Danian/Selandian unconformity in the central and southern Western Desert of Egypt

Journal Article

• المجلة \ الصحيفة: Journal of African Earth Sciences
• رقم الإصدار السنوي: 103
• الصفحات: 42–53

مستخلص المنشور

A regional unconformity at the Danian–Selandian (D/S) boundary is recorded in Western Desert, Egypt,
based upon field study, biostratigraphic analyses and paleoenvironmental parameters. This unconformity
is marked by the absence of the topmost part of planktonic foraminifera Igorina albeari/Globanomalina
pseudomenardii (P3b) Subzone and the uppermost part of the equivalent calcareous nannofossil Ellipsolithus
macelus NP4 Zone (NTp8A-B Subzones) in all the sections studied. Furthermore, benthic foraminiferal
turnover across the D/S unconformity is observed to be associated with a sharp lithological break
from place to place due to submerged paleo-lows and highs. In all the studied sections, intensive reworking
of older Danian faunas is recorded within the basal part of Selandian transgressive deposits.