Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

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Cretaceous Research
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/CretRes

Review paper

Depositional framework and sequence stratigraphy of the CenomanianeTuronian

rocks on the western side of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt
Shaban Ghanem Saber
Geology Department, Beni Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt

a r t i c l e i n f o

a b s t r a c t

Article history:
Received 8 January 2011
Accepted in revised form 7 March 2012
Available online 18 April 2012

Three stratigraphic sections (Wadi El Dakhl, Abu Darag and Gabal Ataqa) of mixed siliciclastic/carbonate
rocks mark the CenomanianeTuronian sequence exposed on the western side of the Gulf of Suez. This
sequence is differentiated into two rock-units: the Galala Formation of Cenomanian age, and the
Turonian Wata/Maghara El Hadida Formation. They comprise various sedimentary facies belts that reect
minor uctuations of sea-level from mudat to deep subtidal setting. Four facies belts are recognized in
this succession. They are peritidal clastic (mudat, mixed at and sandat facies), peritidal carbonate,
shallow subtidal (high energy shallow subtidal; low energy, shallow subtidal; and storm-inuenced,
shallow subtidal, open marine facies) and deep subtidal. Five sequence boundaries marking relative
sea-level falls divide the CenomanianeTuronian succession into four depositional sequences. These
boundaries are: Lower Cretaceous/Cenomanian (SB1), Middle Cenomanian (SB2), Middle Turonian (SB3),
Late Turonian (SB4) and Turonian/Coniacian (SB5). These delineate four well-dened third-order
depositional sequences. They enclose shallowing-upward (prograding) parasequences and record the
fourth order relative sea-level uctuations. Each depositional sequence shows lowstand (LST),
transgressive (TST) and highstand (HST) systems tracts and packages of facies. These sequences are
compared with those of neighbouring areas to differentiate local, regional and global factors that
controlled sedimentation within the study area.
2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords:
CenomanianeTuronian
Sedimentary facies
Sequence stratigraphy
Western side of the Gulf of Suez
Egypt

1. Introduction
This paper is focused on lithostratigraphy, depositional facies
and sequence stratigraphy of the CenomanianeTuronian succession that is exposed on the western side of the Gulf of Suez.
A number of publications have described litho- and biostratigraphy of these rocks (e.g., Abdallah and El Adindani, 1963;
Awad and Abdallah, 1966; Ismail and Seleim, 1968; El Akkad
and Abdallah, 1971; Abu Khadrah et al., 1987; Metwally et al.,
1995; Abd El-Azeam et al., 1996; Abd El-Azzem and Metwally, 1998; Abd-Elshafy et al., 2002a, b; Abdel-Gawad et al., 2006,
2007; Mekawy, 2007; El Qot, 2008; Abd-ElShafy and Abd
El-Azem, 2010; Nagm et al., 2010; El-Sabbagh et al., 2011). A few
localized studies of depositional facies and the sequence
stratigraphy of the CenomanianeTuronian strata have also been
carried out previously (e.g., Kuss, 1989; Kuss and Bachmann,
1996).

E-mail address: shabansaber@yahoo.com.

0195-6671/$ e see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2012.03.008

Late Cretaceous platform sedimentation on the western side of

the Gulf of Suez and adjacent areas was signicantly affected by the
Syrian Arc fold belts that extended from northern Egypt to Syria
passing through Negev. The initial phase of tectonic activity took
place during the Late Cenomanian (Kuss et al., 2000), but the main
phase of compressive activity is considered to have occurred during
the Santonian (e.g., Bosworth et al., 1999).
2. Material and methods
Three complete sections were selected at the best exposed and
well-developed CenomanianeTuronian succession of strata on the
western side of the Gulf of Suez (Fig. 1). The rst section at Wadi El
Dakhl is located at Lat. 28
420 N and Long. 32
250 E, the second is at
Abu Darag (Lat. 29
190 N and Long. 32
290 E) and the third is in the
Gabal Ataqa area (Lat. 29
440 N and 32
270 E). They were
measured, sampled and described bed by bed in the eld for lithological changes and their sedimentary structures. Macrofossils
were collected from the well-dened fossiliferous beds. Some of
these are identied through the text and used for correlation and

S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

301

3.1. Galala Formation

Fig. 1. Location map.

interpretation of depositional environment. The hard rock samples

were thin sectioned for microfacies studies. The sandstone and
limestone microfacies were described following the classication of
Pettijohn et al. (1987) and Dunham (1962) with modications of
Embry and Klovan (1972) respectively.
Attention was paid to the recognition of major, regionally
extensive, as well as local bounding surfaces using the sequence
stratigraphic concepts of Mitchum (1977) and Van Wagoner et al.
(1988). The discontinuity surfaces that were recorded during the
eld work (palaeosols, ferruginous hard crusts) combined
with the major vertical facies changes and diagenetic
features provided the criteria for recognizinge the sequence
boundaries. Condensation with highly bioturbated marl often
corresponds to maximum ooding surfaces (mfs) in the study
area, and transgressive surfaces (ts) are indicated by condensation
with glauconite, phosphate and iron impregnations. The sections
were correlated with the CenomanianeTuronian sequences of the
neighbouring areas.
3. Lithostratigraphy
The CenomanianeTuronian sequence in the sections investigated is divided into the Galala Formation of Cenomanian age and
the Turonian Wata/Maghara El Hadida Formation (Figs. 2e5).
These units are summarized in Table 1 and briey discussed
below.

The term Galala Formation was introduced by Abdallah and El

Adindani (1963) for the intercalated marl and limestone rocks of
Northern Galala. In the sections studied it overlies disconformably
the continental sediments of the Lower Cretaceous Malha Formation in the Wadi El Dakhl and Abu Darag areas (Fig. 6A), but at Gabal
Ataqa the base of the formation is not exposed. The thickness and
carbonate content of this rock unit increase from south to north
(Fig. 5). At Wadi El Dakhl it is about 66 m, while in Abu Darag it is
104 m and the exposed thickness at Gabal Ataqa is about 125 m
(Figs. 2e4).
The lower part of the Galala Formation consists mainly of
glauconitic sandstone intercalated with glauconitic gypsiferous
mudstone, marl, limestone and thin dolostone ledges, oyster banks
(Fig. 6B), and glauconite beds (Fig. 6C), and is topped by a hard black
crust on sandstone (Fig. 6D) at Wadi El Dakhl and Abu Darag. At
Gabal Ataqa, the lower part of the formation is composed mainly of
dolostone with limestone, marl and mudstone intercalations and
horizons with the fossils Ceratostreon abellatum (Goldfuss),
Hemiaster cubicus Desor and Praealveolina sp.
The upper part of the formation at Wadi El Dakhl is composed
mainly of greenish grey to yellowish grey, gypsiferous mudstone
intercalated with grey limestone and marl, with rudists, echinoids
and gastropods. At Abu Darag it is composed of grey limestone that
is highly fossiliferous with rudists, oyster banks and interbeds of
yellow, bioturbated marl with ammonites. At Gabal Ataqa, it
consists mainly of greyish white, thick-bedded dolostone ledges
intercalated with yellow, fossiliferous marl with rudists, gastropods
and bivalves.
The Galala Formation is highly fossiliferous with many bivalves,
e.g., Ceratostreon abellatum (Goldfuss), Ilmatogyra africana
(Lamarck), Gyrostrea delettrei (Coquand), Rhynchostreon suborbiculatum (Lamarck) and Costagyra olisiponensis (Sharpe). Several
rudist horizons were recorded from the Abu Darag section. Ammonite
species in the formation include Acanthoceras sp., Vascoceras cauvini
Chadeau (Fig. 6E) and Neolobites vibrayeanus (dOrbigny). In addition
there are internal casts of gastropods. These assemblages indicate
a Cenomanian age.
To the north, at Gabal Shabrawet, the succession changes to
mainly limestone and chalky limestone with rare beds of marl and
shale. It is about 160 m thick and was referred to the Galala
Formation by Al-Ahwani (1982) and the Halal Formation by
El-Azabi (1999). The Galala Formation is correlated with Raha
Formation on the eastern side of the Gulf of Suez (Ghorab, 1961)
and is divided into two formal members. The lower Abu Had
Member consists of sandstone, mudstone, limestone and marl and
the upper Mellaha Sand Member is composed mainly of sandstone
and shale. In northern Sinai the formation is correlated with Halal
Formation (Said, 1971), which consists mainly of chalky limestone
and dolostone with rare terrigenous (mudstone and sandstone)
intercalations near its base.
3.2. Wata formation
The Wata Formation was named by Ghorab (1961) at Wadi Wata
in west-central Sinai. In this paper it is described from the Wadi El
Dakhl and Abu Darag areas where it is about 54 and 60 m thick
respectively (Figs. 2 and 3). It conformably overlies the Galala
Formation. The lower part of the Wata Formation consists mainly of
marl and limestone with the important ammonite, Choffaticeras
segne (Solger), which indicates an Early Turonian age. It was referred
to as the ammonite bed by Abdallah and El Adindani (1963) in the
Galala Plateau. The middle part of the formation consists of an
intercalation of sandstone and yellow to grey mudstone. The

