The Egyptian lower Eocene carbonate rocks (Thebes Formation) are part of an extensive carbonate p... more The Egyptian lower Eocene carbonate rocks (Thebes Formation) are part of an extensive carbonate platform formed during an eustatic regression along the Tethyan Ocean's southern margin. These rocks are essential in developing Egypt's petroleum system because they can operate as vertical seals in specific basins or as source-reservoir rocks. However, few in-depth studies have been conducted to explore the diagenetic history, pore system, petrophysical characteristics, and sequence stratigraphic framework of these rocks and its relationship to the global sequences. Multiple datasets (foraminiferal assemblages, petrographic, and petrophysical data) from the lower Eocene strata exposed in Wadi El-Dakhl and El-Sheikh Fadl sections on the western side of the Gulf of Suez were integrated. The biostratigraphic examination of the planktic foraminifera shows that three Eocene biozones (E5–E7) were identified in the studied successions. The reservoir quality index and the flow zone indi...
The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the foraminiferal assemblages from the upper Maastri... more The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the foraminiferal assemblages from the upper Maastrichtian-middle Eocene succession at Jabal Ghuzayma section (central Jordan) is utilized to evaluate the biostratigraphic framework and the prevailing paleoenvironments. Nine planktonic biozones (CF3, P4c, P5, and E3-E8) were recognized covering the upper Maastrichtian to the middle Eocene. Field observations as well as foraminiferal biostratigraphy and paleoenvironments led to identify five 3rd depositional sequences bounded by four sequence boundaries. Two of these sequence boundaries have long-lasting time gaps across the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/ Pg) and the Paleocene/Eocene (P/E) unconformities. These longtime gaps are linked to the tectonic deformation of the Syrian Arc System (SAS) during the convergence and collision of the Eurasian/Arabian plates. The intera-Ypresian and Ypresian/Lutetian (Y/L) boundaries exhibit a sharp change in microfaunal content suggesting distinctive paleoenvironmental turnover which may be enhanced primarily to the eustatic sea-level changes.
The present work deals with the benthic foraminiferal investigations and analyses of the Maastric... more The present work deals with the benthic foraminiferal investigations and analyses of the Maastrichtian succession from two sections in the Kharga Oasis (Naqb El-Rufuf and Gabal Teir), to evaluate the prevailing paleobathymetric and paleoenvironmental conditions. Three benthic foraminiferal assemblages have been distinguished by the R-mode cluster analysis. The first two clusters are dominated by simple-walled and complex-walled non-calcareous agglutinated foraminifera, respectively; while the third assemblage is characterized by calcareous agglutinated and calcareous benthic foraminiferal species. The Q-mode Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) of the studied samples indicates five main groups designated as five biofacies (I-V), each with a characteristic faunal structure. The overall dominance of the non-calcareous agglutinated foraminifera and the sporadic occurrence of the calcareous benthic foraminifera suggest deposition in a shallow water environment of restricted brackish, lagoonal, and littoral setting with occasional marine incursions. The distribution of the identified benthic foraminiferal species suggests deposition under oxygen-depleted conditions with high organic matter flux.
The Selandian-Thanetian (S/Th) succession is extensively represented and well exposed along the e... more The Selandian-Thanetian (S/Th) succession is extensively represented and well exposed along the eastern escarpments of the Kharga Oasis, Western Desert, encompasses the upper part of the Dakhla Formation, Tarawan Formation and the lower part of the Esna Formation. This study based on the qualitative and quantitative investigation of the planktonic and benthic foraminiferal assemblages aims to assess and specify the S/Th transition in terms of the biostratigraphic, paleoecologic and sequence stratigraphic analyses. The studied interval is subdivided into three 3 rd order depositional sequences (Seq. 1, Seq. 2 and Seq. 3) separated by two sequence boundaries at the Dakhla/Tarawan (SB 1) and the Tarawan/Esna (SB 2) contacts, respectively. The S/Th boundary is placed at the Maximum Flooding Surface (MFS) of the second depositional sequence (Seq. 2) within the Tarawan Formation and lies at about 6 m above the base of a distinct thin layer related to the Mid-Paleocene Biotic Event (MPBE). The S/Th MFS is characterized by a relatively highest positive peak in the P/B ratio (90%) and the common occurrence of the bathyal benthic taxa. The reported MFS displays great correspondence with the eustatic sea-level related to the timing and extent that can be treated as a secondary criterion relevant for delineating and correlating the Selandian-Thanetian transition everywhere.
Sixty-three agglutinated foraminiferal species belonging to twenty-two genera are identified from... more Sixty-three agglutinated foraminiferal species belonging to twenty-two genera are identified from three sections representing the Maastrichtian-Paleocene succession at the Dakhla Oasis. The identified species are systematically discussed. Based on the wall composition and its relation to environment of living, the identified species are grouped in three categories; calcareous agglutinated, simple walled arenaceous agglutinated, and complex-walled arenaceous agglutinated. The distribution of the different agglutinated groups and the planktonic/benthic ratio (P/B %) are used to interpret the paleoenvironments prevailed during deposition of the studied rock units.
