Journal of African Earth Sciences, Vol. 6, No. 5, pp. 665-675, 1987 0731-7247/86 $3.(10+ 0.

00
Printed in Great Britain © 1987 Pergamon Journals Ltd.

Palynology of Aibian-Cenomanian strata

in Mersa Matruh well, Western Desert, Egypt
ISMAIL Z . SULTAN

Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt

(Received for publication 13 October 1986)

Abstract--Plant microfossils have been recovered from the Albian and lower Cenomanian strata encountered in
Mersa Matruh well No. 1, drilled in the northern part of the Western Desert of Egypt. The microflora includes
56 miospore species belonging to 35 genera; most of them are derived from pteridophyte, gymnosperm and
angiosperm vegetations.
Differences in miospore assemblages of the Albian and Lower Cenomanian are described. Correlation with
coeval palynofloral assemblages in West Africa and South and North America reveals that the Mersa Matruh
area, Egypt belongs to the mid-Cretaceous African-South American phytogeoprovince.

INTRODUCTION istics of well dated Egyptian Albian-Cenomanian sedi-

ASPECTS OV Albian-Cenomanian microfloral provin-
ciality in northern South America, Central and North
Africa to the Middle East have been discussed by Hem-
green (1974, 1975, 1981). This phytogeoprovince is
largely characterized by the presence of elaters-bearing
miospores of restricted stratigraphic and geographic
distribution (Herngreen 1974, Srivastava 1981b, Batten
1984). The group as a whole is of uncertain origin
(Stover 1963, Batten 1984) and seems to be restricted to
the Middle Albian-Upper Cenomanian (Jardin6 1967,
Herngreen 1974).
From both a geological and a paleofloristic point of
view the elaters-bearing miospores distinguish the area
of their distribution as separate phytogeoprovince
named the African-South American (ASA) microfloral
province (Herngreen 1974, 1981) or as an alternative the
Northern Gondwana province (Brenner 1976). Accord-
ing to Herngreen (1981, p. 407) the northern boundary
of the mid-Cretaceous African-South American (ASA)
phytogeoprovince may be drawn through the northern-
most parts of South America (Surrinam offshore) via
Algeria/Tunisia to Israel. The southern boundary is
provisionally drawn at Rio de Janeiro in South America
and the Angola basin in West Africa to Somalia in East
Africa. Hochuli (1981) shifted the northernmost bound-
ary of this phytogeoprovince to the southern Alps
(southern Switzerland).
In Egypt, Saad (1978) and Sultan (1978) reported the
elaters-bearing miospore type Elaterosporites klaszi
(Jardin6 and Magloire) Jardin6, among other miospores
from presumed Albian strata intersected in wells drilled
in the northern part of the Western Desert. In this
connection, Herngrecn and Chlonova (1982, p. 497)
pointed out that despite the scarcity of the Albian mio-
spores reported from Egypt, they revealed 'a striking
similarity to that available from the central parts of the
mid-Cretaceous African-South American microfloral
province'. In view of this fact, the present work is
intended to study in detail the palynological character-
665
ments to demonstrate their microfloral relationship with
other localities that lie within the mid-Cretaceous Afri-
can-South American phytogeoprovince.
This paper deals with the palynology of a biostrati-
graphically controlled Albian-Cenomanian rock suc-
cession intersected in Mersa Matruh well No. 1. The well
was drilled by the Sahara Petroleum Company in 1956,
at the northern part of the Western Desert of Egypt,
about 4 km south east of Mersa Matruh town (Lat.
31°19'43"N; Long. 27°16'7"E; location map Fig. 1).
The principal objectives of the present study are
twofold.
(1) To outline the broad features of the miospore
assemblages in the Albian-Cenomanian rock sequence
of Mersa Matruh well No. 1, including remarks on the
morphology of the miospores present.
(2) To correlate with miospore assemblages from
contemporaneous stratigraphic horizons in West Africa,
South and North America.
PREVIOUS WORK
The Mersa Matruh area is a part of the unstable shelf
of Egypt (Said 1962). It is a featureless coastal plain
covered by Pliocene and Quaternary deposits. The
Mersa Matruh well No. 1 penetrated strata belonging to
Pliocene, Miocene, Late Cretaceous (Turonian and
Cenomanian) and bottomed in Lower Cretaceous rocks
of clastic nature at the depth of 4567 m. According to
Barakat and Arafa (1972) the relation between the
Lower Miocene and the Turonian rocks in Mersa Matruh
well No. 1 is unconformable where the Oligocene,
Eocene, Paleocene and Senonian rocks are missing.
The microlithostratigraphy, paleoenvironments and
biostratigraphy (foraminifera and nannofossils) of the
Albian-Cenomanian rock stratigraphic units encoun-
tered in Mersa Matruh well No. 1 have been dealt with
by Barakat and Arafa (1972), Barakat et al. (1974),
Barakat et al. (1980) and Barakat and Arafa (1981).
666
25 ° 26 ° 27 °
~EDITERRANEAN
MersaM a t r u ~
31~ Umbar•
ka
25 ° 26° 27 °
F i g . 1. L o c a t i o n m a p o f M e r s a M a t r u h w e l l N o . 1.
Recently, Barakat and Darwish (1984) reviewed the
lithostratigraphy of the Lower Cretaceous subsurface
stratigraphic units in Mersa Matruh area and proposed
new formal rock units.
From the palynologic point of view, Eskander (1977)
reported 48 miospore species through palynological
investigation of Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous rock suc-
cession encountered in three wells including Mersa Mat-
ruh well No. 1. In this study six spore-pollen zones have
been established. However, neither correlation nor
paleoecological interpretation were attempted for the
reported miospores.
STRATIGRAPHY
The lithologic description and the delineation of the
stratigraphic boundaries of the Albian and Cenomanian
rock stratigraphic units intersected in Mersa Matruh
well No. 1 is based on the studies of Barakat et al. (1974),
Barakat et al. (1980) and Barakat and Darwish (1984).
731-1050 m: Lower part of A b u Roash Formation
(Upper Cenomanian )
Lithologically, this interval is mainly composed of
milky white, finely crystalline limestones and buff white
granular to crystalline dolomites. Using foraminiferal
data, Barakat et al. (1974) delineated the top of the
Cenomanian rocks at the depth of 731 m.
1050-1429 m: Bahariya Formation
(Lower Cenomanian )
This interval is essentially composed of white to grey
fine to medium grained partly glauconitic sandstones
I . Z . SULTAN
28 ° 29 ° 30 ° 31 °
SEA
31°
Tahriir
CAIRO/
2¢
U / ,oc~,o~ ~
,
/
/
0
!1
3080
~ I
90 ~20 ~,m
I i I
28° 29° 30° 31°
intercalated with dark grey to green fissile shales and
sporadic thin grey hard coarsely crystalline limestones.
Based on foraminiferal evidence (Barakat et al. 1974),
the Bahariya Formation is assigned to the Lower
Cenomanian.
1429-1929 m: Kharita Formation ( Albian )
This interval is mainly composed of buffwhite to grey,
quartzitic, fine grained subangular to subrounded
loosely consolidated sandstones intercalated with green
to grey soft shales. Infrequent tan to grey oolitic lime-
stone beds are represented. On a foraminiferal basis,
Barakat et al. (1980) assigned this formation to the
Albian. According to Barakat and Darwish (1984) the
Kharita Formation in Mersa Matruh well No. 1 overlies
the Dahab Formation which is composed mainly of
sandy calcareous shales of Aptian age.
MATERIAL AND TECHNIQUE
This study is based on the investigation of twelve core
samples comprising sixteen samples recovered from the
Abu Roash (Upper Cenomanian), Bahariya (Lower
Cenomanian) and the Kharita (Albian) formations
intersected in Mersa Matruh well No. 1. The core sam-
ples were processed for palynological study as follows:
10 g of each crushed sample were treated with 10% HC1,
40% HF, 70% fuming HNO3, 10% KOH, and zinc-
chloride separation (s.g. 1.9). Permanent slides were
prepared using glycerine jelly as mounting medium.
Core samples representative of the Lower part of the
Abu Roash Formation are non-productive, most prob-
ably due to their deep marine facies and the same holds
 Palynology of Albian-Cenomanian strata, Mersa Matruh well, Egypt 667

