The current work used the conventional peridinioid-gonyaulacoid ratio (P/G) to devise a new concept of dinoflagellate
cyst zonation called the dinoflagellate ecological zone (DEZ), which is based here on the peridinioid
ecological zone (PEZ) and gonyaulacoid ecological zone (GEZ). The PEZ and GEZ were used successfully to
further divide the thick monotonous carbonate succession (mid-Cenomanian to Campanian) in Q-72-1X well in
the Eastern Desert of Egypt into smaller ecozones. PEZ and GEZ are practical and easy to use in subdividing large
conventional biozones of the carbonate reservoirs into distinguishable, smaller ecozones when a finer resolution
is necessary on a reservoir scale for production demands. This tool is suggested to be used in the hydrocarbon
exploration industry with minimum knowledge of the taxonomy of the dinoflagellate cysts. The proposed PEZ
and GEZ are related to local ecological conditions within the basin/hydrocarbon field (i.e. can be traced out
laterally in an intra-basinal scale). This tool can be applied to any carbonate reservoirs in any petroliferous basin
worldwide.
Moreover, the P/G ratio, the relative abundances of the dinoflagellate cyst assemblages and other palynological
parameters were used successfully to reveal the palaeodepositional settings of the identified PEZ and
GEZ. Alternating, transgressive and regressive phases were identified, although a dissimilar species composition
is observed in each of these ecozones. Environments were interchanging between the regressive, marginal
marine to proximal inner neritic and the transgressive, distal inner to middle shelf settings. Three peridiniacean
dinoflagellate cyst peaks were recorded, the middle Cenomanian Subtilisphaera peak, the middle Coniacian
Isabelidinium, Chatangiella, and Manumiella peak, and the middle Santonian Isabelidinium peak.

The current investigation provides further insight into the petroliferous characteristics of the Abu Roash "G" Member, which is regarded as an important rock unit for the Egyptian oil industry. Forty-seven samples covering the "G" Member were selected from the BED 14-1 and BED 2-4 wells in the Abu Gharadig Basin and from the Abu Tunis 1X well in the Matruh Basin, both of which are located in the north Western Desert. An independent dating of the "G" rocks of BED 2-4 by benthic foraminifera and ostracods, in addition to palynological dating, suggests a middle-late Cenomanian age and provides the biochronostratigraphic framework for sequence stratigraphic analysis.
Analysis of the vertical distribution of particulate organic matter defines three palynofacies types (PF). PF-1 represents the basal "G", where shales of the BED wells and calcareous shale of Abu Tunis 1X were deposited during a relative sea level rise in an outer middle shelf environment that experienced a notable high primary productivity. Prevailing reducing (suboxic-anoxic) conditions supported preservation of very high amounts of amorphous organic matter (AOM) in PF-1. PF-2 is equated to shales of the middle "G" of BED 14-1 and BED 2-4 and to calcareous shales and limestone of the upper "G" in Abu Tunis 1X. PF-2 was deposited during a relative sea level fall in an inner middle shelf setting under better-developed suboxic-anoxic conditions. PF-3 corresponds to the upper "G" of BED 14-1 and BED 2-4 and represents the shallowest setting, where sandy and silty shales were deposited during a pronounced sea level fall in an inner shelf environment. The same suboxic-anoxic conditions were prevailing during deposition of PF-3. Three bioevents were recorded, which could be of palaeoecological and/or biostratigraphic significance. These are Senegalinium aenigmaticum-Dinopterygium cladoides peak, Dinopterygium cladoides-Dinopterygium alatum peak, and an acme of Classopollis brasiliensis. Sequence stratigraphy of a transect of the four studied sections was carried out to understand the response of the particulate organic matter distribution and depositional system to the sea level changes. Three third-order, depositional genetic sequences were recognized and correlated with the global sea level curve (KCe 2, KCe 3, and KCe 4). The early highstand systems tract (eHST) of the genetically related KCe 3 in all wells is characterized by relatively rich organic matter, where combined remarkably low water circulation and insignificant dilution of organic matter with coarse terrigenous material probably supported good preservation of organic matter.
Spatial distribution of the "G" rocks shows lateral facies changes. This was inferred from sedimentation of an organic-poor (avg. 0.8 TOC wt %), coarse clastic (sandy shales) facies in the studied area, Abu Gharadig Basin. Sedimentation changes laterally into a northeast and northwest organic-rich, finer clastic (shale, calcareous shales, and argillaceous limestone) facies in the western Matruh Basin. The robust anoxic conditions and very low dilution of organic matter by terrigenous influx enhanced the organic richness (avg. 2.4 TOC wt %) of these rocks, which resulted in the formation of promising hydrocarbon source rocks. Thus, for a successful hydrocarbon exploration in the north Western Desert, the promising source section of the "G" Member would be associated with shales, calcareous shales, and argillaceous limestone lithologies. Its depositional environment is mainly confined to outer middle and inner middle shelf settings that have widespread suboxic-anoxic conditions and show eHST pattern. In contrast, the regressive intervals that are denoted by the lowstand systems tract (LST) and/or the late HST (lHST) typify the relatively coarse clastics of good quality reservoir rocks that are characterized by poor organic richness due to dilution with terrigenous influx.

