Recalibration of the Tethyan shallow-benthic zonation across the Paleocene-Eocene boundary: the Egyptian record

Authors

  • C. SCHEIBNER Universität Bremen FB5, P.O. Box 330440, 28334 Bremen, Germany.
  • R.P. SPEIJER Department of Earth and Environmental, K.U. Leuven Celestijnenlaan 200E, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1344/105.000000267

Keywords:

Paleocene, Eocene, Shallow-benthic zonation, Stratigraphy

Abstract

The Galala Mountains in Egypt provide an excellent platform-basin transect with deposits spanning the Paleocene/ Eocene (P/E) boundary. These interfingering deposits enable a recalibration between platform and open marine biostratigraphic schemes. We investigated 18 sections from a shallow-water carbonate platform margin, dominated by larger benthic foraminifera, to basinal marls with pelagic and deep marine biota. The Late Paleocene to Early Eocene development of larger foraminifera is well recorded in the Galala transect, in particular the Tethyan evolutionary event known as the larger foraminifera turnover (LFT). This turnover distinguishes Paleocene assemblages dominated by glomalveolinids, miscellanids and ranikothalids typical for shallow benthic Zone 4 (SBZ4) from those of SBZ5, dominated by alveolinids, nummulitids, and orbitolitids. Our data agree with previous studies that suggested that the larger foraminifera turnover (LFT) coincides with the Paleocene/ Eocene boundary, delineated by the carbon isotopic excursion (CIE) and that it correlates with the boundary between calcareous nannofossils subzones NP9a/b, the benthic extinction event in smaller benthic foraminifera and the boundary between planktic foraminifera Biozones P5/E1.

References

Alegret, L., Ortiz, S., Arenillas, I., Molina, E., 2005. Palaeoenvironmental turnover across the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary at the Stratotype section in Dababiya (Egypt) based on benthic foraminifera. Terra Nova, 17, 526-536.

Aubry, M.P., 1995. Towards an upper Paleocene-lower Eocene high resolution stratigraphy based on calcareous nannofossil stratigraphy. Israel Journal of Earth Sciences, 44, 239-253.

Aubry, M.P., 1998. Early Paleogene calcareous nannoplankton evolution, a tale of climatic amelioration. In: Aubry, M.P., Lucas, S.G., Berggren, W.A. (eds.). Late Paleocene-early Eocene climatic and biotic events in the marine and terrestrial records. New York, Columbia University Press, 158-203.

Aubry, M.P., Sanfilippo, A., 1999. Late Paleocene-Early Eocene sedimentary history in western Cuba: Implications for the LPTM and for regional tectonic history. Micropaleontology, 45, Suppl. 2, 5-18.

Aubry, M.P., Berggren, W.A., Cramer, B., Dupuis, C., Kent, D.V., Ouda, K., Schmitz, B., Steurbaut, E., 1999. Paleocene/Eocene boundary sections in Egypt. In: Soliman, H.A., Ouda, K.A.K. (eds.). Symposium on Late Paleocene-Early Eocene Events from North Africa to the Middle East within The First International Conference on the Geology of Africa, Assiut, Egypt, The Faculty of Science, University of Assiut, 1-11.

Aubry, M.P., Cramer, B.S., Miller, K.G., Wright, J.D., Kent, D.V., Olsson, R.K., 2000. Late Paleocene event chronology: unconformities, not diachrony. Bulletin de la Societé Géologique de France, 171, 367-378.

Aubry, M.P., Ouda, K., 2003. Introduction to the upper Paleocene-Lower Eocene of the Upper Nile Valley: Part I Stratigraphy. Micropaleontology, 49, Suppl. 1, ii-iv.

Bandel, K., Kuss, J., 1987. Depositional environment of the prerift sediments - Galala Heights (Gulf of Suez, Egypt). Berliner geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen A, 78, 1-48.

Beckmann, J.P., 1960. Distribution of benthonic foraminifera at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary of Trinidad (West-Indies). In: Rosenkrantz, A., Brotzen, F. (eds.). International Geological Congress. Report of the Twenty-First Session Norden. Part V: the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary. Copenhagen, Det Berlingske Bogtrykkeri, 57-69.

