A detailed palynofacies study was carried
out on 24 shale cutting samples from the Oligocene
Dabaa Formation, which was penetrated
in the Amana-1X well, Abu El Gharadig Basin,
north Western Desert, Egypt. The investigation
targeted primarily three main groups of palynological
elements: phytoclasts, palynomorphs, and
amorphous marine organic matter (AMOM), using
transmitted light microscopy. Two major marine
palynofacies were recognized: the oldest is palynofacies
1, made up mainly of AMOM (average abundance
47.5%), phytoclasts (31.6%), and palynomorphs
(20.9%). A suboxic to anoxic outer shelf
to upper slope paleoenvironment is suggested for
this palynofacies. Palynofacies 2 is characterized by
poorly preserved translucent phytoclasts (average
abundance 61.2%) in addition to palynomorphs
(24%), AMOM (14.8%), and opaques (