A palynofacies analysis was carried out on thirty ditch-cuttings from the Upper Cretaceous sequences drilled by the Salam-60 well in the ShushanBasin, north-western Egypt. Quantitative vertical distributions of palynomorphs and particulate organic matter exhibit two palynofacies (PF) types.PF-1 suggests deposition of the clastic-carbonate section of upper Bahariya and the lowermost “G” Member of Abu Roash in a brackish, proximalinner shelf environment of prevailing reducing (suboxic-anoxic) conditions that witnessed occasional local oxic-dysoxic conditions. A slight shiftfrom a proximal to a distal inner shelf environment that witnessed notable fluctuations resulted in deposition of the mainly carbonate section of theuppermost “G” and “F” to “C” members, during a late Cenomanian-Turonian marine transgression, under the same suboxic-anoxic conditions. Thisrelative sea level rise was mostly connected to the global late Cenomanian marine transgression. PF-2 represents the rest of the carbonate section(“B” and “A” members) of Abu Roash and Khoman formations, which was deposited in middle shelf environments of prominent suboxic-anoxicconditions during a major regional marine transgression that was mostly connected to the global Turonian-Maastrichtian eustatic sea level rise.Nevertheless, minor fluctuations in the local Turonian sea level may have occurred. Regional comparison indicates Bahariya and the “G” Memberof Abu Roash formations have similar marginal to inner shelf depositional settings across most of the northern Western Desert. Except at westernMatruh Basin, where they have a deeper open marine, middle shelf setting. The “F” to “C” members have an outer inner shelf setting in the coastalbasins (Shushan and Matruh basins) and a deeper, inner middle shelf setting at the central basinal area (Abu Gharadig Basin). This interbasinaldifference in their depositional settings is mostly related to the late Cretaceous tectonic differentiation of Abu Gharadig Basin. The “B” and “A”members of Abu Roash and Khoman formations were deposited in central Abu Gharadig and at southern Matruh basins in deeper, outer shelf andupper to middle slope settings in comparison to their suggested inner middle and outer middle shelf settings in Shushan Basin. This was due tothe progressive late Cretaceous tectonic development of Abu Gharadig and Matruh basins. Local pteridophytes on wet lowlands and conifers onelevated hinterlands were growing near Salam-60 under a regional warm and relatively dry palaeoclimate.© 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