I. Division: SPORITES
Pteridophytes
z
uJ o
>-
Gymnosper ms A. Subdivision: TRILETES
7- o Angiosperms
O
x Unpalyniferous core samples
< "1- -J Group: PSILATRILETES
~ ~ 0
Miospore groups (percent)
0 W I--
-- 0q ~0
i
20
i
3o
i
~0
i
50
i
60
i
7o
i
Genus: Cyathidites Couper, 1953
'~ LL a

1100
7,--
d

I
Cyathidites australis Couper, 1953 (Fig. 3, 1)
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 3; co-ord. 39
x 78; size 43ktm.
i i Cyathidites minor Couper, 1953 (Fig. 3, 2)
1200 I
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 1; co-ord. 27
o
= x 61; size 32~m.
Z ---.'-~.'. 7 I
W
~9
<~
i300
--"'"
u .....
i / / Genus: Gleicheniidites Ross, 1949
"r-
/
Gleicheniidites senonicus Ross, 1949 (Fig. 3, 3)
W < ~< X X Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 11 ; co-ord. 34
I....... a i~9
0 113 IL, O0 " i \ / x 76; size 36;tm.
J I I I I Ira10 X × x
[ I Genus: Dictyophyllidites Couper, 1958
• -:-: '.,
I / Dictyophyllidites harrisii Couper, 1958 (Fig. 3, 4)
Z ISO0
....... i Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 3; co-ord. 18
" ' i
x 73; size 36ktm.
< P i Genus: Concavisporites Pflug, 1953
16o0- : - .":- :"-"
. . -112 Concavisporites rugulatus Pflug, 1953 (Fig. 3, 5)
-- I I i
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 4; co-ord. 34
-- .': ::::. I t
/ x 66; size 29 ktm.
rn
1700 ......
.... ~ i
II [0 Concavisporites limatulus Paden Phillips and Felix,
<
] 50m 1971 (Fig. 3, 6)
i I Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 1; co-ord. 15
! 1800 ,,13 i t
i i
x 61; size 36;tm.
~ L i m e s t o n e
Genus: Todisporites Couper, 1958
1900 ~Sa ndstone Shale
Todisporites minor Couper, 1958 (Fig. 3, 7)
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 14; co-ord. 17
Fig. 2. Relative frequencypercentage diagram of main miospore x 71; size 39tim.
groups. MersaMatruhwellNo. 1, WesternDesert. Genus: Matonisporites Couper, 1958
Matonisporites equiexinus Couper, 1958 (Fig. 3, 8)
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 8; co-ord. 19
x 63; size 43~m.
true for the limestone intercalations in the Bahariya Matonisporites phlebopteroides Couper, 1958 (Fig. 3,
Formation (core samples nos. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10). 9)
Meanwhile the fossiliferous core samples (Fig. 2) rep- Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 32; co-ord. 35
resent the shales and sandy shales within the Bahariya x 73; size 54;tm.
and Kharita formations. Counts of 200 specimens Genus: Sphagnumsporites Raatz, 1937
(spores, gymnosperms, angiosperms, dinoflagellates) Sphagnumsporites sp. in Reyre, 1966 (Fig. 3, 10)
were made to ascertain the quantitative composition of Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 31; co-ord. 26
the plant microfossils. All miospore specimens illus- x 75; size 36 ;tm.
trated in the present work are stored in the Geology
Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University.

SYSTEMATIC PALYNOLOGY
The following section presents an annotated list of the
fossil miospore species identified in the present study.
The fossil miospores have been arranged according to a
classification based on that of Iversen and Troels-Smith
(1950) for the pollen grains and that of Potoni6 (1956)
for the spores. The reference data for each illustrated
specimen are given in the following order: Depth in
metres, slide number, coordination (horizontal and ver-
tical) and equatorial diameter in microns (~m).
Group: VERRUTRILETES
Genus: Concavissimisporites Delcourt and Sprumont
emend. Delcourt, Dettmann and Hughes, 1963
Concavissimisporites punctatus (Delcourt and Sprum-
ont) Brenner, 1963 (Fig. 3, 11)
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 11; co-ord. 36
x 59; size 72/~m.
Genus: Verrutriletes van der Hammen ex Potoni6, 1956
Verrutriletes sp. 4 in Herngreen, 1973 (Fig. 3, 12)
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 10; co-ord. 28
x 71; size 39;tm.
668
Group: STRIATRILETES
Genus: Cicatricosisporites R. Potoni6 and Gelletich,
1933
Cicatricosisporites sp. CI. 44 in Jardin6 and Magloire,
1965 (Fig. 3, 13)
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 6; co-ord. 12
x 68; size 43ktm.
Cicatricosisporites type c. in Saad, 1978 (Fig. 3, 14)
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 15; co-ord. 20