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S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

Fig. 2. Stratigraphic section of the CenomanianeTuronian succession at Wadi El Dakhl, showing the palaeoenvironmental interpretation and depositional sequence. The accompanying legend also applies to Figs. 3e5.

sandstones are yellowish to black in colour, cross-bedded (Fig. 6F)

and locally with ripple marks (Fig. 7A) or massive, bioturbated,
ferruginous, glauconitic with plant remains and iron concretions.
This facies is correlated with the Middle Turonian regressive facies
of Abdel-Gawad (1999) in the Gabal Nezzazat area in west-central
Sinai and the Buttum Formation (Issawi et al., 1999) in eastern
Sinai. The upper part of the Wata Formation consists of grey limestone intercalated with grey marl and rare mudstone and dolostone.
This part is fossiliferous, with Coilopoceras requienianum (dOrbigny)
(Fig. 7B) at Wadi El Dakhl indicating a Late Turonian age.
The Umm Omeiyid Formation was rst reported by Klitzsch and
List (1980) to describe a brown to yellowish brown, cross-bedded
Mesozoic sandstone unit exposed at Wadi Umm Omeiyid in
central Wadi Qena, Eastern Desert. It was redened by Klitzsch
et al. (1986) and Hermina et al. (1989) at its type area as brown
to yellowish brown, cross-bedded continental sandstone of Turonian age intercalated with ammonite-rich inner shelf sediments.
Kassab and Zakhera (1999) and Abdel-Gawad et al. (2006) referred
the MiddleeUpper Turonian sedimentary rocks at Abu Darag
lighthouse to this formation. Abdel-Gawad et al. (2007) identied

this formation (EarlyeMiddle Turonian) and the Wata Formation

(Late MiddleeLate Turonian) in Southern Galala, but the latter was
applied to the Turonian sediments in Southern Galala by Abu
Khadrah et al. (1987), at Abu Darag by Abd El-Azeam and
Metwally (1998), and in the northern and central part of the Gulf of
Suez area by Abd ElShafy et al. (2002a). The Wata Formation is
applied herein to the Turonian succession where it is equivalent to
this formation in west-central Sinai (Ghorab, 1961) rather than
sandstone facies of Umm Omeiyed Formation.
3.3. Maghara El Hadida Formation
This name of this formation is derived from Wadi El Maghara
El Hadida in the southeastern corner of Gabal Ataqa (El Akkad and
Abdallah, 1971). In this paper the formation is described from Gabal
Ataqa and is correlated with the Turonian Wata Formation at Wadi
El Dakhl and Abu Darag where it is composed mainly of dolostone
with marl intercalations (Fig. 4). The Maghara El Hadida Formation
conformably overlies the Galala Formation and the exposed
section is about 80 m thick. The lower part of the formation is

Fig. 3. Stratigraphic section of the CenomanianeTuronian succession at Abu Darag, showing the palaeoenvironmental interpretation and depositional sequence.

Fig. 4. Stratigraphic section of the CenomanianeTuronian succession at Gabal Ataqa, showing the palaeoenvironmental interpretation and depositional sequence.

S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

305

Fig. 5. South to north correlation chart of Wadi El Dakhl, Abu Darag and Gabal Ataqa sections; datum line ties in the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary. The four sequences described
and their boundaries and systems tracts are shown.

Table 1
Correlation chart of selected Cenomanian and Turonian formations in Sinai and North-Eastern Desert.
Age

Coniaciane
Santonian
Turonian
Cenomanian
Lower
Cretaceous

Sinai

North-Eastern Desert

West Central Sinai

(Ghorab, 1961)

North Sinai,
Gabal Halal
(Abdallah
et al., 1996)

Wadi Qena
(Klitzsch and
List, 1980)

Matulla

Themed

Hawashiya

Wata
Abu Qada
Raha
Malha

Wata
Halal
Risan Aneiza

(Abu Khadra
et al., 1987)

Wadi El Dakhl
(present study)

Abu Darag
(preset study)

Gabal Ataqa
(El Akkad and
Abdallah,, 1971
and present study)

Gabal Shabrawet
(Al-Ahwani, 1982)

Um Omeiyid
Galala

Wata
Galala

Wata
Galala

Wata
Galala

Maghara El Hadida
Galala

Maghara El Hadida
Galala

Wadi Qena

Malha

Malha

Malha

Malha

Risan Aneiza

306

S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

Fig. 6. A, contact between the Lower Cretaceous Malha Formation and Cenomanian Galala Formation (palaeosol) representing the Lower Cretaceous/Cenomanian sequence
boundary SB1, Abu Darag. B, Oyster bank near the base of the Galala Formation, Wadi El Dakhl. C, glauconite bed (G) near the base of the Galala Formation, Abu Darag. D, black hard
crust (palaeosol) at the top of the lower part of the Galala Formation, representing the Middle Cenomanian sequence boundary SB2, Abu Darag. E, Vascoceras cauvini, top of the
Galala Formation, Wadi El Dakhl. F, cross-bedded sandstone, Wata Formation, Abu Darag.

S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

307

Fig. 7. A, ripple marks and mud drapes (arrows), Wata Formation, Abu Darag. B, Coilopoceras requienianum, Wata Formation, Wadi El Dakhl. C, ne to coarse quartz grains, with
gypsum cement, quartz arenite, Galala Formation, Abu Darag, CN. D, phosphatic grain in quartz arenite, Galala Formation, Wadi El Dakhl, PL. Scale bars represent 200 mm.

a bioturbated, gypsiferous, white marl containing numerous specimens of Choffaticeras segne (Solger) and Hemiaster herberti
turonensis Fourtau. It is overlain by hard, grey, fractured, dolomitic
limestone intercalated with white massive sandstone and grey
mudstone. The middle and upper part of this rock unit consists of
bedded, grey dolostone, intercalated with yellow marl and varicoloured gypsiferous mudstones with plant remains. This unit is
equivalent to the Turonian Maghara El Hadida Formation in the
Gabal Shabrawet area (Al-Ahwani, 1982). The formation is unconformably overlain by the CampanianeMaastrichtian Adabiya
Formation at Gabal Ataqa (El Akkad and Abdallah, 1971) and Gabal
Shabrawet (Al-Ahwani, 1982).

