New Findings of Eocene Nautiloids from North Western Desert, Egypt

Journal of African Earth Sciences 159 (2019) 103580

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Journal of African Earth Sciences

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New ﬁndings of eocene nautiloids from north Western Desert, Egypt T ∗ Mohamed F. Aly , Sherief A. Sadek

Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Keywords: The Tertiary marine succession of the north Western Desert, Egypt, is rich in vertebrates, molluscs and other Nautiloids invertebrates, but nautiloids are less abundant. Five nautiloid species, are reported herein: Eutrephoceras sp., Sharks Aturoidea parkinsoni, Aturia aturi, Aturia cf. alabamensis and, Aturia cf. gujaratensis. They are collected and Tertiary identiﬁed from the lowermost part of Gebel Minqar Tebaghbagh area. The studied section is located 90 km to the Siwa oasis east of Siwa Oasis at the south of western side of the Qattara Depression. The recovered specimens are mostly Western desert crushed, partially fragmented internal molds, mostly showing badly preserved suture lines and dorsal to sub- Egypt central siphuncles. The nautiloids occur in abundance in random orientation through a clastic-dominated succession. They are mostly represented by middle-aged and mature specimens. Recently, the lower part of Gebel Tabaghbagh was assigned to Late Eocene.

1. Introduction southwest of Aswan city, south Western Desert, Hewaidy and Azzab, 2002 described and identified five nautiloid species of the Paleocene The north western Desert of Egypt is almost a plain area. The only age from the Kurkur Formation. Those are Deltoidonautilus polymorphus characteristic features are the Marmarica Limestone plateau and the Hewaidy and Azzab, Deltoidonautilus sp. 1, Deltoidonautilus sp. 2, Eu- Qattara Depression where lower and upper Miocene beds are well ex- trephoceras desertorum (Quaas) and Cimmomia sp. van Vliet and Abu el posed. The area of Gebel Minqar Tabaghbagh is a newly discovered Khair (2010) reported the co-occurrence of the Late Eocene echinoid fossiliferous area in that region. Gebel Minqar Tabaghbagh is a perfect Conoclypeus sp. and nautiloid shells of Aturia sp. from the west-south Miocene outcrop of 150 m thick located 100 km east of Siwa Oasis. It west part of Qattara Depression. Hewaidy et al. (2019) described six represents the southern scarp of the plateau very near to the southern Paleogene nautiloid species from the Kharga Oasis, Western Desert tip of Qattara Depression (Fig. 1). However no much attention has been Egypt (five of Paleocene and one of Eocene ages). given for such rough area. Few workers have stepped later on; Sadek The aim of the present work is to record and systematically describe (2005), van Vliet and Abu el Khair (2010), Antar (2011) and Zalmout a new occurrence of some nautiliod species from the Tertiary rocks of et al. (2012). Egypt. These nautiliods are recovered from the lowermost glauconitic The basal part of section (17.5 m thick) is mainly shales and siltstones beds at the base of Minqar Tabaghbagh, east of Siwa Oasis. greenish sandy siltstone beds with minor limestone intercalations. The glauconitic sandy siltstones are characterized by abundance of several 2. Geologic setting nautiloid internal molds. These beds are highly abundant with the Late Eocene vertebrates, including giant archaic whales, sirenian remains The described nautiloids herein was collected and identified from and shark teeth (van Vliet and Abu el Khair, 2010; Antar, 2011; 17.5 m thick interval of glauconite and glauconitic siltstone and sand at Zalmout et al., 2012). the base of Minqar Tabaghbagh (Fig. 2). That is similar to the base of Few occurrences of Tertiary nautiloids have been reported from the Daba'a Formation that described by Norton (1967). The glauconitic Egypt (see Table 1). Cuvillier (in Hume, 1965) recorded the lower Eo- sand and siltstone facies appears to be continuous laterally in an east- cene Nautilus cf. mokattamensis Foord from Gebel Gurna. Aturia ziczac west direction (Shata, 1955; Albritton et al., 1990; Zalmout et al., (Sowerby) was described by Zittel as being associated with the Ypresian 2012). Albritton et al. (1990) stated that the Daba'a Formation is pre- molluscs between Dakhla and Farafra Oasis (in Hume, 1965). Fleming dominantly clastic in origin and contains calcareous sandstone and (1945) identified the Hercoglossa aegyptiaca Foord from the Ypresian- sandy limestone, and is a lateral equivalent of the Qasr el-Sagha For- Lutetian succession of Gebel Moqattam. In the area of Kurkur Oasis, mation, Fayum farther to the east.

