BIOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE MIOCENE SUCCESSIONS IN THE SADAT AREA, WEST GULF OF SUEZ-EGYPT

The age of the exposed Sadat, Hommath and Hagul formations in Sadat area on the west side of the
Gulf of Suez, is inadequately resolved due to the scarcity of diagnostic planktic foraminifera and
calcareous nannofossil taxa. The detailed analysis of the calcareous nannofossil content, planktic and
larger benthic foraminifera of three sections measured in Wadi El-Ramiya, Wadi Hommath and Wadi
Hagul at Sadat area, allows identification of 23 calcareous nannofossil species, 23 planktic foraminiferal
species and 152 benthic foraminiferal species. Our results indicate that the Sadat Formation is assigned to
Burdigalian-Langhian age according to the occurrence of Miogypsina cushmani and Miogypsina
intermedia in its lower part and the appearance of Borelis melo in its upper part. The Hommath Formation
is assigned to the Langhian-Serravallian age depending on the occurrence of Borelis melo curdica together
with Borelis melo melo. The Hagul Formation is barren from any zonal marker but it is assigned to the late
Miocene age according to its stratigraphic position.