Benthic foraminiferal paleobathymetry and paleoenvironments of late Maastrichtian–early Eocene sequence in Wadi Tarfa, north Eastern Desert, Egypt

Taha, Saida Ali Ahmed; Ali, Mohamed Youssef

doi:10.21608/egjg.2024.299747.1082

Benthic foraminiferal paleobathymetry and paleoenvironments of late Maastrichtian–early Eocene sequence in Wadi Tarfa, north Eastern Desert, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Petroleum Geology Department, Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Science, Matrouh University, Marsa Matrouh, 51512, Egypt

² Geology Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University

10.21608/egjg.2024.299747.1082

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.

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