BIOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE MIOCENE SUCCESSIONS IN THE SADAT AREA, WEST GULF OF SUEZ-EGYPT

Abstract

The age of the exposed Sadat, Hommath and Hagul formations in Sadat area on the west side of the Gulf of Suez, is inadequately resolved due to the scarcity of diagnostic planktic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil taxa. The detailed analysis of the calcareous nannofossil content, planktic and larger benthic foraminifera of three sections measured in Wadi El-Ramiya, Wadi Hommath and Wadi Hagul at Sadat area, allows identification of 23 calcareous nannofossil species, 23 planktic foraminiferal species and 152 benthic foraminiferal species. Our results indicate that the Sadat Formation is assigned to Burdigalian-Langhian age according to the occurrence of Miogypsina cushmani and Miogypsina intermedia in its lower part and the appearance of Borelis melo in its upper part. The Hommath Formation is assigned to the Langhian-Serravallian age depending on the occurrence of Borelis melo curdica together with Borelis melo melo. The Hagul Formation is barren from any zonal marker but it is assigned to the late Miocene age according to its stratigraphic position.