journal For Research aud Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4. 1993

Rotaspora sayyabii n. sp.


Amer D. Nader Falah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Y ousif

Diagnosis. Miospores radial, trilete. Amb triangular, sides straight, angles

rounded, laesurae straight, ridged, ridges 1-2 /lm in width extending almost

to equator. Cingulum laevigate, narrow at apices, broad in interradial region,

maximum width 2-6 /lm. Exine laevigate to scabrate, moderately thick.

Size. 42.5(45)50 /lm (30 specimens measured), holotype 42.5 /lm.

Holotype. Borehole 100/B/85, preparation R3, slide R3-1, plate 9, figure

3.

Derivation of Name. The specifiC epithet is in tonor of Iraqi geologist

Prof. Abdulla S. AI-Sayyab.

Comparison. R. sayyabii differs from R. naqibii in being more stongly

traingular, lacking a conspicuous contact area and in having laesurae that

extend nearly to the equator.

Suprasubturma Laminatitriletes Smith & Butterworth [16]

Subturma Azonolaminatitriletes Smith & Butterworth [16]

Infraturma Tuberculomati Smith & Butterworth [16]

Genus Diaphanospora Ba"lme & Hassell emend. Evans [17]

Type species. D. riciniata Balme & Hassell emend. Evans [17]

Diaphanospora rutbaensis n. sp.


Diagnosis. Miospore radial, trilete. Amb triangular, sides straight to con

vex, engles narrowly rounded. Laesurae straight extending to spore margin,

with prominent lips approximately 3-5 /lm wide. Central body enclosed by

thin, transparent perispore that extends 3-6 /lm from central body margin.

89


Perispore usually folded over much of central body surface. Margin of peri

spore ornamented with smal.l hair-like processes. Central body laevigate,

thin.

Size. 47.5(57)68 Ilm (25 specimens measured), holotype 57.5 Ilm.

Holotype. Borehole 100IB/85, preparation RI, slide Rl-2, plate 9, figure

5.

Derivation of Name. This species is named after the town of Rutba, west

ern Iraq, near the type locality.

Comparison. D. rutbaensis differs from other species of the genus in the

strongly traingular shape with narrowly rounded angles, in having labrate

laesuae extending nearly to the margin, and in having minute hair-like pro

cesses on the perispore.

Subturrna Zonlominatitriletes Smith & Butterworth [16]

Infraturrna Cingulicavati Smith & Butterworth [16]

Genus Radiizonates Staplin & Jansonius [18]

Type species. R. aligerens (Knox) Staplin & Jansonius [18] I>

Radiizonates ravnii n. sp.


Diagnosis Miospore radial, trilete. Amb triangular, sides convex, angles

broadly rounded. Laesurae distinct, straight to slightly flexuose, accompa

nied by ridges 1-3 Ilm wide, extending to inner margin of zona. Intexine in

distinguishable, central proximal area of exoexine finely granulate, central

distal area verrucate. zona compsed of ridges radiating from edge of spore

body; ridges connected by a conspicuous transverse thickening 1-2 Ilm wide

near outer margin of zona. Width of zona approximately 50% of total spore

diameter.

90

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4.1993 Amer D. Nader Falah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Y ousif

Size. 47(49)60 !lm total spore diamter, 27(32)37 !lm diameter of central

body (25 specimens measured), holotype 56 !lm total spore diameter.

Holtype, Borehole 100/B/85, preparation R3, slide R3-1, plate 10, figure

L

Derivation of Name. The specific epithet is in honor of Dr. Robert L.

Ravn of the British Petroleum Company, Sunbury, England.

Comparison. R. ravnii differs from other species of Radiizonates in hav

ing the conspicuous transverse ridge connecting less prominent radial ridges

in the zona. R. genuinus (Jushko) Loboziak & Alpern [19] has a similar, but

less prominent transverse ridge and also bears· conlijS or spines on the zona

(R. genuinus is an invalid transfer, as the basionym was never stated), R. mi

rabilis Phillips & Clayton [20] is also similar, but is described as bearing

coni and grana on the distal surface and equator, which may coalese to from

short cristae [21].

Remarks. Most species of Radiizonates are described from Tournaisian to

lower Westphalian strata. Lower Carboniferous strata are known to be

present in the subsurface in nearby eastern Syria (R. L. Ravn, personal com

munication, 1990), and the possibility that these forms may be reworked

must be considered. In rich Lower Carboniferous miospore assemblages

from Syria, R. genuinus is present, but as a rare component of the assem

blage, and no other described species of Radiizonates have been seen, These

assemblages tend to be dominated by species of Spelaeotriletes and Vallatis

porites, none of which have been observed in the western Iraqi assemblages

described here, Consequently, we believe that the forms of Radiizonates ob

served in this study are characteristic of the Lower Permian strata, and not

recycled from earlier Carboniferous assemblages.

91

Palynology of The Upper rilll of The Ga'ara Formation In The Western Iraqi Desert

DISCUSSION

A. BIOSTRA TIGRAPHlC ANALYSIS:

A total of 98 species representing 56 genera were recognized in the

Ga'ara samples. The relative abundance of miospore species in these sam

ples, based on a count of 500 specimens is given in Figure 4.

The miospore assemblages consist of a mix of two basic groups. The first

group contains forms common in the Uppe Carboniferous assemblages of

the Euramerican botanical prOVInce (WestphaJian C-Stephanian), represent

ed by the genera Thymospora. Punctatosporites, Cadiospora, Cyclogranis

porites, Schopfites and Microreticulatisporites. The second group, mainly

gymnospermous pollen, is represented by genera such as Vesicaspora, Ha

miapollenites, Potonieisporites, Platysaccus, Striatopodocarpites and Vittati

na, which are also known from rare occurrences in the Upper Carboniferous,

but are much more characteristic of the Permian Period. These mixed mios

pores of both Upper Carboniferous and Permian are characteristic of the Ca

thaysian botanical province, of which Iraq is a part.