x 71; size 36j~m.
Cicatricosisporites venustus Deak, 1963 (Fig. 3, 15)
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 4; co-ord. 20
x 67; size 39~tm.
Genus: Appendicisporites Weyland and Krieger, 1953
Appendicisporites jansonii Pocock, 1962 (Fig. 3, 16)
Remarks: The appendices are weakly projecting
beyond the amb.
Figured specimen: Depth 1804 m; slide 5; co-ord. 33
× 61 ; size 47 ~tm.
Group: FOVEOTRILETES
Genus: Foveosporites Balme, 1957
Foveosporites subtriangularis (Brenner) Paden Phil-
lips and Felix, 1971 (Fig. 3, 17)
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 3; co-or& 30
x 64; size 36/~m.
Group: CINGULATITRILETES
Genus: Densoisporites Weyland and Krieger, 1953
Densoisporites velatus Weyland and Krieger, 1953
(Fig. 3, 18)
Remarks: Amb globular in outline; exine 5 #m thick,
surrounded by transparent perispore (20ktm wide). This
species was described by Reyre (1973) from the Barre-
mian-Albian of Algero-Tunisian Sahara.
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 3; co-ord. 5 x
77; size 101 #m.
1. Cyathidites australis Couper (x 700).
2. Cyathidites minor Couper (x700).
3. Gleicheniidites senonicus Ross ( x700).
4. Dictyophyllidites harrisii Couper ( x700).
5. Concavisporites rugulatus Pflug ( x700).
6. Concavisporites limatulus Paden Phillips and Felix (x700).
7. Todisporites minor Couper (x 700).
8. Matonisporites equiexinus Couper (x 700).
9. Matonisporites phlebopteroides Couper ( x 500).
10. Sphagnumsporites sp. in Reyre (x700).
11. Concavissimisporites punctatus (Delc. and Sprum.) Brenner
(x500).
12. Verrutriletes sp. 4 in Herngreen (x700).
13. Cicatricosisporites sp. CI. 44 in Jardin6 and Magloire (x700).
14. Cicatricosisporites type C in Saad (x700).
15. Cicatricosisporites venustus Deak ( x 700).
I . Z . SULTAN
Group: PERINOTRILETES
Genus: Perotriletes Erdtman ex Couper, 1953
Perotriletes pannuceus Brenner, 1963 (Fig. 3, 19)
Remarks: The central body is enveloped by thin finely
rugulose sculptine (6 j~m wide) where regulae anasto-
mose with each other giving wrinkled appearance.
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m: slide 1; co-ord. 46
x 60; size 72#m.
Perotriletes perinopustulosus Reyre, 1966 (Fig. 3, 20)
Remarks: The perispore is very thin, transparent,
smooth and extends 18~tm beyond the miospore body.
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 7; co-ord. 13
x 61; central body 43/~m, perispore 18,urn.
Genus: Balmeisporites Cookson and Dettmann, 1958
Balmeisporites holodictyus Cookson and Dettmann,
1958 (Fig. 3, 21)
Remarks: Central body subcircular surrounded by a
transparent loose perispore having irregular width (14-
35/~m).
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 28; co-ord. 20
x 71.
Genus: Aequitriradites Delcourt and Sprumont emend.
Cookson and Dettmann, 1961
Aequitriradites spinulosus Cookson and Dettmann,
1961 (Fig. 3, 22)
Remarks: Amb subcircular in equatorial outline, cen-
tral body finely granulated to spinulose surrounded by
transparent infragranulose zona of uniform width
(7 Mm).
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 7; co-ord. 24
x 72; central body 47#m; zona 7~tm.
B. Subdivision: MONOLETES
Genus: Laevigatosporites Ibrahim emend. Schopft, Wil-
son and Bentall, 1944
Laevigatosporites ovatus Wilson and Webster, 1944
(Fig. 3, 23)
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 8; co-ord. 28
x 60; size 54 × 29Mm.
Key to Fig. 3.
16. Appendicisporitesjansonii Pocock (x500).
17. Foveosporites subtriangularis (Brenner) Paden Phil. and Fel.
(×700).
18. Densoisporites velatus Weyland and Krieger (x300).
19. Perotriletes pannuceus Brenner ( x500).
20. Perotriletesperinopustulosus Reyre (x500).
21. Balmeisporites holodictyus Cookson and Dettmann (x300).
22. Aequitriradites spinulosus Cookson and Dettmann (1500).
23. Laevigatosporites ovatus Wilson and Webster ( X500).
24. Classopollis classoides Pflug ( x 700).
25. Classopollis torosus (Reissinger) Couper ( x700).
26. Circulinaparva Brenner (x700).
27. lnaperturopolleniteslimbatusBalme (1500).
28. Inaperturopollenites undulatus Weyland and Greifeld (x500).
29. lnaperturopollenites giganteus Goczan ( x 500).
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 Palynology of Albian-Cenomanian strata, Mersa Matruh well, Egypt 671