4. Biostratigraphy
In this paper ammonite biozones were used to date the
CenomanianeTuronian deposits in addition to other associated
faunal assemblages (bivalves, gastropods and echinoids). Local
ranges of ammonites, bivalves, gastropods and echinoids are shown
in Figs. 2e4. Twelve ammonite, eight bivalve, six gastropod and ten
echinoid species were identied and incorporated in ve biozones
based on the most indicative ammonite species. These zones are
correlated with the ammonite biozones of Abdel-Gawad et al.
(2006, 2007) and El Qot (2008) from the area under investigation
(Table 2). They are summarized as follows:

Table 2
Correlation of the CenomanianeTuronian ammonite biozones in the northern Eastern Desert.
Age

Turonian

Cenomanian

North Eastern Desert

(Kassab, 1996)

North Eastern Desert

(Hewaidy et al., 2003)

Late
Middle
Early

Coilopoceras requienianum

Coilopoceras requienianum
Hoplitoides ingens
Choffaticeras luciae
Choffaticeras segne
Vascoceras proprium

Late

Vascoceras cauvini
Metoicoceras geslinianum
Neolobites vibrayeanus

Middle

Choffaticeras segne
Pseudaspidoceeras exuosum

Neolobites vibrayeanus

Abu Darag
(Abdel-Gawad
et al., 2006)

Wadi El Dakhl
(Abdel-Gawad et al., 2007)

Present study

Coilopoceras requienianum

Coilopoceras requienianum

Choffaticeras segne

Choffaticeras segne

Choffaticeras segne

Neolobites
vibrayeanus

Vascoceras cauvini

Vascoceras cauvini
Neolobites vibrayeanus

Acanthoceras sp.

Acanthoceras amphibolum

Acanthoceras amphibolum

308

S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

Acanthoceras amphibolum Total Range Zone: This is described from

the lower part of the Galala Formation at Wadi El Dakhl and Abu
Darag. The main associated fauna consists of Ceratostreon abellatum
(Goldfuss), Ilmatogyra africana (Lamarck), Rhynchostreon suborbiculatum (Lamarck), Eoradiolites liratus (Conrad) and Hemiaster
cubicus Desor (Figs. 2 and 3). Acanthoceras amphilobum zone was
recorded by Robaszynski et al. (1993) from Tunisia and regarded as
Middle Cenomanian in age. It was also described by Abdel-Gawad
et al. (2006, 2007) and El Qot (2008) from the study area.
Neolobites vibrayeanus Total Range Zone: This zone encompasses
the upper part of the Galala Formation in the Abu Darag area.
The associated fossils are Angulithes mermeti (Coquand), Ceratostreon
abellatum (Goldfuss), Ilmatogyra africana (Lamarck), Rhynchostreon
suborbiculatum (Lamarck), Praeradiolites biskraensis (Coquand),
Hemiaster pseudofourneli Peron and Gauthier and Heterodiadema
libycum (Fig. 3). At Gabal Ataqa the zone is correlated with the lower
part of the Galala Formation containing the fossils Hemiaster cubicus
Desor and Praealveolina sp. Neolobites vibrayeanus is widely known
from the lower Upper Cenomanian (Western Europe, North Africa,
the Middle East and South America) just below the Metoicoceras
geslinianum Zone (Kennedy and Juignet, 1981) and is in part equivalent to the standard Calycoceras guerangeri Zone.
Vascoceras cauvini Total Range Zone: Vascoceras cauvini is found
in the uppermost part of the Galala Formation at Wadi El Dakhl and
represents the youngest Cenomanian zone recorded in Egypt. The
associated fauna comprises Pseudaspidoceras pseudonodosoides
(Choffat) and Costagyra olisiponensis (Sharpe) (Fig. 2). At Gabal
Ataqa this zone correlated with the topmost part of the Galala
Formation containing the fossils Praeradiolites biskraensis
(Coquand) and Costagyra olisiponensis (Sharpe) (Fig. 4). It is correlated with the Vascoceras cauvini Zone of Kassab, (1996) from the

north Eastern Desert (Kassab, 1996), Sinai (El-Heddeny, 2002;

Abdel-Gawad et al., 2004) and the standard Neocardioceras juddii
Zone in New Mexico (Cobban et al., 1989).
Choffaticeras segne Total Range Zone: This zone encompasses the
lowermost marl bed of the Wata Formation in the Wadi El Dakhl,
Abu Darag and Gabal Ataqa areas. The associated fauna consists of
the ammonites Fagesia sp., Vascoceras durandi (Thomas and Peron),
Kamerunoceras sp. and Thomasites rollandi (Thomas and Peron), the
bivalves Plicatula auressensis (Coquand) and Pycnodonta vesicularis
vesiculosa (J. Sowerby) and the echinoids Hemiaster herberti turonensis Fourtau and Coenholectypus turonensis (Desor). The zone
was recorded previously from Egypt by Kassab (1991, 1994) and
Abdel-Gawad et al. (2004). It is correlated with the Thomasites
rollandi Zone of Chancellor et al. (1994) from Lower Turonian of
Tunisia.
Coilopoceras requienianum Total Range Zone: This zone is
encountered only in the Wadi El Dakhl section in the study area.
Coilopoceras requienianum (dOrbigny) is considered to indicate
a Late Turonian in age by many authors (e.g., Lewy, 1989; Luger and
Grschke, 1989; Galal et al., 2001; El Qot, 2008).

5. Sedimentary facies
Four facies belts are differentiated in the Cenomaniane
Turonian sequence exposed on the western side of the Gulf of
Suez. The main depositional elements are peritidal clastic
(mudat, mixed at and sandat), peritidal carbonate, shallow
subtidal and deep subtidal facies (Fig. 8); these are summarized on
Table 3. These facies belts are described below and their environmental implications noted.

Fig. 8. Block diagram showing the distribution of the sedimentary facies of the CenomanianeTuronian succession in the study area.

S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

309

Table 3
Summary of microfacies types and their depositional environments in the area studied.
Microfacies type

Components and sedimentary structures

Depositional environments

Quartz arenite

Quartz grains, glauconite, phosphatic grains, rare bioclastic,

massive or bioturbated, cross-bedded, ripple marks and mud drapes
Glauconite pellets with rare quartz grains, massive

Sandat to mixed at with restricted circulation

Glauconite

Calcareous mudstone
Lime-mudstone
Fine dolostone
Rudist oatstone
Oyster oatstone
Chondrodontid
oatstone
Miliolid bioclastic
wackestone
Phosphatic ostracodal
bioclastic wackestone
Praealveolina bioclastic
wackestone
Echinoid bioclastic
wackestone
Coarse crystalline
dolostone
Gastropod bioclastic
packstone/grainstone
Oyster rudstone
Planktonic foraminiferal
bioclastic wackestone