∗ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (M.F. Aly), [email protected] (S.A. Sadek). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.103580 Received 12 June 2019; Received in revised form 12 July 2019; Accepted 7 August 2019 Available online 08 August 2019 1464-343X/ © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. M.F. Aly and S.A. Sadek Journal of African Earth Sciences 159 (2019) 103580

Fig. 1. Location map of the study area (Modiﬁed after Zalmout et al., 2012).

Table 1 Paleogene nautiloids species reported from Egypt. All are from the Western Desert unless otherwise noted.

Species Age Reported by Distribution in Egypt

Nautilus cf. mokattamensis Foord 1891 Lower Eocene Cuvillier (in Hume, 1965) Mokattam, Cairo Aturia ziczac (Sowerby 1812) Zittel (in Hume, 1965) Dakhla and Farafra Oasis Hercoglossa aegyptiaca Foord 1891 Fleming (1945) Mokattam, Cairo Deltoidonautilus polymorphusHewaidy and Azzab, 2002 Paleocene Hewaidy and Azzab, 2002 Kurkur Oasis, southwest of Aswan city, south Western Desert Deltoidonautilus sp. 1 Deltoidonautilus sp. 2 Eutrephoceras desertorum (Quaas) Cimmomia sp Cimomia kurkurensis Hewaidy et al., (2019) Paleocene Hewaidy et al. (2019) Kharga Oasis, Western Deltoidonautilus hassani Hewaidy et al., (2019) Desert, Egypt Eutrephoceras desertorum (Quaas, 1902) Aturia sp. Aturoidea sp. Cimmomia sp Eocene Eutrephoceras sp. Late Eocene Present work Siwa Oasis, North Western Desert Aturoidea parkinsoni (Edwards, 1849) Aturia aturi (Basterot, 1825) Aturia cf. alabamensis (Morton, 1834) Aturia cf. gujaratensis Halder (2012)

Stratigraphically, Said (1990) named the Upper Eocene shales and probably of Priabonian (beds 7–8; Fig. 2). The exposures are small hills limestones found in the southern part of the western margin of the of glauconitic sand and siltstones with iron oxides capped by gray shale. Qattara Depression as Daba'a Formation. In the west, the Eocene strata are overlained by Miocene strata, which subdivided into the Moghra, Mamura, Gebel Khashab and Marmarica formations (Tawadros, 2001). 3. Material and methods In the east, the Miocene strata unconformably overlie Oligocene rocks. The depression ﬂoor is at many places covered with Quaternary aeolian The present work is focused on the Eocene nautiloids collected from and alluvial fan deposits that form a sabkha deposits (van Vliet and Abu Gebel Tabaghbagh, north Western Desert. This material consists of el Khair, 2010). some 35 nautiloid internal molds, mostly replaced by Barite. They are The studied section in the area under study is 62 m thick and can be mostly crushed, portions of the body chamber, showing badly preserved subdivided into two major units. The upper Mamura Formation (Lower suture lines and dorsal to subcentral siphuncles in poorly preserved Miocene) and the lower Daba'a Formation (Upper Eocene-Oligocene). specimens. The nautiloids occur in abundance in random orientation The described nautiloids are collected from the base of the Tabaghbagh through the glauconitic siltstone beds rich in iron oxide nodules. They escarpment to the west-south west part of Qattara Depression. All the are mostly represented by middle-aged and mature specimens. fossils came from one level, about 70 m below the sea level that is most Conventions: Dimensions are given in millimeters: D = diameter; Wb = whorl breadth; Wh = whorl height; U = umbilicus. Figures in

2 M.F. Aly and S.A. Sadek Journal of African Earth Sciences 159 (2019) 103580

Measurements (in mm):

