The Dababiya Quarry Core: Coccolith biostratigraphy

Abstract

We establish the coccolith stratigraphy of the Maastrichtian through lower Eocene section recovered from the Dababiya Core taken ~200 m from the GSSP for the Paleocene/Eocene boundary, and correlate coccolith biozones with lithostratigraphic units in the core. The section extends from Maestrichtian Subzone CC25a to lowermost Eocene Subzone NP9c. The composite Paleocene-lower Eocene Dababiya section recovered in the core and accessible in outcrop in the DababiyaQuarry exhibits an unexpected contrast in thickness between the Lower Eocene succession (~Esna Shales) and the Paleocene one (~Dakhla Shales and Tarawan Chalk).