Paleoenvironmental contribution and visual kerogen assessment of some Upper Cretaceous sediments from southern Egypt

Abstract We investigated the palynological organic matter (POM) recovered from shale horizons, intercalating Nubian-type sandstones in middle Egypt, for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Our palynofacies are dominated by either amorphous (AOM) or phytoclasts whereas palynomorphs relatively rare, but not uncommon. The categories revealed two different types, reflecting estuarine/tidal and fluvio-lacustrine environments Maghrabi basal Quseir formations, respectively. kerogen composition of our material colors thin-walled spores suggest possible sources hydrocarbons, which poorly explored southern areas Egypt. findings confirmed previously described marine origin Formation. complete missing any suggests that sediments Formation almost exclusively terrestrial origin. This may reveal worldwide Late Cretaceous transgression was effective during deposition these clastics.