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Benthic foraminiferal response to relative sea-level changes in the Maastrichtian–Danian succession at the Dakhla Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 December 2016

SHERIF FAROUK  and
SREEPAT JAIN
SHERIF FAROUK*
Affiliation:
Exploration Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Nasr City, 11727, Egypt
SREEPAT JAIN
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Geology, Adama Science and Technology University, School of Applied Natural Sciences, P.O. Box 1888, Adama, Ethiopia
*
†Author for correspondence: geo.sherif@hotmail.com
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Abstract

The Maastrichtian–Danian benthic foraminiferal diversity and assemblages through sequence stratigraphy were studied at Dakhla Oasis, Egypt. Benthic foraminifera numbers (BFN), high-flux species and characteristic benthic foraminiferal species and genera distribution are also incorporated to assess palaeobathymetry, palaeoenvironment and palaeoproductivity. All these proxies are then taken together to construct a sea-level curve and interpreted in terms of regional tectonics, climate and eustasy. Data suggest a remarkably highly equitable benthic environment deposited in a brackish littoral and/or marsh setting with moderate (?) to low oxygen conditions and reduced salinity (oligotrophic), possibly due to increased precipitation and terrestrial runoff. The interrupted dominance of calcareous forms and high-organic-flux species suggests occasional marine incursions and high palaeoproductivity, due to local upwelling. The inferred sea-level curve replicates the global eustatic curve and suggests that the curve is more influenced by the prevailing climate and global eustasy rather than by regional tectonics. The post-Cretaceous–Palaeogene boundary displays improvement in the environment in terms of diversity and number of species and specimens, with a marked reduction in the abundance of high-organic-flux species during early Paleocene (Danian) time, indicating a shift from a more mesotrophic open marine environment to much reduced oligotrophic conditions.

Keywords

Foraminiferasequence stratigraphyWestern DesertEgyptMaastrichtian
Type
Original Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 155 , Issue 3 , March 2018 , pp. 729 - 746
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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