Coniacian-late Campanian Planktonic Events in the Duwi Formation, Red Sea Region, Egypt

Abstract

This study is the first one on accurate identification of the planktonic foraminiferal biozones of the Duwi Formation and no similar study was carried out before. About 70 m thick complete succession of Coniacian-Late Campanian of the Duwi Formation at Gabal Duwi Range, Red Sea Coast, were completely examined and the following biozones have been recognized and correlated to the world bioevent; Dicarinella concavata Zone (Coniacian), Dicarinella asymetrica Zone (Santonian), where the two zones are correlated to the Coniacian–Santonian time interval of Oceanic Anoxic Event 3 (OAE 3), Globotruncanita elevate Zone (Early Campanian), which correlated to the Santonian/Campanian Boundary Event (SCBE), Contusotruncana plummerae Zone (Middle Campanian) which correlated with the Mid Campanian Event (MCE), Radotruncana calcarata Zone and Globotruncana aegyptiaca Zone (Late Campanian) of the Late Campanian Event (LCE).