NEW INSIGHT INTO THE MIDDLE EOCENE CALCAREOUS NANNOPLANKTON BIOSTRATIGRAPHY AND PALEOENVIRONMENT FROM FAYOUM AND BENI SUEF AREAS, EGYPT

Authors

  • IBRAHIM M. GHANDOUR Department of Marine Geology, Faculty of Marine Science, King Abdulaziz University, 80207 Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8907-2868
  • RAMONA BĂLC Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, 30 Fântânele str., 400294, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9419-2351
  • MAHMOUD FARIS Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
  • SOBHI HELAL Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
  • GAMAL A. MOSA Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
  • MOHAMMED H. ALJAHDALI Department of Marine Geology, Faculty of Marine Science, King Abdulaziz University, 80207 Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8194-8810

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/18930

Keywords:

Beni Suef Formation; Gebel Na’alun; Gebel Homret Shaibun; event stratigraphy; statistical analysis.

Abstract

The present study deals with calcareous nannoplankton paleoenvironmental and biostratigraphic implications as well as the genesis and the stratigraphic significance of an event bed recognized from the middle Eocene Beni Suef Formation in the sections of Gebel Na’alun (Fayoum area) and Gebel Homret Shaibun (Beni Suef area), Egypt. Calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy indicates that the Beni Suef Formation in the two areas is synchronous, covering an interval that may be correlated with the calcareous nannoplankton Zone NP17. Paleoenvironmental implications from calcareous nannoplankton suggests deposition of sediments in the Beni Suef Formation under relatively stable, temperate and mesotrophic conditions, with a short interval of eutrophication in the basal part of the Homret Shaibun section.

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2023-05-25

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Received 2022-10-20
Accepted 2023-05-05
Published 2023-05-25