International Conference on Geology June 22-23, 2015 Florida, USA

Khaled Saleh Amrouni has done his PhD in Geology from Texas A&M University in 2015 in Carbonates Sedimentology, Sequences Stratigraphy , Stable Isotopes Chemostratigraphy, and Diagenesis, and MSc in Carbonate Sedimentology and sequence Stratigraphy from Garyounis University, Cyrenaica, Benghazi, Libya in 2006. BSc in Geology Garyounis University, Cyrenaica, Benghazi, Libya in the year of 2000.

Six detailed field sections of 135 m maximum thickness, along 7 km distance were measured in the Middle to Late Eocene succession of Darnah Formation. Two depositional facies association were distinguished in the numulitic Eocene shallowing upward sequence. The facies associations are: 1) numulitic dominated rudstone associated with packstone, and 2) numulitic dominated floatstone associated with packstone and some wackestone and mudstones. The Numulitic Eocene shallowing upward sequence comprises six cycles of sedimentation based on lithological, paleontological, and field observations. These six cycles of sedimentation include smaller subcycles. The cyclicity of these numulite dominated successions formed due to the interchangeable deposition of fining-upward floatstone dominated facies and the coarsening-upward rudstone dominated facies. The SW-NE stratigraphic cross section shows three different geometries at three different stratigraphic levels in the coarsening upward rudstone cycles, bioherm/banks. The Numulitic bioherms/banks are of elongated lens shape in the lower part of the sequence that changed into a continuous mound shape in the middle, and then changed into a half-channel cross-section shape at the top. On the other hand, the fining upward floatstone dominated cycles are of blanket shape that covers the rudstone cycles. The bioherms of lenticular shape gradually thins and bench out from both sides, while the half-channel shape bioherms suddenly bench out and disappear against the fining upward floatstone dominated cycles. However, the bioherms of the mound shape are always laterally continuous. The datum for the stratigraphic cross section was the top surface of the Eocene sequence. The numulitic Eocene shallowing upward sequence shows a general trend of increase in the numulite fossils size up in the section. In addition, the fining upward floatstone cycles are dominated by smaller size numulites (1-5mm) associated with large bivalves and gastropods. The coarsening upward rudstone cycles are dominated by larger size numulites (2-50mm) that always associated with smaller size bivalves and gastropods. The fining upward floatstone cycles are very hard, well cemented, and usually associated with brownish gray chert nodules of 15-30 cm in diameter. The chert nodules sometimes contain intact numulite fossils inside them. The numulitic Eocene shallowing upward sequence deposited in a shallow neritic environment as indicated by fossils assemblage of Numulites gizehensis, Numulites incrassatus, Numulites chavanesi, Numulites fabiani, and pelecypods. This case study covered only a small part of the numulitic Eocene shallowing upward sequence that extends for more than 200 km along a dip profile, and its excellent 3-D exposure makes it an analogue for numulitic carbonate reservoirs in the subsurface within the Mediterranean region and globally. rn

Khaled Saleh Amrouni has done his PhD in Geology from Texas A&M University in 2015 in Carbonates Sedimentology, Sequences Stratigraphy , Stable Isotopes Chemostratigraphy, and Diagenesis, and MSc in Carbonate Sedimentology and sequence Stratigraphy from Garyounis University, Cyrenaica, Benghazi, Libya in 2006. BSc in Geology Garyounis University, Cyrenaica, Benghazi, Libya in the year of 2000.

