Contribution à la géologie de la formation de Kerman (Paléocène) Iran central : étude sédimentologique et paléogéographique.

The Kerman formation is composed entirely of detrital and synorogenic deposits of Paleocene to lower Eocene age. The formation may be subdivided into two parts. - The lower Kerman formation: calcareous sandstones with a very abundant matrix (WACKE). - The upper Kerman formation: course conglomerate. Paleogeographical reconstitution of the area studied is based on a sedimentological approach. The laramian orogenic phase which was accompanied by folding and uplifting in the source region, is marked by an abundance of sedimentary formations, in which the Cretaceous limestones have been most important source of the pebbles, while the sandy formation provided fine fractions for the whole of the Kerman formation (the conglomerate matrix and the sandstones). From the source regions which have been located precisely erosion productions have been carried away by the fluviatile systems, at first low energy (the lower Kerman formation), then high energy (the upper Kerman formation) to the separate intracontinental basins. Sedimentation took place in arid climate and an alkaline environment leading to restricted leaching.