Agrili and Akyol [22] studied the miospore assemblage in the Hazro Ba-,,. sin in Turkey, and (ound~hat the microfloral assemblages of the Permain are

associated with a large number of species more common to the Upper Car

boniferous elsewhere. They also found a close similarity between the Hazro

Basin assemblages and those from the Kaiping Basin in China, studied by

Imgrund [23]. The assemblage obtained from the present study show great

similarities

92

Fig.4

Fig. {id:- Distribution of miospore species in the samplesinvesligotE:'d

" w

Sam pies Miospore species

CI.3 CI.3 D .• 0.1. O(>ltoldosporq cf. dlr<'clo 0.3 0.3 CI.8 CI.8 CI.3 12.. ~ 0·6 3.1. 2.1 0.8 2.5 3.1 0.8 j.B D. ~

0.' 0,

0.' 0., 0 .• CI.6 1.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.1.

0.3 0·5 0·6 0·3 1.1 CI.4 0.3 2.1 1.3 2.5 1.7 3.1 9.3 0.,

o. , 0.3 0.3 1.2 0.;

PLJf1c1olispOrll~s irlcomplu-,! P cf. kankakeensls p obloquLJS

D .• P trilidus Colamosporo hqrtungiqnq

.I.. p[]rva ~. p<,dal[] C. slr[]mrnea Granulalisporites adn[]ILJs Q..:. micro9ronlfer

G·..llM~

O.~ l'.ulisporil~s cl cOChl<'~~riu's 1.5 6.2 1..5 2.2 3.7 13.4 2.2 7.9 6.3 C cl rgnisDorlj<,S mJcaceus

0.3 0.3 '.5 Cqdiospo';o - m n[]

0.3 1.5 0.3 1.2 COI1YNrucos,spordes d~nsus 0.5 0.6 0.6 C. qranLJlatLJs

0.3 V<::rrucosisporit~s .9..CQD.!jjvNrucosus 0.3 0.3 0·6 0:3 0.1. L~5ChLkisp~ris c"stus ' ..

0.3 3.9 0.1. Schoplit~s dimorphus 0.6 0.1. Lophotrlle-Ies cf· gr[]noofrlqlus 0.3 0·3 0,3 O.~' L sparsus

1.8 0.3 16 0.9 1_6 1.8 0.3 0.3

0.3 0,3 0·3 -

01. Puslulalisp0rlte-s PQpillosus 0,4 .f. verrucife~

0·1. 0·1. EChinalis 0 l~ gaarensis Ap,eulqtosporites lal '!lnifer

Int€'rradi,porQ doedc:!q 0,3 0,3 0,8 1.6 Mierobaculisporo tentula

C.5 0.' 0.1. Neornistricklo harljj

_~ 0.3

D.;

31 0.3 O.B 1.1 1·1 1·9 2.6 1.3 0.8 0".3

2.5 3.9 0,8 1.1 0·9 5.l 1 ~.7 1.~

c.,

0' 0.6 0·3 O.~ CI.~

0_1. 0,1.

0.' c' c·,

lri lexis orit~s plQyfordii Pli croretie<ll[]t ispori les SLJ Icq lu s

Convoluli~pora m~llila

0.<. c. mjnula O.~ Dlctyotrile-tes reticulocingulum 0.1, TrlquJlnle-s ~

R~ljeu-IQtisporltes muricalus

Roto~pora n~gi'l~;'i R~

Diaphqnosporo ~s;s Cirrqlriradites saturni

Radii-..:ona!es difformis ~~---

CI·7 Oensoisporltes solidus En 5 ori! s ~

lClevigQtosporites minor 0.1. L, vulgaris

ColumiOlisporit€'5 ovalis C

1.3 5.2 13.1. 10,<. 7.9 0.5 0.5

1..6 20.1 1.2 5_2

~ K!1Oldasporjles ~ PunctCltosporites minulus £:. cf. oculus

1.3 4,1 13.1 1.9 3.7

1.3 0.3 0.6 0-6

0.9 0,1. 2.7 6.7

282.32.32.7596.58_9 t..3 0.9 3.6 0.3 0.6 0,9 1.9 ~.S 0_8

0.5 1.3 0.6 0,8 0.7 3.5

P. punctQtus

04 S inos oril .. s spinosus 9.6 ThYmospora obscura 7·7 L pseudo!hiess .. nii

T. thi&.:.s~nii

2.9 18 1 0.8 1.7 0.4 0,1. Torispora IClevigQtq ~.~ 7 2.3 3.3 L~ 2.7 O-t; ~.7 O.~ T . .:.€'curis

1..1 6.2 6,9 11-8 10.7 3·5 11.5 5,8 9.9 TUberculctos oritt?S mOdi~s

1.8,632,231..7 37 ~5.1 ~7_9 5_6 50.628.7 Floriniles JIlillutli I..~ 0.8 0.5 1.1 0.6 0.1. 2 1,8 minutus

0' Potonieis orit~" cf. noyicu" O· 6 0.3 0_3 0.6 0.8 0.' Pityosp.orites w€'slphalensis

0' PlatysqccUS ~

£.:.~ p, Sqarens,s

0.3 1·3 1.1 2_2 1.2 0.8 B_B V~sicaspora wiiso"ii 1·3 1.3 3·6 2.3 0.9 0.8 1 2 O.~ V. pyatus 0.3 0·3 ,·5 1·1 Hamiapollt""iles insolll~s

3.7 0_1. H korroo&nsis 0_3 -o.1l 16 0.1. H. Iractiferinus

0.5 1_~

0·6 0·3 0.3 0.3 1_3 0.5 O.S 1.1

o.~ Striatopodocarpites eancellCltus 0.8 4.8 1.1 S. venuslus

V,ttatinn costabilis O.~ 0,1. Tetro oriOlo s.1

0.6 O.B Sph~ripollenitE'5 ~

.. -


with those of [22], taking into account that some of the species they have

identified been given different names in the current study.

