Paleoenvironmental analysis and paleobiogeography of the Langhian-Serravallian succession in Wadi Trakee, westcentral Sinai (Egypt): An implication for Mediterranean and Paratethys faunal exchange

Abstract

This paper aims to determine the probable paleoenvironments (ecozones) of Miocene sediments at Wadi Trakee, westcentral Sinai, Egypt. To achieve this work, both benthonic and planktonic foraminiferal assemblages were identified. Six paleoecologic zones (ecozones) are distinguished from Wadi Trakee Miocene succession in west-central Sinai; open marine environments were predominated during the deposition of these sediments; occasionally lagoonal. Great oscillation in sea level represented by lagoons and open marine conditions were prevailed in the earliest Langhian that came after the latest Burdigalian sea regression this was followed by great sea transgression phase and open marine environments during the latest Langhian. Serravallian Sea came after sea regression and a short hiatus preserved at the end of Langhian and ended by lagoons environments in the latest Serravallian. Seventy-one species of the identified benthic foraminifera indicate the Langhian, whereas forty-eight species recorded from the Serravallian. Due to the great similarity between the identified fauna with the previously recorded from the Paratethys countries, it can be suggested that high rate of faunal exchanges occurred and sea connections between the Mediterranean and Paratethys were occurred during these ages. Two unconformity surfaces are detected, the first lies within the Langhian while the second lies at the end of the Serravallian. Thirty-two planktonic foraminiferal species are also recorded from the Langhian – Serravallian succession that helped us to subdivide the studied succession into two planktonic zones; these zones correlated with the international schemes for biozones in the subtropical areas and the Mediterranean regions.