New Findings of the Cenomanian-Turonian Successions in the Quseir Region, Red Sea, Egypt

Abstract

Investigated sediments of the Duwi and Quseir formations in Gebel Duwi and Zug El Bahar area of the Quseir Region confirmed the presence of Cenomanian-Turonian (C/T) succession for the first time. The recorded planktonic foraminifera characterized by either juvenile or dwarfed, and complete absence of benthic foraminifera due to either its extremely short duration or its restriction to nearshore, rather than open ocean environments. The C/T boundary lies within the Whiteinella archeocretacea Zone, where there is a flooding of free and isolated calcispheres of spherical and ovoidal shapes characterize this boundary in Gebel Duwi section. In the Quseir Region, the C/T sediments have been extremely low thickness and condensed, creating no hiatus in sedimentation during the overall global high stands of shallow water environments. Four detected planktonic foraminiferal zones in the Quseir Region; Rotalipora cushmani, Whiteinella archeocretacea, Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica and Marginotruncana schneeganzi.