Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Cretaceous Research
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/CretRes

Climate variability and paleoceanography during the Late Cretaceous:

Evidence from palynology, geochemistry and stable isotopes analyses
from the southern Tethys
Ahmed Mansour a, *, Michael Wagreich b, Susanne Gier b, Thomas Gentzis c, Urs Kloetzli d,
Sameh S. Tahoun e, Ashraf M.T. Elewa a
a
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, 61519, Minia, Egypt
b
Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Austria
c
Core Laboratories LP, 6316 Windfern Road, Houston, TX, 77040, USA
d
Department of Lithospheric Research, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of Vienna, Austria
e
Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, 12613, Giza, Egypt

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The Late Cretaceous epoch witnessed significant changes in climate and considerable perturbations in
Received 26 August 2020 the global carbon cycle, among others leading to Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs). Investigating the pale-
Received in revised form oceanographic setting in the southern Tethys (northern Egypt) is critical for a better understanding of the
19 March 2021
triggering mechanisms that occurred during deposition as a result of a greenhouse climate. Here we
Accepted in revised form 19 March 2021
present bulk rock geochemical and stable isotopic proxies from the biostratigraphically well constrained
Available online xxx
Abu Roash A Member (180 m thick) deposited through the late Coniacianeearliest Campanian in the Abu
Gharadig Basin of the north Western Desert of Egypt, to investigate whether there was a record of OAE3
Keywords:
Paleoclimate
and deposition of organic rich facies or oxic Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs). Paleoclimate in this
Tethys paleocirculation low-latitude Tethyan setting was investigated, where warm to hot greenhouse climate prevailed based
Dinoflagellate cysts on specific dinoflagellate cyst taxa and regional correlation of the d18Ocarb trends, despite a long-term
Cretaceous oceanic red beds temperature fall from the mideSantonian onwards. Low river discharge and terrigenous input during
Abu Gharadig basin arid conditions, inferred from elemental geochemistry and clay mineralogy, led to low marine produc-
tivity during enhanced carbonate production, and thus triggered low organic matter accumulation. The
neodymium isotope signatures from bulk carbonate fractions along with available coupled ocean-
atmosphere climate models indicate that the studied area witnessed a westward Tethys circumglobal
current. These paleocirculation patterns caused enhanced water mixing, resulting in enhanced water
column ventilation. These settings led to the deposition of organic-poor CORBs and the absence of the
organic-rich OAE3 deposits.
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction a cool greenhouse through the Maastrichtian (Bice et al., 2006;

The Late Cretaceous was characterized by high temperatures
that resulted in a long-lived greenhouse world with peak warmth
(
30  C) in low-latitude sea-surface temperatures (SST) during the
CenomanianeTuronian, followed by a gradual fall in temperature to
* Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: ahmedmans48@mu.edu.eg (A. Mansour), michael.wagreich@
univie.ac.at (M. Wagreich), susanne.gier@univie.ac.at (S. Gier), thomas.gentzis@
corelab.com (T. Gentzis), urs.kloetzli@univie.ac.at (U. Kloetzli), stahoun@yahoo.
com (S.S. Tahoun), ashraf.aleiwa@mu.edu.eg (A.M.T. Elewa).
Linnert et al., 2014; O'Brien et al., 2017; Huber et al., 2018). Climatic
variabilities affecting the Late Cretaceous have been widely docu-
mented through various paleontological, sedimentological,
elemental and isotopic geochemical analyses (Fensome et al., 1993;
Bornemann et al., 2008; Hay, 2009; Wendler et al., 2009, 2011;
Linnert et al., 2014; Jarvis et al., 2015; Prauss, 2015; Lunt et al., 2016;
Sabatino et al., 2018). Amongst the major characteristics of this
period were changes in climate and paleogeography that influ-
enced ocean circulation modes (Robinson and Vance, 2012) and
related processes, such as deposition of organic matter (OM)-rich
facies in oxygen-depleted settings versus pelagic-hemipelagic oxic

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104831
0195-6671/© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Please cite this article as: A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al., Climate variability and paleoceanography during the Late Cretaceous: Evidence
from palynology, geochemistry and stable isotopes analyses from the southern Tethys, Cretaceous Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/
j.cretres.2021.104831
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
red beds in oxygen-rich settings (Bornemann et al., 2008;
Wagreich, 2009; Linnert et al., 2014; Mansour et al., 2020a).
During the ConiacianeSantonian, OM-rich accumulations (e.g.,
black shales) often infer episodes of reduced oxygen levels within
the water column (Schlanger and Jenkyns, 1976), which occur most
likely during anoxic and/or euxinic settings such as during OAE3
(Jenkyns, 2010). ConiacianeSantonian black shales are restricted to
the equatorial to mid-latitudinal Atlantic and Western Interior
Seaway (e.g., Wagreich, 2009, 2012). Despite this event being
characterized by periods of enhanced upwelling along with burial
and preservation of OM in the equatorial Atlantic during hothouse
climate, triggering mechanisms for OAE3 are still a matter of dis-
cussion (Floegel and Wagner, 2006; Bornemann et al., 2008; Flo € gel
et al., 2008; Wagreich, 2009, 2012). In contrast, widespread depo-
sition of pelagic-hemipelagic red limestone and chalks in the
Tethys, Indian, and parts of the Pacific oceans were reported as
proving oxygen-rich environments from the middle Turonian to the
Maastrichtian, which are commonly known as Cretaceous oceanic
red beds (CORBs, Hay, 2009; Neuhuber and Wagreich, 2009;
Wagreich, 2009). These sediments are interpreted to be deposited
during episodes of low terrestrial/siliciclastic input, low OM pro-
duction, and/or low sedimentation rates.
Despite abundant high-resolution stable isotope stratigraphic
records over the northern and southeastern Tethyan realm (Jenkyns
et al., 1994; Stoll and Schrag, 2000; Jarvis et al., 2015; Bice et al.,
2006; Li et al., 2006; Wendler et al., 2009, 2011; Frijia et al., 2015;
O'Brien et al., 2017; Huber et al., 2018), records from the southern
Tethys are scarce. Most of the aforementioned studies focused on
carbon and oxygen isotopes of bulk carbonates and/or well-
preserved foraminifers recovered from Upper Cretaceous strata to
reveal SST regimes and related super-greenhouse intervals. In this
study, we present new bulk carbonate carbon and oxygen isotope
records for the upper Coniacianelowermost Campanian Abu Roash
A Member from the southern Tethys (Abu Gharadig Basin, Egypt).
The new d18Ocarb record will be compared with records from pre-
vious studies in the Boreal and Tethys realms, which provides the
opportunity for better understanding of paleotemperature regimes
by linking the current study area with surrounding areas.
Additionally, well-preserved dinoflagellate cysts (dinocysts) can
be used as a reliable proxy indicator of past-climatic variability
(Bujak and Williams, 1979; Fensome et al., 1993; Prauss, 2015;
Mansour et al., 2020a). The most relevant dinocyst categories to
climate change are represented by specific gonyaulacoid and peri-
dinioid dinocyst species. In this study, a diverse assemblage of the
gonyaulacoid and peridinioid dinocysts is reported and will be used
as reliable proxy indicators to support the current climatic re-
constructions (Appendix A). Besides, a calibration between these
dinocyst groups and bulk carbonate d18O data is conducted to
observe whether a relationship between both variables exist.
The Nd isotope composition of past seawater is a potential proxy
to track ocean circulation modes of ancient oceans (Puce at et al.,
2005; Robinson and Vance, 2012). Several studies have been car-
ried out on Late Cretaceous paleoceanography and ocean circula-
tion based on neodymium (Nd) isotope data (e.g., Stille et al., 1992,
1996; Pomie s et al., 2002; Scrivner et al., 2004; Puce
at et al., 2005;
Moiroud et al., 2016) and coupled atmosphere-ocean simulations
and climate modeling (Bush, 1997; Otto-Bliesner et al., 2002; Hay,
2009; Lunt et al., 2016). The distribution of Nd isotopes in marine
ecosystems is controlled principally by the amount of dissolved Nd
in seawater and Nd ions that are contained either in fine particles
from continental weathering of exposed parent rocks or fluvial
outflow transferred into adjacent ocean basins (Masse et al., 1996;
Moiroud et al., 2016). Fossil fish teeth, phosphates, and carbonates
are the most representative for seawater Nd concentration (Stille,
1992), whereby the latter acquire Nd isotope composition above
2
Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx
the calcium compensation depth and in shallow neritic shelf that
sometimes exhibits similar patterns to fish teeth (Robinson and
Vance, 2012). Due to the lack of fish teeth in the hemipelagic de-
posits of the Abu Roash succession, a test was carried out on Nd
isotope composition of bulk carbonates around the
ConiacianeSantonian transition. Past seawater masses in the NW
Tethys were characterized by unradiogenic signature (10 to 12
ε-units) during the Coniacianebasal Santonian compared to the
more radiogenic signal in the eastern Tethys (7 and 6.4 ε-units)
during the Santonian (Puce at et al., 2005; Soudry et al., 2006;
Robinson and Vance, 2012). Nonetheless, paleoceanographic set-
tings and detailed climate changes in the ubiquitous southern
Tethys based on a multiproxy approach are lacking.
The present work forms part of a thorough study of the thick
hemipelagic carbonate Abu Roash A Member in the Abu Gharadig
Basin, southern Tethys. Therefore, this study examined the Abu
Roash A Member in order to:
(1) Test the hypothesis of predominant Late Cretaceous green-
house climate in this part of Tethys by combining several
proxies, such as dinocyst groups, d18Ocarb isotope, trace
elemental ratios, and clay mineralogy.
(2) Verify the measured d18Ocarb values whether they simply
infer a local anomaly or a more regional feature of the climate
state at this time. We examine this hypothesis by correlating
local variation in d18O with regional records from the
northern and southeastern Tethys, Boreal, and equatorial
Atlantic.
(3) Infer paleocirculation patterns during the Coniaciane
Santonian transition using Nd isotope composition. The
paleocirculation pattern was used to support interpreting
paleoceanographic settings in this part of the southern Tethys
to reveal whether there is an occurrence of OAE3 or their
equivalent CORBs during the ConiacianeSantonian.
2. Geologic settings and stratigraphy
The activation of eastward movements of the African continent
against Eurasia (Guiraud and Bosworth, 1997) resulted in Alpine
Orogeny from the Early Jurassic onwards in the wider Mediterra-
nean study area. Alpine Orogeny included the opening of the Tethys
Ocean and the formation of the northern Africa sedimentary basins
(Guiraud and Bellion, 1995, Fig. 1A-B). The Abu Gharadig Basin was
formed in the southern Tethys due to the successive extension of
deep crustal tectonics, which affected northern Africa with signif-
icant tensile stresses in northern Egypt during the Early Cretaceous
(Bayoumi and Lotfy, 1989; Kerdany and Cherif, 1999). These settings
controlled major subsidence of the Abu Gharadig Basin, bounded
by two regional east-west trending growth faults (F1 and F2,
Fig. 1C). These major faults developed a strong, right-lateral
component from the Turonian to Paleogene, due to the opening
of the North Atlantic Ocean (EGPC, 1992). The Syrian Arc folding
system occurred from the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene, which led
to divide the Abu Gharadig, from west to east, into the Mid-Basin
Arc, the Abu Gharadig Anticline, and the Mubarak Arc (Fig. 1C,
Issawi et al., 1999).
In the north Western Desert of Egypt, the Abu Gharadig Basin is
bounded to the south by the Agnes-Misawage high and the Sitra
platform, and to the north by the Rabat-Sharib high and the Qattara
Ridge. The Qattara Ridge extends to the southwest and separates
the Abu Gharadig from the Faghour basins. To the east of the Abu
Gharadig Basin, the Kattaniya High separated the basin from the
Beni Suef and Gindi basins (Kerdany and Cherif, 1999). The study
area is located in the Badr El Din-2 gas field (BED-2), which lies in
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al. Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 1. A) Paleogeographic map for the ConiacianeSantonian at ca. 86 Ma (including bathymetry and topography, modified after Scotese, 2014). White dots refer to Cretaceous
Oceanic Red Beds (CORBs) sites, whereas grey dots show sites with OM-rich sediments (i.e., Oceanic Anoxic Event 3 (OAE3), modified after Wagreich 2009, 2012). B) The paleo-
location of the BED 2e3 well used to reconstruct the climate during the late Coniacianeearly Campanian in the southern Tethys, based on a paleomagnetic study by Lotfy (2011).
Large black circle represents the current location of the BED 2e3. C) Location map of the BED 2e3 well in Abu Gharadig Basin, North Western Desert, with major structural features.
(For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)

