Palynology and Palaeoenvironment of the Quseir Formation (Campanian) from Central Egypt Magdy S
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Journal of African Earth Sciences 36 (2003) 135–148 www.elsevier.com/locate/jafrearsci Palynology and palaeoenvironment of the Quseir Formation (Campanian) from central Egypt Magdy S. Mahmoud Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt Received 19June 2002; accepted 9May 2003 Abstract The palynofloras of the basal part of the Quseir Formation in the Bulaq area, central Egypt, are overwhelmingly of terrestrial origin. They are dominated by angiosperms (mainly Foveotricolpites and Arecipites). Pteridophytic spores are abundant, amongest which the Deltoidospora/Cyathidites association and Gabonisporis vigourouxii are the most frequent. Aquatic plants (e.g. Ariadna- esporites spores) and freshwater algae (e.g. Ovoidites and Pediastrum) occur in appreciable amounts. The association is indicative of a fluvio-lacustrine environment characterized by widespread moist and aquatic habitats under a warm-humid (tropical) palaeo- climate. An angiosperm-based dating as Campanian (most probably Early Campanian) is suggested. Proteacidites sp. 3 Lawal and Moullade and Syncolporites schrankii Awad are the most significant angiosperms, which are not known to range before the Campanian in the ‘‘Senonian Palmae Province’’ areas. The Bulaq assemblages bear a close relationship with the Palmae palynofloras of North Africa, but differ significantly from those of West Africa. Ó 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Terrestrial palynology; Palaeoenvironment; Quseir Formation; Campanian; Egypt 1. Introduction The stratigraphic position of the basal beds of this unit is significant because they rest unconformably over The general Kharga-Dakhla field area investigated Turonian (Taref Formation) rocks. The Coniacian– here was the subject of several palynological investiga- Santonian interval is represented, however, by a major tions since the early sixties (Helal, 1965). In most recent hiatus in Central Egypt (Klitzsch and Hermina, 1989, publications (e.g. Schrank and Mahmoud, 1998, 2000, p. 83). In the present paper, well-preserved terrestrial 2002), well-preserved palynomorphs were extracted palynomorphs of Campanian age are described from the from the clay/shale beds intercalated with the Nubia- shale of the Quseir Formation. The material comes type siliciclastics in the Dakhla-Kharga areas. These from the basal part of the formation in the subsurface rocks were previously regarded as ‘‘unfossiliferous’’; succession of the Bulaq area (Fig. 2). Due to lack of mar- their terrestrial to marginal marine origin prevents in- ker angiosperm taxa, Mahmoud (1998) dated a paly- dependent faunal dating. Although the palynostrati- nomorph association from Kharga as ‘‘Campanian’’ but graphic record of these rocks is fragmentary, new this was later interpreted by Schrank and Mahmoud stratigraphic and taxonomic information has been de- (2000) as Late Cenomanian (equivalent to the Maghrabi rived from the study of the fossil palynomorphs. But Formation). The present palynomorph assemblage of- establishment of a complete palynological record has fers direct and strong biostratigraphic evidence as to the been hindered by the siliciclastic nature of these rocks age and palaeoenvironment of the lower Quseir For- (predominantly sandstones and siltstones) which are not mation. In addition to biostratigraphic and palaeo- suitable for palynomorph recovery. However, palyno- ecologic investigations, which are the main goals, the floras were not described yet from the extensive Quseir present work aims also to compare the Bulaq palyno- (shale) rocks (surface and subsurface) in central Egypt. floras with their contemporary counterparts from the Palmae province. Because the palynomorph assemblage E-mail addresses: [email protected], [email protected] is diverse and well preserved it will contribute to the (M.S. Mahmoud). Palmae palaeofloristic characteristics. 0899-5362/03/$ - see front matter Ó 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0899-5362(03)00047-2 136 M.S. Mahmoud / Journal of African Earth Sciences 36 (2003) 135–148 2. Geographic and geological setting Formation (see Klitzsch and Hermina, 1989, p. 126, 127). The Quseir Formation contains locally remains of The Quseir Formation (Youssef, 1957) in the sur- gastropods, lungfishes (Ceratodus tuberculatus and C. roundings of Kharga (Fig. 1), is the uppermost unit humei), sawfishes (Schizorhiza stromeri) and mosasaur- of the former ‘‘Nubia Sandstone’’ succession (Klitzsch ids and turtles (Podocnemis sp.), which might indicate et al., 1979), and consists of an alternation of claystone, Early to Late Campanian age. These fossil associations siltstone and sandstone beds. It was also named as the in