Akyol [24] studied the miospore assemblages from the Pamucak and Sa

riz area in Turkey, and assigned them a Lower Perrnian age relying on the

association of the following miospores: Thymospora spp., Punctatosporites

spp., Torispora spp., Laevigatosporites spp., Poto'nieisporites novicus, Can

didispora aequabilis, Hamiapollenites saccatus, Vesicaspora wilsonii and

Vittatian cincinnatus. He summarized the characteristics of the miospore as

semblages as follows:

1. The percentage of spores is greater than that of pollen grains, and the per

centage of monolete spores is greater than that of triletes.

2. The absence of the genus Lycospora, which usually disappears in the

Stemphanian D.

3. The absence of disaccate straite pollen in the Upper Carboniferous and

their presence in low percentages in the Lower Permian, whereas they are

common to dominant in the Middle and Upper Permain.

These results are identical to the present study . . ~

Hart [25], in his comprehensive study of the characteristics of the four

botanical provinces, identified the Cathaysian province during the Perrnian

Period by the abundance of typically Carboniferous genera during the Early

and Late Permian, depended on the outline given by Ouyang [26, 27]. Ouy

ang described a cathaysian microflora from China (Shansi Province), which

occurs in the Lower Permian to Middle Zechstein strata. Hart [25] found

that the evolution of both the macro-and microflora appears to be continu

ous, and the microflora generally corresponds to that of the Upper Carbonif

erous (Westphalian-Stephania) of the Euramerican floristic province. A mi

croflora from the Kaiping coal basin is also known [28, 23], and it appears

94

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No, 4, 1993

to have the same nature.

Amer D, Nader Falah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Y ousif

Data on miospore assemblages of the Iraqi Permian published by Singh

[9]. This data, however, refers to a single specimen of shale from a drill core

of Chia Zairi strata near Mosul, where disaccate pollen was abundant. This

sample was considered to be of Upper Permiau age because of the occur

rence of the genera Anguisporites and Lueckisporites.

Eshet and Cousminer [29] established nine palynozones for the Permo

Triassic succession in the Negev area of Palestine. The first Zone

(Hamiapollenites insolitus-Potonieisporites novicus), representing the Low

er Permian, includes mainly disaccate striate. pollen characteristic of the .. Lower Permiau and similar to the microflora of this study, despite the ab-

sence of "Carboniferous" monolete or trilete spores.

Comparing the miospore assemblage typical of the Permian of this study

with the Ds (Disaccate striatiti) Zone established by Clayton [30] for the

Lower Permiau of Western Europe shows a close similarity, especially in

the disappearance of Lycospora and the presence of Harniapolienites, Striat

opodocarpites aud Vittatina.

The Carboniferous flora, as typified by that developed in Western Eu

rope, continued to flourished in the humid tropical refuge area of the Ca

thaysiau province during the early part of the Permian, and was extinguished

as a flora only during the Middle Permiau as a result of large-scale climatic

chauge. As a cousequence, the presence of abundaut "Carboniferous" relict

genera are due to the favourable climate in the Cathaysiau province.

B. PALAEOBOTANICAL AFFINITIES AND PALEOECOLOGY

The relative abundauce of the major miospore genera is given in Figure

5. Trilete and monolete miospores which have affinities with filicineans,

marattialeans aud lyginopterids accoridng to the classification of Ravn [7],

95


are common components of the Early Permian spectra. Present in equal or

even higher percentages, however, are the saccate pollen grains of Cordaites

and other gynmosperms, such as Florinites, Vesicaspora, Hamiapollenites

and other bisaccate grains.

Two ecologically contrasting misopore types are represented in the Low

er Permian microflora: Pterophyta plant spores, and wind- or stream

transported allochthonous gymnospermous saccate forms. The fern spores

originated mostly from mesophytic and hydrophy llous plants, closely resem

bline the North American and European coal swamp assemblages, while

most of the saccate forms have been originated and known from xeric up

land floras, marginal to the lowland. The numerical dominance of these sac

cate forms in the assemblages could be due to the relative overproduction of

pollen by these gynmosperms as compared to species ot the lower plant

groups. Scott [31] concluded from the evidence of macrofloral distribution

that Cordaiteans could have widely inhabited different ecological niches. As

the Ga'ara Formation is known to have been deposited in: a high sinuosity,

mixed-load channel (i.e., meandering) river system Tamer-Agha [32]

(Figure 6), whe.l".e the hydrophyllous and mesophytic plants that contributed "

the miospores were probably growing in the swamp bordering the channel.

The pollen grains of the xeric gymnosperms may have derived from sur

rounding areas.

96

----- _ .. ---. ,-~--

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4. 1993 Amer D. Nader Falah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Y ousif

R 18 50 R10 60 R11 50 50

40 40

% 30 30

20 20

10 10

2 3 4 5 6 3 4 5 6 , 50 R10 50 R5

50 R4

40 40 40

30 30 30

20 20 20 " ., ..