The Egyptian lower Eocene carbonate rocks (Thebes Formation) are part of an extensive carbonate p... more The Egyptian lower Eocene carbonate rocks (Thebes Formation) are part of an extensive carbonate platform formed during an eustatic regression along the Tethyan Ocean's southern margin. These rocks are essential in developing Egypt's petroleum system because they can operate as vertical seals in specific basins or as source-reservoir rocks. However, few in-depth studies have been conducted to explore the diagenetic history, pore system, petrophysical characteristics, and sequence stratigraphic framework of these rocks and its relationship to the global sequences. Multiple datasets (foraminiferal assemblages, petrographic, and petrophysical data) from the lower Eocene strata exposed in Wadi El-Dakhl and El-Sheikh Fadl sections on the western side of the Gulf of Suez were integrated. The biostratigraphic examination of the planktic foraminifera shows that three Eocene biozones (E5–E7) were identified in the studied successions. The reservoir quality index and the flow zone indi...
The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the foraminiferal assemblages from the upper Maastri... more The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the foraminiferal assemblages from the upper Maastrichtian-middle Eocene succession at Jabal Ghuzayma section (central Jordan) is utilized to evaluate the biostratigraphic framework and the prevailing paleoenvironments. Nine planktonic biozones (CF3, P4c, P5, and E3-E8) were recognized covering the upper Maastrichtian to the middle Eocene. Field observations as well as foraminiferal biostratigraphy and paleoenvironments led to identify five 3rd depositional sequences bounded by four sequence boundaries. Two of these sequence boundaries have long-lasting time gaps across the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/ Pg) and the Paleocene/Eocene (P/E) unconformities. These longtime gaps are linked to the tectonic deformation of the Syrian Arc System (SAS) during the convergence and collision of the Eurasian/Arabian plates. The intera-Ypresian and Ypresian/Lutetian (Y/L) boundaries exhibit a sharp change in microfaunal content suggesting distinctive paleoenvironmental turnover which may be enhanced primarily to the eustatic sea-level changes.
The present work deals with the benthic foraminiferal investigations and analyses of the Maastric... more The present work deals with the benthic foraminiferal investigations and analyses of the Maastrichtian succession from two sections in the Kharga Oasis (Naqb El-Rufuf and Gabal Teir), to evaluate the prevailing paleobathymetric and paleoenvironmental conditions. Three benthic foraminiferal assemblages have been distinguished by the R-mode cluster analysis. The first two clusters are dominated by simple-walled and complex-walled non-calcareous agglutinated foraminifera, respectively; while the third assemblage is characterized by calcareous agglutinated and calcareous benthic foraminiferal species. The Q-mode Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) of the studied samples indicates five main groups designated as five biofacies (I-V), each with a characteristic faunal structure. The overall dominance of the non-calcareous agglutinated foraminifera and the sporadic occurrence of the calcareous benthic foraminifera suggest deposition in a shallow water environment of restricted brackish, lagoonal, and littoral setting with occasional marine incursions. The distribution of the identified benthic foraminiferal species suggests deposition under oxygen-depleted conditions with high organic matter flux.
The Selandian-Thanetian (S/Th) succession is extensively represented and well exposed along the e... more The Selandian-Thanetian (S/Th) succession is extensively represented and well exposed along the eastern escarpments of the Kharga Oasis, Western Desert, encompasses the upper part of the Dakhla Formation, Tarawan Formation and the lower part of the Esna Formation. This study based on the qualitative and quantitative investigation of the planktonic and benthic foraminiferal assemblages aims to assess and specify the S/Th transition in terms of the biostratigraphic, paleoecologic and sequence stratigraphic analyses. The studied interval is subdivided into three 3 rd order depositional sequences (Seq. 1, Seq. 2 and Seq. 3) separated by two sequence boundaries at the Dakhla/Tarawan (SB 1) and the Tarawan/Esna (SB 2) contacts, respectively. The S/Th boundary is placed at the Maximum Flooding Surface (MFS) of the second depositional sequence (Seq. 2) within the Tarawan Formation and lies at about 6 m above the base of a distinct thin layer related to the Mid-Paleocene Biotic Event (MPBE). The S/Th MFS is characterized by a relatively highest positive peak in the P/B ratio (90%) and the common occurrence of the bathyal benthic taxa. The reported MFS displays great correspondence with the eustatic sea-level related to the timing and extent that can be treated as a secondary criterion relevant for delineating and correlating the Selandian-Thanetian transition everywhere.
Sixty-three agglutinated foraminiferal species belonging to twenty-two genera are identified from... more Sixty-three agglutinated foraminiferal species belonging to twenty-two genera are identified from three sections representing the Maastrichtian-Paleocene succession at the Dakhla Oasis. The identified species are systematically discussed. Based on the wall composition and its relation to environment of living, the identified species are grouped in three categories; calcareous agglutinated, simple walled arenaceous agglutinated, and complex-walled arenaceous agglutinated. The distribution of the different agglutinated groups and the planktonic/benthic ratio (P/B %) are used to interpret the paleoenvironments prevailed during deposition of the studied rock units.
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