the western part of the Abu Gharadig Basin, mainly in the Mid Basin
Arch (Fig. 1C).
The lithology of the BED 2e3 well consistsof a thick succession
represented by, from older to younger, the Kharita, Bahariya, Abu
Roash, Khoman, Apollonia, Daba'a, and Moghra formations, which
have been deposited in a wide range of depositional environments
from fluvio-deltaic and marginal shallow marine to distal outer
shelf and open oceanic settings (Fig. 2, EGPC, 1992; Abdel-Kireem
et al., 1996; Kerdany and Cherif, 1999; Mansour et al., 2020a-b).
The Abu Roash Formation is composed of siliciclastic and carbonate
rocks and subdivided into seven members from G to A (Aadland
and Hassan, 1972), where the G, E, and C members are dominated
by fine clastics and the F, D, B, A members are relatively rich in
carbonates (Fig. 2).
The Abu Roash A Member consists of thick hemipelagic car-
bonates, marls and calcareous dark-grey and light olive shales, up to
180 m thick, that were deposited in distal inner to middle shelf
environments (Mansour et al., 2020b). The Abu Roash A Member is

3
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
Fig. 2. Lithology of the BED 2e3 well is illustrated to the left, and the current study succession of the Abu Roash A Member (180 m thick) is expanded to the right.
of Coniacian to earliest Campanian age based on age-diagnostic
dinocyst biostratigraphy, including Isabelidinium belfastense,
Odontochitina operculate, O. porifera, Dinogymnium acuminatum,
Nelsoniella aceras, Cyclonephelium filoreticulatum, and Spinidinium
echinoideum (Mansour et al., 2020b). Although calcareous nanno-
fossil investigation is not one of the current study objectives, a pilot
microscopic investigation was carried out on 18 samples with an
4
Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx
emphasis on dinocyst age-control as reported by Mansour et al.
(2020b). Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy in the course of
the present study confirms the late ConiacianeSantonian age of the
studied interval by the presence of marker species, such as Lucia-
norhabdus cayeuxii, Calculites cf. obscurus, Micula staurophora and
Lithastrinus grillii. For further biostratigraphic, environment of
deposition, water column settings and redox conditions details of
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
the current studied succession of the Abu Roash A Member, the
reader is referred to Mansour et al. (2020a-b).
3. Materials and methods
In the Abu Gharadig Basin, the BED 2e3 well (27 420 11.2700 E
and 29 530 13.2300 N, Fig. 1) was drilled by the Badr-El Din Petro-
leum Company. Thirty-one cuttings samples representing the Abu
Roash A Member at depths from 1570 to 1750 m, were used in this
study (Fig. 2). Due to the absence of cores/sidewall cores, the drill
cuttings were viewed under a binocular microscope and precaution
was taken to identify in-situ grains that represented the studied
sequence by observing the physical properties of drilling mud solid
particles. The selected cuttings were kept for palynological and
geochemical analyses.
3.1. Palynological preparation
Each sample (~15 g) was prepared using concentrated HCl (34%)
and HF (40%) acids following the standard preparation approach
(e.g., Wood et al., 1996). An OMAX ToupView transmitted micro-
scope with digital camera (Model SCMOS05000KPA) was used to
investigate the palynological content. All slides were prepared and
stored in the Micropaleontology-Stratigraphy Research Lab, Geol-
ogy Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Egypt. For
each sample depth/community in this study, a total of at least 200
palynomorph specimens were counted to support a better resolu-
tion of diversity calculation (Tyson, 1995), except for the sample
depth of 1750 m that contained fewer than 200 palynomorphs
grains. The counted palynomorphs encountered within the studied
succession are documented in Appendix A (Supplementary
material), whereas dinocyst percentages used to reveal climatic
conditions are illustrated in Table 1.
Due to abundant and highly diverse assemblage of recovered
dinocysts, we calculated the dinocyst diversity merely from the
total number of dinocyst species and the Shannon Diversity Index
(SDI). The SDI values are determined by dinocyst species richness
and evenness of a marine community (Appendix B).
3.2. Whole-rock geochemistry, TOC and CaCO3
For geochemistry measurements, about 10 g aliquot of each
crushed bulk-rock sample was powdered into fine particles of ca.
100 mm using a digital milling machine. Whole-rock quantitative
geochemical composition was determined using energy-dispersive
X-ray fluorescence, version “hand-held ED-XRF” with a Rh x-ray
tube. Major (Ca, Si, Al, Mg, Fe, Ti, K, P, Mn) and trace elements (Ni,
Co, Cr, V, Sr, Zr, Zn, Cu, Ba, Ce, Pb, and Mo) were detected for a total
of 28 powdered-rock samples under Dual Mode analysis at two
excitation energies - low- and high-energies at 15 kV (for major
elements as well as Ni, Cr and V) and 40 kV (for the other trace
elements), respectively (Table 2). Internal standards and calibra-
tions, measured by ICP-MS for mixtures of carbonate and silici-
clastics, were used. Analytical errors are in the range of ±5%,
detection limits for trace elements is ±3 ppm. Some samples were
measured three times to detect the reproducibility index and the
analytical precision was about ±1.5%.
An aliquot of approximately 100 mg of each sample was milled
into powder. For total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, all samples
were cleaned from contamination by drilling additives (e.g., oil-
based mud) using dichloromethane:methanol (87:13, v:v) for one
day and subsequently dried at 50  C for 2 h. Subsequently,
concentrated HCl (34%) was used for 10 h to remove inorganic
carbon and distilled water was then used to rinse the HCl. The TOC
content was measured using a LECO C230 analyzer at 1100  C in
5
Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx
Stratochem Services Lab, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt. The analytical preci-
sion of TOC was ±0.02 to 0.04 wt%.
The carbonate content (Table 2) of twenty-eight samples of the
studied succession was carried out by dissolving in concentrated
HCl (25%) using the Müller-Gastner-Bomb devices (Müller and
Gastner, 1971).
3.3. Bulk mineralogy
To analyze mineralogical composition, all samples were
powdered and subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis using a
PANalytical X'Pert Pro diffractometer. Bulk samples were analyzed
between 2 and 70 2q and clay fraction samples between 2 and 40
2q (CuKa-radiation, 40 kV, 40 mA, step size 0.0167,5 s/step). The X-
ray diffraction patterns were interpreted using the Panalytical
software “X'Pert High score plus”.
3.4. Clay mineralogy
Four samples representing the main facies types were selected
for the examination of clay minerals. For clay mineral separation,
samples were crushed by hand and disaggregated with diluted
H2O2. After treatment with a 400 W ultrasonic probe, the <2 mm
fraction was collected by sedimentation in an Atterberg cylinder.
Oriented clay samples (<2 mm fraction) were prepared by pipetting
1 ml of suspension (10 mg/ml) saturated with K- and Mg-ions onto
glass slides. This was followed by ethylene-glycol saturation of the
K-sample, and glycerol saturation of the Mg-sample at 60  C for
12 h to identify expandable clay minerals like smectite or vermic-
ulite. Additional K-saturated samples were heated to 550  C for 2 h
to remove kaolinite and expandable clay minerals (Moore and
Reynolds, 1997). The XRD patterns were interpreted and quanti-
fied using the correction factors of Schultz (1964).
Smectite is identified in Mg saturation by a broad peak at
~14.7 Å, which shifts to 12 Å in K saturation and collapses to 10 Å
after heating to 550  C. Saturation of the K-sample with ethylene
glycol and the Mg-sample with glycerol expands smectite again to
~16 Å and 17.8 Å, respectively. Kaolinite is defined from short-
amplitude peaks at 7 Å and 3.57 Å, which disappears after heat-
ing to 550  C. Chlorite is identified by significant peaks at 14 Å, 7 Å,
and 3.53 Å; however, these peaks did not change their position
either after treatments or heating. Illite is characterized by peaks at
10 Å, 5 Å and 3.3 Å, which also keep their positions like chlorite. The
XRF, XRD, CaCO3 analyses as well as clay mineralogy were carried
out at the Department of Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Ge-
ography and Astronomy, University of Vienna.
3.5. Stable isotope analyses
Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes of hemipelagic bulk car-
bonate deposits of the Abu Roash A Member were measured for 23
samples (Appendix C) using a ThermoFinnigan DeltaplusXL mass
spectrometer with a GasBench II. Both isotope measurements were
carried out at the Institute of Geology, University of Innsbruck,
following the standard preparation technique described by Spo €tl
and Vennemann (2003). All measured values were calibrated us-
ing the standard IAEA CO-1 reference materials NBS 19 (1.95 for
d13C, 2.20 for d18O), CO1 (2.5, 2.4) and CO8 (5.8, 22.7) and
reported on the VPDB scale (Stichler, 1995; Spo €tl and Vennemann,
2003). The long-term 1-sigma reproducibility of measurements
was 0.06 and 0.08‰ for the carbon and oxygen isotopes, respec-
tively. In the current study, the d13C and d18O values were evaluated
for the potential impact of diagenetic alteration (Fig. 3).
For neodymium isotopes of past seawater, a test was carried out
on three bulk-rock samples selected around the
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al. Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Table 1
Quantitative distribution of specific dinocyst groups that were used for paleoclimate reconstructions from the studied succession in the BED 2e3 well.

