Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T06:10:15.240Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Calcareous algae from Cretaceous carbonates of Egypt, Sinai, and southern Jordan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2016

J. Kuss
Affiliation:
Universität Bremen, FB 5, Bibliothekstrasse, 2800 Bremen 33, Germany
M.-A. Conrad
Affiliation:
Petroconsultants S.A., 8–10 rue muzy, 1211 Geneva 6, Switzerland

Abstract

Calcareous algae are frequent constituents in the shallow-marine limestone intercalations of late Aptian–Maastrichtian strata of the Eastern Desert of Egypt, the Sinai, and southern Jordan. A total of 18 species of green algae (among them 16 dasycladaceans with Praturlonella hammudai n. comb. and Praturlonella jordanica n. sp., two udoteaceans) and eight species of red algae (among them two gymnocodiaceans, three solenoporaceans, and one squamariacean) are described and compared with algae from several Tethyan occurrences. The stratigraphic distribution is calibrated by 10 assemblage-zones based on the associated foraminiferids and compared with 10 ammonite assemblage-zones.

The algal contents vary within the different strata: their total contents and diversities increase from the late Aptian–Albian carbonates to the Cenomanian and decrease to the Turonian–Coniacian; no algae were proved in the Santonian–Campanian. The Maastrichtian occurrences are limited to one outcrop.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Paleontological Society 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bandel, K., and Kuss, J. 1987. Depositional environments of the pre-rift sediments Galala heights Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Berliner geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen (A), 78:148.Google Scholar
Bandel, K., and Malchus, N. 1987. The sediments of Wadi Qena. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 6:427455.Google Scholar
Barattolo, F. 1978. Su di una nuova dasicladacea alghe verdi nel Paleocene dell'Appennino meridionale. Bolletino della Societa dei Naturalisti in Napoli, 87:176.Google Scholar
Barattolo, F. 1984. Osservazioni su Suppliluliumaella schroederi n. sp. alghe verdi; Dasicladali del Cenomaniano del Matese Appennino meridionale, Italia. Bolletino della Societa dei Naturalisti in Napoli, 92:147.Google Scholar
Bartov, Y., Arkin, Y., Lewy, Z., and Mimran, Y. 1981. Regional stratigraphy of Israel, a guide to geological mapping. 1 map. Geological Survey of Israel.Google Scholar
Basson, P. W., and Edgell, H. S. 1971. Calcareous algae from the Jurassic and Cretaceous of Lebanon. Micropaleontology, 17:411433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bassoullet, J.-P., Bernier, P., Conrad, M.-A., Deloffre, R., and Jaffrezo, M. 1978. Les algues dasycladales du Jurassique et du Cretace. Geobios memoire special, 2:1330.Google Scholar
Bassoullet, J.-P., Deloffre, M., Genot, P., Poncet, J., and Roux, A. 1983. Les algues Udoteacees du Paleozoique au Cenozoique. Bulletin Centres Recherche Exploration-Production Elf Aquitaine, 7:449621.Google Scholar
Conrad, M.-A., and Grabner, S. 1975. Salpingoporella hispanica, n. sp., une Dasycladale du Barremien des Pyrenees es pagnoles. Compte Rondue Societe Physical Histoire naturelle Geneve (N.S.), 9:3039.Google Scholar
Conrad, M.-A., Masse, J.-P., and Peybernes, B.In press. Dasycladales et Floridees du Jurassique et du Cretace d'Afrique: interet biostratigraphique et paleobiogeographique. Notes et Memoire Service geologique Maroc.Google Scholar
Conrad, M.-A., Radoicic, R., and Rey, J. 1977. Salpingoporella hasi n. sp. une Dasycladale de l'Albien et du Cenomanien du Portugal et de Yougoslavie. Archieves des Sciences Geneve, 30:153171.Google Scholar
Conrad, M.-A., and Varol, B. 1990. Cylindroporella taurica n. sp. urges to review different patterns of calcification in the Mesozoic Dasycladales (Green Algae). Archieves des Sciences Geneve, 43:193214.Google Scholar
Deloffre, R. 1988. Nouvelle Taxonomie des Algues Dasycladales Cenozoique. Bulletin Centres Recherche Exploration-Production Elf-Aquitaine, 12:1247.Google Scholar
Deninger, K. 1906. Einige neue Tabulaten und Hydrozoen aus mesozoischen Ablagerungen. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, 1:6170.Google Scholar