Specimen D Wb Wh Wb/Wh U

Siwa/01/CUGM 44 (100) 22 (50) 26 (59) 0.85 Occluded Siwa/02/CUGM 55 (100) 27 (49) 32 (58) 0.84 Occluded

Description. The studied specimens are juveniles consisting only of one or two whorls. Broadly lenticular internal molds. Sculpture of fine, close-set equal spiral lirae. Siphuncle is completely not preserved on the studied specimens. Umbilicus closed in the described specimens. The suture line appears poorly preserved but straight to some extent. Remarks. The studied specimens are very similar to the Eutrephoceras dekayi (Morton, 1834) from North America, that figured by Landman et al. (1983, Fig. 4a) in their smooth ornamentation of shell and the sharply rounded flanks along with the broadly rounded venter. Eutrephoceras sp. has been recorded from the Paleocene of Victoria by Teichert (1947) and by McGowran (1959) from the Early and Middle Miocene of South Australia and from the Middle Miocene of Victoria, respectively. The incomplete specimens and the preservational state, along with the bad preservation of the suture lines supporting open nomenclature of the present species.

Family Hercoglossidae Spath, 1927. Genus Aturoidea Vredenburg, 1925

Type-species: Nautilus parkinsoni Edwards (1849).

Aturoidea parkinsoni (Edwards, 1849) Fig. 3. 1-4

1849 Nautilus parkinsoni Edwards, S. 49, Taf. 7. 1951 Aturoidea aﬀ. parkinsoni Edwards, Miller, Fig. 15 A. Material. Four complete internal molds (Siwa/03/CUGM - Siwa/06/ CUGM), and ﬁve crushed and incomplete specimens; all specimens are compressed, deformed and replaced completely with barite (Siwa/07/ CUGM - Siwa/11/CUGM). Measurements (in mm).

Specimen D Wb Wh Wb/Wh U

Fig. 2. Columnar Stratigraphic section of Daba'a Formation showing the nau- Siwa/03/CUGM 42 (100) 25 (59) 23 (55) 1.08 9 (21) tiloid beds. Siwa/04/CUGM 49 (100) 27 (49) 23 (58) 1.17 14 (28) Siwa/05/CUGM 70 (100) 42 (60) 50 (71) 0.84 Occluded Siwa/06/CUGM 77 (100) 37 (48) 43 (56) 0.86 Occluded brackets are dimensions as a percentage of the diameter. Depository. All the collected specimens are housed at the Museum of the Geology Department, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt and are Description. Moderate sized internal molds. Sublenticular and stored with the collection number Siwa/01/CUGM-Siwa/35/CUGM. nautiliconic Aturoidea. Compressed whorls characterizing the studied specimens. Whorls are ﬂattened laterally, rounded ventrally and im- 4. Systematic paleontology pressed dorsally. Umbilicus only observed in the smaller specimens. Umbilical shoulders rounded and oblique. Sutures asymmetrically sig- Order Nautilida Agassiz, 1847 moidal. A very broad high blunt ventral saddle characterizing the su- Superfamilia Nautilitaceae de Blainville, 1825 ture line of Aturoidea parkinsoni, along with a deep narrow asymme- Family Nautilidalae de Blaniville, 1825 trical narrowly rounded lateral lobe. The siphuncle is only recorded in Subfamily Nautilinae d'Orbigny (1840). Siwa/03/CUGM, sub-central or subdorsal in position (being nearer the Genus Eutrephoceras Hyatt, 1894 dorsum than the venter, but not in contact with the dorsum). Age and Distribution. The association of large A. parkinsoni and Type-species: Nautilus dekayi Morton, 1834: 291, pl. 8, Fig. 4, by Deltoidnautilus sp. is reported from the Lower Eocene of north-east original designation by Hyatt, 1894): 555. Spain (Calzada and Viader, 1983).

Eutrephoceras sp. Genus Aturia Bronn, 1838 Fig. 4. 4 Type-species: Nautilus aturi Basterot (1825). Material. Two incomplete moderately preserved specimens (Siwa/ 01/CUGM - Siwa/02/CUGM). Aturia aturi (Basterot, 1825)

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Fig. 3. 1–4. Aturoidea parkinsoni (Edwards, 1849); 1: Siwa/03/CUGM, 1a, c. lateral, 1b. apertural views, X1; 2: Siwa/04/CUGM, 2a. lateral, 2b. ventral views, X0.9; 3: Siwa/05/CUGM, lateral view, X0.8; 4: Siwa/06/CUGM, 4a. lateral, 4b. ventral views, X0.8.

