Palynofacies analysis and palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the upper cretaceous sediments, Shushan Basin, northern western desert, Egypt

Document Type : Regular Articles

Authors

1 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, 71516, Egypt

2 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the palynofacies analysis and palynomorph assemblages of the Salam-53 well, Shushan Basin, north-western Desert, Egypt to show the shelf conditions throughout the Upper Cretaceous deposits, where two palynofacies types have been documented based on the properties components of palynofacies of the studied ditch cutting samples. PF-1, the upper Bahariya clastic-carbonate layer, and the Abu Roash "G" as well as "F" to "C" members were discovered in the inner shelf setting, marine transgression occurs at the late Cenomanian-Turonian dominated by reducing (suboxic-anoxic) settings with occasional local oxic-dysoxic conditions. The global late Cenomanian marine transgression was primarily responsible for this relative sea level rise. PF-2 represents the remainder of the carbonate section ("B" and "A" members) of the Abu Roash and Khoman formations, which were deposited in middle shelf environments with prominent suboxic-anoxic conditions during a major regional marine transgression, which was primarily associated with the global Turonian-Maastrichtian eustatic sea-level rise. Furthermore, palynofacies analyses were used to reconstruct the vegetation cover and palaeoclimatic conditions at these times, indicating that regional warm and relatively dry climatic conditions prevailed. This based on the presence of Afropollis jardinus, Classopollis spp., Ephedripites spp., Elaterspores, and pteridophytes, indicating a paleoenvironment in which parent plants inhabiting wetlands in a humid condition, developed near the well site.

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References

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