10 10

3 4 5 6 , 1 2 3 4 5 6 , 1 2 3 4 5 6 ,

60 60

fU R1 50 50

40 40

30 30

20 20

10 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 , 1 2 3 1. 5 6 , 1 2 3 4 5 6 ,

,- Cyclogronisporites micQceus, 5. Tubercuiatosorites modicus

2. Pundat'osporites spp. 6. Florinites spp.

3. Thymospora sPP. 7, Vesicaspora spp,

4. Torispora spp.

Fig.1 5);- Histograms of major miospore genera in the productive

samples of the Gaara For motion

Fig. 5

97


River chan ne I

Bockswamp

Fig. ( 6 )-

Fig, 6

Schematic representation , Gad'ra Formation

98

Ox - bow lake

of deposition of


CONCLUSION


The palynological examination of core samples from the Ga'ara Fo=a

tion are obtained from three shallow boreholes drilled in the western Iraqi

Desert has revealed the following:

I. The microflora assemblages comprise 96 species of spores and pollen

grains, of which eight species are described as new.

2. The miospore assemblages obtained from the present study are similar

to those recovered from other localities in the Cathaysian botanic province,

which is characterized by association of Carboniferous spores with Lower

Permian pollen grains and spores. This mixed associ<t1:ion resulted from con

ditions favouring a refuge area for "Carboniferous" that previalied during

Lower Permian time in the Cathaysian province.

3. Miospore assemblages, typical of Lower Permian, that recorded in the

present study are represented by disaccatc straite pollen, in particular Hami

apollenites, Striatopodocarpites and Vittatina, as well as the non-striate dis

accate pollen grains namely Vesicaspora, Pityosporites and Platysaccus.

Monosaccate Pollen taxa; Potonieisporites novicus, Plicatipollenites densus

and Candidispora candida, in addition to characteristically Pe=ian spores;

Deltoidospora directa, Iraqispora labrate, Neoraistrickia spp., Playfordiaspo

ra crenulata, Spinosporites spinosus and Tuberculatosporites modicus are

also identified. These characteristics coupled with the absence of representa

tives of the the genus Lycospora all indicate a Lower Permian (Autunian)

age for the samples examined.

4. The palynologicaJ data suggest deposition in a high-sinousity, mixed

load channel system bordered by swamps.

99

Pa\yno\ogy of The Upper Part of The Ga'ara Fonnation In The Western Iraqi Desert

REFERENCES

1. Potonie R, Teil VI. Beih. GeoL Jahrb., 94 (1970) 3-18.

2. Dettmann M.E., Proc. Roy. Soc. Vict., 77 (1963) 1-148.

3. Potonie R., Teil 1. Beih. GeoL Jahrb., 23 (1956) 1-103.

4. Dybova S. and Jachowicz A., Prace lust. Geol. 23 (1957) 1-356.

5. Potonie Rand Kramp G., Geol. Jehrb., 69 (1954) 111-194.

6. Krutzsch W., Beih Geol. Jahrb., 21-22 (1959).

7. Ravn R.L., Lowa GeoL Survey Tech. Pap., No. 7 (1986) 1-165.

8. Potonie R. and Kramp G., Teil 1. Palaeontographica B., 98 (1955) 1-136. ,

9. Singh H.P., Palaeontology, 7 [2] (1964) 240-265.

10. Hoffmeister W.S., Staplin F.L. and Malloy R.E., Jour. Paleont., 29

(1955) 372-39. o

11. Bfonie R, Teil n. Beih, Geol. Jaharb., 31 (1958) 1.114.

12. Balme B.E., Commonw. Sci. Ind. Res. Org., 25 (1957) 1-48.

13. Ravn R.L.ltnd R!tzgerald D.J., Palaeontographica B., 183 (1982) 108·,

172.

14. Waltz I.E., Trav. lust. GeoL U.R.S.S., 105 (1935) 1.48.

15. Schemel M.P., Jour. Paleont., 24 (1950) 232-244.

16. Smith A.H. and Butterworth M.A., Spec. Pap. Palaeontology, 1 (1967)i

1-324. i

17. Evans P.R., Austr. Bur. Min. Resources, Geol. Geophys. BulL, 116!

(1970) 65-82.

18. Staphlin F.L. and Jansonius J., Palaeontographica B, 107 (1964) 95-117.

100


19. Lobaziak S. and Alpem B., Palinologia, 1 (1978) 55-67.

Amer D. Nader FaIah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Y ousif

20. Phillips T and Clayton G., Rev. Palaeobot. & Palynol., 27 (1980) 239-

289.

22. Agrali B. and Akyol E., Maden Tet. Arama Enst. Bull., 68 (1967) 1-26.

23. Imgrund R., Geol. lb., 77 (1960) 143-204.

24. AkyolE., Pollen et Spores, 17[1] (1975) 141-179.

25. Hart G.E., Geosc. and Man, 1 (1970) 89-131.

26. Ouyang S., Acta Palaeontologica Sinica 10 (1962) 76-119.

27. Ouyang S., Acta Palaeontologica Sinica12·(196V 486-519.

28. Imgrund R., Thesis, Tech. Hochsch. Aachen., (1952).

29. Eshet Y. and Cousminer H.L., Micropaleon., 32 [2] (1986) 193-214.

30. Clayton G., Coquel R., Doubinger J., Gueinn K., Loboziak S., Owens B.

and Streel M., Med. Rijks Geol. Diensts., 29 (1977) 1-71.

31. Scott A., C., Palaeont., 20 (1977) 447-474.

32. Tamer-Agha M.Y., Report, S.O.M., Baghdad (1986).

101


PLATE!

1. Deltoidospora cL directa (Ba1me and Hcnnelly) Norris 1965, R1 6 -12.61

119, 57.5 ~m.

2. De1toidospora 1evis (Kosanke) Ravn 1986, R14 -9.91134,1, 47.5 ~m.

3, D.1evis, R33 -10.8/130.7, 30 ~m.