Fig. 4.1–3. from Aturia aturi; all specimens are compressed, deformed and replaced completely with barite (Siwa/15/CUGM - Siwa/18/CUGM). 1825 Nautilus Aturi n. sp., Basterot, S.17. Measurments (in mm): 1849 Nautilus Aturi Basterot, Quenstedt, p. 59, Pl. l, Fig.23, Pl. 2, Fig.11. 1958 Aturia aturi Basterot, Sturani, p. 366, Pl. 8, Fig. 1,Pl. 19, Specimen D Wb Wh Wb/Wh U – Figs. 1 2, Pl. 20,Fig. 4. Siwa/12/CUGM 52 25 (48) 32 (62) 0.78 Occluded 1959 Aturia aturi Basterot,. Sturani, p.175, Pls. 6–7. Siwa/13/CUGM 52 31 (60) 29 (56) 1.06 Occluded 1966 Aturia aturi Basterot,. Jung, p.487, Pl. 1, Fig. 1, Pl. 2, Fig. 1. Siwa/14/CUGM 75 39 (52) 41 (55) 0.95 Occluded 1973 Aturia aturi Basterot, Steininger et al. p.547, Pl. 30, Fig. 7. 1976 Aturia (Aturia) cf aturi Basterot, Schultz, p.16, Pl. 1, Fig. I. 1994/95 Aturia aturi Basterot, Fritz and Hiden, p. 14, Figs. 1–4. Descriprtion. Compressed to ﬂattened nautilicone internal molds. 2002 Aturia aturi Basterot, Lukeneder and Harzhauser, p.462, Pl. 1, Aperture subtriangular and much higher than wide. Flanks highly Figs. 1–11. compressed, ﬂattened and converge ventrally. Maximum width of the Material. Three complete internal molds (Siwa/12/CUGM - Siwa/ whorls in the umbilical region. Umbilicus closed in all studied speci- 14/CUGM) and four poorly preserved fragments seems likely derived mens. Narrow-spaced speta are strongly curved, ranges in number

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Fig. 4. 1–3. Aturia aturi (Basterot, 1825); 1: Siwa/12/CUGM; 1a, 1b. apertural, 1c. ventral views, X1; 2: Siwa/14/CUGM, lateral view, X1; 3: Siwa/13/CUGM; 3a. lateral, 3b. apertural views X1. 4. Eutrephoceras sp., Siwa/01/CUGM; 1a. apertural, 1b. lateral, 1c. ventral views. X1. between 11 and 13 in the last whorl. Small, dorsal siphuncle is well Fig. 5:1–3; Fig. 6:1–2. preserved in specimens Siwa/12/CUGM and Siwa/13/CUGM. Remarks. The studied specimens are closely resembles those de- 1934 Nautilus alabamensis Morton, p. 33, pl. 18, Fig. 3. scribed and figured by Lukeneder and Harzhauser (2002). The closely 1955 Aturia cf. alabamensis (Morton), Haas, Figs. 1–3. related A. cubaensis can be differentiated from the present species by its 1988 Aturia cf. alabamensis (Morton), Squires, Figs. 2.2, 3.5–3.8. strongly concave septa above the siphonal aperture (Jung, 1966), also Maerial. Eight incomplete crushed internal molds as parts of the in having no turn between the lateral lobe and the lateral saddle. phragmocone. All specimens are totally replaced with barite (Siwa/19/ Age and Distribution. The type species Nautilus aturi Basterot (1825) CUGM - Siwa/26/CUGM). is recorded from the Miocene of France; but the lineage is originated in Description. Large sized incomplete, moderately preserved internal the middle Eocene (Dzik and Gaździcki, 2001). A aturi is a cosmopolitan molds filled totally with well-developed barite crystals. Each specimen species recorded from Cyprus, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Algeria, corresponding to somewhat a half of a whorl, and consist of 7–9 nearly Madagascar, Indonesia and Pakistan. complete, gas chambers. The whorl height in the studied specimens ranges from 130 to 110 mm and the whorl breadth bout 110-80 mm. Aturia cf. alabamensis (Morton, 1834) Very involute nautiloid, flattened laterally, rounded ventrally. The

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Fig. 5. 1–3. Aturia cf. alabamensis (Morton, 1834); Siwa/19/CUGM, 1a, lateral, 1b. ventral, 1c. apertural views. X1.

