10.57647/j.gcr.2025.0801.06

The Crassostrea coquina bed in the Qeshm Geopark (Southern Iran): Paleontology, Paleoecology and Geotourism Potential

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  • Mohammad Javad Hassani*1,
  • Vachik Hairapetian2,
  1. Department of Ecology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, End of Haftbagh Highway, Kerman, Iran
  2. Department of Geology, Isf. C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
The Crassostrea coquina bed in the Qeshm Geopark (Southern Iran): Paleontology, Paleoecology and Geotourism Potential
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Received: 2025-05-08

Revised: 2025-06-15

Accepted: 2025-06-21

Published in Issue 2025-06-25

Copyright (c) -1 Mohammad Javad Hassani, Vachik Hairapetian (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Hassani, M. J., & Hairapetian, V. (2025). The Crassostrea coquina bed in the Qeshm Geopark (Southern Iran): Paleontology, Paleoecology and Geotourism Potential. Geoconservation Research, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.57647/j.gcr.2025.0801.06
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Abstract

The Crassostrea coquina bed on Qeshm Island is named for its high abundance of Crassostrea virginica fossils. Field surveys and photographic documentation from two key locations show that there are three lithostratigraphic units deposited in deltaic or estuarine environments. Morphological changes in the oyster community suggest an upward increase in sediment load and depositional rate. Evidence of mechanical abrasion and erosion on disarticulated oyster shells indicates accumulation by strong storm and flood or tsunami currents. A Plio-Pleistocene age is confirmed through comparison with identified taxa (Crassostrea virginica, Pecten vasselii, Pecten jacobaeus?, Chlamys varia, Placuna placenta, and Conus sp.) and the surrounding Aghajari Formation. The outcrops of the Crassostrea coquina bed in Qeshm Island could be considered as new geosites in the Qeshm International Geopark. Coquina beds hold significant geotourism potential due to their unique bioclastic composition, fossil-rich layers, and paleoenvironmental insights. Their aesthetic appeal and educational value attract both scientific and general visitors, offering opportunities for geoheritage interpretation. Sustainable management, including controlled access and taphonomic monitoring, is essential to preserve these fragile geological archives.

Keywords

  • Persian Gulf,
  • Bivalvia,
  • Aghajari Formation,
  • Geosite,
  • Ostrea
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