4. Deltoidospora priddyi (Berry) McGregor 1973, R33 -9.01134, 35 ~m.

5. D. priddyi, R3 1 -9.61118.8, 28 ~m.

6. Deltoidospora sphaerotriangu1e (Loose) Ravn 1986, R22 -31114.9, 45 ~m.

7. D. sphaerotriangu1a, R3 1 -6.11114.5, 41 ~m.

8. Iraqispora 1abrata Singh 1964, R23 -4.131.1, 47.5 ~m.

9. I.1abrata, R1 3 -8.9/113.8, 40 ~m.

10. Latipu1vinites cf. kosankei Peppers 1964, R33 -R11.7/110.5, 25 um.

11. Punctatisporites g1aber (Naumova) Playford 1962, R13 -14.61118.4, 52.5

~m.

12. E. g1aber, R~4a -61107.1, 47.5 ~m. "

13. Punctatisporites i~'comptus Felix and Burbridge 1967, R1 5 -12.21131.9,

SO~m.

14. E. incomptus, R14 -4.71111.4, 47.5 ~m.

15. E. incomptus, R1 5 -4.5/116, 42.5 ~m.

102

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies VoJ. 8, No. 4.1993

103


Pa\yno\ogy of The Upper Part of The Ga'ara Formation In The Western Iraqi Desert

PLATE 2

1. Punetatisporites ef. kankakeensis Peppers 1970, R1 3 -2.8/129.5, 511-Lm.

2 . .e. ef. kankakeensis, RI! -9.5/118.7, 50 I-Lm.

3. Punetatisporites obesus (Loose) Potonie and Kremp 1955, R1 5a -7.6

124.8, 62.5 I-Lm.

4. Punetatisporites obliquus Kosanke 1950, R1 3 -31103.4, 50 I-Lm.

5 . .e. obiquus, RI! -2.4/19.9, 57.5 I-Lm.

6. Punctatisporites trifidus Felix and Burbridge 1967, R17 -5.6/120.8, 52.5

I-Lm.

7 . .e. trifidus, R14a -9.2/121.7, 441-Lm.

8. Punctatisporites cf. trifidus Felix and Burbridge 1967, R3 3 -3.9/133.8

37.5 I-Lm.

9. Punctatisporites validus Felix and Burbridge 1967, R3! -6.21113.4, 6

I-Lm.

10. Punctatisporites priseus Bhardwaj and Salujha 1965, R2! -4.9/118.2, 62. ;,. I-Lm.

104

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4.1993

105


Palynology of The Upper Part of The Ga'ara Fonnation In The Western Iraqi Desert

-------------------------------c----------- . PLATE 3

1. Calamospora hartungiana Schopf, in Schopf, Wilson and Bentall 1944,

R3! -3.4/125, J 12.5 !lm.

2. Calamaspora parva Guennel1958, R32 -6.4,120.7,45 !lm.

3. C. parava, R3! -RIO.6/119.5, 50 !lm.

4. Calamospora pedata Kosanke 1950, RI! -0.2/115.8, 90 !lm.

5. CaJamospora straminea Wilson and Kosanke 1944, RI! -1.9/109, 47.5.

!lm.

6. Granu1atisporites adnatus Kosanke 1950, R24 -5.5/129.1,32.5 !lm.

7. Granulatisporites microgranifer Ibrahim 1933, R3! -4.4/109.4, 37.5 !lm.

8. G. microgranifer, R3! -0.7/108.5, 35 !lm.

9. Granulatisporites parvus (Ibrahim) Potonie and Kremp 1955, R3! -14.5/

119.2,47.5 !lm.

10. Gulisporites cf. cochlearius Imgrund 1960, R12 -9.6/111.3, 40 !lm.

11. G. cf. cochlepius, R26 -R13.3/132.8, 32.5 !lm.

12. G. cf. cochlearius;'R22 -9.9/109.7,35 !lm.

106

Mu'tah lournal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4. 1993

107



PLATE 4

1. Cyclogranisporites micaceus (Imgrund) Imgrund 1960, R1 3 -9.0/115, 4 \

~m.

2. C. micaceus, R3 1 -7.0/118.8, 50 ~m.

3. Cyclorgranisporites hantushii sp. nov., RI -7.6/126, 44 ~m.

4. C. hantushii, RI -9.4/128, 42.5 ~m, holotype.

5. C. hantushii, RI -10.51108.8, 42.5 ~m.

6. C. hantushii, Rl-1O.11124.6, 42.5 ~m.

7. Cadiospora magna Kosanke 1950, R42 -3.7/127.7, 77.5 ~m.

8. C. magna, R42 -12/106.2, 65 ~m.

9. Converrucosisporites densus Bhardwaj 1957, R1 3 -0.4/106.7, 34 ~m.

10. Converrucosisporites triquetrus (Ibrahim) Potonie and Kremp 1955, RI

-9.71120.4, 47.5 ~m.

11. Concavisporites granulatus Agrali and Akyo11967, R4 -12.5/118.9, 6

~m.

108


109

Amer D. Nader Fa1ah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Y ousif

Palynology of The Upper Part of The G.'ara Formation In The Western Iraqi Desert

PLATES

1. Verrucosisporites grandiverrucosus (Kosanke) Smith 1964, R26 -9.

120.3, 65 /!m.

