Sequence architecture and carbonate platform configuration (Late Cenomanian–Santonian), Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

Relative sea-level changes on the mixed carbonate-siliciclastic platform of Sinai are manifested in shifts of distinct facies belts (deep-water facies, highenergy subtidal, shallow subtidal, lagoon, shallow shoreface siliciclastics, supratidal) and are interpreted in terms of sequence stratigraphy. Eight sedimentary sequences are recognized for the Upper Cenomanian to Santonian. Their correlation along a north-south transect reveals distinct changes in lithofacies and progradation/retrogradation patterns within the individual systems tracts. The number and stratigraphy of the sequence boundaries of Sinai correlate well with those from adjacent areas. Patterns of increased subsidence are documented for the Central Sinai Basin since the Late Cenomanian by increased thickness of the stratal packages (post-CeSin 7 HST, post-TuSin 1 LST and HST, post-TuSin 2 LST) and are balanced by varying accumulation rates. Based on new sedimentological and biostratigraphic data, large-scale palaeogeographic maps and cross-sections show the: (1) temporal and spatial evolution of the Central Sinai Basin, e.g. its latest Cenomanian initial formation, Lower Turonian deep-water facies, Middle Turonian to Coniacian synsedimentary subsidence; (2) drowning of the Cenomanian platform coinciding with the latest Cenomanian to Early Turonian relative sea-level rise; (3) re-establishment of the platform in Middle-Late Turonian times; and (4) a Coniacian basin and swell morphology.

Cenomanian–Turonian transition in a shallow water sequence of the Sinai, Egypt

“…The similarity in the d 13 C excursions between the shallow Whadi El Ghaib section and continental shelf of Pueblo suggests that the Whadi El Ghaib section preserves a relatively complete sequence without evidence of a significant lower Turonian hiatus, as earlier postulated for other sequences of the Sinai by Bauer et al (2001Bauer et al ( , 2003. Moreover, carbon isotope stratigraphy strengthens the ammonite biozone intercorrelations developed by Kassab and Obaidalla (2001).…”

“…A key feature of the Whadi El Ghaib section is the presence of oyster-rich limestone beds during the late Cenomanian, as also observed in Morocco (Andreu 1989), in Sinai (Bauer et al 2003) and Jordan (Schulze et al 2003(Schulze et al , 2004(Schulze et al , 2005. During the Cretaceous, oysters typically inhabited shallow-water environments of the Tethys near North Africa where they first appeared during the late Aptian (Algeria and Morocco) and formed specific facies since the Cenomanian (Dhondt et al 1999).…”

“…During the Cretaceous, oysters typically inhabited shallow-water environments of the Tethys near North Africa where they first appeared during the late Aptian (Algeria and Morocco) and formed specific facies since the Cenomanian (Dhondt et al 1999). In the Sinai, oysters are abundant from the Cenomanian through the middle Turonian and from the late Turonian through middle Coniacian (Bauer et al 2003;Malchus 1990), but are scarce at times of high sea-levels (Dhondt et al 1999).…”

Depositional Trends and Sedimentary Environments of the Cenomanian-Turonian Sediments along G. Nezzazat-G. Ekma, South-West Sinai, Egypt

“…[28] reported that the upper part of Wata Formation contain the Turonian gastropod Nerinea requieniana (D'Orbigny). Regarding to the age of Wata Formation, it was dated as Lower to Middle Turonian at West Sinai ( [2]; [54]), and it is dated as Upper Turonian according to [8], [9], [38]. In addition, the Wata Formation is dated to Middle-Late Turonian acoording to ( [22]; [50]; [6], [7]; [31]; [28]; [45], [46]; [47]; [30]; [41]; [42]; [29]; [34]).…”

Evolution of the Levant margin and western Arabia platform since the Mesozoic: introduction

“…Since the Mid-Cenomanian a palaeorelief developed at several localities on the southern Levant platform and the subsidence control in relation with extensional tectonics is discussed by several authors (e.g. Bauer et al 2003;Schulze et al 2005). Since the Senonian period sedimentation was controlled by a variety of tectonic factors.…”