the Quseir Formation, however, did not provide a Variegated Shales (Said, 1962) and as the Mut Forma- definite age. Previous palynological work in the Kharga tion (Barthel and Herrmann-Degen, 1981). Coeval to Oasis area (Soliman, 1977; Mohsen, 1992) gave incon- the formation is the Wadi Hennis Formation (Dominik, clusive dating for the basal beds from the Bulaq area 1985) at the Farafra Oasis area to the north of Kharga. because the assemblages lack marker angiosperms. The Quseir Formation overlies the Taref Formation These alleged ages were given, for the Bulaq-15 (depth (Turonian) with a conspicuous unconformity and is 206–212 m) and Bulaq-12 (depth 202–208 m) cores, as slightly unconformably overlain by the well dated Upper Cretaceous, probably Cenomanian and for the (Campanian to Early Maastrichtian) marine Duwi Bulaq-14 core (depth 212–214 m) as Albian (Soliman, 1977). Mohsen (1992) gave a rather different age for the Bulaq-15 core (depth 206–224 m) as Coniacian and suggested a nonmarine palaeoenvironment. For addi- tional information regarding the stratigraphy of the Nubia strata in general, and the Quseir Formation in particular, refer to Klitzsch et al. (1979), Klitzsch and Hermina (1989), Klitzsch and Squyres (1990) and Hermina (1990). In the surroundings of Kharga Oasis the base of the Quseir Formation exhibits an inferred marginal marine (tidal flat) palaeoenvironment which grades upward to shallow marine (see Klitzsch and Hermina, 1989). The basal shale and sandstones of the formation in these areas provides evidence of a terrestrial and brackish palaeoenvironment (Hermina, 1990). Awad and Ghob- rial (1965) and Hendriks et al. (1984) previously inferred limnic conditions in the basal sediments of the forma- tion, where freshwater gastropods, abundant plant de- bris and other remains of reptiles and dinosaurs are found. 3. Materials and methods Core samples from two borehole sections (Bulaq-12 and Bulaq-15) from the Bulaq area, Kharga Oasis are investigated palynologically (Figs. 1 and 2). Because these sections are siliciclastics of Nubia type, the ma- jority of the processed samples proved to be barren of palynomorphs. Five samples contain palynomorphs suitable for the present work. Samples were digested by acids (35% HCl to dissolve the carbonates and 40% HF to remove the silicates). No centrifugation, heavy liquid separation and ultrasonic procedures were made. In addition, the residues were not subjected to oxidation or Fig. 1. Geological map of the Kharga Oasis (after Klitzsch et al., alkali treatments. The acid-digested residues were sieved 1987) showing locations of the two boreholes (Bu12 ¼ Bulaq-12; using 10 lm polyamide nylon sieves. Permanent slides Bu-15 ¼ Bulaq-15). From top to bottom stratigraphic units are Q ¼ were prepared using glycerine jelly as a mounting me- Quaternary; T ¼ Tertiary; Kud ¼ Dakhla Formation; Kuw ¼ Duwi Formation; Kuq ¼ Quseir Formation, Kut ¼ Taref Formation; Kum ¼ dium. For each sample five permanent slides were pre- Maghrabi Formation; Kls ¼ Sabaya Formation. For ages of these pared. A count of 200 grains was achieved in each units see Klitzsch and Hermina (1989). sample for the purpose of making a semi-quantitative M.S. Mahmoud / Journal of African Earth Sciences 36 (2003) 135–148 137 Fig. 2. Lithological logs of two borehole sections (logs modified after unpublished charts by the Hydrology Section of the Egyptian General Desert Development Organization, Management of the Groundwater at Kharga) with positions of palynomorph-productive core samples. estimate of palynomorphs. Additional slides were in- colpites). Other tricolpates (Tricolpites) and monocol- vestigated qualitatively. The washed residues were pates (Stellatopollis) occur but are of lower diversities. stored with distilled water in small glass bottles. Slides Triporates (Proteacidites) and syncolporates (Syncolpor- and residues are stored with the palynological collec- ites) occur sporadically. Tricolporates such as Reti- tions of the Geological Museum of the University of tricolporites are minor constituents. The spores are Assiut. represented mainly by a diverse group of ferns of the Deltoidospora/Cyathidites association, which include several species of negligible stratigraphic value. Other 4. Results ferns such as Biretisporites, Concavisporites, Triplanosp- orites and others occur, but are not as abundant and 4.1. Palynoflora diverse as Deltoidospora/Cyathidites representatives. Bryophyte spores (Zlivisporis) are rare, but in sample 1 Qualitative data. The palynomorphs of the Bulaq area they are noticeably abundant. Gymnosperms, freshwater are well preserved, in which the angiosperms and the algae and fungal spores, although abundant, are only spores are the main and most diverse constituents. The represented by a few genera. Gymnosperms encompass angiosperms are