Depth (m) Isabel. Chat. Spinid, Alterbi. Palaeoh. Subtil. Manu. Heterosph.
Trith.

1570 7.4 2.45 0.48 3.44 0.49 0.98 0.98 1.47

1576 4 8.95 0 4.98 0.5 1.49 0 1
1582 7 6.97 0 1.4 0.93 0.47 0.5 1.4
1588 2.54 1.7 0 1.27 0.85 0.42 0 4.66
1594 1.4 2.73 0 0.45 1.36 0 0 2.73
1600 0 0.46 0 0.46 5.1 0.46 0 6.94
1606 1.5 0.98 1.95 1.5 0 0.49 0 8.29
1612 1.4 0 0.46 0.47 0.94 0.47 0 4.67
1618 0 1.44 0 0 0.48 3.85 0 1.92
1624 0 0.46 2.3 0 0.46 3.23 0 2.76
1630 0 0 0.44 0 0.44 1.34 0 6.64
1636 0.4 0 0.44 0 0.44 0.44 0 6.19
1642 0 0 0.94 0 0.47 1.88 0 2.82
1648 0.46 0 1.38 0 0.46 6.45 0 4.15
1654 0.48 0 1.93 0.48 0 4.35 0 1.45
1660 0 0 0.46 0 0 3.23 0 4.61
1666 0 0 0 0 0 1.93 0 4.35
1672 0.43 0.43 2.59 0.43 0 1.72 0 3.45
1678 1.48 0 2.97 0 0 1.98 0 3.47
1684 0.49 0 0.98 0 0 2.94 0 4.41
1690 0 0 0 0 0.8 7.26 0 8.06
1696 0.49 0 0.99 0.49 0 4.93 0 5.42
1702 0.48 0 3.37 0.96 0 3.84 0 1.44
1708 0.98 0 1.47 0 0 6.4 0 6.9
1714 0.49 0 0 0 0 1.89 0 8.02
1720 0 0 1.48 0.49 0.99 2.46 0 6.4
1726 0 0 0 0.49 0.49 1.46 0 5.34
1732 0 0 0 0 0.97 2.91 0 7.28
1738 0.5 0 0.5 1 0.5 2 0 7.46
1744 0 0 0 0 0.5 3 0 5.5
1750 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.97

Represented values of dinocysts shown in percentages. Isabel. ¼ Isabelidinium, Chat. ¼ Chatangiella, Spinid, Trith. ¼ Spinidinium and Trithyrodinium, Alterbi. ¼ Alterbidinium,
Subtil. ¼ Subtilisphaera, Palaeoh. ¼ Palaeohystrichophora, Manu. ¼ Manumiella, Heterosph. ¼ Heterosphaeridium.

Table 2
Quantitative composition of the TOC, CaCO3, major and trace elements and ratios of the studied succession from the BED 2e3 well.

Depth TOC CaCO3 Mg Al Si Fe Ti Sr/Ca Ba Zr Mn MnO Ni Zn Si/Al Fe/Al Ti/Al Zr/Al

(M) (wt%) (wt%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (ppm) (ppm) (%) (%) (ppm) (ppm)

1570 0.28 73.8 1.81 1.43 4.36 1.52 0.2 23.1 400 123 0.024 0.031 20 39 3.05 1.06 0.14 86.01
1576 0.39 60.4 3.02 1.88 8.18 2.27 0.28 24.5 570 181 0.025 0.033 20 52 4.35 1.2 0.15 96.28
1582 0.27 62.9 1.27 2.01 7.58 2.03 0.26 23.8 680 156 0.026 0.033 20 44 3.77 1.01 0.13 77.61
1588 0.25
1594 0.26
1600 0.3 75.4 1.93 1 4.1 2.02 0.17 25.1 240 105 0.03 0.038 10 27 4.1 2.02 0.17 105
1606 0.29 75.9 2.17 0.97 5.34 1.25 0.16 22.2 280 146 0.03 0.038 10 35 5.51 1.29 0.16 150.5
1612 e 75.7 2.47 0.96 5.92 1.15 0.13 20.2 320 160 0.029 0.038 10 39 6.17 1.19 0.13 166.7
1618 0.346 72.8 1.33 1.06 7.19 1.55 0.16 21.2 230 126 0.031 0.04 10 31 6.78 1.45 0.15 118.9
1624 0.28 69.4 2.53 1.39 6.41 1.49 0.19 21.9 190 128 0.026 0.034 10 37 4.61 1.07 0.14 92.09
1630 0.19 77.3 1.75 1.31 3.58 1.31 0.12 19.7 300 69 0.028 0.036 0 49 2.73 1 0.09 52.67
1636 0.18 76.4 1.87 1.33 4.15 1.34 0.13 20.1 296 70 0.028 0.036 10 43 3.12 1.01 0.1 52.63
1642 0.15 79.3 1.69 1.45 3.47 1.21 0.14 22.4 273 81 0.023 0.03 10 36 2.39 0.82 0.09 55.86
1648 e 77.2 1.51 1.56 3.91 1.11 0.15 24.6 260 87 0.022 0.029 10 31 2.51 0.71 0.1 55.77
1660 0.16 61.1 2.65 1.92 8.87 1.99 0.26 23.6 390 157 0.028 0.036 10 52 4.62 1.04 0.13 81.77
1666 0.2 55.5 1.45 2.41 11 2.73 0.36 31.7 310 106 0.035 0.045 10 41 4.56 1.13 0.15 43.98
1672 0.29 72.7 2.17 1.66 4.43 1.79 0.18 28.9 390 105 0.027 0.035 10 50 2.67 1.08 0.11 63.25
1678 0.26 68.8 1.93 2.07 6.52 1.74 0.21 26.3 230 118 0.024 0.032 10 43 3.15 0.84 0.1 57
1684 0.26 64.4 3.32 2.08 7.19 1.99 0.27 27.5 250 116 0.028 0.036 10 47 3.46 0.96 0.13 55.77
1690 0.36 63.9 2.83 2.04 7.44 1.91 0.26 26.1 320 113 0.029 0.037 10 45 3.65 0.93 0.13 55.39
1696 0.35 63.1 2.35 2 6.83 1.9 0.25 24.8 540 109 0.029 0.037 20 44 3.42 0.95 0.13 54.5
1708 0.4 46.8 1.09 2.39 9.69 2.53 0.33 33.1 260 112 0.034 0.044 10 54 4.05 1.06 0.14 46.86
1714 0.29 69.3 2.11 1.57 4.7 1.83 0.22 22.2 310 51 0.026 0.034 10 28 2.99 1.16 0.14 32.48
1720 e 61.1 2.83 2.01 7.22 2.11 0.28 28.8 160 107 0.027 0.035 10 40 3.59 1.05 0.14 53.23
1726 0.25 67.5 1.51 2.03 5.45 1.75 0.21 23.4 160 73 0.025 0.032 10 39 2.68 0.86 0.1 35.96
1732 0.25 69.2 2.35 1.65 4.82 1.59 0.19 23.5 650 88 0.023 0.03 10 49 2.92 0.96 0.12 53.33
1738 0.26 54.3 2.05 2.46 7.73 2 0.25 27.7 410 93 0.024 0.031 20 47 3.14 0.81 0.1 37.8
1744 0.27 86.2 1.27 0.33 0 0.59 0.43 28.6 604 35 0.022 0.028 10 40 0 1.79 1.3 106.1
1746 0.29 86.9 1.15 0.35 0 0.63 0.38 29.1 610 31 0.022 0.028 10 38 0 2.17 1.52 88.57
1750 0.32 87.4 1.39 0.42 0 0.52 0.39 27.6 6770 53 0.02 0.026 10 42 0 1.23 0.94 126.2