II. Division: POLLENITES lnaperturopollenites sp. A (Fig. 4, 2)

A. Subdivision: GYMNOSPERMAE Description: Inaperturate pollen, amb circular. Exine
1 ktm thick, psilate. Size range from 75-82 pm (7 speci-
Group: T E T R A D A E mens). This form is characterized by the presence of
central weakened circular area.
Genus: Classopollis Pflug, 1953 emend. Pocock and Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 1; co-ord. 45
Jansonius, 1961 x 60; size 68/~m.
Classopollis classoides Pflug, 1953 emend. Pocock Inaperturopollenites sp. B (Fig. 4, 3)
and Jansonius, 1961 (Fig. 3, 24) Remarks: The exine in this species about 2-3 pm thick
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 6; co-ord. 15 of uniform width, ornamented with closely spaced fine
x 69; size 28 pm. rugulae: This species is similar to Inaperturopollenites
ClassopoIlis torosus Reissinger 1950 emend. Couper, sp. described by Sultan (1986) from the Neocomian
1958 (Fig. 3, 25) sediments intersected in Shibin E1 Kom well No. 1, Nile
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 3; co-ord. 42 Delta region.
x 63; size 29pro. Figured specimen: Depth 1799 m; slide 1; co-ord. 28
Genus: Circulina Maliavkiana ex Klaus, 1960 x 61, size 61/zm.
Circulina parva Brenner, 1963 (Fig. 3, 26) Genus: Araucariacites Cookson 1947 ex Couper, 1953
Comments: This species is differentiated from Class- Araucariacites australis Cookson, 1947 (Fig. 4, 4)
opollis pollen in its structureless exine. Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 14; co-ord. 43
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 5; co-ord. 3 x x 74; size 79/~m.
63; size 25/~m. Genus: Spheripollenites Couper, 1958
Spheripollenites psilatus Couper, 1958 (Fig. 4, 5)
Group: INAPERTURATAE Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 4; co-ord. 32
x 67; size 18ktm.
Genus: lnaperturopollenites Thompson and Pflug, 1953
Inaperturopollenites limbatus Balme, 1957 (Fig. 3, 27)
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 1; co-ord. 11
x 79; size 61/~m. Group: PRAECOLPATAE
Inaperturopollenites undulatus Weyland and Greifeld,
1953 (Fig. 3, 28) Genus: Eucommiidites Erdtman, 1948 emend. Hughes,
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 1; co-ord. 17 1961
x 76; size 68 #m. Eucommiidites troedssonii Erdtman, 1948 (Fig. 4, 6)
Inaperturopollenites giganteus Goczan, 1964 (Fig. 3, Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 11; co-ord. 35
29) x 72; size 29/~m.
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 2; co-ord. 45 Eucommiidites cf. Trifossapollenites ivoirensis Jardin6
x 63; size 76pm. and Magloire, 1965 (Fig. 4, 7)
Inaperturopollenites turbatus Balme, 1957 (Fig. 4, 1) Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 31; co-ord. 7
Remarks: This species is characterized by the pre- x 73; size 29 x 21pm.
sence of dark irregular inner circular zone about 3 pm Eucommiidites minor Groot and Penny, 1960 (Fig. 4,
thick. 8)
Figured specimen: Depth 1799 m; slide 1; co-ord. 28 Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 2; co-ord. 5 x
x 61; size 61 pm. 70; size 21 pm.

