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Stratigraphy

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Sequence Stratigraphy of the Lower Miocene Moghra Formation in the Qattara Depression, North Western Desert, Egypt

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences ((BRIEFSEARTH))

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Abstract

The Lower Miocene Moghra Formation, northwestern Egypt was studied for its stratigraphy and geo-chronology. The Moghra Formation was divided into seventeen units according to lithology. The first unit is represented by marine fine-grained siliciclastic deposits with Ophiomorpha trace fossils (Unit I), and this is overlain by Unit II that consists of shallow marine coarse-grained siliciclastic deposits. This unit is rich in vertebrate fossil fragments. Unit III is composed of fine to coarse-grained siliciclastc deposits with Ophiomorpha trace fossils. Unit IV consists of a thick shale section with erosive base and variable thickness. The sediments of the overlying Unit V consist of three bioturbated sandstones beds. Unit VI is based by a major erosional surface and consists of fluvial-tidal sediments rich in vertebrates and silicified trunks. This unit is similar to Unit II in composition. Unit VI is overlain by unit VII, which is represented by sand-shale intercalation (sand dominated) and becomes more shaley upwards with Ophiomorpha and Thalassinoid trace fossils. Units VIII, Unit X, XII, XIV and XVI are similar to Unit VI in their composition. Unit IX is based by heterolithic strata with burrows and topped by marine shales towards the east. Units XI, XIII, XV are represented by calcareous beds and rich in Ophiomorpha and bioturbation ichnofacies. Unit XVII is represented by fossiliferous limestone and shale. Strontium isotope analysis of macrofossil fragments within Moghra Formation has provided a geochronology for the section and established a correlation with the global time-scale. Strontium isotope ratios of macrofossils are consistent and indicate an age for the Moghra Formation ranging from 20.5 Ma at the base to 17 Ma at the top, placing most of the study area within the Burdigalian.

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  1. Geology Department, Beni Suef University, Salah Salem Street, 62511, Beni Suef, Egypt

    Safiya M. Hassan

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Hassan, S.M. (2013). Stratigraphy. In: Sequence Stratigraphy of the Lower Miocene Moghra Formation in the Qattara Depression, North Western Desert, Egypt. SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences. Springer, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00330-6_2

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