Calcareous, gypsiferous, nonefossiliferous, aser and wavy bedding

Neomorphosed micrite with rare bioclastics, quartz grains,
glauconite pellets, fenestral structures, bioturbated
Fine to medium crystalline dolomite rhombs, quartz grains,
glauconite pellets, rare bioclastics
Disoriented fragments of rudist oat in limeemud matrix
Disoriented fragments of oyster oat in limeemud matrix
Oriented fragments of chondrodontid bivalve oat in limeemud
matrix
Mainly miliolids with rare algae, benthic foraminifers and bivalves
Mainly ostracods with rare miliolids, algae, benthic foraminifers
and bivalves
Mainly Praealveolina with rare miliolids, algae, benthic foraminifers
and bivalves
Mainly echinoids with rare algae, benthic and planktonic foraminifers
and bivalves
Coarse dolomite rhombs with rare gastropods, rudists and bivalves
Gastropods, bivalves, algae, bryozoa, ostracods, miliolids, thick bedded,
sometimes bioturbated
Oyster shells with little dolomitized micrite matrix
Planktonic foraminifers, ammonites, echinoids, bioturbated

5.1. Peritidal clastic facies belt

This facies belt is made up of associations of sandstone,
mudstone and siltstone. The sandstones are yellowish brown,
massive or bioturbated, locally cross-bedded (Fig. 6F) and ripple
marked (Fig. 7A) with lenses of siltstones or mudstones. They are
glauconitic, with mud drapes (Fig. 7A), iron concretions and plant
remains. The intercalated mudstones are varicoloured, grey to
yellow, limonitic, glauconitic and gypsiferous. Microscopically, this
facies belt is divided into two microfacies.
(1) Quartz arenite microfacies. The framework of this microfacies
is coarse to ne quartz grains (70e90%), moderately to well sorted,
with point, plano and concavo to convex contacts. The grains are
rounded to subrounded, mostly monocrystalline (Fig. 7C), rarely
polycrystalline. The other terrigenous material is glauconite.
Phosphatic grains comprise about 10% of the rock in the lower part
of the Galala Formation at Wadi El Dakhl (Fig. 7D). Bioclasts occur
rarely in some thin sections of this microfacies. The binding
material is calcite dolomitized by zoned dolomite rhombs
(Fig. 9A). Locally the binding materials are gypsum and iron
oxides.
(2) Glauconite (greensand) microfacies. This microfacies is
described from the lower part of the Galala Formation at Abu Darag.
The framework is glauconite peloids, which form about 80e90% of
the rock (Fig. 9B). These peloids are well rounded, spherical to
elliptical in shape and well sorted. The other terrigenous component is quartz grains. The binding material is carbonate cement
with zoned dolomite rhombs.
The rare fauna in this facies indicates an environment in which
circulation was restricted. The presence of plant remains indicates
that this facies represents deposition not far from the shoreline.
The abundance of glauconite points to a low sedimentation rate in
shallow marine or nearshore environments with normal marine

Shallowemarine nearshore environments with

normal salinity, weakly reducing conditions and
low sedimentation rate
Mudat, quiet conditions and restricted circulation
Lower intertidal at, quiet conditions and restricted
circulation

Shallow subtidal area closer to bioclastic shoals from

which the coarse skeletal debris was reworked and
redeposited in quiet water, subtidal area
Shallow subtidal, restricted circulation and quiet
conditions

Shallow subtidal, open circulation and quiet conditions

Shallow subtidal to lower intertidal

High energy subtidal shoals
Brackish water, shallow subtidal shoals, high energy
Deep subtidal, open circulation and high energy
conditions

salinity and weakly reducing conditions (McRae, 1972). The presence of lenticular bedding, ripple marks and mud drapes point to
a mixed tidal-at environment (Reineck and Singh, 1975). The
presence of gypsum is related to the pronounced arid climate at the
time (Lning et al., 1998) in central east Sinai. The different colours
of the mudstone can be attributed to the changes in water level in
the depositional environment. The red colour is related to oxidizing
conditions and periodic wetting (Walker, 1967) and reects a low
water table. The grey colour may be a result of maintenance of
reducing conditions and a high water table (Collinson, 1978).
Accordingly, this facies may represent deposition in mudat, mixed
at and sandat, intertidal subenvironments.
5.2. Peritidal carbonate facies belt
This sedimentary facies forms the main sequence in the Gabal
Ataqa area and is also apparent in the Cenomanian and Turonian
deposits in the Wadi El Dakhl and Abu Darag areas. It consists of
grey to yellow, very hard, ledge-forming dolostone with interbedded limestone and bioturbated marl. It is rarely fossiliferous.
Two microfacies types are recognized:
(1) Lime-mudstone microfacies: This is formed of partially neomorphosed micrite (Fig. 9C) with rare (less than 10%) bioclasts of
algae, bivalve shell fragments, echinoid plates and spines, and
foraminifers. Rare terrigenous materials are oxidized glauconite
peloids and ne quartz grains. Fenestral structures in some beds are
locally lled with gypsum. This facies is partially dolomitized
mainly by ne grained dolomite rhombs and rarely by coarse
dolomite rhombs.
(2) Fine dolostone microfacies: This consists of ne to medium
crystalline dolomite rhombs. The rhombs are idiotopic to hypidiotopic, equigranular with cloudy centres and clear rims (CCCR)
(Fig. 9D). Rare terrigenous materials are ne quartz and glauconite,
and bioclasts are distributed in ne dolomite cement. The rock of

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Fig. 9. A, medium to coarse, rounded to subrounded, quartz grains, with zoned dolomite rhombs as a cement, quartz arenite, Galala Formation, Abu Farag, CN. B, glauconite peloids
and quartz grains, Greensand, Galala Formation, Abu Darag, PL. C, neomorphosed micrite, limeemudstone, Galala Formation, Wadi El Dakhl, PL. D, ne dolomite rhombs, equigranular, idiotopic to hypidiotopic, with cloudy centre and clear rim, ne dolostone, Galala Formation, Abu Darag, PL. E, rudist fragments with their prismatic structures preserved in
a dolomitized, neomorphosed micrite matrix, rudist oatstone, Galala Formation, Abu Darag, CN. F, oyster shell fragments with their brous structures preserved in a neomorphosed micrite matrix, oyster oatstone, Galala Formation, Wadi El Dakhl, PL. Scale bars represent 200 mm.

this microfacies is highly porous and the pores are partially lled
by gypsum.
The ne crystalline dolomite is interpreted to be a result of early
diagenetic alteration of micrite (limeemudstone) and part of
a shoaling peritidal sequence (Warren, 2000). The presence of
gypsum crystals in pore spaces may have formed by evaporation

of marine water in the supratidal zone during short periods of sealevel fall (Tucker and Wright, 1990). Limeemudstone and nely
crystalline dolostone microfacies are correlated with the standard
microfacies (SMF 23) of Wilson (1975), reecting deposition in
restricted shelf lagoons (facies zone FZ8). Pure micrite indicates
low energy conditions and restricted circulation (Tucker and
Wright, 1990). The ne-grained nature of this facies indicates