Berggren, W.A., Aubry, M.P., 1998. The Paleocene/Eocene epoch/series boundary: chronostratigraphic framework and estimated geochronology. In: Aubry, M.P., Lucas, S.G., Berggren, W.A. (eds.). Late Paleocene-early Eocene climatic and biotic events in the marine and terrestrial records, New York, Columbia University Press, 18-36.

Berggren, W.A., Miller, K.G., 1989. Cenozoic bathyal and abyssal calcareous benthic foraminiferal zonation. Micropaleontology, 35, 308-320.

Berggren, W.A., Pearson, P.N., 2005. A revised tropical to subtropical Paleogene planktonic foraminiferal zonation. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 35, 279-298.

Berggren, W.A., Olsson, R.K., Reyment, R.A., 1967. Origin and development of the foraminiferal genus Pseudohastigerina Banner and Blow, 1959. Micropaleontology, 13, 265-288.

Berggren, W.A., Kent, D.V., Swisher III, C.C., Aubry, M.P., 1995. A revised Cenozoic geochronology and chronostratigraphy. In: Berggren, W.A., Kent, D.V., Aubry, M.P., Hardenbol, J. (eds.). Tulsa, Geochronology, time scales, and global stratigraphic correlation, SEPM Spec. Publ. 54, 129-212.

Berggren, W.A., Aubry, M.P., van Fossen, M., Kent, D.V., Norris, R.D., Quillévéré, F., 2000. Integrated Paleocene calcareous plankton magnetobiochronology and stable isotope stratigraphy: DSDP Site 384 (NW Atlantic Ocean). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 159, 1-51.

Bramlette, M.N., Sullivan, F.R., 1961. Coccolithophorids and related nannoplankton of the early Tertiary in California. Micropaleontology, 7, 129-174.

Drobne, K., 1975. Hottingerina lukasi n.gen., n.sp. (Foraminiferida) iz srednjega paleocena v severozahodni jugoslaviji. Radzprave, 18, 242-253.

Dupuis, C., Aubry, M.P., Steurbaut, E., Berggren, W.A., Ouda, K., Magioncalda, R., Cramer, B.S., Kent, D.V., Speijer, R.P., Heilmann-Clausen, C., 2003. The Dababiya Quarry Section: Lithostratigraphy, clay mineralogy, geochemistry and paleontology. Micropaleontology, 49, Suppl. 1, 41-59.

El-Naggar, Z.R., 1966. Stratigraphy and planktonic foraminifera of the upper Cretaceous-lower Tertriary succession in the Esna-Idfu region, Nile Valley, Egypt, U.A.R. London, Bulletin of the British Museum (natural history) Geology, 291.

Ernst, S.R., Guasti, E., Dupuis, C., Speijer, R.P., 2006. Environmental perturbation in the southern Tethys across the Paleocene/Eocene boundary (Dababiya, Egypt): Foraminiferal and clay mineral records. Marine Micropaleontology, 60, 89-111.

Faris, M., 1997. Stratigraphic distribution, paleocologic implications and evolutionary lineages of the Rhomboaster and Tribrachatus Taxa in the late Paleocene/early Eocene in Egypt. Assiut University, Bulletin Faculty of Science, 26 (3-F9), 1-11.

Forke, H.C., 2002. Biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of Uppermost Carboniferous/Lower Permian sediments in the Southern Alps: fusulinoidean and conodont faunas from the Carnic Alps (Austria/Italy), Karavanke Mountains (Slovenia), and Southern Urals (Russia). Facies, 47, 201-276.

Galeotti, S., Angori, E., Coccioni, R., Ferrari, G., Galbrun, B., Monechi, S., Premoli Silva, I., Speijer, R., Turf, B., 2000, Integrated stratigraphy across the Paleocene/Eocene boundary in the Contessa Road section, Gubbio (central Italy). Bulletin de la Societé Géologique de France, 171, 355-365.

Gietl, R., 1998. Biostratigraphie und Sedimentationsmuster einer nordostägyptischen Karbonatrampe unter Berücksichtigung der Alveolinen-Faunen. Universität Bremen, Berichte aus dem Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, 112, 1-135.

