Cenomanian-Turonian boundary in Wadi Watir, southeastern Sinai, Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt

Abstract

The foraminiferal content and microfacies characteristics of the Raha and Abu Qada Formations at Wadi Watir (in which the mausoleum of the Sheikh Attia is located) in southeastern Sinai, Gulf of Aqaba are discussed and illustrated. They help identify sea level fluctuations, establish a stratigraphic subdivision and suggest a shallow marine facies and a Cenomanian age for the Raha Formation and deeper marine facies and Turonian age for the Abu Qada Formation. The Abu Had Member (lower part of the Raha Formation) yields mainly arenaceous foraminifera of early to middle Cenomanian with some calcareous forms. The Mukattab Member (middle part of the Raha Formation) comprises Nezzazatinae with very rare planktonic tests identified in thin sections of late Cenomanian. The upper part of the Raha Formation is the Ekma Member which yields no foraminifera and is predominantly a clastic sequence with some thin beds of limestone including oyster banks. From microfacies study, the Abu Qada Formation was deposited during a period of deepening of the sea, which was related to a global rise in sea level. It is more convenient to draw the boundary between Cenomanian and Turonian sequences where a new pelagic faunal assemblage is found to appear with the first appearance of Heterohelix reussi and Globotruncanids in the Abu Qada Formation rocks. The Cenomanian/Turonian boundary in the Wadi Watir is correlated with similar rock units in Western Sinai, Palestine and Jordan.