Maastrichtian-early Paleocene foraminiferal palaeobathymetry and depositional sequences at Gebel El Sharawna,south Luxor,Egypt

Maastrichtian-early Paleocene foraminiferal palaeobathymetry, palaeodiversity and vertical facies changes of Gebel El Sharawna, south Luxor, Egypt have been studied to determine the depositional sequences, their relationships to global records and/or tectonic signatures. Five benthonic assemblages are recorded and replicated in the present study reflect fluctuation in palaeo-water depth from restricted marginal marine to outer shelf palaeoenvironments. Four sequence boundaries that coincide with the Campanian/Maastrichtian, intra-early Maastrichtian, Early/Late Maastrichtian, Cretaceous/Palaeogene (K/Pg) and intra-Danian were recognized based upon sharp vertical facies changes, foraminiferal assemblage changes, hiatuses, mineral hard ground and reworking. The K/Pg unconformity reveals an unexpected ca. 4.2 Myr time gap as indicated by the absence of the CF2 Zone through lower part of the P1c Zone. It is easily distinguished in the field by conglomeration and winnowing of phosphate and glauconite in the lower Paleocene. These sequence boundaries defined five third-order depositional sequences mainly developed as the result of the eustatic sea-level changes, coupled with the Arabian–Nubian shield tectonic uplift at the southern edge of the Tethys Ocean.