Paleoecology and Paleogeography of the Cenomanian-Turonian Macrofossils, north Eastern Desert and Sinai, Egypt

Darwish, Mahmoud H.; Abdel-Maksoud, Nasr A.; Zakhera, Mohamed S.; Obaidala, Nageh A.

doi:10.21608/nujbas.2022.117895.1001

Paleoecology and Paleogeography of the Cenomanian-Turonian Macrofossils, north Eastern Desert and Sinai, Egypt

Document Type : Original papers

Authors

¹ Geology Department, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, El Kharga, Egypt

² Geology Departement, Faculty of Science, Assiut University

³ Geology Departement, Faculty of Science, Aswan University

10.21608/nujbas.2022.117895.1001

Abstract

Taphonomy, mode of life, quantitative abundance, faunal diversity and relative abundance of the macrofossils identified from the Cenomanian-Turonian successions at north Eastern Desert and Sinai to deduce the paleoecological conditions and paleoenvironmental setting during the deposition. The successions composed of mixed siliciclastic and carbonate rocks. They are subdivided into Raha (at base), Abu Qada (at middle) and Wata (at top) formations. The Raha Formation probably deposited in a shallow-marine environment ranging from littoral (less 10m) for the lower part to infra-sublittoral (10-100m) for the upper part. The Abu Qada Formation probably deposited in littoral to shallow circa-sublittoral environment (10-150m), during a transgressive phase. The Wata Formation probably deposited in infra-littoral environment (10-100m). Based on the paleobiogeography point view, geographic distribution of the identified faunal species shows a strong affinity to the Mediterranean Province. Large proportion of the ammonite, bivalve, gastropod and echinoid faunal elements links the study area with North Africa, Middle East and South and West Europe. Some species of Cenomanian and Turonian ages seem to be endemic to Egypt, suggesting that Egypt was an endemic center during certain late Cretaceous times. Countries (e.g. North Africa, West Africa, North and South America, South and West Europe, and the Middle East), referring to the Tethyan affinity of the studied fauna. Turonian successions at the measured sections characterized by rare occurrence of the oysters, in contrast to the enrichment of the oysters in Cenomanian successions, this may indicate that, the Cenomanian-Turonian transgression was probably followed by deeper conditions unfavorable for oysters.

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