6
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
Fig. 3. Plots of the Abu Roash A Member samples to define the degree of post-
depositional alteration. A) Relationship between the Mn/Sr ratio and d13Ccarb values.
B) Relationship between the d13Ccarb and d18Ocarb values. The black circle shows the
plot of the current study samples. The pointed straight lines represent the average d13C
values of the Cretaceous Ocean (Jacobsen and Kaufman, 1999).
ConiacianeSantonian boundary transition at depths of 1648, 1660
and 1666 m (Appendix D). Samples 1660 and 1666 m exhibited
lower carbonate versus higher detrital composition compared to
sample 1648 that contained higher carbonate content (Table 2).
After powdering the crushed rock samples, approximately 70 mg
were digested in 3 ml 0.1 N CH3COOH for 3 h and centrifuged. The
supernatant of every sample was pipetted into individual sample
beakers. The encountered residue in the centrifuge tube was dried
and weighed to determine the amount of dissolved sample. The
dissolved fractions were dried and placed in 1 ml 6 N HCl
(1  Quartz distilled). An aliquot was taken and spiked to deter-
mine Sm and Nd concentrations by isotope dilution (ID) using a
147
Sm-150Nd spike, respectively (Bouvier et al., 2008). A second
aliquot was used to determine isotope composition (IC). REEs for
both ID and IC fractions were extracted using AG® 50W-X8
(200e400 mesh, Bio-Rad) resin and 4.0 N HCl. Nd and Sm were
separated from the REE fraction in a second column set using 2 ml
Ln-Spec resin (mesh size 50e100 mm), and 0.22 N HCl and 0.4 N HCl
€ ni and Miller, 2009). Maximum
as elution media, respectively (Tho
total procedural blanks were <100 pg for Sm and Nd. The purified
Nd and Sm fractions (~1 mg) were loaded on Re double filaments
and run in static mode on a ThermoFinnigan® Triton TI TIMS.
7
Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx
143
Neodymium/144Nd ratio of 0.511844 ± 0.000004 (n ¼ 5) were
determined for the La Jolla (Nd) during the period of investigation.
Within each run, mass fractionation for Nd isotope compositions
was corrected for 143Nd/144Nd ¼ 0.7219. External uncertainties of
the 143Nd/144Nd isotope ratios are quoted as 2s errors. The epsilon
notation (ε) was calculated and expressed as eNd(t)¼
[(143Nd/144Nd)sample/(143Nd/144Nd)CHUR  1]*104), where it was
corrected for the 147SM reactive decay constant l (6.54  10e12;
Lugmair and Marti, 1977). The Chondritic Uniform Reservoir
(CHUR) 143Nd/144Nd was corrected to the present-day value of
0.512630 and 0.1960 for the 147Sm/144Nd (Bouvier et al., 2008). All
chemical and analytical procedures were performed in a class 100
clean laboratory at the Department of Lithospheric Research, Fac-
ulty of Earth Sciences, Geography and Astronomy, University of
Vienna.
4. Results
4.1. Palynomorph analysis
High diversity palynomorphs assemblage of marine, well-
preserved dinocysts, prasinophytes, acritarchs, and micro-
foraminiferal test linings (MFTLs) versus terrestrial spores, pollen
grains and freshwater algae (FWA), are reported (Table 1). The
dinocysts (71.9-28.4, avg. 57.5% of the total palynomorphs content
(TPC)) were the most common constituents followed by the MFTLs
(68.6-12.6, avg. 29.6% of TPC) compared to the sporomorphs (14-
0.5, avg. 5% of TPC) and FWA (25-0, avg. 4.7% of TPC, Fig. 4) contents.
FWA was dominated by Pediastrum boryanum and Pediastrum sp.
with minor occurrences of the Crassosphaera ornate, Scenedesmus
sp. and Ovoidites parvaus (Appendix A). Sparse records of pterido-
phyte spores (represented mainly by Deltoidospora minor, Deltoi-
dospora sp., and Cyathidites australis), and pollen grains
(Aruacariacites hungaricus, Aruacariacites sp., Tricolpites sp., Foveo-
tricolpites giganteus, Foveotricolpites sp., and Spheripollenites sp.)
were reported within the studied succession (Appendix A).
The dinocyst content was dominated by a high abundance of
proximate and proximo-chorate gonyaulacoids (97.5-29.4, avg. 56%
of total dinocyst content - TDC) versus moderate peridinioids (48.9-
1.5, avg. 27.9% of TDC), whereas the chorate gonyaulacoids (28.7-1,
avg. 16.1% of TDC, Figs. 4-5) had lower abundances. The proximate
and proximo-chorate gonyaulacoids included highly-diverse
assemblage of Spiniferites ramosus, S. multibrevis, Spiniferites sp.,
Trichodinium castanea, Tenua hystrix, Xenascus ceratioides, Xenascus
sp., Heterosphaeridium cordiforme, H. verdieri, Heterosphaeridium sp.,
Cyclonephelium compactum, Downiesphaeridium? aciculare,
D. diversispinosum, Downiesphaeridium sp., Circulodinium cf. dis-
tinctum, Canningia reticulata, and Batiacasphaera sp. The most
abundant chorate gonyaulacoid dinocysts are represented by Oli-
gosphaeridium complex, Oligosphaeridium sp., Exochosphaeridium
bifidium, Coronifera oceanica, Pervosphaeridium pseudhystrichodi-
nium, Pervosphaeridium sp., Surculosphaeridium? longifurcatum,
Surculosphaeridium sp., Hystrichodinium pulchrum, and Florentinia
berran. The peridinioid dinocyst taxa were dominated by Bosedinia
spinosa, B. laevigata, B. alveolata, Subtilisphaera senegalensis,
S. perlucida, Subtilisphaera sp., Trithyrodinium suspectum, Palae-
ohystrichophora infusorioides, Isabelidinium acuminatum, Isabelidi-
nium sp., Chatangiella williamsii, Chatangiella sp., Elytrocysta druggii,
and Alterbidinium sp. Sporadic occurrences of other gonyaulacoid
and peridinioid dinocyst taxa are indicated in Fig. 5 and Appendix A.
Here, we combined certain taxa under a single name in the
discussion such as the Palaeohystrichophora (P. infusorioides and
Palaeohystrichophora sp.), Subtilisphaera (S. senegalensis,
S. perlucida, S. terrula, and Subtilisphaera sp.), Trithyrodinium
(T. suspectum, T. evittii, and Trithyrodinium sp.), Isabelidinium
 A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
8

Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 4. Bulk carbonate stable carbon and oxygen isotope profiles along with specific dinocysts groups of the Williams-suite taxa used to interpret climate variability in terms of temperature regimes of ocean water prevalent during
deposition of the Abu Roash A Member. l.C. ¼ lowermost Campanian.
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al. Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 5. Transmitted light photomicrograph recovered from the prepared slides of BED 2e3 well. The corresponding depth of each sample is given. The scale bar is 50 mm and is valid
for all palynomorphs specimens. 1) Florentinia berran Below (1982), 1594 m, Slide A. 2) Oligosphaeridium poculum Jain, 1977, 1594 m, Slide A. 3) Surculosphaeridium? longifurcatum
(Firtion) Davey et al. (1966), 1702 m, Slide A. 4) Heterosphaeridium verdieri Yun Hyesu (1981), 1732 m, Slide B. 5) Oligosphaeridium complex (White) Davey and Williams (1966b), 1720
m, Slide A. 6) Spiniferites multibrevis (Davey and Williams) Below (1982), 1702 m, Slide B.7) Coronifera oceanica (Cookson and Eisenack, 1958) emend. May (1980), 1696 m, Slide A. 8)
Manumiella cretacea (Cookson) Bujak and Davies (1983), 1570 m, Slide B. 9) Isabelidinium acuminatum (Cookson and Eisenack) Stover and Evitt (1978), 1582 m, Slide B. 10) Isa-
belidinium belfastense (Cookson and Eisenack) Lentin and Williams (1977), 1576 m, Slide A. 11) Isabelidinium weidichii Kirsch (1991), 1582 m, Sli de A. 12) Chatangiella williamsii, Yun
(1981), 1570 m, Slide A. 13) Palaeohystrichophora sp., 1612 m, Slide A. 14) Subtilisphaera sp., 1732 m, Slide A. 15) Cyathidites australis Couper (1953), 1612 m, Slide A. 16) Freshwater
algae, Pediastrum sp. 1594 m, Slide A. 17) Freshwater algae, Ovoidites parvus (Cookson and Dettmann) Nakoman (1966), 1570 m, Slide B. 18) Microforaminiferal test lining, 1618 m,
Slide A.

(I. belfastense, I. acuminatum, I. cooksoniae, I. weidichii, and Isabeli- and Heterosphaeridium (H. verdieri, H. cordiforme, and Hetero-
dinium sp.), Chatangiella (C. williamsii, C. victoriensis and Cha- sphaeridium sp.).
tangiella sp.), Alterbidinium (A. acutulum, A. distinctum, A. varium, In a normal marine ecosystem, the values of the SDI ranges
Alterbidinium sp.), Manumiella (M. cretacea, and Manumiella sp.), between 3.5 and 1.5 and rarely exceeds a value of 4 (e.g., Spellerberg