S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

deposition from suspension in a low energy environment as indicated by mud-supported fabrics (mudstone), with restricted
circulation as indicated by a low diversity to absent fauna. Thus, this
facies is interpreted to represent deposition in lower intertidal at
environments.
5.3. Shallow subtidal facies belt
This facies belt is subdivided into three facies as follows.
5.3.1. Storm-inuenced shallow subtidal open marine facies
This facies is described from the Galala Formation in the Wadi
El Dakhl and Abu Darag areas. It is represented by grey to yellow,
massive limestone and marl, with unoriented fragments of rudists
and oysters and oriented fragments of chondrodontid bivalves.
These bioclasts oat in a limeemud matrix that is sometimes
dolomitized by zoned dolomite rhombs. Stylolites outlined by iron
oxides cross-cut the bioclasts and the binding material. The rocks of
this facies are represented by a oatstone microfacies, which is
divided into three submicrofacies based on dominant bioclasts:
rudist oatstone (Fig. 9E), oyster oatstone (Fig. 9F) and chondrodontid oatstone (Fig. 10A).
Storm-inuenced shallow, subtidal marine environments refer
to a deeper water area above the storm wave base that was inuenced by storm action (Burchette and Wright, 1992). The
limeemud matrix of the oatstone reects deep subtidal, quiet
water (Flgel, 1982). In contrast, the co-existence of large rudists,
Chondrodonta or oyster shell fragments in a micritic matrix is
attributed to reworking from nearby carbonate skeletal shoals by
storm or waves and redeposition in the quiet subtidal water
(Tucker and Wright, 1990). Thus, this facies suggests deposition in
a quiet, shallow, subtidal area close to a carbonate skeletal shoal
from which the coarse skeletal debris was reworked and
redeposited.
5.3.2. Low-energy, shallow subtidal facies
This facies is encountered in the Galala Formation in the Abu
Darag and Gabal Ataqa areas and the Wata Formation in the Abu
Darag area. It is a thick-bedded, grey to chalky white, locally bioturbated limestone. Microscopically, the rocks of this facies are
divided into two microfacies as follows.
(1) Wackestone microfacies: In this microfacies, bioclasts form
about 40% of the rock with rare quartz and glauconite. The binding
material is a neomorphosed micrite matrix that is sometimes
dolomitized by zoned ne to medium dolomite rhombs. Syntaxial
cement is also present around echinoid plates. This microfacies is
subdivided into four submicrofacies of bioclastic wackestone:
miliolid (Fig. 10B, C), Praealveolina (Fig. 10D), phosphatic ostracodal
(Fig. 10E) and echinoid (Fig. 10F). The other bioclasts present in this
microfacies in small amounts are, benthic foraminifers (uniserial
and biserial), micritic algae and bivalve shell fragments with
micrite envelopes. Bioclasts and binding material are sometimes
cut by stylolites with iron oxides (Fig. 10C).
(2) Coarse crystalline dolostone microfacies: This microfacies type
is encountered in the Gabal Ataqa area where it forms yellowish
grey to reddish brown, thick-bedded dolostone ledges. It is sometimes fossiliferous (gastropods, rudists and bivalves). The framework is made up of densely packed, equigranular fabrics of
idiotopic to hypidiotopic, coarse grained (20e70 mm) dolomite
rhombs (Fig. 11A). These have mainly cloudy centres with clear rims
(CCCR type) or are clear. Zoned and unzoned rhombs also occur in
this microfacies. The intergranular pore spaces are sometimes lled
by gypsum (Fig. 11A). Rare glauconite and ne quartz grain are
present.

311

Miliolids, ostracods and Praealveolina indicate restricted circulation whereas echinoids, cephalopods and planktonic foraminifers indicate open marine conditions (Flgel, 1982; Goldhammer
et al., 1993; Schulze et al., 2003). Miliolids typically indicate
restricted shallowedeep, subtidal quiet, restricted lagoons or
sheltered bays (Hottinger, 1997; Pittet et al., 1995). Wilson (1975)
mentioned that Praealveolina wackestone represents shoal banks
under the moderate open circulation of facies zone FZ7. The
sedimentary facies described here suggests deposition ranging
from shallow subtidal environments with restricted circulation, as
indicated by the low-diversity fauna and foraminiferal assemblages represented by miliolids, to open circulation, as indicated
by Praealveolina and echinoids. Quiet conditions of deposition are
indicated by the mud-supported fabrics (wackestone). The sedimentary characteristics and facies associations of the coarsely
crystalline dolostone reect shallow subtidal to lower intertidal
environments.
5.3.3. High-energy, shallow subtidal facies
This facies occurs in the Galala and Wata formations and is
represented by grey to yellow, hard, thick-bedded and recrystallized limestone. It is bioturbated and fossiliferous. Oyster banks
are present. The facies is subdivided into two microfacies as
follows:
(1) Gastropod bioclastic packstone/grainstone microfacies: This
consists mainly of bioclasts of gastropods, bivalve shell fragments,
algae, bryozoa, ostracods, and benthic foraminifers (e.g., miliolids,
biserial and uniserial), with rare echinoids and planktonic foraminifers. The gastropod shells have been recrystallized into
sparite and their chambers lled with micrite (Fig. 11B). Intraclasts and oncoids are recorded from the Wata Formation in the
Abu Darag and Wadi El Dakhl areas. The binding material in
packstone microfacies is neomorphosed dolomitic micrite, and is
silicied. In grainstone microfacies cement material is drusy,
blocky calcite and syntaxial cement surrounds echinoid plates
and spines.
(2) Oyster rudstone microfacies: This is composed of large oyster
shells embedded in a dolomitized and neomorphosed lime-mud
matrix. The oysters retain their original brous structures. Some
shells are micritized or surrounded by micrite envelops. At Wadi El
Dakhl they are partially silicied (Fig. 11C). Stylolites with iron oxides
cross-cut matrix and shell fragments.
The grain-supported fabrics of the grainstone and packstone
and the presence of lithoclasts indicate high energy conditions. The
oyster rudstone microfacies is similar to the standard microfacies
SMF12 of Wilson (1975), which represents shoal environments in
agitated conditions (facies zone FZ6). Thus, this facies is interpreted
to represent deposition in high energy, shallow subtidal environments, such as oyster shoals and bioclastic bars.
5.4. Deep subtidal facies belt
This sedimentary facies belt is encountered in the upper part
of the Galala Formation and the lower part of the Wata Formation
in the sections studied. It is composed mainly of bioturbated marl
and chalky limestone, which are classied as planktonic foraminiferal bioclastic wackestone with ammonites, echinoids and
foraminifers. Bioclasts form about 50% of the rock contents and
are mainly planktonic foraminifers lled by sparite and form
ghosts in the micrite matrix (Fig. 11D). Echinoid plates and spines
and rare benthic foraminifers (uniserial and biserial) are also
present. Fine grained quartz grains and glauconite pellets occur
rarely. Allochems of this microfacies are embedded in

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Fig. 10. A, Chondrodontid bivalve fragments with their foliated structures preserved in neomorphosed micrite matrix, chondrodontid oatstone, Galala Formation, Abu Darag, CN.
B, miliolids and algae in neomorphosed micrite, miliolid bioclastic wackestone, Wata Formation, Wadi El Dakhl, PL. C, stylolites in miliolid bioclastic wackestone, Wata Formation,
Wadi El Dakhl, PL. D, Praealveolina, Praealveolina bioclastic wackestone, Galala Formation, Gabal Ataqa, PL. E, ostracods and other bioclasts in neomorphosed micrite, phosphatic
ostracodal bioclastic wackestone, Galala Formation, Gabal Ataqa, PL. F, echinoid plates with syntaxial cement around them in neomorphosed micrite, echinoid bioclastic wackestone, Galala Formation, Abu Darag, CN. Scale bars represent 200 mm.

neomorphosed micrite, which is partially dolomitized by ne

dolomite rhombs.
The high abundance of fauna, especially ammonites, echinoids
and planktonic foraminifers, in this facies indicates open marine
conditions. The presence of whole ammonites and echinoids,
bioturbation, bedding and mud-supported fabrics (wackestone)
indicate quiet water conditions. Thus, this facies reects deposition
in low energy, deep subtidal environments with open circulation.