Gradstein, F., Ogg, J., Smith, A., 2004. A geologic time scale 2004. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1-589. Guasti, E., Speijer, R.P., 2005. The Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum in Egypt and Jordan: an overview of the planktic foraminiferal record. In: Guasti, E. (ed.). Early Paleogene environmental turnover in the southern Tethys as recorded by foraminiferal and organic-walled dinoflagellate cysts assemblages. Universität Bremen, Berichte aus dem Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, 241, 113-145.

Hay, W.W., 1961. Note on the preparation of samples of discoasterids. Journal of Paleontology, 35, 873.

Hay, W.W., 1964. The use of the electron microscope in the study of fossils. Annual Report Smithsonian Institution, 1963, 409-415.

Hottinger, L., 2001. Learning from the past? In: Box, E., Pignatti, J. (eds.). Volume IV: The living world. Part Two: Discovery and Spoliation of the Biosphere. San Diego, Academic Press, 449-477.

Hottinger, L., 1960. Recherches sur les Alvéolines du Paléocène et de l’Eocène. Schweizerische Palaeontologische Abhandlungen, 75/76, 1-243.

Hottinger, L., 1998. Shallow benthic foraminifera at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary. Strata, Serie 1, 9, 61-64.

Hottinger, L., Schaub, H., 1960. Zur Stufeneinteilung des Paleocaens und des Eocaens. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae, 53,453-479.

Hottinger, L., Smeeni, S.J., Butt, A.A., 1998. Emendation of Alveolina vredenburgi Davies and Pinfold, 1937 from the Surghar Range, Pakistan. In: Hottinger, L., Drobne, K. (eds.). Paleogene shallow benthos of the Tethys, 2. Ljubljana, Dela-Opera SAZU, 155-163.

Kennett, J.P., Stott, L.D., 1991. Abrupt deep-sea warming, palaeoceanographic changes and benthic extinctions at the end of the Palaeocene. Nature, 353, 225-229.

Kulbrok, F., 1996. Biostratigraphie, Fazies und Sequenzstratigraphie einer Karbonatrampe in den Schichten der Oberkreide und des Alttertiärs Nordost-Ägyptens (Eastern Desert, N’Golf von Suez, Sinai). Universität Bremen, Berichte aus dem Fachbereich Geowissenschaften, 81, 1-216.

Kuss, J., Leppig, U., 1989. The early Tertiary (middle-late Paleocene) limestones from the western Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen, 177, 289-332.

Kuss, J., Scheibner, C., Gietl, R., 2000a. Carbonate Platform to Basin Transition along an Upper Cretaceous to Lower Tertiary Syrian Arc Uplift, Galala Plateaus, Eastern Desert, Egypt. GeoArabia, 5, 405-424.

Kuss, J., Westerhold, T., Groß, U., Bauer, J., Lüning, S., 2000b. Mapping of Late Cretaceous stratigraphic sequences along a Syrian Arc Uplift - examples from the Areif el Naqa/Eastern Sinai. Middle East Research Center, Ain Shams University, Earth Science Services, 14, 171-191.

Knox, R.W.O.B., Aubry, M.P., Berggren, W.A., Dupuis, C., Ouda, K., Magioncalda, R., Soliman, M., 2003. The Qreiya Section at Gebel Abu Had: Lithostratigraphy, clay mineralogy, geochemistry and biostratigraphy. Micropaleontology, 49, Suppl. 1, 93-104.

Loeblich, A.R., Tappan, H., 1988. Foraminiferal genera and their classification. New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 970 pp.

Luterbacher, H.P., Ali, J.R., Brinkhuis, H., Gradstein, F.M., Hooker, J.J., Monechi, S., Ogg, J.G., Powell, J., Röhl, U., Sanfilippo, A., Schmitz, B., 2004. The Paleogene period. In: Gradstein, F., Ogg, J., Smith, A. (eds.). A geologic time scale 2004, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 384-408.

Martini, E., 1971. Standard Tertiary and Quaternary calcareous nannoplankton zonation. In: Farinacci A. (ed.). Proceedings of the II Plankton Conference, Roma, Edizioni Tecnoscienza Rome, 739-785.

Marzouk, A.M., Scheibner, C., 2003. Calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy and paleoenvironment of the late Cretaceous-Paleogene of the Galala Mountains, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 244, 11-35.

