Late Middle Miocene (Serravallian) of the Fat'ha Formation, Northern Iraq: Palynofloral Evidence

This study represents the first palynological investigation conducted on the Middle Miocene Fat'ha Formation in Northern Iraq. Twelve samples were collected from an outcrop section of the Fat'ha Formation in Zawita, Northern Iraq. These samples yielded well-preserved and well-diversified palynomorph assemblages. Three species of spores related to three genera and nine pollen species related to nine genera were investigated and identified, as follows (Spirosyncolpites bruni, Pinuspollenites Subgenus Strobus sp., Abies sp.1, Arecipites pflugii, Monocolpopollenites tranquillus, Tubulifloridites sp., Quercus sp.2, Trivestibulopollenites betuloides, Carya sp., Polypodiaceoisporites fossulatus, Baculatisporites primarius, Camarozonosporites rarus). Analysis of palynomorph species assemblages from the Fat'ha Formation at the Zawita section shows no significant variations throughout the entire section, suggesting a single palynomorph assemblage biozone. This biozone was correlated with its equivalent in neighbouring Turkey, Iranian realms, and other sections around the world. The stratigraphic distribution of the identified species confirms, for the first time, that the Fat'ha Formation was assigned to the late Middle Miocene (Serravallian).