Dababiya Quarry Research Articles

Upper Paleocene-lower Eocene planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Dababiya section, Upper Nile Valley (Egypt)

Research Article| June 01, 2003 Upper Paleocene-lower Eocene planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Dababiya section, Upper Nile Valley (Egypt) William A. Berggren; William A. Berggren 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, e-mail: wberggren@whoi.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Khaled Ouda Khaled Ouda 2Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, 71516, Assiut, Egypt, e-mail: kh_ouda@yahoo.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Micropaleontology (2003) 49 (Suppl_1): 61–92. https://doi.org/10.2113/49.Suppl_1.61 Article history first online: 06 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation William A. Berggren, Khaled Ouda; Upper Paleocene-lower Eocene planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Dababiya section, Upper Nile Valley (Egypt). Micropaleontology 2003;; 49 (Suppl_1): 61–92. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/49.Suppl_1.61 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyMicropaleontology Search Advanced Search Abstract We describe the planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the ~130m thick upper Paleocene-lower Eocene composite stratigraphic section at Dababiya, which contains the recently designated Global Standard Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the Paleocene/Eocene boundary. The measured (composite) section extends from the Tarawan Chalk (Zone P4), through the Esna Shale (Zone P4c, P5-8) to the basal Thebes Limestone (Zone P8). Midway-type benthic foraminiferal faunas extend throughout the section and suggest deposition at mid-outer neritic depths with no indication of (significant) shallowing at the Esna/Thebes contact across which Zone P8 planktonic foraminiferal faunas continue. The Paleocene/Eocene boundary GSSP is located in the lowermost part of the Esna Shales at the base of a dark clayey horizon at ~1.6m above the base of section DBH (~5.7m above the top of the Tarawan Chalk). The level is firmly located in conjunction with the base of the carbon isotope excursion (CIE) and is immediately succeeded by ~3.75m of the lithologically distinct Dababiya Quarry Beds. The characteristic planktonic events that are associated with the CIE in oceanic sections are well represented throughout the 3.2m interval directly overlying the P/E GSSP (~5.7m to 8.9m above the base of the Esna Shales) within the Dababiya Quarry Beds. Acarinina sibaiyaensis is by far the most common of the planktonic foraminiferal excursion taxa (PFET) that appear slightly (75cm) above the base of the Dababiya Quarry Beds. The latter interval exhibits a phased pattern characterized by different lithologies, biota and faunal patterns that we interpret as reflecting progressive changes in temperature and content of dissolved oxygen as a result of global changes in climate and water circulation. The critical interval is generally bracketed (below) by the upward sequential lowest occurrences (LOs) of Acarinina esnaensis, Igorina broedermanni, Ac. angulosa and Ac. wilcoxensis, and (above) by the LO of Pseudohastigerina wilcoxensis. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Upper Paleocene-lower Eocene planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Wadi Abu Ghurra section, Upper Nile Valley (Egypt)

We describe the lithostratigraphy and planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the upper Paleocene- lowermost Eocene (Zones P4a-P5c) stratigraphic section exposed in a neritic/shelf carbonate setting at Wadi Abu Ghurra in the southern part of the Upper Nile Valley. The 2.5cm thick PETM-correlative interval lacks the phosphatic-coprolitic horizon(s) typical of the Dababiya Quarry Beds to the north, but does contain elements ( Acarinina africana, Ac. sibaiyaensis and M. allisonensis ) of the planktonic foraminifera excursion taxa (PFET). The PETM-correlative interval is bracketed (below) by the LO of Acarinina esnaensis, Igorina broedermanni, Ac. angulosa and Ac. wilcoxensis and (above) the LO of Pseudohastigerina wilcoxensis. The top of the inferred PETM-interval coincides with the Garra / Dungul formational contact and is marked by an abrupt enrichment in planktonic foraminifera together with a low-diversity benthic foraminiferal association, comparable to those of the calcarenites which terminate the Dababiya Quarry Beds in deeper water sections in the north. Angulogavelinella avnimelechi , together with several long-ranging Paleocene benthic forms, have their HO at the base of the PETM-interval, whereas dimorphic larger foraminifera ( Discocyclina , Operculina , primitive Nummulites ) have their LO at its top.

The Gebel Owaina and Kilabiya sections in the Idfu-Esna area, Upper Nile Valley (Egypt)

We describe the planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the ~61m thick stratigraphic section spanning the Tarawan Chalk (~17 m) and Esna Shale (~44 m) at Gebel Owaina and the ~35m thick section spanning the total thickness of the Esna Shale at Gebel Kilabiya, ~10km west of Owaina. The Owaina section spans Zones P4a ( partim ) to P6a ( partim ), whereas Kilabiya spans Zones P4c ( partim ) to P6a ( partim ). The Esna/Thebes contact at both localities is marked by a distinct angular unconformity within Zone P6a and a hiatus estimated >3 my; the sections are thus considerably less complete than at Dababiya, ~25km to the north. The recently revised Paleocene/Eocene boundary is located in both sections within the lower part of the Esna Shale at ~12m and 16.3m, respectively, above the base of the Esna Shale. The CIE-interval is reduced in both sections (~1m thick at G. Owaina and ~1.5m at G. Kilabiya) and exhibits evidence of a stratigraphic gap/hiatus within its upper part at both localities. The base of the CIE-interval is characterized by the lowest occurrences (LO) of Acarinina sibaiyaensis and marked at its top by the LO of Pseudohastigerina wilcoxensis . At Gebel Owaina the CIE-interval is directly preceded by the LO of Ac. wilcoxensis, Ac. angulosa , Acarinina esnaensis and Igorina broedermanni in descending order, whereas at Kilabiya this sequential order of bioevents is less well developed. Although the characteristic paleontologic trends observed elsewhere are subdued in the Kilabiya section, the latter shows a phased pattern within the CIE-interval comparable to that of the Dababiya Quarry Beds at Dababiya.