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Stratigraphy, facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy of the Eocene succession in the Shabrawet area (north Eastern Desert, Egypt): an example for a tectonically influenced inner ramp carbonate platform

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Abstract

The Eocene rocks in the Shabrawet area (north Eastern Desert, Egypt) have been subdivided into three formations that are from base to top: the Minia Formation (Late Ypresian), the Sannor Formation (Bartonian) and the Maadi Formation (Priabonian). These three formations are disconformable with each other. In addition, the whole Eocene succession is disconformably overlain by the Oligocene rocks and is underlain by the Cretaceous rocks with an angular unconformity surface. The Sannor Formation has been subdivided into three informal units: lower, middle and upper units. The overall sedimentary nature of the Eocene rocks in the study area is dominated by carbonate-siliciclastic rocks. Detailed microfacies analysis has enabled discrimination of 22 sedimentary microfacies types, which are grouped into six facies associations, equivalent to six depositional environments sited on an inner ramp setting. These depositional environments are floodplain-dominated fluvial, lacustrine/palustrine, tidal flat, restricted inner lagoon, shoal bar and outer lagoon with open circulation. A suitable depositional model of the Eocene rocks is given. In addition, four discrete benthonic foraminiferal biozones were reported in the Eocene succession, arranged from base to top: (1) Alveolina frumentiformis biozone (Late Ypresian), (2) Orthoplecta clavata biozone (Bartonian), (3) Dictyoconus aegyptiensis biozone (Bartonian) and (4) Discorbis vesicularis biozone (Priabonian). In terms of sequence stratigraphy, the studied Eocene succession exhibits three superimposed depositional sequences, each of which shows retrogradational (transgressive systems tract) and aggradational (highstand systems tract) to progradational (lowstand systems tract) packages of facies. The retrogradational package displays a predominance of outer lagoon and restricted inner lagoon facies. The aggradational package shows an increase of shoal bar and tidal flat facies, whereas the progradational package marks the occurrence of continental facies (floodplain-dominated fluvial and lacustrine deposits). In this study, it is noticed that there are lateral and vertical changes in the depositional environments of the Eocene rocks, between shallow marine and continental environments. Also, many unconformities have been recorded in between and within these rock units. Such remarks indicate that the Eocene rocks were deposited within a highly tectonically active area that was consequently influenced by the transgression and regression of the Neo-Tethys. Such tectonic activity could be related to the Syrian Arc System that was renewed and enlarged several times during the Late Cretaceous up to the Neogene in the eastern and southeastern Mediterranean domain.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to Dr. Issawi B., former Director of the Geological Survey and Mining Authority of Egypt, for reviewing the manuscript and valuable discussion that greatly benefited this work. Prof. Boukhary M., Ain Shams University, is greatly acknowledged for his help in the identification of the larger benthic foraminifers and his contribution in the biostratigraphic study. Dr. Haggag W., Benha University, is also acknowledged for being helpful and for being an amicable field assistant. Many thanks are due to two anonymous reviewers for their critical revision of the manuscript. Special thanks are also due to Prof. Abdullah M. Al-Amri (Editor-in-Chief) for his editorial support.

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  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha, Egypt

    E. Sallam & R. Osman

  2. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt

    H. A. Wanas

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  1. E. Sallam
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Sallam, E., Wanas, H.A. & Osman, R. Stratigraphy, facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy of the Eocene succession in the Shabrawet area (north Eastern Desert, Egypt): an example for a tectonically influenced inner ramp carbonate platform. Arab J Geosci 8, 10433–10458 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-015-1969-2

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