2. V. grandiverrucosus, R12 -10.81127.4, 67.5/!m.

3. Leschikisporis cestus Segroves 1969, R3 3 -5.21112.7, 37.5/!ffi.

4. L. cestus, R3! -8.31111.9, 50 /!m.

5. Schopfites dimOl:phus Kosanke 1950, R3! -RlO.5/115.3, 55 /!m.

6. S. DimOl:phus, R12 -8.71119.8, 51/!m.

7. S. dimorphus, RI! -12.61111.6, 50 /!m.

8. S. dimorphus, R14 -9.6/120.7, 60 /!m.

9. Lophotriletes ef. granoomatus ArtUz 1957, R1 5 -4.11133, 47.5/!m.

10. Lophotriletes sparsus Singh 1964, Rll -R9.3/120.2, 40 /lm.

110

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4 . 1993

111

Amer D . N ader FaJah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Y ousif

PaJynoJogy of The Upper Part of The Ga'ara Formation In The Western Iraqi Desert

PLATE 6

1. Pustulatisporites papillosus (Knox) Potonie and Kremp 1955, R24 -4.2

115.7, 47.5 ~m.

2. 1'. papillosus, R33 -13.8/121.5, 42.5 ~m.

3. Pustulatisporites verrucifer (Kosanke) Ravn 1986, R31 -7.5/107, 45 ~m.

4. 1'. verrucifer, R14 -RlO.3/113.5, 50 ~m.

5. Echinatisporites gaaraensis sp. nov., R2 -RI2.4/132.2, 37.5 ~m, holotype ..

6. E. gaaraensis, R3 -1.2/113, 35 ~m.

7. E. gaaraensis, R4 -8.5/116.3, 40 ~m.

8. Apiculatasporites latigranifer (Loose) Ravn 1986, R1 5 -8.8/104.1, 50 ~m.

9. A.latigranifer, R14 -4.6/132, 41 ~m.

10. Interradispora daedala Foster 1979, R3 3 -10.8/126.1, 31 ~m.

11. 1. daedala, R33 -6.4/130, 32.5 ~m.

12.1. daedala, R24 -R9.3/125.5, 30 ~m.

13. MicrobacuJispora tentula Tiwari 1965, R26 -8.7/129.9, 30 ~m. --;,

14. M. tentula RI! -10/126.8, 47.5 ~m.

112

Mu'tah lournal For Research and Studies Vol. 8, No. 4. 1993

It3



PLATE 7

1. Neoraistrickiahartii sp. nov., R14 -0.0.109, 47.5 Ilm.

2. N. hartii, R14 -1.8/121, 42.5 Ilmholotype.

3. N. hartii, RI! -4.7/119, 40 Ilm.

4. Triplexisporites playfordii (de Jersey and Hamilton) Foster 1979, R3 3

9.8/122.4,35Ilm.

5. I. p1ayfordii, R3! -7.6/123.7, 30 Ilm.

6. I. p1ayfordii, R3 1 -7.8/120, 26 Ilm.

7. Microreticulatisporites sulcatus (Wilson and Kosanke) Smith and Butter

worth 1967, RI! -13.4/131.5,47.5 Ilm.

8. M. sulcatus, RI! -8.21120.3, 40 Ilm.

9. M. su1catus, R15 -11.9/125.2, 45 Ilm.

10. Convolutispora ef. varicosa Butterworth and Williams 1958, R1!a -7.

126.4,401lm.

11. .C. ef. varieosa, R1 6 -11.3/1 34. 8, 50 Ilm.

12. Convolu~spo1"llmellita Hoffmeister, Staplin and Malloy 1955, R14 -9.1

121.9, 52.5 ··m.

114

Mu'tah Journal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4.1993

115

Amer D. Nader Fa1ah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Y ousif


PLATES

1. Convo1utispora sp. A, R13 -6.4/123.5, 52.5 Ilm.

2. Convo1utispora minuta sp. nov., R3 -7.11113.7, 30 Ilm., ho1otype.

3. C. minuta, RI -5.61116.1, 27.5 Ilm.

4. Dictyotri1etes re1icu1ocingu1um (Loose) Smith and Butterworth 1967, RI

-13/107.4, 31 Ilm.

5. Foveosporites sp. A, R1 5 -9.5/124.2, 42.5 Ilm.

6. Triquitrites protensus Kosanke 1950, R33 -9.6/122.3, 45 Ilm.

7. I. protensus, R1 3 -R9.2/133.1, 37.5 Ilm.

8. Triquitrites sculptilis Balme in Smith and Butterworth 1967, R24 -4.

106.4, 27.5 Ilm.

9. Tantillus triquetrus Felix and Burbridge 1967, R1 5 -12.7/126.5, 30 Ilm.

10. Reticulatisporites muricatus Kosanke 1950, R12 -7.3/115.7,60 Ilm.

11. R. muricatus, R14 -7.8/120.5, 47.5 Ilm.

12. Rotaspora~qibii ~p. nov., R1-11.7/108.2, 51 Ilm. , .. ~ ~

13. R. naqibii, RI -4.81110, 55 Ilm., holotype.

116

Mu'tab Journal For Research and Studies Vol. 8, No. 4. 1993

117



PLATE 9

1. Rotaspora sayyabii sp. nov., R2 -RI0.3/126.7, 45 !lm.

2. R. sayyabii, R3 -11.41113.9, 50 !lm.

3. R. sayyabii, R3 -7.3/113.3,42.5 !lm., holotype.

4. Diaphanospora rutbaensis sp. nov., RI -13/127.6,57.5 !lm.

5. D. rutbaensis, RI 10.01126.8,57.5 !lm., ho]otype.

6. D. rutbaensis, RI -5.5/120.4, 50 !lm.

7. Cirratriradites saturni (lbrahim) Schopf, Wilson and Bentall 1944, R1 5

13.81109.3,47.5 !lm.

