Benthic foraminiferal paleobathymetry and paleoenvironments of late Maastrichtian–early Eocene sequence in Wadi Tarfa, north Eastern Desert, Egypt | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Geology | ||
| Article 17, Volume 68, Issue 1, 2024, Pages 289-307 PDF (2.35 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/egjg.2024.299747.1082 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Saida Ali Ahmed Taha* 1; Mohamed Youssef Ali2 | ||
| 1Petroleum Geology Department, Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Science, Matrouh University, Marsa Matrouh, 51512, Egypt | ||
| 2Geology Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University | ||
| Abstract | ||
| In order to study the biostratigraphy and decipher the paleoenvironmental conditions of the Maastrichtian–Paleogene successions, 75 samples were collected from exposed section in Wadi Tarfa, Galala Sub-basin, north Eastern Desert of Egypt. The samples have been analyzed for a benthic foraminiferal content. Five lithostratigraphic units are recognized in the study area in an ascending order: Sudr, Dakhla, Tarawan, Esna and Thebes formations. Fourteen zones and six subzones of planktonic foraminifera are recorded. Detailed quantitative analysis revealed 225 benthic foraminiferal species belonging to 88 different genera. Angulogavelinella avnimelechi, Neoflabellina jarvisi, Gavelinella beccariiformis, Bolivina midwayensis, Pullenia coryelli, Cibicidoides alleni, Verneuilina aegyptiaca, and Gyroidinoides globosus became extinct at the P/E boundary. The depositional environments ranged from middle neritic to bathyal (∼150–300 m deep) during deposition of the Maastrichtian–early Eocene sequence. Midway-type fauna, with mixed infaunal and epifaunal morphogroups, were recorded. The calculation of foraminiferal indices and cluster analysis provide a strong proxy for paleoenvironmental conditions and sea-level changes across the Maastrichtian–early Eocene interval. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Benthic foraminifera; Paleoenvironment; Maastrichtian–early Eocene sequence; Wadi Tarfa; Egypt | ||
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