Original paper
Late Cretaceous benthonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, Sinai, Egypt, with special consideration to the genus Bolivinoides
Khalil, Hamza
Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Monatshefte Jg. 1998 Heft 7 (1998), p. 415 - 431
26 references
published: Jul 10, 1998
DOI: 10.1127/njgpm/1998/1998/415
ArtNo. ESP157199807002, Price: 19.00 €
Abstract
The present study deals with the Campanian-Maastrichtian benthonic foraminiferal distribution and biostratigraphy in Sinai. About one hundred species of benthonic foraminifera were identified from three sections obtained from Gebel Nezzazat, Wadi Feiran and El Qusaima (Sinai). The identified benthonic foraminiferal assemblages were used to classify the studied sequences into several biostratigraphic units. Special consideration was given to Bolivinoides taxa to emphasize their biostratigraphic significance. The stratigraphic distribution of the Campanian-Maastrichtian benthonic foraminifera led to the recognition of three faunal assemblages: Vaginulinopsis directa- Lenticulina pseudosecans assemblage, Spiroplectammina knebeli assemblage and Stensioeina-Praebulimina-Coryphostoma assemblage. Based on the identified Bolivinoides species, three zones could be established: Bolivinoides decoratus zone (Late Campanian), B. draco miliaris zone (Early Maastrichtian) and B. draco draco zone (Late Maastrichtian). The recognized biostratigraphic subdivisions seem to compare well with others recorded in Egypt and elsewhere. The paleoenvironmental conditions during the deposition of Upper Cretaceous sediments are also discussed. The benthonic faunal assemblages are marked by high diversity and indicate a relatively higher benthonic / planktonic ratio towards the end of Maastrichtian (upper part of Sudr Chalk).
Kurzfassung
Die Untersuchung der benthonischen Foraminiferen in drei Profilen der Oberen Kreide des Sinai (Gebel Nezzazat, Wadi Feiran, El Qusaima) erlaubt es, innerhalb des Campan-Maastricht drei aufeinanderfolgende Vergesellschaftungen zu erkennen. Die Vertreter der Gattung Bolivinoides lassen das gleiche Intervall in drei Zonen von interregionaler Bedeutung unterteilen. Die Faunen benthonischer Foraminiferen sind sehr artenreich. Im oberen Teil des Sudr Chalk (oberes Maastricht) nimmt das Benthos/Plankton-Verhältnis zu.
Keywords
benthonic foraminifera • • Upper Cretaceous • sediments • faunal assemblages • Maastrichtian