Geology and Geoscience

Biography

Biography: Nageh A Obaidalla

Abstract

This work depends on the detail field, litho- and bio-stratigraphic studies on the Lower Paleogene succession of nine stratigraphic sections in Sinai, Egypt. These sections are nearly arranged in a geologic profile from north to south direction (e.g. Al-Hasanah, Sahabah, Sudr Al-Hitan, Al-Thamad, Wadi Sudr, Abu Qada, Wadi Matulla, Wadi Nukhul and Wadi Feiran). Lithostratigraphically, the studied sections are composed of five rock units namely, Sudr (uppemostpart), Dakhla, Tarawan, Esna (El-Hanadi, El-Dababiya, El-Mahmiya and Abu Had members) and Thebes formations. The vertical contacts of the rock units are gradational or intercalation in some sections and sharp at the others. Moreover, a paleosol and an erosive surface are recorded at the formational boundaries. Biostratigraphically, a general planktonic foraminiferal zonal scheme consists of eighteen zones is constructed for the Lower Paleogene strata. Some of these zones are absent in the studied sections. Based on the field and stratigraphic criteria, three remarkable tectonic events related to the Syrian Arc Orogeny are recognized. These tectonic events correspond to the Cretaceous/Paleogene, the Danian/Selandian and the Paleocene/Eocene boundaries respectively. The magnitude of these tectonic events varies in the different localities in Sinai. The Cretaceous/Paleogene event led to the missing of the lowermost part of Danian sediments. The Danian/Selandian and Paleocene/Eocene events are lithostratigraphically evidenced by the missing of Qreiya Beds and El Dababiya Quarry Member respectively. Moreover, the Paleocene/Eocene event led to the missing of the upper part of the Thanetian and the lower part of the Ypressian sediments at some section and replaced by a paleosol and an erosive surface. It subdivided the Sinai into two sedimentary sub-basins in the north and south isolated by huge aerial paleohigh which extends from Sudr Al-Hitan in the north to Abu Qada in the south.