8. C. saturni, R43 -Rl1.4/134.5, 45 !lm.

9. Radiizonates difformis (Kosanke) Staphlin and Jansonius 1964, R21 -3.

129,57.5 !lm.

10. R. difformis, R22 -2.71123.8,55 !lm.

11. R. difformis, R24 -5.1I120, 55 !lm.

118


119


1


PLATE 10

1. Radiizonates ravnii sp. nov., R3 -2.8/124.5,56 flm., holotype.

2. K ravnii, R3 -0.01127.52.5 flm.

3. R. ravnii, RI -4.6/126.6,55 flm.

4. Densoisporites solidus Segroves 1970, R23 -RIO.7!125.5, 47.5 flm.

5. D. solidus, R23 -1.8/123.7, 45 flm.

6. D. solidus, R22 -3.8/111.5, 42.5 flm.

7. Ednosporites zonalis (Loose) Knox 1950, R12 -6.71125.8, 54 flm.

8. Grandispora desmoinesensis Gupta 1969, R3 1 -7.1/130.3,57.5 flm.

9. Playfordiaspora crenulata (Wilson) Foster 1979, R33 -Rl1.8/109.6, 87

flm.

1O . .e. crenulate, R23 -2.5/113.3, 145 flm.

120

Mu'tab Journal For Research and Studies Vol. 8, No. 4. 1993

121

Amer D. Nader Falab H. Khalaf Rehab A. Yousif

, I

, "

I '

! :

I


PLATE 11

1. Laevigatosporites minor Loose 1934, R44 -6.01109.1, 50 ~m.

2. 1,. Minor, R32 -1.9/111.8, 30 ~m.

3. 1,. minor, R24 -6.2/121.8, 30 ~m.

4. Laevigatosporites vulgaris (Ibrahim) Ibrahim 1933, R23 -0.8/123.8, 80

~rn.

5. 1,. vulgaris, RP -6.01122.3, 80 ~m.

6. Co1uminisporites ovalis Peppers 1964, R33 -3.2/121, 65 ~m.

7. C. ovalis, R43 -11.2/117, 62.5 ~m.

8. C. ovalis, R34 -9.511 03, 55 ~m.

9. Columinisporites peppersi A1pern and Doubinger 1973, R34 -4.5, [16.1

60 ~m.

10. Kendosporites striatus (Salujha) Surange and Chandra 1974, R3 1 -6.41

13 1.2, 60 ~m.

11. K. straitu~; R3 1 -5.21112.3, 60 ~m.

122

Mu'tab Journal For Research and Studies Vo!. 8, No. 4.1993

123



PLATE 12 1. Punctatosporites minutus Ibrahim 1933, R3 1 -RI2.0/128.2, 27.5 ~m. 2. E. minutus, RI1 -3.71123.2, 24 ~m. 3. E. minutus, R3 1 -12.0/121.1, 25 ~m. 4. E. minutus, R33 -12.0/119.5, 22.5 ~m. 5. Punetatosporites ef. oculus Smith and Butlerworth 1967, RI4a -6.7/120.3, 30 ~m. 6. Punctatosporites punetatus (Kosanke) Alpern and Doubinger 1973, R31 -15/111.7.24

~m.

7. E. punetatus, RILl 1.0.113.2, 20 ~m. 8. E. punetatus, R33 -2.11123.1, 26 ~m. 9. Spinosprites sl'inosus Alpern 1958, R31 -9.11122.3, 39 ~m. \O . .s.. spinosus, R3 1 -6,\1120.8, 42.5 ~m. 11..s.. spinosus, R3 1 -7.51122, 37.5 ~ll. 12. Thymospora obscura (Kosanke) Wilson and Venkataehala 1963, R33 -11.8/114.4,26

~m.

13. I. obscura, R13 -2.41120.6, 22.5 ~m. 14. T. obscura, R31 -11.S/131.4, 25 ~m. 15. T. obscura, R3 1 -RI 0.9/125, 25 ~m. 16. Thymospora pseudothiessenii (Kosanke) Wilson and Venkataehala 1963, R3 3 -2.11124,

27.5 ~m. 17. T. Pseudothiessenii, R3 1 -7.6/l19.9, 27.5 ~m. IS. T. pseudothiessenii, RI5 -7.3/116.7, 22.5 ~ll. 19. T. pseudothiessenii, R3 1 -Rll.41125.8, 27.5 ~ll. 20. Thymospora lhieoseuii (Kosanke) Wilson and Vcnkatachala 1963, RP -9.11129.5, 27.5

~m.

21. I. thiessenii, R13 -8.31121.S, 32.5 ~m. 22. I. thiessenii, RI! -4.31123.7, 45.5 ~ll. 23. I. thiessenii, RI! -2.21112.5, 30 ~m. 24. Torispora laeviga\!! Bhardwaj 1957, RI4a -13.8/134, 24 ).lll. 25. I. laevigata, RI3 -Rll.7t129.6, 22.5 ).lm. 26. I.laevigata, R3 1 -9.1I11\.3, 31).lID. 27. I.laevigata, R3 1 -4.11117, 30 ~m. 28. Torispora securis (Balme) Alpern, Doubinger and Horst 1965, R\3a -4.S/\09.3, 30 ~m. 29. I. seeuris, RI3 -7.01126, 27.5 ).lID. 30. I. securis, RI3 -5.8/124.8, 26 ~tm. 31. I. securis, R31 -9.0/116.2,25 ).lm. 32. Tuberculatosporites modicus Balme and Hennelly 1956, RI5 -7.8/11 1.4, 25 ).lID.

