Early to middle Miocene foraminifera from the Mishan formation in southern Iran

Foraminiferal studies of the Mishan Formation in southern Iran have mostly used thin sections, with fewer studies of isolated forms. In this research, isolated foraminifera from early to middle Miocene beds (Mishan Formation) hsave been studied. The Mishan Formation comprises two members; the Guri member consists of limestones and marly limestones with medium layers of green marl; the marly member comprises green marls and grey marls with interlayered limestones. In this study, 120 samples were taken from marly members of Mishan Formation at four locations (i.e., Khorgu, Gery Sheikh, Roydar, and Baghestan) in Southern Iran. The total thickness of marl members in four outcrops are 1390. They yielded 46 genera and 53 species of benthonic foraminifera, and 8 genera and 13 species of planktonic foraminifera. In this research, 23 genera and 33 species have been described, many of which have not been reported from the Miashan Formation in Southern Iran.