A new upper Oligocene marine record from northern Sinai (Egypt) and its paleogeographic context

Abstract

The upper Oligocene Wadi Arish Formationis composed of a carbonate-dominated succession at Gebel Risan Aneiza (Sinai). The 77-m-thick unit disconformably overlies Jurassic to lower Cretaceous carbonates and is subdivided into three members, comprising six lithofacies units. The lower Wadi Arish member contains three units, a gypsiferous sandstone unit (Oa), overlain by two limestone units (Ob and Oc). The middle Wadi Arish member is represented by a conspicuous marl unit (Od) that is overlain by two upper limestone units (Oe and Of) of the upper Wadi Arish member. We discuss the euphotic subtidal depositional environments in conjunction with macro- and microfacies characteristics. Six microfacies types are defined, dominated by grain associations of rhodoliths, larger benthic foraminifera (rotaliids), corallinaceans, bivalves, peloids, few corals, and bryozoans. They characterize rhodalgal associations, common in non-tropical warm-temperate settings. Biostratigraphy is based on larger foraminifera. The middle Wadi Arish member corresponds with SB 23 (Chattian) and may correlate with Pg5O, a regional maximum flooding surface. Our sequence stratigraphic interpretations define a late lowstand to early transgressive systems tract (lower Wadi Arish member), a late transgressive systems tract (middle Wadi Arish member), while the upper Wadi Arish member reflects highstand conditions. The paleogeographic setting and sequence stratigraphic interpretation of this unique upper Oligocene outcrop is placed in context of the northeast African-Arabian region.