Key to Fig. 4.
1. Inaperturopollenites turbatus Balme (x 500). 16. Ephedripites sp. 2 in Reyre ( x 700).
2. lnaperturopollenites sp. A (x500). 17. Ephedripites ovalis Muller (x700).
3. Inaperturopollenites sp. B ( x 500). 18. Tricolpites sp. S.CI. 278 Jardin~ and Magloire (x700).
4. Araucariacites australis Cookson (x 500). 19-20. Retitricolpitessp. 4in Herngreen (x700).
5. Spheripollenites psilatus Cookson (x 700). 21. Retimonocolpites sp. in Hergreen ( x 500).
6. Eucommiidites troedssonii Erdtman (x 700). 22-23. Afropollis jardina (Brenner) Doyle, Jard. and Doerenk.
7. Eucommiidites cf. T. ivoirensis Jardin6 and Magloire (x700). (x7oo).
8. Eucommiidites minor Groot and Penny (x700). 24. Reyrea polymorphus Herngreen ( x 500).
9. Monosulcites minimus Cookson (x 700). 25. Incertae sedis sp. 1 in Herngreen (x 500).
10. Ephedripites sp. in Herngreen (x700). 26-27. Elaterosporites verrucatus (Jar. and Mag.) Jardin6 (x 500).
11. Ephedripites multicostatus Brenner (x 700). 28-29. Elaterosporitesklaszi(Jard. andMag.) Jardin6(x500).
12-13. Ephedripites aegyptiaca nov. sp. (x500). 30. Galeacornea causea Stover (x 700).
14. Ephedripites cf. E. concinnus Singh (x 500). 31. Sofrepites legouxae Jardin6 (x 500).
15. Ephedripites fusiformis Habib ( x 700). 32. Dicellaesporites aculeolatus Sheffy & Dilcher ( x 700).

AES 6 : 5 - D
672 I . Z . SULTAN

Group: M O N O S U L C A T A E Genus: Retitricolpites van der Hammen ex Pierce, 1961

