YPRESIAN TO PRIABONIAN NANNOFOSSIL BIOSTRATIGRAPHY AND PALAEOECOLOGY, GULF OF SUEZ, EGYPT

The studied succession of the Gulf of Suez consists of three formations: Thebes, Darat and Khaboba from base to top respectively. The examination of the studied samples resulted in identification of 42 calcareous nannoplankton species of NP11 to Np18 zones of Martini (1971). The calcareous nannoplankton taxa used herein to subdivide the studied succession into six nannoplankton biozones which are described in ascending order as Discoaster binodosus, Tribrachiatus orthostylus, Discoaster lodoensis, Reticulofenestra umbilica, Discoaster saipanensis and Chiasmolithus oamaruensis. Based on the palaeoecological indicator species, the palaeoenvironment of the early-late Eocene succession was distinguished. An oligotrophic palaeoenvironment is inferred for this low to mid latitude early to late Eocene succession.