Elliott, G. F. 1955. The Permian calcareous alga Gymnocodium. Micropaleontology, 1:7584.Google Scholar
Elliott, G. F. 1957. New calcareous algae from the Arabian Peninsula. Micropaleontology, 3:227230.Google Scholar
Elliott, G. F. 1958. Algal debris facies from the Arabian Peninsula. Micropaleontology, 3:254259.Google Scholar
Elliott, G. F. 1959. New calcareous algae from the Cretaceous of Iraq. Revue de Micropaleontologie, 1:217222.Google Scholar
Elliott, G. F. 1960. Fossil calcareous algal flores of the Middle East with a note on a Cretaceous problematicum Hensonella cylindrica. Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London, 115:217232.Google Scholar
Elliott, G. F. 1963. Problematical microfossils from the Cretaceous and Paleocene of the Middle East. Palaeontology, 6:293300.Google Scholar
Elliott, G. F. 1964. Tertiary solenoporacean alga and the reproductive structures of the Solenoporaceae. Palaeontology, 7:695702.Google Scholar
Elliott, G. F. 1965. The interrelationship of some Cretaceous Codiaceae calcareous algae. Palaeontology, 8:199203.Google Scholar
Elliott, G. F. 1968. Permian to Paleocene calcareous algae Dasycladaceae of the Middle East. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Geology (Suppl.), 4:1111.Google Scholar
Feldman, J. 1946. Sur l'heteroplastie de certaines Siphonales et leur classification. Compte Rendu Academie Sciences, 222:752753.Google Scholar
Flügel, E. 1988. Halimeda, paleontological record and paleoenvironmental significance. Coral Reefs, 6:123130.Google Scholar
Ghorab, R. W. 1961. Abnormal stratigraphic features in the Ras Gharib field. 3. Arab Petroleum Congress, Alexandria:110.Google Scholar
Hauck, F. 1885. Die Meeresalgen, p. 334410. In Rabenhorst, L. (ed.), Kryptogamen.—Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz, Kummer, Leipzig.Google Scholar
Haug, E. 1883. Uber sogenannte Chaetetes aus mesozoischen Ablagerungen. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie, Paläontologie, 34:10991105.Google Scholar
Henson, F. R. S. 1948. Larger imperforate foraminifera of southwestern Asia. Families Lituolidae, Orbitolinidae and Meandropsinidae. British Museum (Natural History):1127.Google Scholar
Johnson, J. H. 1954. Cretaceous dasycladacea from Gillespie County, Texas. Journal of Paleontology, 28:787790.Google Scholar
Johnson, J. H. 1968a. Lower Cretaceous Algae from the Blake Escarpment, Atlantic Ocean, and from Israel. Professional Contributions of the Colorado School of Mines, 546.Google Scholar
Johnson, J. H. 1968b. Lower Cretaceous Algae from Texas. Professional Contributions of the Colorado School of Mines, 4:171.Google Scholar
Johnson, J. H., and Kaska, H. V. 1965. Fossil algae from Guatemala. Professional Contributions of the Colorado School of Mines, 1:1152.Google Scholar
Kuss, J. 1986a. Facies development of Upper Cretaceous–Lower Tertiary sediments from the Monastery of St. Anthony/Eastern Desert, Egypt. Facies, 15:250268.Google Scholar
Kuss, J. 1986b. Upper Cretaceous calcareous algae from the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte, 1986:223238.Google Scholar
Kuss, J. 1989a. Paleogeography and facies of the pre-rift limestones from NE-Egypt/Sinai. Geologische Rundschau, 78:487498.Google Scholar
Kuss, J. 1989b. Die Kreide- und Alttertiär Ablagerungen Nordostägyptens, des Sinais und Südjordaniens. Unpubl. habilitation (TU Berlin):1220.Google Scholar
Kuss, J., and Malchus, N. 1989. Facies and composite biostratigraphy of Late Cretaceous strata from northeast Egypt, p. 879910. In Wiedmann, J. (ed.), Cretaceous of the Western Tethys. Proceedings 3rd International Cretaceous Symposium, Tübingen, Schweizerbart, Stuttgart.Google Scholar
Kuss, J., and Schlagintweit, F. 1988. Facies and stratigraphy of Middle Cretaceous (Late Aptian–Early Cenomanian) Strata from the northern rim of the African Craton (Gebel Maghara-Sinai, Egypt). Facies, 19:7796.Google Scholar
Kützing, F. T. 1843. Phycologia generalis. Perthes, Leipzig, 458 p.Google Scholar
Lamouroux, M. 1812. Classification des Polypiers coralligenes non entierement pierreux. Nouvelle Bulletin de Societe Philosophie, 3:181188.Google Scholar