Retitricolpites sp. 4 in Herngreen, 1973 (Fig. 4, 19-20)
Genus: Monosulcites Cookson 1947 ex Couper, 1953 Comments: The type form was reported by Herngreen
Monosulcites rninimus Cookson, 1947 (Fig. 4, 9) (1973) from the Albian-Cenomanian of Brazil.
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 1; co-ord. 12 Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 2; co-ord. 30
x 77; size 21 x 11/zm. x 64; size 29tim.
Genus: Retitricolpites Pierce, 1961
Retitricolpites sp. in Herngreen, 1973 (Fig. 4, 21)
Group: POLYPLICATAE Comments: Three badly preserved forms were
reported.
Genus: Ephedripites Bolchovitina, 1953 Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 2; co-ord. 44
Ephedripites sp. 2 in Herngreen, 1973 (Fig. 4, 10) x 77; size 72 x 54/~m.
Figured specimen: Depth 1799 m; slide 1; co-ord. 26 Genus: Afropollis Doyle, Jardin6 and Doerenkamp,
x 75; size 39 x 18/~m. 1982
Ephedripites multicostatus Brenner, 1963 (Fig. 4, 11) Afropollis jardina (Brenner) Doyle, Jardin6 and
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 15; co-ord. 35 Doerenkamp, 1982 (Fig. 4, 22-23)
x 75; size 36 x 18/~m. Comments: This is type S. CI. 156 of Jardin6 and
Ephedripites aegyptiaca nov. sp. (Fig. 4, 12-13) Magloire (1965) which occurs in the Albian of Senegal
Derivatio nominus: Name derived from Egypt. Saad and Aptian/Albian-L. Cenomanian of Ivory Coast.
(1978) and Sultan (1986) illustrated identical types Herngreen (1975, p. 65) reported the last occurrence of
reported from the Cretaceous sediments of Western this species in sediments of Lower Cenomanian age in
Desert and Nile Delta region. Brazil (see Reticulatasporites jardinus Brenner).
Description: Polyplicate grains with a long and short Figured specimen: 23: Depth 1248 m; slide 27; co-ord.
axis. Poles broadly rounded, occasionally one pole is 24 x 65; size 51/~m.
slightly notched; exine 2 ktm thick; ribs form a distinct
network striations giving, in mid focus, a reticulate or
criss-cross appearance like a rhombic net. Length 110- INCERTAE SEDIS
120 ~tm; breadth 47-70 ktm (5 specimens).
Figured specimen: (12). Depth 1806 m; slide 11; Genus: Reyrea Herngree, n, 1973
co-ord. 35 x 67; size 112 x 61ffm. Reyrea polymorphus Herngreen, 1973 (Fig. 4, 24)
(13). Depth 1806 m; slide 2; co-ord. 39 x 75; size 108 Remarks: Different types of ornamentation (baculae
x 47 gm. and clavae) can be observed in the same specimen.
Ephedripites sp., cf. Equisetosporites concinnus Herngreen (1973) described this species from the
Singh, 1964 (Fig. 4, 14) Lower-Middle Albian sediments of Brazil.
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 9; co-ord. 28 Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 11; co-ord. 11
x 72; size 90 x 36ffm. x 61; size 54/~m.
Ephedripitesfusiformis Habib, 1970 (Fig. 4, 15) Incertae sedis sp. 1 Herngreen, 1973 (Fig. 4, 25)
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 1; co-ord. 32 Comments: Only two specimens belonging to this
x 76; size 54 x 18~m. form are recorded in the Kharita Formation.
Ephedripites sp. 2 in Reyre, 1973 (Fig. 4, 16) Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 3; co-ord. 8 x
Comments: The reference form was described by 66; size 60/zm.
Reyre (1973) from the Barremian-Albian of Algero-
Tunisian Sahara.
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 11; co-ord. 34 ELATERS B E A R I N G MIOSPORES
x 76; size 54 x 36ym.
Ephedripites ovalis Muller, 1968 (Fig. 4, 17) Genus: Elaterosporites Jardin6, 1967
Figured specimen: Depth 1466 m; slide 6; co-ord. 37 Elaterosporites verrucatus (Jardin6 and Magloire) Jar-
x 68; size 32j~m. din6, 1967 (Fig. 4, 26-27)
Remarks: The ornamentation in this species is com-
B. Subdivision: A N G I O S P E R M A E posed of few widely spaced low verrucae.
Figured specimen: 26: Depth 1248 m; slide 7; co-ord.
Genus: Tricolpites Cookson and Couper 1953 emend. 19 x 71.27: Depth 1248 m; slide 8; co-ord. 39 x 77.
R. Potoni6, 1960 Elaterosporites klaszi (Jardin6 and Magloire) Jardin6,
Tricolpites sp. S. CI. 278 Jardin6 and Magloire, 1965 1967 (Fig. 4, 28-29)
(Fig. 4, 18) Remarks: Miospore body piano-convex in polar view.
Comments: The reference form was reported by Jar- Proximal face flat, psilate, surrounded by a continuous
din6 and Magloire (1965) from the Upper Albian- annular solid ring of uniform width. Distal face strongly
Cenomanian sediments of Senegal and Ivory Coast. convex with three elongated U shaped horns.
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 7; co-ord. 34 Figured specimen: (28): Depth 1248 m; slide 5; co-ord.
x 75; size 25/~m. 34 x 78. Depth 1248 m; slide 9; co-ord. 19 x 69.
 Palynology of Albian-Cenomanian strata, Mersa Matruh well, Egypt
Genus: Galeacornea Stover, 1963
Galeacornea causea Stover, 1963 (Fig. 4, 30)
Comments: Only two specimens are recorded from
the Bahariya Formation.
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 8; co-ord. 26
x 77.
Genus: Sofrepites Jardin6, 1967
Sofrepites legouxae Jardin6, 1967 (Fig. 4, 31)
Remarks: Body oval in outline with three equal
appendages located at the ends of the longitudinal axis.
Figured specimen: Depth 1248 m; slide 15; co-ord. 28
x 60; size 65/~m.
FUNGI SPORAE DISPERSAE
Genus: Dicellaesporites Elsik 1968, emend. Sheffy and
Dilcher, 1971
Dicellaesporites aculeolatus Sheffy and Dilcher, 1971
(Fig. 4, 32)