9
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
and Fedor, 2003, Table 1). High dinocyst diversity was prevalent
throughout the studied succession with high SDI that ranged from
3.2 to 3.9 (avg. 3.6), except for the depth interval 1750 m that had
the lowest SDI value of 1.5 (Fig. 4, Appendix B).
4.2. Elemental geochemistry and clay minerals
Specific major and trace elements and ratios shown in Figs. 6-7
and Table 2 were used as proxies for interpreting the role of sedi-
ment fluxes and continental weathering (Rimmer et al., 2004; Olde
et al., 2015; Wagreich and Koukal, 2019; Mansour et al., 2020a).
Stratigraphic bulk-geochemical composition of the studied suc-
cession was dominated by high CaCO3 (87.4-46.8, avg. 69.8%, Fig. 6)
content compared to moderate to low content of SiO2 (23.5-0, avg.
11.9%) and Al2O3 (4.7-0.6, avg. 3%, Fig. 6, Table 2), respectively. In
parallel with the Al2O3 content, clay mineralogical composition was
tested based on four samples and results showed that a significant
amount of smectite (91-80%, avg. 86.5%) was prevalent compared to
minor amounts of kaolinite (13-3%, avg. 8%), illite (7-0, avg. 4%) and
chlorite, respectively (Table 3, Figs. 6-7, Appendix E).
Both Zr (181-31, avg. 104 mg/g), Ti (0.4-0.1, avg. 0.2 mg/g) and their
ratios Zr/Al (166.7-32.5, avg. 75) and Ti/Al (1.3-0.09, avg. 0.23) were
used to indicate transgressive-regressive trends of sea level (Rimmer
et al., 2004; Wagreich and Koukal, 2019). Additionally, a strong linear
relationship between Al and Fe was indicated (r ¼ 0.87, P < 0.01,
n ¼ 28, not shown) compared to Al and Mg that showed no corre-
lation. Potassium was very low to absent in most samples (might be
below detection limits). Mn content was generally high (347-201,
avg. 266 mg/g) throughout the Abu Roash A Member (Table 2).
4.3. Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes
Bulk carbonate carbon (d13Ccarb) and oxygen (d18Ocarb) isotope
profiles are illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 6. Throughout the Abu Roash A
Member, the general trend of the d13Ccarb curve increased from the
upper Coniacian towards the lowermost Campanian. Values of
1.9e2.0‰ were recorded through the upper Coniacian deposits and
gradually decreased at the topmost upper Coniacian (depths 1708
and 1666 m) to 1.08 and 1.24‰. This was followed by a gradual in-
crease during the Santonian with a positive trend of 2.71‰ at 1648 m.
Another decline in the d13Ccarb profile reached to 1.85‰ at 1636 m that
was followed by a gradual positive trend up to 2.23‰ in the lower-
most Campanian. The d18Ocarb curve ranged between 2.88
and 3.61 ‰VPDB, which was generally high with a positive trend
during the late Coniacian followed by negative to positive trends
during the Santonian to earliest Campanian, respectively (Fig. 6).
4.4. Nd isotope signatures
The studied bulk-rock samples from the southern Tethys (Egypt)
recorded 143Nd/144Nd ratios between 0.512343 and 0.512477,
whereas 143Nd/144Nd age-corrected values for the C/S boundary
interval (ca. t ¼ 86.4 Ma) ranged between 0.512269 and 0.512402
(Appendix D). The eNd(t) has a radiogenic composition and varied
from 2.75 to 4.88 with an average of 3.30 compared to the
eNd(0) that was slightly lower (2.99 to 5.6, Appendix D).
5. Discussion
5.1. Evaluating stable isotope diagenetic overprint
The diagenetic alteration overprint was assessed to ensure a
reliable interpretation of stable carbon and oxygen isotope signa-
tures. Previous studies have shown that bulk carbonate oxygen
isotopes are more sensitive to meteoric and burial diagenetic
10
Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx
alterations than carbon isotopes (e.g., Jenkyns et al., 1994; Hall and
Veizer, 1996; Jacobsen and Kaufman, 1999; Stoll and Schrag, 2000;
Wendler, 2013; Sabatino et al., 2018). Since various host materials
encompass various absolute d13C values, Wendler (2013) indicated
that typical averages of d13Ccarb values for Upper Cretaceous
pelagic-hemipelagic carbonates range between 1.5 and 2‰ in the
Tibetan Plateau of the SE Tethys and 2e3‰ in the NW Tethys and
Boreal Chalk. Our measured d13Ccarb values (2.7-1.1, avg. 1.85‰)
showed a consistent pattern with the former marine carbonate
values over the Tethyan regions recognized by Wendler (2013),
reinforcing original d13Ccarb signals of seawater. Thus, the d13Ccarb
curve displayed comparable absolute values and similar trends
with previously reported carbon isotope profiles from a range of
depositional conditions (Jenkyns et al., 1994; Stoll and Schrag,
2000; Neuhuber and Wagreich, 2009; Wendler et al., 2013) indi-
cating that the d13C signature of the Abu Roash A Member has not
been affected by diagenetic alteration. The hemipelagic deposits of
the Abu Roash A Member were deposited under prolonged oxic
intermittent with minor dysoxic conditions (Mansour et al., 2020b),
thus the impact of redox-driven diagenesis on d13Ccarb stratigraphic
trend is expected to be small (e.g., Sabatino et al., 2018).
Since Mn content becomes enriched during diagenesis of car-
bonate deposits compared to Sr that is depleted, diagenetic alter-
ation of the d18O and d13C values can further be assessed based on
their relationship with the Mn/Sr ratio (e.g., Hall and Veizer, 1996).
For the Abu Roash A Member, the Mn/Sr ratio and d13Ccarb values
plot around the line of a closed system, which reveals rapid
cementation of low-Mg calcite during the early stage of diagenesis,
reflecting limited diagenetic alteration for the studied samples
(Fig. 3A, Jacobsen and Kaufman, 1999).
Furthermore, the relationship between the d13Ccarb and d18Ocarb
values allows the elucidation of the post-depositional alteration,
with a strong co-variance between both variables, thus revealing
potential diagenetic overprint. For the studied samples, an insig-
nificant correlation (r ¼ 0.05, P ¼ 0.82, n ¼ 23, Fig. 4) is shown
between the d13Ccarb and d18Ocarb, which is inconsistent with a
strong meteoric and/or burial diagenetic resetting of the d13Ccarb
values (e.g., Sabatino et al., 2018). The Abu Gharadig Basin was
located in the low-latitude southern Tethys during the Late Creta-
ceous combined with a low freshwater influx indicated by low
terrestrial palynomorphs and siliciclastic input (Mansour et al.,
2020a-b). This would promote enhanced evaporation and
elevated salinity that can influence d18O values (e.g., Pearce et al.,
2009; Jarvis et al., 2015). Increased salinity during periods of cli-
matic warming would develop lower amplitudes of the d18O vari-
ation. Here, the d18Ocarb curve of the Abu Roash A Member was
consistent, like the d13Ccarb profile, with similar absolute values in
d18Ocarb from adjoining study sites in the N and NW Tethyan realm
(Jenkyns et al., 1994; Stoll and Schrag, 2000; Neuhuber and
Wagreich, 2009), suggesting that salinity and freshwater were
highly unlikely responsible for the d18Ocarb trends displayed in BED
2e3.
However, Jenkyns et al. (1994) indicated that a sudden shift of

0.5‰ intra-sample variability in d18Ocarb through the pelagic En-
glish Chalk was the result of a potential error and/or a signal of
diagenetic alteration. Although this is not indicative of strong burial
diagenesis, a shift in the d18Ocarb profile by ca. 0.5‰ (from 3.39
to 2.88‰) was reported in the Abu Roash A Member at depths
from 1714 to 1708 m (Fig. 3B), which is inferred to reflect an original
isotopic signal. To confirm the absence of diagenetic alteration on
the d18O values of these samples, we used primarily correlation to
autochthonous dinocyst records. Here, the gonyaulacoid dinocyst
content rapidly declined from 78 to 55.7% of TPC, which correlated
to a d18Ocarb positive trend at the same interval (Fig. 6, Appendix B).
Both the increase in d18Ocarb values and the decline in gonyaulacoid
 A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
11

Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 6. Bulk carbonate stable carbon and oxygen isotope profiles along with chemostratigraphic distribution of carbonate and TOC contents, various major and trace elements and ratios, clay minerals, and FWA and pteridophyte spores
profiles used to assess the role of terrestrial discharge and continental weathering intensity. l.C. ¼ lowermost Campanian.
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al. Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Clay mineralogy 1678:

87 % smecte, 9 % kaolinite, 4 % illite

Intensity (counts)

10 3.33 Cc

6000

4.95
15.2

K+550°C
5000 Q
17.8
7.15

9.9
K+EG
4000

14.6
Q
3000
12
9
Q Mg+Gly

3.56
2000
7.14

K
3.57
1000
7.16

Mg
0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
2Theta (°)

Fig. 7. X-ray diffraction pattern showing the clay fractions of the examined sample at depth of 1678 m from BED 2e3 well saturated with Mg (green), K (red), Mg and glycerol
(MgGly, blue), K and ethylene glycol (KEG, magenta), and heated to 550  C (KT, black). Q ¼ quartz, Cc ¼ Calcite, d-values in Å. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this
figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)