Five detailed field sections of 31 m maximum thickness, along 3.5 km distance were measured in the Middle to Late Miocene succession of Wadi al-Qattarah Formation. Five distinctive sedimentary facies associations were distinguished in the oolitic Miocene shallowing upward sequence. The facies associations are: 1) transgressive phase facies association, 2) Tidal shoal sand bar facies associations,\r\n3) tidal shoal channels facies associations, 4) tidal spillover lobe sand-belt facies associations, and 5) interchannel \'bay\' pond facies association. Moreover, interchannel flats or levees are regarded as subfacies and incorporated in tidal channels facies associations, and interchannel pond filling facies associations.\r\nThe transgressive phase facies associations form a fining upward cycle that is made up of skeletal conglomeratic-lime and limesand fragments of coralline red algae, gastropods, echinoids, and other shell fragments. It is graded, laminated and well bedded. This unit rests unconformably above the older Eocene rocks. The tidal sand bar facies associations form a coarsening upward cycle of non-skeletal and skeletal limesand. It comprises ooids, composite ooids, pellets, fragmented coralline red algae, and gastropods. It is laminated, well bedded, and cross bedded, with imbrications structures at the base.\r\nThe tidal shoal channels facies associations form a fining upward cycle of skeletal and non-skeletal conglomeratic-lime, limesand, and pure limemud, and oncolitic-ooids. Gastropods, benthic forams and shell fragments are common in this unit. It is graded, laminated, cross laminate, well bedded, and burrowed at the top. The tidal spillover lobe sand-belt facies associations form a uniform cycle of oolitic grainstone. It has a few echinoids shell fragments. The unit is graded, laminated, cross laminated, well bedded, and cross bedded, with lens shape channels that show soft sediment deformation and sharp basal surface. This sand waves and sand bars unit is characterized by a composite set of large planar and trough crosses bedding overlain by a small scale planar and trough cross bedding and then capped by wave-formed ripples. The Interchannel \'bay\' pond facies associations form a coarsening upward cycle of skeletal and non-skeletal limesand includes ooids and pellets. This unit contains bivalves, gastropods, and benthic forams. It is graded, laminated, cross laminated, and well bedded. The heterogeneous oolitic Miocene shallowing upward sequence was deposited in the tidal environment as indicated by its facies\r\nassociations and the herring-bone cross bedding. This outcrop case study covered a limited portion of the oolitic Miocene sequence that extends for more than 150 km along a dip profile and its excellent 3-D exposure makes it an analogue for ooid grainstone carbonate reservoirs in the subsurface within the Mediterranean region and globally.\r\n

Ahmed Mohamed Muftah Born in 1959, Libya, He is a graduate of Benghazi University 1981. He joined Arabian Gulf Oil Company for 20 years, from which comprehensive experience in the oil exploration has been gained (i.e. wellsite geologist and foraminiferal Biostratigrapher). He completed his Master’s education 1991 on Micropaleontology from University College London. He is currently working with University of Benghazi (Previously Garyounis) as assistant Professor on Micropaleontology and Historical Geology. He is nominated by the department to the Libyan coordinator of the East Libya Neogene Research Project (ELNRP) with the International Institute for Human Evolutionary Research, Integrative Centers for Science and Medicine. He is also engage with the Libyan team of Cyrenaica Karst Project with the Italian team of Centro Ibleo di Ricerche Speleo-Idrogeologiche (C.I.R.S).

As Sahabi areas is one of famous vertebrate African localities situated in northern Africa, at the northern Sirt Basin of Libya. Its scientific value is due to the diverse and high abundance of vertebrate fossil remains. Hence, the dating of the exposed vertebrate-bearing member \"U1\" of Sahabi Formation in As Sahabi area using micro/macro invertebrates is the primary objective of this work. The data base is quite large including eight profiles and two subsurface shallow drilled wells from As Sahabi. Stratigraphically, the Late Neogene rock units of As Sahabi area are well differentiated and correlated by means of both biofacies and lithofacies changes as much as possible. The youngest \'Quaternary\' rock unit (Formation \"Z\") is raised herein to be Formation rather than Member on the basis of the newly recognized unconformity. Whereas, the mineralogical and geochemical analyses are applied to the non-fossiliferous clayey intercalations in Sahabi Formation searching for any datable minerals or microfossil to solve the age enigma of Sahabi Formation, also implemented to understand the source area of the Sahabi clays. The mineralogical and geochemical study of clayey sediments from the vertebrate fossiliferous member of the As Sahabi Formation, using XRD and XRF analyses proved a continental origin from Neogene mega-Lake Chad. Paleontologically, several species have been described and illustrated for the first time from five macrofossils phyla (echinodermata, mollusca, corals, bryozoa and arthropoda) have been described in more detail to a speciation level in As Sahabi area particularly from formation “M”. Thirty-five foraminiferal species have been documented from As Sahabi area during this study, mostly from the Pre-Sahabi formation \"M\"; from which two assemblage biozones are established. Whilst, Sahabi Formation itself yields mainly shallower foraminiferal elements, with very low diversity and bad state of preservation. Seventeen ostracodes species from the pre-Sahabi rock unit (i.e. formation \"M\") in As Sahabi area have been identified. In addition to that the Pre-Sahabi formation \"M\" from the subsurface data yielded diagnostic calcareous nannofossils, on which the dating is based. Integrated age of Late Tortonian age is assigned to The Pre-Sahabi Formation \"M\" based on the above-mentioned tools. Meanwhile the Sahabi Formation, Member \"T\" which is shallow marine deposits is dated as (post-Tortonian - ? Messinian); meanwhile the terrestrial- marginal marine deposits (Member U1, UD, U2 and V) are of Messinian or younger, base on Foraminiferal contents. Formation \"Z\" is of Quaternary age. \r\n