Description. Moderately large, strongly compressed and involute nautilicone internal molds. Towards venter, the flanks are slowly con- verging. Venter narrow, rounded and convex. Aperture narrow, compressed, sub-elliptical to sub-rectangular. The suture line of the studied specimens is characterized by a wide, high asymmetric lateral saddle. Meanwhile, the dorsal part is more elevated and acute than ventral part. Lateral lobe is deep and narrow. Siphuncle not preserved in the studied specimens. Remarks. The studied specimens, to large extent, resemble those figured from the Early Miocene of India (Halder, 2012). One specimen from north Western Desert (Siwa/27/CUGM) has a higher diameter (130 mm) than those described from India (maximum diameter is 120 mm). Also, the Wb/Wh ratio of the studied specimens ranges between 0.59 and 0.56, while the Indian specimens range between 0.60 and 0.68. However, the incompleteness and the preservational state of – Fig. 6. 1 3. Aturia cf. alabamensis (Morton, 1834); Siwa/22/CUGM 1a, lateral, Tabaghbagh specimens make the complete identification difficult. 1b. ventral views. X1. Age and Distribution. Early Miocene of India. maximum width very close to the dorsal. Suture lines are well preserved 5. Age assignment characterized with broad, flattened ventral saddle and narrow pointed lateral lobe. Siphuncle located dorsally and moderate to relatively large The present work focuses on new findings of Eocene nautiloids from in size. the north Western Desert, Egypt, from the systematic paleontological Remarks. The general shell outline and measurements, along with point of view. The genus Aturia is evolved at the end of the Cretaceous, the suture line, makes the described specimens are fully coincides with and became the most diverse nautiloid genus of the Cenozoic (Ward, Aturia cf. alabamensis (Morton) illustrated and identified by Haas 1987). The genus persisted to the end of Miocene (Teichert and (1955) from Libya. Aturia cf. alabamensis cannot be positively identified Matsumoto, 1987). as to species because of the incomplete nature of the internal molds. Some stratigraphic complications has raised due to the similarity of Age and Distribution. Late Eocene of North America (Morton, 1834; the marine shale facies of Daba'a Formation (Upper Eocene-Oligocene) Miller, 1947; Kummel, 1956 and Squires, 1988) and Africa (Kummel with the clastic fluvio-marine delta front shales of Moghra Formation 1964). Middle to Late Eocene of Cyrenaica, Libya (Haas, 1955). (Lower Miocene), which rests conformably above the Daba'a Formation in other different localities of the Western Desert. Aturia cf. gujaratensis Halder (2012) van Vliet and Abu el Khair (2010) assigned the fossiliferous layer, Fig. 7: 1-3 some 10–13 m above the base of the Dabaa Formation, containing clusters of sirenian remains, echinoderms and nautiloids as Late Eo- 2012 Aturia cf. gujaratensis Halder, p. 124, Figs. 4, 11, 12. cene. Antar (2011) recorded the Basilosaurus isis and Masracetus mark- Maerial. Nine incomplete, crushed and worn out, badly preserved grafi; sirenian remains; sharks such as Anoxypristis mucroden, Carch- internal molds, replaced by barite (Siwa/27/CUGM - Siwa/35/CUGM). arocles sokolowi (mega tooth shark), and Pristis from same nautiloid Measurements (in mm): level at Minqar Tebaghbagh. He assigned these fauna to Late Eocene age. Zalmout et al. (2012) identified Xiphodolamia serrata from the Ti- fi Specimen D Wb Wh Wb/Wh U baghbagh section which con rms the late Eocene (Priabonian) age to Minqar Tabaghbagh faunal assemblage. Siwa/27/CUGM 130 48 (37) 81 (62) 0.59 Occluded Siwa/28/CUGM 112 44(39) 76 (67) 0.58 Occluded Siwa/29/CUGM 103 35 (34) 61 (69) 0.57 Occluded 6. Dpositional environment Siwa/30/CUGM 95 38 (40) 68 (71) 0.56 Occluded The Eocene cephalopods are rare in Egypt and Middle East. Few occurrences were recorded from the Western Desert Egypt, Libya (Haas,