dinocyst are consistent with a short-term sea level fall and a change Hansen and Dam, 1999; Prauss, 2015; Pearce et al., 2020). The
in depositional environment from deeper middle neritic shelf to a overall composition of the peridinioid dinocyst fraction is
slightly shallower settings, respectively (Mansour et al., 2020b). commonly used to reflect either enhanced water column upwelling
Thus, autochthonous dinocyst records can be used to further sub- (e.g., Harris and Tocher, 2003; Zonneveld et al., 2013; Mansour
stantiate original isotope data and exclude pervasive diagenetic et al., 2020a) or surface water cooling/warming and salinity con-
alteration if exhibiting a meaningful correlation with d18Ocarb. ditions (e.g., Batten and Lister, 1988; Pearce et al., 2009, 2020;
Prauss, 2015). The Williams suite in the Late Cretaceous is domi-
5.2. Upper Cretaceous climate variability in the southern Tethys nated mainly by the peridinioid genera Isabelidinium, Alterbidinium,
Trithyrodinium, Chatangiella, and Spinidinium (Lentin and Williams,
5.2.1. Dinocyst versus stable isotope 1980) and can be used to characterize warm-temperate surface
The approach used to reconstruct paleoclimatic conditions, water conditions (Nøhr-Hansen and Dam, 1999; Prauss, 2015;
either warm or cool greenhouse climate, is based on dinocysts, Pearce et al., 2020; Mansour et al., 2020a). In the Abu Roash A
d18Ocarb record, and clay mineralogy. In general, the assessment of Member, Trithyrodinium was dominant during the late
SST was achieved by measuring the d18O record of specific Coniacianemid Santonian and Isabelidinium, Alterbidinium, and
optimally-preserved species of benthic/planktonic foraminifera, Chatangiella were abundant during the late Santonianeearliest
ammonite shells, inoceramid bivalves, belemnite, and other fossils Campanian (Fig. 4). They altogether showed low abundance dur-
(e.g., Stevens and Clayton, 1971; Jenkyns et al., 1994; Bornemann ing the late Coniacian from 0 to 4.8% (avg. 1.9% of TPC). This was
et al., 2008; Friedrich et al., 2012; O'Brien et al., 2017; Huber
et al., 2018). However, d18O of bulk carbonate preserves consis-
Table 3
tent stratigraphic trends given that the main source of carbonate
Proportions of clay mineral assemblages within the Abu Roash A Member, BED 2e3
remains the same throughout the entire archive, and thus could be well.
used to interpret past ocean paleotemperature trends in order to
Samples (m) clay minerals (%)
predict the magnitude of global greenhouse climate state (Stoll and
Schrag, 2000; Li et al., 2006; Neuhuber and Wagreich, 2009; Smectite Kaolinite Chlorite Illite
Wendler et al., 2009, 2011; Frijia et al., 2015; Jarvis et al., 2015). 1600 88 7 5 0
Marine palynomorphs, mainly dinocysts, were used as in- 1660 91 3 1 5
dicators for cool-versus warm-greenhouse paleoclimate re- 1678 87 9 0 4
1696 80 13 0 7
constructions during deposition (Fensome et al., 1993; Nøhr-
12
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
followed by a significant increase through the Santonian to earliest
Campanian from 0.9 to 17.9% of TPC (Fig. 4), suggesting a warm
surface water at low-latitude region of the southern Tethys. This
hypothesis can be supported by the paleogeographic position of the
current study location, whereby a paleomagnetic study indicated
that the Abu Gharadig Basin was located at 7 N of the Equator
during the early Campanian (Lotfy, 2011, Fig. 1B), reinforcing the
presumption of tropical, warm-temperate conditions (Jenkyns
et al., 1994; Neuhuber and Wagreich, 2009; Sabatino et al., 2018).
Recently, paleobiogeographic investigations on the gonyaula-
coid Cyclonephelium membraniphorum, Heterosphaeridium verdieri
and Heterosphaeridium sp. indicated that these species favoured
warm water settings during the Late Cretaceous in low-to mid-
latitude of both hemispheres (Pearce et al., 2020). Minor occur-
rences of the C. membraniphorum species were recorded in this
study during the late Coniacianeearly Santonian, reinforcing the
prevalence of warm climate (Appendix A). Here, Heterosphaeridium
cordiforme was abundant in the Abu Roash A Member and, com-
bined with the relative variation in Heterosphaeridium verdieri
content, indicates that they were synchronous and might reflect
similarity of latitudinal pattern and water masses. Following the
deductions of Pearce et al. (2020), we regard both species as
proximo-chorate gonyaulacoid indicators of warm water settings.
Heterosphaeridium reached up to 8% of TPC (avg. 5.3%, Fig. 4) during
the late Coniacian, also supporting warm water conditions of the
water column at this time. Our interpretation matches well the
results of Abdel-Kireem et al. (1996), who indicated that the Con-
iacian through mideSantonian climate, based on palynomorphs
and foraminiferal composition, was mainly warm and humid in
Egypt. This is in agreement with the d18Ocarb profile that displayed
successive short-term fluctuations between positive and negative
trends for the upper Coniacian interval between 3.5 and 3‰
(avg. 3.2‰, Fig. 6). This likely indicates a pronounced greenhouse
warming (e.g., depths from 1726 to 1714, 1696, 1678) interrupted by
minor short-term, slightly lower temperature phases at depths
from 1708, 1784, 1672-1666 m (e.g., Jenkyns et al., 1994; Stoll and
Schrag, 2000). However, a more negative trend of the d18O
planktic foraminifers was recorded at equatorial-to low-latitudinal
Atlantic from 3.7 to 4.3‰ (avg. 4.03‰), revealing robust
paleotemperature estimates of slightly higher SST across the upper
Coniacian with average values of 33.4  C, which were confirmed
with high TEX86 (tetraether index of lipid biomarkers with 86
carbon atoms) values that imply a similar SST value of 34  C
(Bornemann et al., 2008; O'Brien et al., 2017). In contrast, a more
positive trend in the d18Oplank (from 3.6 to 2.2‰, avg. 2.7‰)
was reported from the southern high latitudes of the South Atlantic
and Indian oceans (Huber et al., 2018), indicating lower average
temperature estimates of ca. 26  C and 23  C at the same time,
respectively. Therefore, differences in average SST estimates be-
tween southern high latitudes, equatorial Atlantic, and southern
low-latitude Tethys indicate enhanced latitudinal gradients from
the equator to poles during the Coniacian. Oxygen isotopes from
planktic foraminifers of the ConiacianeSantonian deposits from the
Tethys are still lacking and only stable bulk carbonate oxygen iso-
topes were available.
During the Santonian, Heterosphaeridium reached up to 8.3% of
TPC (avg. 4.7%, Fig. 4). This is consistent with the occurrence of
Isabelidinium, Alterbidinium, Trithyrodinium, Chatangiella, and Spi-
nidinium that together represent 11.9% of TPC (avg. 4.4%). The
relative abundance of these palynomorphs taxa reinforcing a warm
temperature of the ocean water at this time (e.g., Prauss, 2015;
Pearce et al., 2020; Mansour et al., 2020a). At the same time, the
d18Ocarb profile of the current study showed a negative trend
from 2.99 to 3.39‰ (at depth intervals from 1648 to 1618 m),
which was followed by a positive trend from 3.4 to 3.06‰ with a
13
Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx
moderate-amplitude of ca 0.4‰ (from 1618 to 1576 m). Tempera-
ture estimates from the Demerara Rise in the equatorial Atlantic
showed that the d18Oplank during the mideSantonian was slightly
lower than the Coniacian and varied between 4.4 and 3.7‰ with
average values of ca. 3.94‰, indicating a slight falling trend in SST
from 34.7 to 32.6  C (Bornemann et al., 2008). The d18Oplank from
the southern high latitudes of the South Atlantic was slightly lower
(2.0 to 3.7‰, avg. 3.1‰) than the southern high latitude Indian
Ocean (2.6 to 1.6‰, avg. 2.1), reflecting SST of ca. 24  C and
19  C, respectively (Huber et al., 2018). This indicates that the
Santonian experienced a relatively warm greenhouse with a
gradual temperature rising followed by a gradual decrease from the
mideSantonian and initiation of the Late Cretaceous long-term
cooling trend that accelerated during the Campanian to peak
cooling within the Maastrichtian (Linnert et al., 2014; O'Brien et al.,
2017; Huber et al., 2018). In this context, SST regimes during the
Coniacian to Santonian were significantly warmer relative to the
CampanianeMaastrichtian, and reached more than 30  C in low
latitudes regions, a state recognized by Kidder and Worsley (2012)
as an indicator of a prevalent warm to hot greenhouse climate.
Within the earliest Campanian, the Chatangiella and Alterbidinium
significantly decreased at the topmost part of the succession from 9 to
2.5% and from 5 to 3.4% of TPC, respectively (Fig. 4), which might be
consistent with the gradual long-term cooling of Late Cretaceous
generally and the Campanian particularly (Bornemann et al., 2008;
O'Brien et al., 2017; Huber et al., 2018). Interestingly, the abundance
spikes of Manumiella cretacea and Manumiella sp. during the late
Maastrichtian in the Antarctica sediments was interpreted to be
related to ocean cooling before the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary
event (Thorn et al., 2009). Their absence throughout the studied in-
terval, except for minor occurrences within the lowermost Campa-
nian deposits (Table 1), is consistent with the prevalence of the
aforementioned warm water dinocyst species in this part of the
southern Tethys that was followed by the initiation of long-term
cooling from the early Campanian. During the earliest Campanian,
Heterosphaeridium was represented by lowest values, whereby a
gradual upward decrease from 8.3 to 6.9% during the late Santonian to
1.5 and 1% of TDC, respectively, was recorded (Fig. 4). This decline in
their percentages is in a good agreement with the drop in abundance
of Chatangiella and Alterbidinium.
The obtained results from reported dinocysts and oxygen isotope
SST estimates can further be supported by global ocean and annual
mean surface-air temperatures during the ConiacianeSantonian
from numerical climate modeling (Fig. 8). We compare our results
to the specific parameters of the global ocean climate model
HadCM3L version 4.5 of Lunt et al. (2016). The model resolution was
2.5 in latitude and 3.75 in longitude with 19 and 20 vertical levels in
the atmosphere and ocean, respectively. This model showed that the
ocean paleotemperature regime during the ConiacianeSantonian
fluctuated between 30  C and 34  C at low-latitude open ocean wa-
ter, which is in a good agreement with the estimated SST from
d18Opalnk and TEX86 from the equatorial Atlantic, Site 1259. However,
it consistently shows an offset to a slightly cooler SST in southern high
latitudes compared to the abovementioned isotopic and biomarker
paleotemperature estimates of Huber et al. (2018). The global surface-
air temperature model of Lunt et al. (2016) indicates that the
ConiacianeSantonian was characterized by average temperature es-
timates of 32e36  C in the southern Tethys compared to 36  C in the
equatorial Atlantic (Fig. 8). With respect to latitudinal gradients from
the equator, the surface-air temperatures were much cooler in the
southern high latitudes with average values of 16  C (Fig. 8). These
estimates of the global surface-air temperatures are consistent with a
period of prevalent warm to hot greenhouse climate during the
ConiacianeSantonian.
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al. Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 8. A) Ocean potential temperature during ConiacianeSantonian reconstructed from "https://www.paleo.bristol.ac.uk/". B) World annual mean surface air temperature during
the ConiacianeSantonian (at 1.5 m) (modified after Lunt et al., 2016).
14
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
5.2.2. Oxygen isotope regional correlation
The regional bulk carbonate d18O correlation between the
current study and the Contessa quarry in Italy (Stoll and Schrag,
2000), the Boreal English Chalk (Jenkyns et al., 1994), and
southern Tibet successions (Tingari, Li et al., 2006; Gongzha,
Wendler et al., 2009; Guru, Wendler et al., 2011) is shown (Fig. 9).
Higher-resolution SST was indicated from the western equatorial
Atlantic (Demerara Rise, Site 1259, Bornemann et al., 2008) based
on d18O of planktonic foraminifera. Despite the obvious differ-
ences in amplitudes between correlated d18O profiles, they were
mostly similar in major trends, reflecting a regional response to
paleotemperature regimes during the ConiacianeSantonian
(Jenkyns et al., 1994; Stoll and Schrag, 2000; Bornemann et al.,
2008; Li et al., 2006; Wendler et al., 2009, 2011). Generally, we
recognized three major patterns of d18O shifts that are in good
agreement with global Late Cretaceous temperature trends
(Linnert et al., 2014; O'Brien et al., 2017; Huber et al., 2018).
The first pattern occurred through the upper Coniacian in-
tervals, whereby the d18O showed no distinct excursion with only
a short-term cyclic variation. In the studied interval, the average
values were 2.95 to 3.2‰ and very similar to the d18O values
from the Contessa quarry and the English Chalk sections of 2.3
to 3.2‰. Sections from the Tibetan Plateau in southeastern
Tethys showed the most negative trends during this time
(avg. 5.5, 4.8 and 5.2‰ in Tingari, Gongzha, and Guru, Fig. 9),
which were attributed to strong burial diagenesis and tectonics
but still preserve the primary long-term temperature signals (Li
et al., 2006; Wendler et al., 2009, 2011). In the upper Coniacian
deposits of Site 1259, a warmer setting was prevalent in the
equatorial Atlantic with average d18Oplank values ranging
between 4.1 and 3.9‰ (Bornemann et al., 2008).
The second pattern showed a negative d18O trend of ca.
0.4e0.7‰ from the uppermost Coniacian to loweremid Santonian
(Fig. 9), reflecting a progressive rise in surface ocean paleo-
temperatures (Linnert et al., 2014; O'Brien et al., 2017; Huber et al.,
2018). For the Abu Roash A Member, the d18Ocarb values declined
from 3.0 to 3.4‰, which are similar to the absolute values
of 2.65 to 3.6‰ in the Contessa quarry section, Italy. The English
Chalk was characterized by a clear negative isotope pattern and
average values ranging from 1.95 to 2.8‰. The same holds true
for the equatorial Atlantic Site 1295, whereby the d18Opalnk showed
a similar pattern of negative trend (Bornemann et al., 2008).
The third pattern revealed a long-term positive trend esti-
mated by ca. 0.4e1‰ from the mideSantonian to earliest Cam-
panian, indicating a gradual falling trend of oceans temperature
that climaxed during the Campanian (Wendler et al., 2009, 2011;
Linnert et al., 2014; O'Brien et al., 2017; Huber et al., 2018;
Sabatino et al., 2018). The positive d18O trend in the southern
Tethys, Egypt, ranged from 3.4 to 3.0‰ compared to a similar
trend but with a higher positive excursion in the Contessa quarry
(ca. 3.6 to 2.7‰) and the English Chalk (ca. 2.7 to 1.7‰). The
three sections of Tingri, Guru, and Gongzha along with the
Demerara Rise from the equatorial Atlantic showed the same
pattern of positive d18O excursion (Fig. 9).
Generally, our isotope records from the southern Tethys, Egypt,
exhibit similar d18O patterns, in part, with the regional isotope
profiles from the N and SE Tethys, Boreal, and equatorial Atlantic.
5.2.3. Clay mineralogy, terrestrial discharge, and weathering
intensities
Clay mineralogy is one of the widely used reliable proxy in-
dicators of humid and arid conditions during deposition as clay
minerals hold a distinct detrital origin (Niebuhr, 2005; Fagel, 2007).
Humid conditions are characterized by enhanced precipitation and
riverine runoff at warm greenhouse to hothouse climate compared
15
Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx
to arid climate that is dominated by low precipitation and terrestrial
discharge. Limited studies have focused on terrestrial runoff patterns
and their relationship to climate state, either humid or arid, using
various proxy estimates during the ConiacianeSantonian (Floegel
and Wagner, 2006; Flo € gel et al., 2008). Major and trace elements
along with terrestrially derived palynomorphs, mainly spores and
FWA from wet hinterlands into adjacent marine basins, can provide
a good framework of the terrigenous flux and weathering intensity
(Rimmer et al., 2004; Olde et al., 2015; Wagreich and Koukal, 2019;
Mansour et al., 2020a-b). Pronounced orbital cyclicity has also trig-
gered enhanced precipitation and river input, which together con-
trol weathering intensity with a strong continental weathering
principally consistent with periods of enhanced precipitation and
high surface discharge (e.g., Floegel and Wagner, 2006; Flo €gel et al.,
2008).
In the studied succession, clay minerals were dominated by
smectite, kaolinite with minor illite and chlorite (Table 3). For the
upper Coniacian, an upward increase in the smectite content from
80 to 87% was accompanied by a decrease in kaolinite (from 13 to
9%) and illite contents (from 7 to 4%) at depths from 1696 to 1678 m
(Figs. 6-7, Table 3, Appendix E) were consistent with a negative
d18Ocarb trend (3.2‰), suggesting a humid to enhanced semi-arid
warm climate (Niebuhr, 2005). During the Santonian onwards, the
smectite content increased to 91% compared to a decreased
kaolinite content (avg. 5%) and illite (from 5 to 0%) at depths of 1660
and 1600 m (Figs. 6-7). This variation was accompanied by a posi-
tive d18Ocarb trend between 3.1 and 2.99‰ (Figs. 6, 9). These
features indicate deposition in a tropical arid climate with a gradual
temperature fall (Flo € gel et al., 2008) that was initiated in the
mideSantonian and is consistent with the acceleration of the Late
Cretaceous cooling trend.
The Abu Roash A Member is characterized by a relatively high
CaCO3 content versus moderate to low Si and Al concentrations
(Fig. 6), whereby the CaCO3 showed a typically inverse relationship
to Si (r ¼ 0.92, P < 0.01, n ¼ 28, not shown) and Al profiles
(r ¼ 0.91, P < 0.01, n ¼ 28, not shown). These inverse relationships
indicate that the higher CaCO3 production, the lower silty/clayey
contents during deposition (Fig. 6) and therefore point to lower
terrestrial discharge and weathering intensity in the southern
Tethys during the ConiacianeSantonian (e.g., Rimmer et al., 2004;
Olde et al., 2015; Mansour et al., 2020a). Only samples at depths of
1708, 1666 and 1660 m contain the highest Si content of up to 10%,
reflecting enhanced terrestrial runoff and continental weathering.
Elemental proxies of Ti, Zr, and Fe normalized to Al can be used to
ascertain the role of terrestrial flux, whereby their higher values are
consistent with enhanced terrigenous input (Rimmer et al., 2004;
Wagreich and Koukal, 2019). A strong linear correlation was
documented between Ti and Al (r ¼ 0.84, n ¼ 25, P < 0.01, not
shown) except for the lowest three intervals at depths
1738e1750 m. Similarly, Fe showed a strong correlation with Al
(r ¼ 0.87, n ¼ 28, P < 0.01, not shown) compared to a moderate
correlation between Zr and Al (r ¼ 0.40, n ¼ 28, P < 0.035, not
shown). Although the values of the former ratios and their ele-
ments (i.e., Ti, Zr, Fe) were commonly low exhibiting a low terrig-
enous input during weak continental weathering, their correlation
with Al might be attributed to a slight increase of clay-rich sedi-
ments that were rich in heavy mineral content during deposition of
the hemipelagic carbonates of the Abu Roash A succession. Addi-
tionally, the observed low terrestrial discharge is consistent with
low contents of FWA and pteridophyte spores, except for the former
intervals at depths of 1714, 1666, 1660, 1594, and 1588 that con-
tained approximately 20% of TPC (Fig. 4, Table 1).
Detailed geochemical investigations, along with climate
modeling and orbital frequencies for the ConiacianeSantonian,
indicated that the Demerara Rise of the equatorial Atlantic
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al. Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 9. Correlation between stable isotope oxygen profiles from northern, southern and southeastern Tethys, Boreal and equatorial Atlantic. e.C. ¼ earliest Campanian.