Lamouroux, M. 1816. Histoire des Polypiers coralligenes flexibles vulgairement nommes Zoophytes. Caen, 559 p.Google Scholar
Lauverjat, J., and Poignant, A. F. 1977. Les algues de la serie a Vascoceratides du bassin occidental Portugais. Cahiers de Micropaleontologie, 3:121132.Google Scholar
Moussavian, E. 1989. Über die systematische Stellung und die Bestimmungskriterien der Solenoporaceen (Rhodophyceae). Courier Forschungs-Institut Senckenberg, 1095191.Google Scholar
Pfender, J. 1936. Sur un organisme constructeur des calcaires cretaces et nummulitiques, Pseudolithothamnium album, n. g., nov. sp. Bulletin Societe geologique France, 5:303308.Google Scholar
Pia, J. 1918. Dasycladaceae, p. 171278. In Trauth, F., Das Eozänvorkommen bei Radstatt im Pongau. Denkschrift der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften Wien, mathematisch-naturwissen-schaftliche Klasse, 95.Google Scholar
Pia, J. 1927. Thallophyta, p. 1136. In Hirmer, M., Handbuch der Paläobotanik. München.Google Scholar
Pia, J. 1936. Description of the algae, p. 149. In Rao, L. R. and Pia, J., Fossil algae from the Uppermost Cretaceous beds of the Ninyur Group of the Trichinopoly District, S. India. Palaeontology India (N.S.), 21.Google Scholar
Poignant, A. 1978. Les Algues rouges cenomaniennes. Geologie mediterranne, tome 5:169172.Google Scholar
Powell, J. H. 1988. Stratigraphy and sedimentation of the Phanerozoic rocks in central and south Jordan (part B). Natural Resources Authority, Bulletin, 11:1161.Google Scholar
Radoicic, R. 1959. Salpingoporella dinarica nov. sp. dans les sediments cretaces inferieurs des Dinarides. Geoloski Glasnik, 3:3342.Google Scholar
Radoicic, R. 1968. Likanella? danilovae, n. sp., et quelques autres Dasycladacees cretacees inferieures des Dinarides externes. Geoloski Vesnik, ser. A, 26:177194.Google Scholar
Radoicic, R. 1969. Dasycladacees jurassiques et cretacees de la Serbie orientale. Geoloski Vesnik, ser. A, 27:177190.Google Scholar
Radoicic, R. 1975. Likanella hammudai sp. nov. from the Upper Cretaceous of the Tripoli area (Libya) and the age of strata containing Dissocladella ondulata Raineri. Annales Geologiques de la Peninsule Balkanique, 34:147152.Google Scholar
Radoicic, R. 1978. Salpingoporella milanovici n. sp. a new dasyclad from the Cenomanian strata of the Dinarides, and a note on the foraminifer Nummoloculina sp. aff. regularis, Philippson. Annale Geologiques de la Peninsule Balkanique, 42:375381.Google Scholar
Radoicic, R. 1979. Salpingoporella ubaiydhi, a new Senonian dasyclad and some data about subsurface biostratigraphy of Western Iraqi Desert. Bulletin d l'Academie Serbe des Sciences et des Arts—Classe des Sciences naturelles et mathematiques—Sciences naturelles No. 19, 48:97105.Google Scholar
Radoicic, R. 1983. Dasyclads Cylindroporella parva n.sp. from the Upper Cretaceous of Libya and Clypeina pastriki n.sp. from the Upper Cretaceous of the Dinarides and Libya. Glas de l'Academie Serbe des Sciences et des Arts (Classe des Sciences nat. et math.), 49:6581.Google Scholar
Raineri, R. 1922. Alghi sifonee fossili della Libia. Atti Societa Italiana Sciences Naturale Milano, 61:7286.Google Scholar
Saint-Marc, P. 1970. Contribution a la connaissance du Cretace inferieur du Liban. Revue de Micropaleontologie, 12:224233.Google Scholar
Saint-Marc, P. 1974. Etude stratigraphique et micropaleontologique del l'Albien, du Cenomanien et du Turonien du Liban. Notes et Memoire Moyen-Orient, 13:1342.Google Scholar
Smith, A. B., Simmons, M. D., and Racey, A. 1990. Cenomanian echinoids, larger foraminifera and calcareous algae from the Natih Formation, central Oman Mountains. Cretaceous Research, 11:2969.Google Scholar
Steinmann, G. 1899. Über fossile Dasycladaceen vom Cerro Escamelo, Mexico. Botanisch Zeitung, Berlin, 57:137154.Google Scholar
Trauth, F. 1918. Das Eozänvorkommen bei Radstadt im Pongau und seine Bezie-hungen zu den gleichalterigen Ablagerungen bei Kirchberg am Wechsel und Wimpassing am Leithagebirge. Denkschrift der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften Wien, mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, 95:220222.Google Scholar
Wray, J. L. 1977. Calcareous Algae. Developments in Paleontology and Biostratigraphy, 4:1185, Elsevier, Amsterdam.Google Scholar