PALEOECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF PALYNOMORPHS FROM PALEONTOLOGICALY-DATED MAASTRICHTIAN–DANIAN DEPOSITS, BIR ABU MINQAR AREA, SOUTH WESTERN DESERT, EGYPT

Abstract

This study is carried out on the Dakhla Formation deposits at the Bir Abu Minqar section, South
Western Desert, Egypt. Maastrichtian/Danian palynofloras have been recovered from the
micropaleontology (foraminifera–nannoplankton)- and macropaleontology (bivalvia-ammonites)- dated
deposits of the upper Dakhla Formation. Pteridophytic and liverworts spores, pollen of gymanosperms and
angiosperms as well as dinoflagellate cysts have been identified. Angiosperm pollen includes typical
members of the Late Cretaceous Palmae Province such as Spinizonocolpites echinatus. Presence of palm
pollen and hygrophylic pteridophytic spores suggest a prevalence of humid tropical conditions during the
deposition of the studied section, with Nypa palm mangroves thriving in the intertidal swamps that
bordered the Late Cretaceous shallow sea at the area of the Abu Minqar.

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