Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental study along the Upper Maastrichtian- Eocene sequence at Eastern and Western Deserts, Egypt
Journal of African Earth Sciences • 2022
Publication Information
Authors
Fatma Shaker; Walid Kassab
Keywords
Calcareous nannofossils; Biostratigraphy; Paleoenvironment;
Gebel Duwi; Gebel Ghanima; Egypt
Journal
Journal of African Earth Sciences
Publisher
Elsevier
Volume
16
Issue
Not Available
Pages
104583
publication.type
International
Paper Link
Open Link
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
Biostratigraphy and paleoenvironment of seventy surface samples were studied based on calcareous nannofossils along the Upper Maastrichtian – Eocene sequence at Gebel Duwi and Gebel Ghanima sections, Egypt. This succession includes three rock units, arranged from base to top as follow: Dakhla, Tarawan and Esna formations. Seven calcareous nannofossil biozones have been recorded, arranged as follow: CC 25c, CC 26, NP 2/3, NP 4, NP 5, NP 6 and NP 9b, discussed and compared with their counterpart in and outside Egypt. Four present stage boundaries have been discussed; the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary, it seems to be incomplete in the Gebel Duwi section due to the absence of the biozone NP 1. The Danian/Selandian boundary, it can be determined in the Gebel Ghanima section based on the FO of Fasciclithus tympaniformis. The Selandian/Thanetian boundary, it was difficult to trace in the Gebel Ghanima section, where the topmost part of Zone NP 6 was missed. The Paleocene/Eocene boundary, it cannot be accurately determined in the Gebel Ghanima section, owing to the presence of a small hiatus represented by the absence of the Subzone NP 9a. There is predominance in assemblages’ taxa and were relatively warm-water temperature during the Late Danian in the Gebel Duwi section and highly warm-water temperature around the Paleocene-Eocene boundary in the Gebel Ghanima section. There are two ecozones have been recognized in our study. In the Gebel Duwi, the sediments of ecozone (A) are deposited in cool-water, and transitional states between eutrophic and oligotrophic environments, while that of ecozone (B) are deposited in warm-water and also transitional states between eutrophic and oligotrophic environments. The sediments of ecozone (B) in the Gebel Ghanima are deposited in warm-water and mainly oligotrophic environments.
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