Characterization of the calcareous nannofossil assemblages across the Latest Danian Event (LDE) at Wadi El-Maheer, northern Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

High resolution calcareous nannofossil analyses of the Danian-Selandian (D-S) transition are carried out at Wadi El-Maheer section, northern Eastern Desert, Egypt. The detailed analyses lead to subdivide the NP4 Zone into six subzones (NTp5C- NTp6, NTp7A, NTp7B, NTp8A, NTp8B, and NTp8C). The main events observed at the studied section are well correlated to those observed at the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Selandian at Zumaia as well as Caravaca sections (Spain) and Qreiya section (Egypt) with minor discrepancies. The first and second radiation of fasciculiths are recorded and characterized by successive coinciding events. These two radiations are separated by an interval that lacked to fasciculiths. This interval seems to be synchronous across the Tethyan region and South Atlantic within the NTp8A Subzone. Therefore, this interval could represent an applicable event to correlate the D-S transition across different paleo-latitudes. The Latest Danian Event (LDE) is identified within the NTp7B Subzone. The calcareous nannofossil assemblages patterns during this event reflect short warming episode resemble to the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) but with a lesser degree.