6. Sequence stratigraphic boundaries

Five sequence boundaries have been recognized (Fig. 5). These are
delineated based on the presence of subaerial unconformities and
abrupt facies changes across the boundaries. Based on these boundaries and biostratigraphical studies (Table 2), the Cenomaniane
Turonian succession is divided into four third-order depositional
sequences.

S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

313

Fig. 11. A, coarse grained dolomite rhombs, idiotopic to hypidiotopic and zoned, intergranular pore spaces lled with gypsum, coarse crystalline dolostone, Wata Formation, Gabal
Ataqa, CN. B, gastropods with recrystallized shell walls and lled with micrite, gastropod bioclastic packstone/grainstone, Wata Formation, Abu Darag, CN. C, silicication of oyster
shells, oyster rudstone, Galala Formation, Wadi El Dakhl, CN. D, planktonic foraminifers lled by sparite in neomorphosed micrite, planktonic foraminiferal bioclastic wackestone,
Wata Formation, Abu Darag, PL. Scale bars represent 200 mm.

The Lower CretaceouseCenomanian Sequence Boundary (SB1)

is a paraconformity surface between the underlying continental
sediments of the Lower Cretaceous Malha Formation and the
overlying marine sediments of the Cenomanian Galala Formation
(Fig. 6A). It is marked by a palaeosol horizon that indicates subaerial
exposure. This horizon has a reddish brown to black hard crust with
rootlets, iron concretions, and a mottled appearance and grades
downward to yellow sandstone. Darwish (1994) traced this paraconformity surface all over northern Egypt. He described it as
a diastem of about 1e1.5 myr in the Western Desert and Gulf of
Suez provinces and about 2 myr in offshore wells, as indicated by
the absence of the Rotalipora brotzeni Zone; the duration is reduced
in offshore to less than 0.4 myr, as indicated by the absence of the
lower part of this zone.
The Middle Cenomanian Sequence Boundary (SB2) is indicated
by facies changes from shallow subtidal facies below to mudat
facies above the boundary at Wadi El Dakhl. It also shows diagenetic features, e.g., silicication, dolomitization and dissolution of
bioclasts forming mould cavities that are lled by spherulitic silica.
In the Abu Darag and Gabal Ataqa areas this boundary is indicated
by a thin ferruginous hard crust (Fig. 6D). This boundary is of
Middle Cenomanian age. It is underlain by Middle Cenomanian
Acanthoceras amphibolum in association with Hemiaster cubicus and
is overlain by Neolobites vibrayeanus of Late Cenomanian age in the
Wadi El Dakhl and Abu Darag areas. On the eastern side of the Gulf

of Suez, the boundary is indicated by a dramatic facies change from

the marine carbonate rocks of the Abu Had Member to the clastic
sediments of the Mellaha Sand Member.
The Middle Turonian Sequence Boundary (SB3) is indicated by
a facies change from shallow subtidal, coarsely crystalline dolostone under the boundary to mixed at facies (mudstone and
sandstones) above it in the Gabal Ataqa area. In the Abu Darag and
Wadi El Dakhl areas it is indicated by a ferruginous hard crust at the
top of sandstone with haematite and limonite concretions and
plant remains. This boundary is of Middle Turonian age where it is
underlain by marl rich with Choffaticeras segne of Early Turonian
age and overlain by Coliopoceras requienianum of MiddleeLate
Turonian age at Wadi El Dakhl and Abu Darag. It was reported by
Lning et al. (1998) in the Sheikh Attiya section to be within the
Helvetoglobotruncana helvetica Zone and of late EarlyeMiddle
Turonian age. It was also described from Wadi Qena by Lger and
Greschke (1989) and Kuss and Malchus (1989). In west-central
Sinai (Abdel-Gawad, 1999), the boundary is indicated by a palaeontological gap between the Mammites nodosoides and Coliopoceras
requienianum zones and the presence of a hardground. It is significantly correlated regionally with neighbouring areas. It correlates
with Tu1 in Israel (Fig. 12) of Middle Turonian age based on
Lecointriceras euriausianum below it and Coilopoceras sp. above
(Buchbinder et al., 2000) and with the TuJo2 sequence boundary in
Jordan (Fig. 12) (Schulze et al., 2003, 2005).

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S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

Fig. 12. Comparison between sequence boundaries of this study with others in neighbouring areas and the global eustatic scheme of Haq et al. (1987).

The Upper Turonian Sequence Boundary (SB4) is recorded from

Gabal Ataqa only. It shows facies changes from shallow subtidal,
coarsely crystalline dolostone to lower intertidal limeemudstone
above the boundary. In addition, it is indicated by grey, hard dolostone with cavities lled by calcite and iron concretions. This
boundary is correlated with the Tu2 boundary in southern Israel
(Buchbinder et al., 2000) and had been delineated in Jordan between
sequences S7 and S8 (TuJo3) by (Schulze et al., 2003, 2005). It
correlates with TuSin2 of Bauer et al. (2003) in Sinai (Fig. 12).
The TuronianeConiacian Sequence Boundary (SB5) is easily
traceable in the northern Eastern Desert as well as in west-central
Sinai where it separates lower intertidal carbonate facies of the
Upper Turonian Wata Formation from the lower intertidal siliciclastic sediments of the Matulla Formation (of Coniacian age) at
Wadi El Dakhl. At Gabal Ataqa, this boundary is traced where the
Turonian Maghara El Hadida Formation is unconformably overlain
by the CampanianeMaastrichtian Adabiya Formation. It was
described by Darwish (1994) as an Upper TuronianeLower Coniacian
regional unconformity representing local relative sea-level fall as
a result of tectonic activity in the southern basins. He interpreted the
depositional conditions of the Wata Formation as shallowing despite
the gradual global sea-level rise recorded by Haq et al. (1988).
This shallowing was a result of local tectonism accompanied by
intensive phases of doming and submarine uplift of the Syrian Arc
fold belts. The boundary was considered by Lning et al. (1998) in
east-central Sinai to be of Early Coniacian age and they named the
Coniacian sequence boundary CoSin. It is correlated with the Lower
Coniacian sequence boundary (Co1) in Israel, which was reported by
Buchbinder et al. (2000).
7. Depositional sequences
7.1. Sequence 1
This sequence forms the lower part of Galala Formation. It is
bounded at the base by SB1 in the Wadi El Dakhl and Abu Darag
areas, but at Gabal Ataqa the base is not exposed. It is correlated