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PLATE 13

1. Candidispora candida Venkatachala 1963, R1 6 -1.4/112.8, 57.5 /.lm.

2. C. candida, R22 -3.9/114.9,120 /.lm.

3. C. candida, R21 -4.6/118.4, 72.5 /.lID.

4. Plicatipollenitesdensus Srivastave 1970, R45 -3.71115,100 /.lm.

5. E. densus, R45 -0.3/126, 65 /.lm.

6. Florinites millotti Butterworth and Williams 1954, R33 -11.9/126.2, 32.5

/.lm.

7 . .E. rnillotti, R33 -10.115.9, 37.5 /.lm.

8 . .E. millotti, R33 -11.6/131, 42.5 /.lm.

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PALTE 14

1. Florinites minutus Bhardwaj 1957, R33 -11.71126.1, 37.5 ~rn.

2 . .E. rninutus, R33 -2.6/133.9, 35 ~rn.

3. .E. minutus, R25 -RI2.8/127, 35 ~rn.

4. Potonieisporites cf. novieus Bhardwaj 1954, R21 -8.3/124.2, 105 ~rn.

5. .e. ef. novieus, R22 -6.51120, 95 ~rn.

6. Potonieisporites rnierosaeeus Butterworth, Mahdi and Nader 1988, R2 -

RI3.21128, 25 ~rn.

7. Pityosporites westphalensis Williarns 1955, Rll -8.01113.5, 42.5 ~rn.

8 . .e. westphalensis, R31 -0.5/113.1, 29 ~rn.

9. Platysaeeus lesehikii Hart 1960, RP -12.51128, 70 ~rn.

10 . .e. lesehikii, R14 -5.9/1 12, 62.5 ~rn.

11. .e. lesehikii, R17 -9.61116.3, 62.5 ~rn.

,

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Amer D. Nader Faiah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Yousif


PLATE 15

1. Platysaccus papilionis Potonie and Klaus 1954, R43 -7.21119, 95 J.lID.

2. E. papilionis, R1 5 -4.8/100.3, 82,5 J.lID.

3. E. papilionis, R32 -3.01123.8, 75 J.lID.

4. E. papilionis, R1 6 -9.0/131.8,62.5 J.lID.

5. Platysaccus saarensis (Bhardwaj) Jizba 1962, R32 -3.0/123.6, 55 J.lID.

6. E. sarrensis, R26 -12.7/124, 50 J.lID.

7. E. sarrensis, R25 -0.5/112.5, 62.5 J.lID.

8. Vesicaspora wilsonii Singh 1964, R22 -6.6/113.2, 75 J.lID.

9. V. wilsonii, R3 1 -R8.8/129, 62.5 J.lID.

10. V. wilsonii, R22 -2.6/111.2, 77.5 J.lID .

., .. "

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Amer D. Nader Falab H. Khalaf Rehab A. Yousif ,


PLATE 16 1. Vesicaspora ovatus (Ba1me and Hennelly) Hart 1960, R3 3 -3.01125.7,

62.5 ~m.

2. V. ovatus, R24 -6.5/120.S, 65 ~m.

3. V. ovalus, RI 3 -11.6/110.2, 60 ~m.

4. V. ovatus, R33 -S.OI1 21.3, 62.5 ~m.

5. Hamiapollenites inso1itus (Bhardwaj and Sa1ujha) Balme 1970, R33 -9.71

122.5, 77.5 ~m.

6. H. inso1itus, R34 -Rl1.6/119.S, 57.5 ~m.

7. H. insolitus, R41 -13/123.6, 67.5 ~m.

S. H. insolitus, R33 -10.7/116, 62.5 ~m.

9. H. inso1itus, R34 -R6.6/120, 77.5 ~m.

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PLATE 17

1. Hamiapollenites karrooensis (Hart) Hart 1964, R25 -Rl1.01125.8, 85 Ilm.

2. H. Karrooensis, R34 -10.0/100.5, 77.5llm.

3. H. Karrooensis, R3 1 -9.4/116.4,78 Ilm.

4. Hamiapollenites tractiferinus (Samoilovich) Jansonius 1962, R34 -6.3/

120.9, 82.5 Ilm.

5. H. tractiferinus, R33 -Rll.3/113.2, 50 Ilm.

6. Striatopodocarpites cancellatus (Zoricheva and Sedova) Sedova in Hart

1964, R14 -Rl1.4/118.8, 40 Ilm.

7. S. cancellatus, R1 5 -10.01127.5, 55 1lID.

8. S. cancellatus, R43 -8.91128.8, 67.5 Ilm .

... -;

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Amer D. Nader Falah H. !Chalaf Rehab A. Yousif

p.JynoJogy of The Upper Part of The G.'ara Formation In The Western Iraqi Desert

PLATE 18

1. Striatopodocamites venustus Bhardwaj and Salujha 1965, R34 -9.9.105,

65 J.lm.

2. ,5,. venustus, R34 -8.5/115, 42.5 J.lm.

3. ,5,. venustus, R33 -11.5/108.8, 45 J.lm.

4. ,5,. venustus, RI5 -7.3/132.3, 50 J.lm.

5. Vittatina costabilis Wilson 1962, RI7 -0.0/121.5, 51 J.lm.

6. V. costabilis, R]1-11.91121.5, 40 J.lm.

7. V. costabiJis, R17, 10.01116.3,44 J.lm.

8. V. costabilis, R15 -14.01118, 37.5 J.lm.

9. Tetraporina.ml, R23 -1.5/124.2, 62.5 J.lm.

10. T . .ml, R1 3 -4.6/120.8, 62.5 J.lm.

11. Spheripollenites.ml, R14 -7.7/114.8,62.5 J.lm .

.. .

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Amer D. Nader FaJah H. Khalaf Rehab A. Yousif

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Palynology of the Upper part of the Ga'ara Formation in the Western lraqi Desert

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