Integrated microfacies, macrobenthos and trace-fossil analysis of the lower‒middle Miocene succession of Gebel Gharra, Cairo-Suez District, Egypt

• Autorzy: Mandor Mona , El Hedeny Magdy , El-Sabbagh Ahmed , Nagm Emad , Abdelaal Abdelaal , Rashwan Mohamed , Mansour Heba

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.14241/asgp.2023.13

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

The palaeoecology and palaeoenvironments of the lower–middle Miocene succession in Gebel Gharra, NW of Suez, Egypt, are interpreted, on the basis of a detailed study of microfacies, trace fossils, and macrofaunal benthic assemblages. This succession consists of a lower siliciclastic part (the Gharra Formation) and a carbonate-dominated upper part (the Geniefa Formation), corresponding to a general transgression-regression cycle. Facies characteristics indicate depositional palaeoenvironments, ranging from supratidal, lagoonal, to shoal settings on an inner ramp that was influenced proximally by clastic input. At least seven ichnotaxa were recorded in the lower Miocene Gharra Formation, representing suites of the Skolithos ichnofacies. Among them, the ichnogenus Polykladichnus is recorded for the first time in Egypt. The macrobenthic taxa identified in 13 statistical samples are grouped into five assemblages (A–E) that are described and interpreted as the remains of communities. The faunal distribution and trophic structure of most of these assemblages confirm the existence of relatively stable and low-stress conditions. However, the trophic structure of the assemblages reflects the influence of particular environmental parameters, the dissolution of aragonitic shells and/or sample-size effects. Environmental parameters, controlling the distribution of trace and/or body fossils, include substrate consistency, bathymetry, water energy, productivity level, rate of sedimentation, salinity, and oxygen availability. The results of integrated lithoand biofacies analysis confirm that the succession studied was deposited in different environmental settings, providing perfect conditions for the occurrence and preservation of trace-fossil and macrobenthos assemblages.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

Macrobenthos; taphonomy; trace fossils; palaeoecology; palaeoenvironment; lower Miocene; middle Miocene; Egypt

• Wydawca: Polskie Towarzystwo Geologiczne
• Czasopismo: Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae
• Rocznik: 2023
• Tom: Vol. 93, No. 4
• Strony: 381--409
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 171 poz., map., fot., rys., tab., wykr.

Twórcy

autor

Mandor Mona

• Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21568, Egypt

autor

El Hedeny Magdy

• Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21568, Egypt

autor

El-Sabbagh Ahmed

• Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21568, Egypt

autor

Nagm Emad

• Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71524, Egypt
• Department of Geology, College of Science, Taibah University, Madinah, 41477, Saudi Arabia

autor

Abdelaal Abdelaal

• Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21568, Egypt

autor

Rashwan Mohamed

• Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Alexandria University, Alexandria 14037, Egypt

autor

Mansour Heba

• Department of Biological and Geological Sciences, Faculty of Education, Alexandria University, Alexandria 14037, Egypt

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