6 UPPER CRETACEOUS-LOWER TERTIARY FORAMINIFERA 



SYNOPSIS 



The Upper Cretaceous-Lower Tertiary succession of the Esna-Idfu region is examined in 

 detail, and the macrofauna as well as the planktonic Foraminifera are used to interpret the 

 stratigraphy of the region. A total of 119 species and subspecies of planktonic Foraminifera 

 are described, 20 species and 6 subspecies of which are new ; 142 macrofossil species are also 

 identified and their ranges given. The succession is divided into distinct litho- and bio-strati- 

 graphical units, most of which are new. The position of the Campanian-Maestrichtian boundary 

 is suggested, and the Maestrichtian is defined and zoned. It is considered as the uppermost stage 

 of the Cretaceous system while the Danian is regarded as the lowermost stage of the Tertiary. 

 The Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary is proved to be marked by a distinct break, despite previous 

 emphasis on the absolute conformity of the succession. Strata of Danian age, with the typical 

 planktonic Foraminifera of the type section have been discovered, and have proved that pre- 

 viously recorded Danian strata in Egypt were incorrectly dated. The controversy over Paleocene 

 stratigraphy is discussed in detail, and it is recommended that the use of the existing stage names 

 (other than Danian) be avoided until their chronological relationships are clarified. A three- 

 fold division of the Paleocene on the basis of its planktonic Foraminifera is proposed, and the 

 position of the Paleocene-Lower Eocene boundary is suggested. 



I. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 



The writer wishes to express his gratitude to Professor Alan Wood and to Dr. John 

 Haynes of the Department of Geology, U.C.W., Aberystwyth, for their guidance, 

 stimulating discussions and help, and for reading the manuscript. He is also 

 indebted to Professor M. I. Youssef of the Department of Geology, Ain Shams 

 University, Cairo, for his valuable discussions, encouragement, and help in the field, 

 and to Dr. C. G. Adams of the British Museum (Natural History), London, for making 

 available most of the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Tertiary foraminiferal collections of 

 the Museum and for his critical reading of the manuscript. 



Grateful acknowledgement is made to the authorities of U.C.W., Aberystwyth, 

 for a grant towards the cost of preparation of the plates in this work. 



Sincere thanks are also due to all those who generously forwarded their materials 

 and publications, helped in the field, or made available foraminiferal collections in 

 their charge. The author would like to mention : Dr. H. L. Abbass, Dr. F. T. 

 Banner, Dr. R. W. Barker, Dr. F. T. Barr, Dr. W. A. Berggren, Prof. P. J. Bermudez, 

 Prof. F. Bettenstaedt, Dr. E. Bieda, Dr. G. Bignot, Dr. W. H. Blow, Dr. H. M. Bolli, 

 Dr. P. Bronnimann, Dr. Y. Le Calvez, Dr. A. A. Castanares, Prof. M. B. Cita, Dr. D. 

 K. Clark, Dr. P. Corminboeuf, Prof. M. Crusafont-Pairo, Mr. D. Curry, Prof. J. 

 Cuvillier, Mr. F. Dalbiez, Dr. R. Damotte, Dr. C. W. Drooger, Dr. H. S. Edgell, 

 Dr. L. Feugueur, Dr. R. Gandolfi, Dr. J. J. Graham, Mr. M. Gulinck, Dr. E. L. 

 Hamilton, Dr. W. W. Hay, Prof. H. H. Hess, Prof. I. Hessland, Dr. A. von Hille- 

 brandt, Dr. H. Hiltermann, Dr. J. E. van Hinte, Dr. J. Hofker, Mr. N. de B. Horni- 

 brook, Dr. L. Hottinger, Mr. B. Issawi, Dr. J. A. Jeletzky, Dr. G. Jenkins, Dr. J. 

 Klaus, Dr. I. Kiipper, Dr. M. A. Latif, Mr. J. Magne, Mr. G. Malmoustiers, Dr. P. 

 Marie, Prof. R. Marliere, Dr. R. K. Olsson, Dr. E. A. Pessagno, Jr., Dr. K. Pozaryska, 

 Dr. I. Premoli Silva, Mr. A. Rechiniac, Dr. R. W. Rex, Dr. B. Romein, Dr. J. Rosell- 

 Sanuy, Dr. A. Rouvillois, Prof. H. Schaub, Mrs. M. Seronie- Vivien, Prof. L. Sole- 



