High-resolution sequence stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene succession, Gabal Qreiya area, Upper Egypt

• Published in: Arabian journal of geosciences Vol. 10; no. 24; pp. 1 - 19
• Main Authors: El-Younsy, Ahmed R. M., Obaidalla, Nageh A., Philobbos, Emad R., Salman, Abdelhamid M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Cretaceous; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth science; Earth Sciences; Ecological succession; Foraminifera; Formations; High resolution; Original Paper; Paleogene; Resolution; Reviews; Sea level; Sequence stratigraphy; Sequences; Sequencing; Stratigraphy; Sequence stratigraphy; Facies analysis; Depositional environments; Paleobathymetry; Systems tracts
• ISSN: 1866-7511; 1866-7538
• DOI: 10.1007/s12517-017-3319-z

The Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene succession at Gabal Qreiya area that covers six rock units, Quseir, Duwi, Dakhla, Tarawan, Esna, and Thebes formations, is reviewed through a high-resolution sequence stratigraphic analysis. Six third-order depositional sequences and their associated surfaces and systems tracts are recognized based on stratigraphic, sedimentological, and high-resolution foraminiferal studies. The pre-Campanian sequence, comprising the Quseir Formation, was accumulated in inner neritic paleodepths, on marginal to shallow subtidal shelf. The Lower Campanian sequence that covers the Duwi Formation was accumulated in oscillating settings between inner to middle neritic paleodepths, on a shallow subtidal shelf. The Upper Campanian-Maastrichtian sequence that covers the lower part of the Dakhla Formation was accumulated in outer neritic-upper bathyal to middle neritic paleodepths, on a deep subtidal shelf to a shallow subtidal shelf. The Danian sequence that covers the middle part of the Dakhla Formation was accumulated in oscillating conditions between upper bathyal and middle neritic paleodepths, on a deep subtidal and a shallow subtidal shelf. The Selandian-Thanetian sequence that comprises the upper part of the Dakhla, Tarawan, and the lower part of the Esna formations was accumulated in fluctuating conditions from upper bathyal to middle neritic paleodepths, on a deep subtidal to a shallow subtidal shelf. The Ypresian sequence that includes the main parts of Esna and Thebes formations was accumulated in fluctuating settings among middle bathyal and middle neritic paleodepths, on a deep subtidal to a shallow subtidal shelf. Most of the sequence boundaries coincide with the global sea-level curve whereas some of them suggest a local tectonic event.