received strong precipitation and higher riverine discharge from continental runoff and detrital input from adjacent hinter-
the northeastern region of South America compared to the Ivory lands as well as current turbulence are thought to promote
coast in western Africa (Floegel and Wagner, 2006; Flo €gel et al., modification of the Nd isotope composition through
2008). From their modeling used, it became evident that the boundary exchanges on continental margins from local
southern Tethys received low precipitation and therefore low neritic to oceanic seawater via complex interactions at the
discharge of 0.4 mm/day except in northern Egypt where precipi- sediment-water interface (Soudry et al., 2006; Robinson and
tation reached of 1e2 mm/day (Floegel and Wagner, 2006), in good Vance, 2012; Moiroud et al., 2016). Associated uncertainties
agreement with the clay mineralogical deductions of enhanced may also be considered (Pomie s et al., 2002), such as the rate
semi-arid to arid conditions during this time. of diagenetic alteration of syn- and post-depositional pro-
cesses on carbonate fractions especially at low sedimentation
rates along the oxic sediment-water interface (Martin and
5.3. Paleocirculation pattern in the southern Tethys
Scher, 2004).
(2) The other scenario suggests that the younger weathered
The eNd(t) values from the Abu Roash A Member in the southern
crust of adjacent volcanic terranes, likely from the Sitra
Tethys are relatively radiogenic and fluctuated between 2.29
Platform and Agnes-Misawage High (Issawi et al., 1999) and/
and 4.88 (Appendix D). During the Late Cretaceous greenhouse
or high erosional rates in the southern Tethys that sur-
climate, it was suggested that major processes, including changes in
rounded the Abu Gharadig Basin (Egypt), which possibly
sea level and large-scale plate tectonics, controlled the Tethys water
resulted in more radiogenic composition. Currently, the Nile
paleocirculation currents (Stille et al., 1996). Significant similarities
River that drained in the Mediterranean sea has eNd(0) values
observed between eNd(t) in the western versus southern and eastern
between 1 and 3, which is likely related to enhanced
portions of the Tethys might reflect either continental outflow of
erosional rate of adjacent Pan-African crust in NE Africa
weathered material at these different regions or the same water
(Scrivner et al., 2004; Puceat et al., 2005 and references
masses (Puce at et al., 2005). However, the considerably high eNd(t)
there-in). This example of the Nile River reinforces similar
values of the Abu Roash may be explained by one of the following
situations during the Late Cretaceous. For example, the
scenarios:
paleogeographic settings of the north Western Desert
(Egypt) witnessed the presence of past rivers and/or chan-
(1) Despite the eNd(t) of the measured samples reflecting the Nd
nels that drained into the southern Tethys during the Late
isotopic composition through local middle-neritic seafloor
Cretaceous. This can be confirmed by the palynological
seawater of the southern Tethys, the measured isotopic sig-
composition, whereby five peaks of FWA at depths of 1714,
natures can differ from neritic to open oceanic seawater
1666, 1660, 1594, and 1588 were reported, revealing that
conditions. For example, several studies in the Atlantic Ocean
enhanced terrestrial/riverine input occurred during deposi-
indicated that increasing water column depths resulted in
tion of these intervals in the Abu Roash A Member (e.g.,
variation in Nd isotopic composition (Stille, 1992; Martin and
Batten and Lister, 1988; Tyson, 1995; Prauss, 2015; Mansour
Scher, 2004). Additionally, considerable contribution of
16
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al. Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

et al., 2020a-b). Therefore, we anticipate that a river system,

Fig. 10. Bulk carbonate d13C profiles across the ConiacianeSantonian from southern Tethys (Abu Gharadig Basin, this study), southeastern Tethys (Tingri, southern Tibet, Wendler et al., 2009), northern Tethys (Bottaccione and
Trentinara sections in Italy, Stoll and Schrag, 2000; Frijia et al., 2015), Boreal Realm (English Chalk reference curve, Jarvis et al., 2006; East Kent, Jenkyns et al., 1994; Seaford Head, Thibault et al., 2016). Tu. ¼ Turonian, Cmp ¼ Campanian.
like the above example, would trigger such regional or local
radiogenic values in the southern Tethys during the Con-
iacianeSantonian. Generally, the earlier hypothesis of envi-
ronmental boundary exchange as well as this scenario of
past-paleogeographic settings are thought to be interre-
lated. Together they could account for the higher radiogenic
Nd isotope composition.