6 M.F. Aly and S.A. Sadek Journal of African Earth Sciences 159 (2019) 103580

Fig. 7. 1–3. Aturia cf. gujaratensis Halder (2012); Siwa/29/CUGM, 1a, lateral, 1b. ventral, 1c. apertural views. X1.

Fig. 8. Plaeogeographic distribution of the described Eocene nautiloids (map modiﬁed after: http://www.geologypage.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ Paleogene.jpg).

1955) and Palestine (Avnimelech, 1943). Aturia aturi (Basterot, 1825)is Antar (2011) concluded that the Late Eocene rocks of Gebel Minqar a worldwide nautiloid species characterizing the Tertiary rocks. The Tebaghbagh area were deposited in a water temperature ranges be- Aturia aturi and its associated nautiloids described, herein, were lived in tween 12 °C and 24 °C, in coastal to offshore environments, based on the subtropical to tropical environments in the southern Tethyan Eocene occurrence of the fossilized fur seals, sea lions, cetaceans, other sharks, warm waters. The studied nautiloids are embedded in glauconitic silt- and large bony fish species. stone and sand reflecting shallow shelf environment of relatively low energy setting in which accumulation of sediment is relatively slow. 7. Conclusions These nautiloids are associated with several sirenians (vertebrates) along with high abundance of teeth of large sharks which indicative to Five nautiloid species, are described systematically from north shallow marine warm environments (van Vliet and Abu el Khair, 2010). Western Desert, Siwa area. The nautilods were recovered from the

7 M.F. Aly and S.A. Sadek Journal of African Earth Sciences 159 (2019) 103580 lowermost part of Gebel Minqar Tebaghbagh including: Eutrephoceras Hyatt, A., 1894. Phylogeny of an acquired characteristic. In: Proceedings of the American sp., Aturoidea parkinsoni, Aturia aturi, Aturia cf. alabamensis and, Aturia Philosophical Society, vol 32. pp. 349–647. ffi Jung, P., 1966. Zwei miocaene arten von Aturia (nautilaceae). Eclogae Geol. Helv. 59, cf. gujaratensis. These fauna representing southern Tethys faunal a - 485–492. nities of subtropical to tropical environments (Fig. 8). Many vertebrate Kummel, B., 1956. Post-Triassic Nautiloid genera. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative bones and skeletons, along with highly abundant shark teeth were re- Zoology at Harvard College in Cambridge, vol 114. pp. 319–494. Kummel, B., 1964. Nautiloidea-Nautilida. In: Moore, R.C. (Ed.), Treatise on invertebrate corded and described by several authors from the nautiloid beds. From paleontology, Part K, Mollusca 3. The Geological Society of America and University paleontological and sedimentological aspects, the Late Eocene (Pria- of Kansas Press, pp. K383–K457. bonian) nautiloids of Minqar Tebaghbagh lived in very shallow marine Landman, N.H., Rye, D.M., Shelton, K.L., 1983. Early ontology of Eutrephoceras com- settings in water depth not exceeding 100 m depth and warm water pared to Recent Nautilus and Mesozoic ammonites: evidence from shell morphology and light stable isotopes. Palaeontology 9, 269–279. settings, low sediment accumulation and low energy settings. Lukeneder, A., Harzhauser, M., 2002. Shell accumulations of the nautilidae Aturia (Aturia) aturi (BAST.) in the lower Miocene paratethys (lower Austria). Abh. Geol. – Acknowledgements Bundesanst. 57, 459 466. McGowran, B., 1959. Tertiary nautiloids (Eutrephoceras and cimonia) from south Australia. J. Paleontol. 33 (3), 435–448. 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