INTEGRATED PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFERA AND CALCAREOUS NANNOFOSSIL BIOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE UPPER MAASTRICHTIAN-LOWER EOCENE SUCCESSION IN WESTEN SINAI, EGYPT

The investigation of Planktonic foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil content of Upper Maastrichtian – Lower Eocene succession in both Gabal El Nazzazat and Gabal Nukhul, W Sinai has led to recognition of eleven planktonic foraminiferal biozones ranging from the Plummerita hantikininoides Zone (CF1, Late Maastrichtian) to Morozovella marginodentata Zone (E3, Early Eocene) as well as nine calcareous nannoplanktics biozones ranging from Micula prinsii Zone (CC26) to Tribranchiatus contortus Zone (NP10). These biozones are correlated with each other and with their equivalents that were previously established in / and outside Egypt. An integrated stratigraphical framework based on the identified biozones provides a good tool for recording a case of continuous sedimentaion during Cretaceous/Tertiary and Paleocene/Eocene transitions in the section. The K/T boundary is located within lower part of Esna Shale and is delineated by both the extinction of all large (ornate) tropical and subtropical Cretaceous planktonic foraminifera (top of CF1 Zone) and the acme of Obliquipithonella operculata (base of NP1 Zone). Also, the P/E boundary occurs within the upper part of Esna Shale and can be detected by the first appearance datum of Acarinina sibaiyaensis, Acarinina africana and Morozovella allisonensis (base of E1 Zone) as well as at the first appearance of Rhoboastera spp and Discoaster araneous (NP9a / NPP9b subzonal boundary).