with S2 and S3 (PostCeJo.1) of Schulze et al. (2003, 2005) in Jordan

(Fig. 12) and with the Cenomanian S1 of Saber et al. (2009) in
northern Sinai. The sequence consists of three systems tracts as
follows.
The lowstand systems tract (LST) is of Early Cenomanian (?) age
where it is overlain by transgressive systems tract facies that are
characterized by the presence of the benthic foraminifers Favusella
washitensis and Daxia cenomana at Abu Darag (Abd El-Azzem and
Metwally, 1998) and Buccicrinata subgoodlandensis at Wadi El Dakhl
(Abd El-Azeam et al., 1996). It is represented by sandat to mixed
at facies with rare lower intertidal ne-grained dolostones at
Wadi El Dakhl. To the north, in the Abu Darag area, it is built up of
mudat facies with lower intertidal dolostones and rare sandat
facies, but at Gabal Ataqa this systems tract is not exposed.
The transgressive systems tract (TST) is of Lower (?)eMiddle
Cenomanian age based on the presence of Acanthoceras amphibolum ammonites and corresponds to a rapid rise in eustatic sea
level. It is characterized by retrogradational facies. It is separated
from the underlying LST by a transgressive surface (ts) that is
indicated by condensed greensands (glauconite) and phosphatic
grains (El-ghali et al., 2009). The retrogradational package of facies
begins with shallow subtidal oyster bars overlain by lower intertidal dolostone and ends with low energy shallow, subtidal facies
with open circulation at Wadi El Dakhl (Figs. 2 and 5). To the north,
this systems tract begins with low energy shallow, subtidal, echinoid bioclastic wackestone or praealveolinid bioclastic wackestone
and mixed at facies at Abu Darag (Figs. 3 and 5) or mudat facies
at Gabal Ataqa (Figs. 4 and 5). The top of this systems tract is
a maximum transgressive surface (mfs), located at the top of the
most traceable open marine shallow subtidal facies.
The highstand systems tract (HST) is composed of a shallowingupward (prograding) parasequence set that formed as a result of
normal regression during a sea-level highstand. A highstand
regression occurs when the rate of sediment supply to a given
shoreline exceeds the rate of accommodation space (Plint, 1988;
Posamentier et al., 1992). It is composed of oyster banks at Wadi El
Dakhl (Fig. 2) and lower intertidal carbonate intercalated with

S.G. Saber / Cretaceous Research 37 (2012) 300e318

mudat facies at Abu Darag (Fig. 3). The top of the HST in the Abu
Darag area is marked by about 7.5 m of mudat facies, which reect
the overall shallowing trend during this regressive phase. To the
north at Gabal Ataqa, this systems tract is mainly composed of
shallow subtidal, coarse dolostones intercalated with mudat facies
and is overlain by lower intertidal ne dolostones.
7.2. Sequence 2
This sequence forms the upper part of the Galala Formation and
the lower part of the Turonian Wata and Maghara El Hadida
Formations. It is bounded at the base by SB2 and at the top by SB3. It
is correlated with S4, S5 and S6 (PostCeJo3) of Schulze et al. (2003,
2005) in Jordan based on the presence of the Vascoceras cauvini,
Neolobites vibrayeanus and Choffaticeras segne zones.
The LST is composed of gypsiferous glauconitic mudstone at
Wadi El Dakhl. This changes northward into marl and shale in the
Abu Darag area and to sandstone at Gabal Ataqa (Fig. 5). It is topped
by a transgressive surface (ts) that separates the intertidal facies
below from shallow subtidal deposits. After the relative fall in sea
level that produced the sequence boundary, the LST developed as
the level rose again slowly and, coupled with a relatively large
supply of sediments, resulted in progradational stacking.
The TST is Late CenomanianeEarly Turonian based on the
presence of the Vascoceras cauvini, Neolobites vibrayeanus and
Choffaticeras segne ammonites zones. At Wadi El Dakhl it is represented by a retrogradational parasequence set that begins with
oyster banks and is topped by a deep-water subtidal, planktonic
foraminiferal bioclastic wackestone with Vascoceras cauvini and
intercalated with a deep subtidal, glauconitic mudstone (Fig. 2).
In the Abu Darag area, the lower part of this tract consists of four
shallowing-upward parasequences (cycles), each one starting
with a rudist oatstone topped by oyster shoals or restricted
shallow subtidal carbonates. The top of the TST in the Abu Darag
area is marked by about 24 m of deep-water subtidal, planktonic
foraminiferal bioclastic wackestone that contains many ammonites and echinoids, which reect the overall deepening trend
during this transgressive phase (Fig. 3). At Gabal Ataqa, this tract
consists of shallowing-upward parasequences (cycles) that start
with shallow subtidal, coarsely crystalline dolostone facies and is
topped by lower intertidal carbonates (limeemudstone or
ne dolostone). The topmost part of the tract is a deep-water
subtidal, planktonic foraminiferal bioclastic wackestone (Fig. 4).
The maximum ooding surface (mfs) is placed at the top the
Lower Turonian ammonite bed and is characterized by condensation that is indicated by highly bioturbated marl and limestone.
This surface caps the TST and marks the turnaround from retrogradational stacking in the TST to aggradational or progradational
stacking in the early HST.
The HST is represented mainly by a progradational parasequence set of lower intertidal carbonates and sandat sedimentary rocks with sparse shallow, subtidal facies (bioclastic bars) in
the Wadi El Dakhl and Abu Darag areas. At Gabal Ataqa, it is represented by aggradational stacking of shallow, subtidal, coarsely
crystalline dolostone facies.
7.3. Sequence 3
This sequence is bounded at the base by SB3 and it is
MiddleeLate Turonian in age based on the presence of Coilopoceras
requienianum. It contains LST, TST and HST deposits as follows.
The LST is composed of siliciclastic sediments arranged in two or
three shallowing-upward parasequences (cycles), each of which
cycle starts with sandat or lower intertidal carbonate facies and is
topped by mudat or mixed at facies.

315

In the Wadi El Dakhl area, the TST consists of deep subtidal

carbonates rich in ammonites, echinoids and planktonic foraminifers. The maximum ooding surface is dened at the transition to
an aggrading parasequence set of lower intertidal limeemudstone
which reects a shallowing trend during the following HST at Wadi
El Dakhl. At Abu Darag and Gabal Ataqa, the TST is composed of
a retrogradational parasequence set that consists of shallow subtidal carbonates with restricted circulation intercalated with lower
intertidal ne dolostone. The upper part of a TST and an HST cannot
be traced at Abu Darag because it is covered by scree deposits.
The facies of these systems tracts reect an abrupt rise in sea level
as indicated by marl, limestone rich in ammonites, planktonic
foraminifers and echinoids deposited in deep subtidal environments followed by shallowing and aggradation to progradation.
7.4. Sequence 4
This sequence is encountered only at Gabal Ataqa. It is bounded
at the base by SB4. The LST is represented by lower intertidal
carbonate (ne dolostone and limeemudstone microfacies) and
mudat facies with plant remains. The TST displays an overall
deepening-upward succession, where the lower part is composed
of shallow subtidal carbonates with restricted circulation that are
topped by deep subtidal facies (planktonic foraminiferal wackestone microfacies). The HST cannot be traced because it is covered
by scree deposits.
8. Discussion
During the Cenomanian period, a major marine transgression
covered most of Sinai, the Gulf of Suez, the south of the Eastern
Desert, and the northern and central parts of the Western Desert.
This transgression corresponds to the global sea-level rise (Flexer
et al., 1986; Haq et al., 1987). In the area under investigation,
nearshore siliciclastic-rich sediments (Galala Formation) were
derived from the nearby highland of the Arabo-Nubian Massif.
The Cenomanian sedimentary rocks in the Eastern Desert increase
in thickness from 66 m at Wadi El Dakhl, which is on the border of
the massif, to about 290 m thick at Gabal Ataqa (126 m exposed,
164 m known in the subsurface: Ataqa well no. 1). It decreases to
about 160 m at Gabal Shabrawet in the north. In addition the
carbonate content increases and the siliciclastic content decreases
from south to north (Fig. 5). The change in thickness may be a result
of tilting of the marine platform to the north and the presence of
a local basin at Gabal Ataqa.
At the end of the Middle Cenomanian, the Tethyan Sea regressed
across the area investigated. This regression coincided with the
major mid Cenomanian fall in sea level (Flexer et al., 1986; Haq
et al., 1987) and led to the formation of the Middle Cenomanian
sequence boundary (SB2) in the area studied. This is correlated
with SB2 in northern Sinai (Saber et al., 2009), CeJo3 in Jordan
(Schulze et al., 2003, 2005) and Ce3/4 of Haq et al. (1987) (Fig. 12).
SB2 is located in the intertidal siliciclastic sediments beneath the
base of Neolobites vibrayeanus Zone and is older than sequence
boundary CeSin 5 of Bauer et al. (2003), which is within the
Neolobites vibrayeanus Zone. Sequence boundary CeSin 6 of Bauer
et al. (2003) has not been recorded in the study area, nor have
CeJo1 and CeJo2, documented in Jordan (Schulze et al., 2003, 2005)
or Ce2 of Haq et al. (1987). Because the lower part of Galala
Formation is mainly composed of siliciclastic sediments that are
devoid of index fossils, it is difcult to determine its age.
After the mid Cenomanian regression, sea-level rose during the
Late Cenomanian and Early Turonian, depositing the transgressive
systems tract of the second sequence (Neolobites vibrayeanus/
Vascoceras cauvini and Choffaticeras segne zones). This tract is