Molina, E., Arenillas, I., Pardo, A., 1999. High resolution planktic foraminiferal biostratigraphy and correlation across the Palaeocene/Eocene boundary in the Tethys. Bulletin de la Societé Géologique de France, 170, 521-530.

Monechi, S., Angori, E., Speijer, R.P., 2000. Upper Paleocene biostratigraphy in the Mediterranean region: Zonal markers, diachronism, and preservational problems. GFF. Geologiska Föreningens i Stockholm Förhandligar, 122, 108-110.

Obaidalla, N., 2004. The Paleocene/Eocene boundary foraminiferal events at Wadi Tarfa, northern Eastern Desert. In: Bice, K., Aubry, M., Ouda, K. (eds.). Climate and biota of the Early Paleogene, CBEP V, Assiut, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, B-21.

Okada, H., Bukry, D., 1980. Supplementary modification and introduction of code numbers to the low-latitude coccolith biostratigraphic zonation (Bukry, 1973; 1975). Marine Micropaleontology, 5, 321-325.

Orue-Etxebarria, X., Pujalte, V., Bernaola, G., Apellaniz, E., Baceta, J.I., Payros, A., Nunez-Betelu, K., Serra-Kiel, J., Tosquella, J., 2001. Did the Late Paleocene thermal maximum affect the evolution of larger foraminifers? Evidence from calcareous plankton of the Campo Section (Pyrenees, Spain). Marine Micropaleontology, 41, 45-71.

Ouda, K., Berggren, W.A., Saad, K., 2003. The Gebel Oweina and Kilabiya sections in the Idfu-Esna area, Upper Nile Valley (Egypt). Micropaleontology, 49, Suppl. 1, 147-166.

Pardo, A., Keller, G., Oberhänsli, H., 1999. Paleoecologic and paleoceanographic evolution of the Tethyan realm during the Paleocene-Eocene transition. Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 29, 37-57.

Pujalte, V., Orue-Etxebarria, X., Schmitz, B., Tosquella, J., Baceta, J.I., Payros, A., Bernaola, G., Caballero, F., Apellaniz, E., 2003. Basal Ilerdian (earliest Eocene) turnover of larger foraminifera: Age constraints based on calcareous plankton and δ13C isotopic profiles from new southern Pyrenean sections (Spain). In: Wing, S.L., Gingerich, P.D., Schmitz, B., Thomas, E. (eds.). Causes and consequences of globally warm climates in the early Paleogene. Boulder, Geological Society of America, Special Paper, 369, 205-221.

Pujalte, V., Schmitz, B., Baceta, J.I., Orue-Etxebarria, X., Bernaola, G., Dinarès-Turell, J., Payros, A., Apellaniz, E., Caballero, F., 2009a. Correlation of the Thanetian-Ilerdian turnover of larger foraminifera and the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum: confirming evidence from the Campo area (Pyrenees, Spain). Geologica Acta, 7(1-2), 161-175.

Pujalte, V., Baceta, J.I., Schmitz, B., Orue-Etxebarria, X., Payros, A., Bernaola, G., Apellaniz, E., Caballero, F., Robador, A., Serra-Kiel, J., Tosquella , J., 2009b. Redefiniton of the Ilerdian Stage (early Eocene). Geologica Acta, 7(1-2), 177-194.

Schaub, H., 1981. Nummulites et Assilines de la Téthys paléogène. Taxinomie, phylogenèse et biostratigraphie. Schweizerische Palaeontologische Abhandlungen, 104/105/106, 1-238.

Scheibner, C., Kuss, J., Marzouk, A.M., 2000. Slope sediments of a Paleocene ramp-to-basin transition in NE Egypt. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 88, 708-724.

Scheibner, C., Marzouk, A.M., Kuss, J., 2001a. Shelf architectures of an isolated Late Cretaceous carbonate platform margin, Galala Mountains (Eastern Desert, Egypt). Sedimentary Geology, 145, 23-43.

Scheibner, C., Marzouk, A.M., Kuss, J., 2001b. MaastrichtianEarly Eocene litho- biostratigraphy and Palaeogeography of the northern Gulf of Suez region, Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 32, 223-255.

Scheibner, C., Reijmer, J.J.G., Marzouk, A.M., Speijer, R.P., Kuss, J., 2003. From platform to basin: The evolution of a Paleocene carbonate margin (Eastern Desert, Egypt). International Journal of Earth Sciences, 92, 624-640.

