IN THE ESNA-IDFU REGION, NILE VALLEY, EGYPT 63 



ber, which represents the lowermost Tertiary outcrop in the Esna-Idfu region, and 

 the first known definite Danian strata in Egypt. The lower Owaina shale member is 

 separated from the underlying Maestrichtian strata by a marked disconformity and 

 a well developed conglomerate in which a mixture of reworked Maestrichtian 

 macro fossils and typical Danain planktonic Foraminifera are recorded. 



The Globorotalia compressajGlobigerina daubjergensis Zone is characterized by the 

 complete absence of the typical Upper Cretaceous Globotruncana, Abathomphalus , 

 Rugoglobigerina, Trinitella, Hedbergella assemblage, and by the first appearance of the 

 typical Tertiary, Globigerina /non-keeled Globorotalia assemblage. It is flooded with 

 Globorotalia compressa (Plummer) and Globigerina daubjergensis Bronnimann which 

 are considered as the index species for the zone. 



The base of this zone is marked by the disconformity and by the first appearance of 

 the Globigerina /non-keeled Globorotalia assemblage. Its top is marked by the 

 disappearance of Globorotalia compressa, Globorotalia kilabiyaensis, Globigerina 

 daubjergensis and Globigerina arabica, and by the first appearance of Globorotalia 

 angulata angulata, Globorotalia emilei and Globigerina inaequispira. Moreover, it 

 is characterized by the abundance of the following Globorotalia species : G. pseudo- 

 bulloides, G. trinidadensis, G. quadrata, G. perclara, G. kilabiyaensis, G. imitata, and 

 the rare occurrence of G. ehrenbergi, G. faragi, G. tribulosa and G. uncinata uncinata 

 in its upper part. It is also characterized by the abundance of the following Globi- 

 gerina species: G. triloculinoides, G. triloculinoides parva, G. belli and by the rare 

 occurrence of G. haynesi, G. kozlowskii and G. spiralis, at its top. 



The Globorotalia compressajGlobigerina daubjergensis Zone corresponds to the 

 lower part of the macrofossil Caryosmilia granosa Zone. The planktonic Foramini- 

 fera of this zone correlate it with the type Danian and thus prove a Danian age for its 

 rich macrofossil content. However, the reduced thickness of this zone and the flood 

 of Globorotalia compressa throughout it, show clearly that the strata it characterizes 

 in the Esna-Idfu region, represent the Upper Danian only, the Lower and Middle 

 Danian being missing (see Troelsen 1957 and Berggren 19606, 1962). 



7. The Globorotalia angulata Zone. 



This is the fifth planktonic foraminiferal zone from the base upwards, in the succes- 

 sion studied. It coincides with the upper part of the lower Owaina shale member, 

 and is characterized by the flood of Globorotalia angulata angulata (White) and its 

 suspecies abundocamerata. Its base is marked by the first appearance of G. angulata 

 angulata, G. emilei and by the disappearance of the typical Danian Globorotalia com- 

 pressa, G. kilabiyaensis, Globigerina daubjergensis and G. arabica. 



The upper limit of this zone is drawn at the first appearance of Globorotalia 

 velascoensis velascoensis which characterizes and distinguishes the overlying zone. 

 This limit is also marked by the disappearance of Globorotalia ehrenbergi and G. 

 uncinata carinata, and by the first appearance of Globorotalia acuta, G. apanthesma, 

 G. cf. convexa, G. occlusa G. pseudomenardii , Globigerina alanwoodi and G. velasco- 

 nesis. 