Figured specimen: Depth 1806 m; slide 4; co-ord. 3 x
68.
DISCUSSION
The miospore assemblages recovered from the pro-
ductive core samples taken from the Kharita and
Bahariya formations encompass 56 miospore species
assigned to 35 genera. Bryophytic and pteridophytic
spores are represented by 23 species in 17 genera: gym-
nospermic pollen by 22 species in eight genera and
angiospermic pollen by four species in four genera. The
remaining miospore types, e.g. elaters-bearing mio-
spores, have uncertain origin.
The results of the palynofloral analysis of the main
miospore groups (spores, gymnosperms, angiosperms)
are represented graphically in Fig. 2. The spores and
gymnosperms pollen grains are the major elements while
angiosperm pollen are subordinate component of the
overall palynoflora. Dinoflagellate cysts are reported in
the palynological preparation of core sample no. 13 at
depth of 1799 m in the lower part of the Kharita Forma-
tion.
STRATIGRAPHIC PALYNOLOGY
Kharita Formation
The miospore assemblages recovered from the core
samples taken from the Kharita Formation (core nos.
11, 12, 13) comprise 51 miospore species. Of these, 12
miospore species have a restricted stratigraphic range
within the Kharita Formation represented by the follow-
ing types: Concavissimisporites punctatus, Appendici-
sporites jansonii, Foveosporites subtriangularis, Aequi-
triradites spinulosus, Inaperturopollenites limbatus,
Inaperturopollenites undulatus, Inaperturopollenites tur-
batus, Ephedripites aegyptiaca, Ephedripites cf. E. con-
cinus, Ephedripites sp. 2, Reyrea polymorphus, Incertae
673
sedis sp. 1. Except Inaperturopollenites limbatus, Inaper-
turopollenites undulatus and Ephedripites aegyptiaca,
the miospore species listed as characteristic of the
Kharita Formation are relatively rare and have spas-
modic occurrence in the studied core samples. The
remaining 39 miospore species are long-ranging and
continue to the overlying Bahariya Formation. The most
peculiar long-ranging miospores which have a strati-
graphic significance include the following species:
Densoisporites velatus, Perotriletes pannuceus, Balmei-
sporites holodictyus, Inaperturopollenites giganteus,
Araucariacites australis, Classopollis classoides, Ephed-
ripites multicostatus, Tricolpites sp. S.CI. 278 and
Afropollis jardina.
A typical miospore assemblage representative for the
Kharita Formation is found in the core sample (11)
taken from a depth of 1466 m. The percentage of the
pteridophytic, gymnospermic and angiospermic mio-
spores at this depth shows a ratio of 51:43:6 respec-
tively. The dominant pteridophytic spores are those
related to psilatriletes group (42%) especially species
belonging to genus Cyathidites while elements of the
striatriletes (Cicatricosisporites) are of minor frequency
(1.5%). Species of the fern spores such as Perotriletes,
Densoisporites and Balmeisporites attain collectively
about 5%. The dominant gymnospermous pollen grains
are Inaperturopollenites 28%, Classopollis 7% and
Ephedripites 5%. Pollen grains of angiospermous affin-
ity are subordinate and show comparatively little diver-
sity of forms.
Correlation. The miospore species recognized in the
Kharita Formation reveal a close resemblance to those
described from Albian sediments in Northeast Libya
(Batten and Uwins 1985), Algero-Tunisian Sahara
(Reyre 1966, 1973), Senegal and Ivory Coast, West
Africa (Jardin6 and Magloire 1965) and Brazil (Hern-
green 1973, 1974, 1975). By comparing the miospore
assemblage of the Kharita Formation with the above
mentioned African-South American Albian palyno-
flora, demonstrates the following results:
(1) Reyrea polymorphus which is a stratigraphic
marker to Middle Albian sediments in Brazil (Hern-
green 1981, fig. 5) has a restricted occurrence in the
Kharita miospore assemblage. This morphologically dis-
tinctive species has been reported by Reyre (1966) from
Albian sediments in the Algero-Tunisian Sahara. It has
not been recorded before from the Albian sediments of
Europe and North America.
(2) Small (less than 30 ,urn diameter) Classopollis
pollen occur in both.
(3) Neither assemblage contains bisaccate pollen
grains which are widely distributed in Albian-Ceno-
manian sediments of Europe, North America and
Australia (Doyle 1969, Norris et al. 1975, Srivastava
1981a, Herngreen and Chlonova 1982). This phenom-
enon has been noticed by Sultan (1985a,b, 1986) in the
Early and Late Cretaceous microflora reported from the
Egyptian Cretaceous sediments.
(4) Both assemblages are characterized by a high
674 I . Z . SULTAN
percentage and rich morphological diversity of gymno-
sperm species belonging to the genera Inaperturo-
pollenites and Ephedripites, and low percentage of
Schizaeaceous spores. It is noteworthy to mention that
the elaters-bearing miospores which are characteristic to
the mid-Cretaceous African-South American palyno-
flora are missing from the Kharita assemblage. These
elaters-bearing miospores were recorded in minor fre-
quency in presumably Albian sediments from Umbarka
and Tahrir wells (Fig. 1) in the northern part of the
Western Desert of Egypt (Saad 1978, Sultan 1978).
Their absence from the Kharita assemblage is most
probably connected with local ecological habitats in the
site of Mersa Matruh well No. 1.
Bahariya Formation