Increased water exchange with large Pacific water masses

thought to have entered the Tethys through the Indian-Tethys
seaway and westward Tethys circumglobal current occurred at
low-latitude (0 e30 ), mainly around 15 with a strong surface-
flow towards shelf areas along the southern Tethys margin
(Soudry et al., 2006). This is likely to have been triggered by a first-
order sea-level highstand with a high erosional rate (Vail et al.,
1977; Stille et al., 1996; Puce at et al., 2005). Numerical simula-
tions from atmosphere-ocean models also reinforce westward
Tethys circumglobal current (Bush, 1997; Hay, 2009). This pattern of
Tethyan circumglobal current along with increased surface flow
possibly enhanced water column ventilation throughout the
Tethys. Comparing bulk carbonate d13C records from the Boreal,
northern and southeastern Tethys, we noted that, despite low
resolution of the current study isotope profile, the values are
comparable at the ConiacianeSantonian Michael Dean event and
the SantonianeCampanian event (Fig. 10). However, cyclic varia-
tions in d13Ccarb trends were observed during the
ConiacianeSantonian with a negative trend by the late Coniacian
and the end of Santonian up to Campanian, consistent with the
distribution of the cold Arctic oceanic currents into the English Sea,
East Kent (Jenkyns et al., 1994) that reached to lower latitudes of the
Polish and Spanish seas and Romania and mixed with the warmer
Tethys circumglobal current (Remin et al., 2016). At the same time,
the Santonian to Campanian negative d13C trend was consistent
with the d13C compilation from benthic foraminiferal assemblages
(Friedrich et al., 2012). This trend was attributed to the opening of
the Equatorial Atlantic Gateway, which was restricted during the
Coniacian to late Santonian (Bornemann et al., 2008) and the
connection between the proto-North Atlantic and the proto-South
Atlantic and a permanent deep-water connection that was initiated
from the Santonian to Campanian.

5.4. Oceanographic mechanisms

During the Cretaceous, the final breakup of Gondwana was

accompanied by complex oceanographic and geographic changes
due to the opening of the Indian, South Atlantic, and other pro-
cesses related to the opening and closing of the Tethyan Ocean.
These settings made the Tethys the gateway of oceanic water ex-
change and circulation through low-latitude Indian-Tethyan
seaway westward (Puce at et al., 2005; Hay, 2009; Moiroud et al.,
2016). Herein, we propose a scenario involving many environ-
mental processes that may have occurred during the deposition of
the ConiacianeSantonian sediments in the southern Tethys. This
scenario is summarized in an illustrative model based on a com-
bination of several proxies of geochemical, sedimentological, iso-
topic, and palynological components (Fig. 11). Additionally, a
detailed discussion of these processes is summarized by the
following points:

(1) Complex oceanic processes, including seawater circulation

patterns, whereby the low-latitude southern Tethys was
influenced by westward Tethys circumglobal current as
at et al., 2005) and coupled ocean-
deduced from eNd(t) (Puce
atmosphere climate models (Bush, 1997; Hay, 2009). This
17
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al. Cretaceous Research xxx (xxxx) xxx

Fig. 11. Proposed complex oceanographic processes during the deposition of CORB in the southern Tethys instead of organic-rich black shale sediments.

circulation mode would enhance the interbasinal nutrient Abu Gharadig Basin to the north where oceanic deep Tethyan
exchange as well as the geographic distribution and vertical environments existed (Fig. 11) and subsequently would flow
mixing. However, the current study region witnessed a low into open ocean northward (Hay, 2009). This might result in
terrestrial/riverine input due to insignificant continental a return flow or in what is known as overturning circulation
weathering, which diminished nutrient availability towards pattern (Fig. 11), from a low setting ca. 10 Sverdrup (Sv) at
local inner-neritic conditions versus enhanced carbonate neritic shelf to as high as 80 Sv at oceanic conditions of
production (Neuhuber and Wagreich, 2009; Wagreich, deeper Tethyan environments as inferred from global climate
2009). Despite the similar or slightly higher global thermo- models (Otto-Bliesner et al., 2002; Lunt et al., 2016). The
haline circulation in the mideCretaceous to the present day above two major steps of our scenario and related processes
(Trabucho-Alexandre et al., 2010), a shallow neritic shelf should result in enhanced OM accumulation. However, to
basin (e.g., the current study succession) would slow down complete the proposed scenario.
the southern Tethys flowing currents compared to open (3) Other significant processes, such as redox conditions, sedi-
oceanic environments (Fig. 11). The reported Palae- mentation rate, and organic carbon-controlled regimes
ohystrichophora infusorioides is considered, like Spiniferites cannot be excluded. Mansour et al. (2020a) addressed these
ramosus, as a cosmopolitan species, inferred to be abundant processes for the current study succession as part of a large
in offshore sites of upwelling (Pearce et al., 2009). The same project on the Abu Roash A Member. Their results revealed
holds true for Subtilisphaera, showing an overwhelming that there was a prevalence of oxic water column during low
abundance during the ConiacianeSantonian upwelling event sedimentation rates, whereby enhanced OM dilution due to
off west Africa (Prauss, 2015). Their relative abundance carbonate production along with oxidation led to destruction
through the Abu Roash A Member is used to indicate a of OM and accumulation of low TOC contents with all
shallow shelf water mixing (Pearce et al., 2009; Prauss, 2015; values < 0.5 wt%. Thus, the Abu Roash A Member confirms
Mansour et al., 2020a). Further details about water column the absence of the ConiacianeSantonian OAE3 in this part of
conditions during deposition of the Abu Roash A Member the Tethys Ocean and relates significantly to the Tethyan
were addressed in Mansour et al. (2020a). They indicated the oceanic red beds (CORB, e.g., Neuhuber and Wagreich, 2009;
predominance of low paleoproductivity and nutrient supply Wagreich, 2009).
at the NE African shelf.
(2) Due to the observed warm greenhouse climate with a long-
6. Conclusions
term temperature fall from the mideSantonian onwards at
low-latitude Tethyan realm, the influence of seawater evap-
The late Coniacianeearliest Campanian witnessed the deposi-
oration during the deposition of this interval would have
tion of hemipelagic Abu Roash A Member in the Abu Gharadig
increased. Enhanced evaporation would result in a slightly
Basin, southern Tethys region. Based on palynomorphs composi-
higher salinity of the neritic Tethys water, which would in-
tion, a highly diverse assemblage consisting mainly of dinocysts
crease densification by salinization. Atmosphere-ocean
and the d18Ocarb trends were used to interpret the paleoclimate
simulations and climate modeling (using NCAR Climate
state. Insignificant correlation between d13C and d18O data confirms
System Model, Otto-Bliesner et al., 2002) revealed a rela-
the absence of meteoric and/or burial diagenetic alteration of the
tively high salinity estimates with average values of 38% over
d18O profile during deposition. This was supported by the regional
the Tethys during the Late Cretaceous (80 Ma). The saline
correlation of the d18Ocarb with age-equivalent records from the
water would sink in the shallower neritic shelf through the
northern and southeastern Tethys and Boreal. The d18Ocarb regional
18
A. Mansour, M. Wagreich, S. Gier et al.
correlation, along with reported dinocysts, indicated a prevalent
warm to hot greenhouse climate at this time despite a long-term
temperature fall from the mideSantonian that accelerated during
the Campanian. Additionally, the clay mineral associations and
elemental geochemistry indicated prevalent semi-arid to arid
conditions in the southern provenance area with low terrestrial/
riverine input and weak continental weathering.
Oceanographic mechanisms indicated that east to west flowing
circumglobal ocean currents from the Indian through the Tethys
dominated during the Late Cretaceous led to enhanced water col-
umn ventilation. Low river discharge and terrigenous input resul-
ted in diminished marine productivity and nutrient availability
versus enhanced carbonate production during warm-arid climates.
Yet, oxic redox conditions at low sediment accumulation rates for
the studied succession were indicated by Mansour et al. (2020a),
which led to OM oxidation and destruction rather than burial and
preservation. Thus, the ConiacianeSantonian OAE 3 was absent in
this region of the Tethys and instead, the studied interval proves
more equivalent to CORBs.
Acknowledgment
The authors are grateful to the Egyptian General Petroleum
Corporation for the permission of samples processing for the pre-
sent study. We wish to thank Dr. Ga bor Újva ri and Monika Hor-
shinegg for their valuable lab work and related calculations of Nd
isotope composition. Prof. Christoph Spo€ tl is thanked for measuring
bulk carbonate carbon and oxygen isotopes. We also express our
appreciation to Christopher Gentzis, for linguistic editing of the
latest version of the manuscript. This work significantly benefitted
from insightful suggestions and constructive comments from two
anonymous reviewers. Finally, the authors express their sincere
appreciation to Editor-in-Chief Eduardo Koutsoukos and Associate-
Editor Marcin Machalski for the professional manner with which
they handled the review process of the original and revised
manuscripts.
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Appendix A. Supplementary data
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.
1016/j.cretres.2021.104831.