On the occurrence of some Paleocene palynomorphs from the Dakhla and Esna formations, Kharga Oasis area, Egypt

Abstract

Paleocene palynomorphs are hardly extracted from the uppermost Dakhla Formation succession and the lowest Esna Formation rocks in two surface sections, northeast Kharga Oasis, Egypt. The identified palynomorphs are mainly dominated by small-sized angiosperm pollen. Foraminiferal test linings are abundant. Smooth land-derived spores and marine dinoflagellate cysts are rare, the latter are always distorted and not easy to identify. Gymnosperm pollen are never observed. Due to poor and less diverse palynomorphs, the dating of the studied section is controlled by previous foraminiferal studies. However, such palynofloral assemblage confirms the already known open marine depositional environment.