Palaeoenvironments and palaeobiogeographical distribution of the Eocene larger benthic foraminifera and macrofaunal associations in the northern plateau of the Bahariya Depression, Western Desert, Egypt

Document Type : Original Research Papers

Authors

1 Geology department, faculty of science, Benha University

2 Geology department, faculty of science, Benha university

3 central metallurgical research and development institute

Abstract

The Eocene rocks exposed in the northern plateau of the Bahariya Depression constitute from base to top, the Naqb, Qazzun and El-Hamra formations, which made up of highly fossiliferous siliciclastic–carbonate rocks deposited essentially in marginal-marine, neritic, tide-dominated environments. These environments correspond, respectively, to peritidal flat, lagoonal–restricted bays, barrier shoal and platform margin reefal zones situated on a gently sloping homoclinal inner to very proximal mid-ramp settings. Four local larger benthic foraminiferal total range zones were identified. These zones correspond to the regional larger benthic foraminiferal zones (SBZ12 through SBZ19) of the Tethyan shallow carbonate platforms that allowed assigning late Ypresian age to the Naqb Formation, early Lutetian to the Qazzun Formation, and middle Lutetian–Priabonian to the El-Hamra Formation. Furthermore five distinctive macrofaunal assemblages were identified and palaeoecologically interpreted. Paleobiogeographically, the identified benthic foraminifera and macrofaunal assemblages show a dominantly Tethyan character and strong affinity to the African, Arabian, Indian and southern Europe marginal-marine carbonate platforms. This study, therefore, contributes to the understanding of the facies architecture and palaeobiogeography of the Eocene carbonate platforms developed along the margins of the circum-Mediterranean domain.

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Benha Journal of Applied Sciences
Volume 10, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Applied and Basic Sciences:
February 2025
Pages 91-109

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