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characterized mainly by deep-water subtidal facies rich in planktonic foraminifers, ammonites and echinoids. They represent the
deepest facies in the study area during the CenomanianeTuronian
interval. The Late CenomanianeEarly Turonian transgression is
assumed here to correlate with the eustatic sea-level rise of Haq
et al. (1987) and regional deeping in the adjacent shelf area in
Sinai (Bauer et al., 2003), Israel (Buchbinder et al., 2000), Jordan
(Schulze et al., 2003, 2005) and the Arabian Peninsula (Harris et al.,
1984; Sharland et al., 2001). The lower part of this facies (Late
Cenomanian) was considered by El-Sabbagh et al. (2011) to reect
Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2) at Wadi El Dakhl. The sequence
boundary CeSin 7 was placed by Bauer et al. (2003) at the base of
deposits containing common Lower Turonian ammonites.
They suggested two possible age assignments for this SB, which is
indicated by thin reddish mottled hardground: latest Cenomanian
or Early Turonian. It could not be traced in the sections studied.
A prominent Middle Turonian lowstand facies was reported for
sequence boundary Tu3 of Haq et al. (1987, 1988), indicating sealevel fall of approximately 120 m. A prominent sea-level fall was
also reported by Gale (1996) from the British Chalk, high in the
Collignoniceras woollgari Zone. In the study area this Middle Turonian sea-level fall is recorded by lowstand facies of sequence 3 and
the presence of the Middle Turonian sequence boundary SB3. This
boundary is lower than Tu3 of Haq et al. (1987, 1988) which is
placed in the upper Middle Turonian beneath the Coilopoceras
requienianum Zone, which is regarded as a lower Upper Turonian
ammonite zone in Egypt and the Middle East (Kassab, 1991;
Hewaidy et al., 2003; Lewy et al., 1984) but correlates with Tu2 of
Haq et al. (1987, 1988). However, this is probably related to bio- and
chronostratigraphic problems in dening the Middle/Late Turonian
boundary, because the regressive facies in the study area consist of
unfossiliferous intertidal siliciclastic sediments.
SB3 is correlated with the Tu1 sequence boundary in Israel and
the Middle Turonian TuSin 1 boundary in Sinai (Bauer et al., 2003).
Sandler (1996) discussed the Tu1 boundary in Israel in the context
of the global eustatic curve of Haq et al. (1987, 1988) and
concluded that a relative sea-level fall of around 30 m was
responsible for the karstic features of the boundary and that the
lowstand event in Israel preceded the major (120 m) Tu3 sea-level
drop of Haq et al. (1987, 1988). He related this event to tectonic
movements along EeW faults in Egypt which are parallel to
the EsheteZenim structural trend, combined with a minor
eustatic fall. On the other hand, Bauer et al. (2003) suggested
that TuSin 1 is equivalent to Tu3 of Haq et al. (1987) and that
the minor sea-level falls in Tu2 probably did not leave a recognizable imprint in Sinai and are not preserved. Elsewhere in the
region, evidence for a Middle Turonian regression is known
from the Eastern Desert of Egypt (Kuss and Malchus, 1989;
Luger and Grschke, 1989). This lowstand facies is correlated
with the Mid-Turonian regressive facies in the Gabal Nezzazat
area in west-central Sinai (Abdel-Gawad, 1999), the Buttum
Formation in eastern Sinai (Issawi et al., 1999), and lowstand
facies in northern Sinai (Saber et al., 2009). This lowstand facies
was followed by a transgression, resulting in the recovery of the
carbonate shelf in all areas (Sinai, northern Eastern Desert, Jordan
and Israel).
During the Late Turonian, a regression took place in the study
area. This is indicated by the Upper Turonian sequence boundary
SB4, detected only at Gabal Ataqa. This boundary could not be
traced at Abu Darag area because sequence 3 is incomplete and the
lower part of the transgressive systems tract constitutes the highest
part of the measured sections. It is correlated with the TuJo3
boundary (Schulze et al., 2003, 2005), TuSin2 in Sinai (Bauer et al.,
2003) and Tu2 in southern Israel (Buchbinder et al., 2000) (Fig. 12).
It may be a result of local tectonics as for TuSin2 in Sinai (Bauer

et al., 2003). The absence of SB4 at Wadi El Dakhl may be because

this area is on the border of unstable shelf (Said, 1961) and was,
thus, rarely affected by the Syrian Arc movements that began
during the mid Turonian.
9. Conclusions
The well exposed siliciclastic/carbonate facies of the
CenomanianeTuronian succession on the western side of Gulf of
Suez accumulated in a depositional regime that uctuated between
lower intertidal to deep subtidal. The sedimentary facies belts
described include peritidal clastic deposits (mudat, mixed at and
sandat facies), peritidal carbonates (limeemudstone and ne
dolostone microfacies), storm-inuenced, shallow subtidal, open
marine facies (oatstone microfacies), low energy, shallow subtidal
facies of restricted to open marine conditions (wackestone and
coarse crystalline dolostone microfacies), high energy shallow
subtidal facies (packstone/grainstone and rudstone microfacies)
and deep subtidal, open marine facies (wackestone microfacies).
Five sequence boundaries marking regional relative sea-level
falls during the deposition of the CenomanianeTuronian succession on the western side of Gulf of Suez separate four depositional
sequences. Each sequence is characterized by a number of sedimentary facies belts and environments that indicate repeated
small-scale transgressiveeregressive cycles.
Comparison of the sequence stratigraphic framework with that
in the adjacent areas (Sinai, Israel, Arabian Peninsula and West
Central Jordan) and with the global sequence stratigraphic scheme
of Haq et al., 1987 reveals some different timing for the sequence
boundaries, which may be related mainly to local/regional tectonic
events affecting sedimentation in the study area as well as minor
sea-level uctuation. It is concluded that the depositional history of
the CenomanianeTuronian sequence examined was controlled by
global eustatic sea-fall during this period (Haq et al., 1987) and
tectonic pulses of the Syrian Arc fold system that began during the
mid Turonian.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Prof. G.I. Abdel-Gawad (Beni Suef
University) for his valuable help in the eld and faunal identication. Thanks are extended to Prof. A.M. Abu Khadrah (Cairo
University) and Prof. Robert W. Scott (University of Tulsa) for their
fruitful discussions through the different stages of the work.
Anonymous reviewers are kindly acknowledged for their
constructive comments. Special thanks forward to Prof. David
Batten for his help in rening the manuscript and exceptional
editorial support.
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