Upper Paleocene-lower Eocene calcareous nannofossil stratigraphy at the Misheiti Section, Central Sinai, Egypt

Authors: ATEF M KASEM, SHERWOOD WISE, MAHMOUD FARIS, SHERIF FAROUK, ESAM ZAHRAN

Abstract: Calcareous nannofossil, δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O, and carbonate content data were used to define and reveal the variations across the latest Paleocene-earliest Eocene interval at the Misheiti Section, Central Sinai, Egypt. The upper part of Tarawan Formation, the Esna Formation, and the lowermost Thebes Formation were included in this study. In this study, the Esna Formation is informally divided into Hanadi/Mahmiya and Abu Had members. Four calcareous nannofossil zones (NP9, NP10, NP11, and NP12) and four subzones (NP9a, NP9b, NP10a, and NP10b) were recognized. The biostratigraphic importance of significant calcareous nannofossil bioevents associated with the P/E boundary was discussed. The LOs of Rhomboaster spp., Discoaster araneus, and/or D. anartios were used to delineate the base of earliest Eocene Subzone NP9b within the lower part of the Esna Formation. The global decreases of δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O, and carbonate contents at the P/E boundary were documented in the study section.

Keywords: Nannofossils, carbon and oxygen isotopes, carbonate content, Paleocene-Eocene boundary, Rhomboaster

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