Seven core samples (core nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) taken
from the Bahariya Formation encountered in Mersa
Matruh well No. 1 were studied for their plant micro-
fossil content. Only one core sample (core no. 7) taken
at the depth of 1248 m representing the shallow marine
phase of the Lower Cenomanian Sea (Barakat et al.
1980) was found productive yielding a total of 44
miospore species.
The Bahariya miospore spectrum differs notably from
those reported in the preceding Kharita Formation by
the first appearance of the elaters-bearing miospores
such as Elaterosporites klaszi, Elaterosporites verrucatus,
Galeacornea causea and Sofrepites legouxae in addition
to the angiosperm pollen Retimonocolpites sp. The
remaining miospores range from the underlying
assemblages of the Kharita Formation.
The percentage of angiospermous pollen grains in
Bahariya miospore spectrum (Fig. 2) attains about 14%
of the total population (200 grains were counted)
whereas the elaters-bearing miospores are represented
by 6%. Species of Cyathidites, Perotriletes are the most
frequent elements and constitute about 49%, 13%
respectively of the total spore-pollen grains counted.
Schizaeaceous spores belong to the taxon Cicatricosi-
sporites are frequently represented and attain about 4%.
Gymnospermous pollen grains belonging to the genera
Inaperturopollenites, Araucariacites and Classopollis are
subordinate, forming about 8%.
Correlation. The Bahariya miospore spectrum con-
tains stratigraphically significant plant microfossils such
as Elaterosporites klaszi, Sofrepites legouxae,
Galeacornea causea which are geographically restricted
to the mid-Cretaceous African-South American phyto-
geoprovince of Herngreen (1974, 1981). Many of the
encountered miospore species in the Bahariya miospore
spectrum are well known from the Atlantic coast basins
of Brazil (Herngreen 1973, 1974, 1975, 1981) and West
Africa (Jardin6 and Magloire 1965) as well as from
North Africa (Batten and Uwins 1985).
In the Barreirinhas Basin, State of Maranhao, Brazil,
Herngreen (1973, p. 518, table 3) reported the first
appearance of Galeacornea causea in minor frequency
(0.3%) in sediments of Upper Albian-Lower Ceno-
manian age, while he reported last occurrence of
Afropollis jardina (Reticulatasporites jardinus) in sedi-
ments of early Cenomanian age. Furthermore, Hem-
green (1975, p. 64 and fig. 5, p. 65) considered the
elaters-bearing species Sofrepites legouxae as index fossil
for pollen zone II of Upper Albian-Lower Cenomanian
age.
Comparing with West Africa, the Bahariya miospore
assemblage exhibits remarkable similarities both on the
generic and specific level with those encountered in the
miospore assemblage of sequence VIII reported from
the Upper Albian-Lower Cenomanian sediments of
Senegal and Ivory Coast (Jardin6 and Magloire 1965,
Jardin6 1967). This view is substantiated by the common
presence of diagnostic taxa belonging to the elaters-
bearing plant microfossils, fern spores (Perotriletes)
together with the distinctive miospore type Afropollis
jardina (= incertae sedis type S.C.I. 156).
Recently, Batten and Uwins (1985, p. 167) illustrated
miospore types from the Albian-Cenomanian sediments
of Northeast Libya typical of the mid-Cretaceous Afri-
can-South American microfloral province of Herngreen
(1974) and which in turn compare so favourably in many
respects with the Bahariya miospore spectrum. In con-
trast to the known contemporaneous North American
and European miospore assemblages (Norris et al. 1975,
Srivastava 1978) the Bahariya miospore spectrum is
distinguished by its content of elaters-bearing mio-
spores, lack of bisaccate conifer and less diversity of fern
spores.
The consideration of the above mentioned compari-
sons emphasizes the strong affinities between the mid-
Cretaceous flora of Egypt and those reported from the
coastal basins of West Africa and Brazil.
S U M M A R Y AND C O N C L U S I O N S
Fifty-six species of mid-Cretaceous plant microfossils
were recovered from the Kharita and Bahariya forma-
tions encountered in Mersa Matruh well No. 1, drilled in
the northern part of the Western Desert of Egypt.
Bryophytic and pteridophytic spores are represented by
23 species in 17 genera; gymnospermic pollen by 22
species in eight genera and angiospermic pollen by four
species in four genera in addition to four elaters-bearing
miospores, one fungal spore and two incertae sedis.
The Mersa Matruh plant microfossil assemblages
show significant differences from assemblages of similar
age from North America and striking similarity to those
recorded from mid-Cretaceous sediments in West Afri-
can and northern South American sedimentary basins.
This is manifested by the absence of bisaccate pollen
grains, rich representation and morphologic diversity of
gymnospermous pollen grains in addition to the pre-
sence of elaters-bearing species.
Acknowledgements--The author expresses his gratitude to the
authorities of the Egyptian General Petroleum Company, Cairo for
providing core samples and well log for this study. Thanks are also due
 Palynology of Albian-Cenomanian
to Dr Jacques Medus Laboratoire de Palynologie, Facult6 des
Sciences-St. Jerome, MarseiUe, France for suggestions and critical
comments for improvement of the manuscript.
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