Scheibner, C., Speijer, R.P., Marzouk, A., 2005. Larger foraminiferal turnover during the Paleocene/Eocene thermal maximum and paleoclimatic control on the evolution of platform ecosystems. Geology, 33, 493-496.

Schroeder, R., Neumann, M., 1985. Les grands foraminifères du Crétacé moyen de la Région Méditerranéenne. Geobios, Mem. spec., 7, 1-161.

Serra-Kiel, J., Hottinger, L., Caus, E., Drobne, K., Ferrandez, C., Jauhri, A.K., Less, G., Pavlovec, R., Pignatti, J., Samso, J.M., Schaub, H., Sirel, E., Strougo, A., Tambareau, Y., Tosquella, J., Zakrevskaya, E., 1998. Larger foraminiferal biostratigraphy of the Tethyan Paleocene and Eocene. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, 169, 281-299.

Speijer, R.P., 1994. The late Paleocene benthic foraminiferal extinction as observed in the Middle East. Bulletin de la Société Belge de Géologie, 103, 267-280.

Speijer, R.P., Schmitz, B., Aubry, M.-P., Charisi, S.D., 1995. The latest Paleocene benthic extinction event: Punctuated turnover in outer neritic foraminiferal faunas from Gebel Aweina, Egypt. Israel Journal of Earth Sciences, 44, 207-222.

Speijer, R.P., van der Zwaan, G.J., Schmitz, B., 1996. The impact of Paleocene/Eocene boundary events on middle neritic benthic foraminiferal assemblages from Egypt. Marine Micropaleontology, 28, 99-132.

Speijer, R.P., Schmitz, B., van der Zwaan, G.J., 1997. Benthic foraminiferal extinction and repopulation in response to latest Paleocene Tethyan anoxia. Geology, 25, 683-686.

Speijer, R.P., Samir, A.M., 1997. Globanomalina luxorensis, a Tethyan biostratigraphic marker of latest Paleocene global events. Micropaleontology, 43, 51-62.

Speijer, R.P., Schmitz, B., 1998. A benthic foraminiferal record of Paleocene sea level and trophic/redox conditions at Gebel Aweina, Egypt. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 137, 79-101.

Speijer, R.P., Schmitz, B., Luger, P., 2000. Stratigraphy of late Palaeocene events in the Middle East: Implications for lowto middle-latitude successions and correlations. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 157, 37-47.

Speijer, R.P., 2003. Danian-Selandian sea-level change and biotic excursion on the southern Tethyan margin (Egypt). In: Wing, S.L., Gingerich, P.D., Schmitz, B., Thomas, E. (ed.). Causesand consequences of globally warm climates in the Early

Paleogene. Boulder, Geological Society of America, 275-290.

Tjalsma, R.C., Lohmann, G.P., 1983. Paleocene-Eocene bathyal and abyssal benthic foraminifera from the Atlantic Ocean. Micropaleontology, Spec. publ. 4, 1-90.

Thomas, E., 1998. Biogeography of the Late Paleocene benthic foraminiferal extinction. In: Aubry, M.P., Lucas, S., Berggren, W.A. (eds.). Late Paleocene-Early Eocene climatic and biotic events in the marine and terrestrial records, New York, Columbia University Press, 214-243.

von Hillebrandt, A., 1962. Das Paläozän und seine Foraminiferenfauna im Becken von Reichenhall und Salzburg. Bayer. Akad. Wiss., Math.-Naturw. Kl., Abh., 108, 1-182.

von Salis, K., Ouda, K., Saad, E.D.M., Tantawy, A.A., Bernasconi, S., 1998. Calcareous nannofossils, foraminifera and stable isotope studies from the P/E boundary sections in Egypt. Strata, 9, 113-115.

White, M.R., 1992. On species identification in the foraminiferal genus Alveolina (Late Paleocene-Middle Eocene). Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 22, 52-70.

Wielandt, U., 1996. Benthic foraminiferal paleoecology and microfacies investigations of Paleogene sediments from the Farafra Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt. Tübinger Mikropaläontologische Mitteilungen, 13, 1-78.

Downloads

Published

2009-03-02