A palynofacies analysis was carried out on thirty ditch-cuttings from the Upper Cretaceous sequences drilled by the Salam-60 well in the ShushanBasin, north-western Egypt. Quantitative vertical distributions of palynomorphs and particulate organic matter exhibit two palynofacies (PF) types.PF-1 suggests deposition of the clastic-carbonate section of upper Bahariya and the lowermost “G” Member of Abu Roash in a brackish, proximalinner shelf environment of prevailing reducing (suboxic-anoxic) conditions that witnessed occasional local oxic-dysoxic conditions. A slight shiftfrom a proximal to a distal inner shelf environment that witnessed notable fluctuations resulted in deposition of the mainly carbonate section of theuppermost “G” and “F” to “C” members, during a late Cenomanian-Turonian marine transgression, under the same suboxic-anoxic conditions. Thisrelative sea level rise was mostly connected to the global late Cenomanian marine transgression. PF-2 represents the rest of the carbonate section(“B” and “A” members) of Abu Roash and Khoman formations, which was deposited in middle shelf environments of prominent suboxic-anoxicconditions during a major regional marine transgression that was mostly connected to the global Turonian-Maastrichtian eustatic sea level rise.Nevertheless, minor fluctuations in the local Turonian sea level may have occurred. Regional comparison indicates Bahariya and the “G” Memberof Abu Roash formations have similar marginal to inner shelf depositional settings across most of the northern Western Desert. Except at westernMatruh Basin, where they have a deeper open marine, middle shelf setting. The “F” to “C” members have an outer inner shelf setting in the coastalbasins (Shushan and Matruh basins) and a deeper, inner middle shelf setting at the central basinal area (Abu Gharadig Basin). This interbasinaldifference in their depositional settings is mostly related to the late Cretaceous tectonic differentiation of Abu Gharadig Basin. The “B” and “A”members of Abu Roash and Khoman formations were deposited in central Abu Gharadig and at southern Matruh basins in deeper, outer shelf andupper to middle slope settings in comparison to their suggested inner middle and outer middle shelf settings in Shushan Basin. This was due tothe progressive late Cretaceous tectonic development of Abu Gharadig and Matruh basins. Local pteridophytes on wet lowlands and conifers onelevated hinterlands were growing near Salam-60 under a regional warm and relatively dry palaeoclimate.© 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Anodization of metal oxides such as those of Al, Ti, and W among others have been extensively studied largely because of their unique morphology and extensive applications including gas and bio-sensing. While large volumes of published materials are available on the oxide of each metal, a concise review of previous works on these anodic oxides is timely. Herein, we present an overview of the formation process and applications (with emphasis to gas and bio-sensing) of anodic metal oxides that have been extensively researched. While porous and nonporous metal oxides have been produced and applied, the former has been given much attention as it provides more reactive surface area making it sine-qua-non in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The large effective surface area enables their applications as templates for the fabrication of periodic arrays of nanostructures, e.g. nanowires, nanodots, and nanotubes for various sensing technologies. Porous structures with different shape and size can be obtained by modulating the anodization conditions such as current, time, voltage, purity of metal, doping element, type and concentration of the electrolyte, electrolyte temperature and the pre-treatment of the metal substrate. The fabrication procedure, characterization and applications of each anodic metal oxide are presented in this review.

Anodization of metal oxides such as those of Al, Ti, and W among others have been extensively studied largely because of their unique morphology and extensive applications including gas and bio-sensing. While large volumes of published materials are available on the oxide of each metal, a concise review of previous works on these anodic oxides is timely. Herein, we present an overview of the formation process and applications (with emphasis to gas and bio-sensing) of anodic metal oxides that have been extensively researched. While porous and nonporous metal oxides have been produced and applied, the former has been given much attention as it provides more reactive surface area making it sine-qua-non in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The large effective surface area enables their applications as templates for the fabrication of periodic arrays of nanostructures, e.g. nanowires, nanodots, and nanotubes for various sensing technologies. Porous structures with different shape and size can be obtained by modulating the anodization conditions such as current, time, voltage, purity of metal, doping element, type and concentration of the electrolyte, electrolyte temperature and the pre-treatment of the metal substrate. The fabrication procedure, characterization and applications of each anodic metal oxide are presented in this review.

Anodization of metal oxides such as those of Al, Ti, and W among others have been extensively studied largely because of their unique morphology and extensive applications including gas and bio-sensing. While large volumes of published materials are available on the oxide of each metal, a concise review of previous works on these anodic oxides is timely. Herein, we present an overview of the formation process and applications (with emphasis to gas and bio-sensing) of anodic metal oxides that have been extensively researched. While porous and nonporous metal oxides have been produced and applied, the former has been given much attention as it provides more reactive surface area making it sine-qua-non in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The large effective surface area enables their applications as templates for the fabrication of periodic arrays of nanostructures, e.g. nanowires, nanodots, and nanotubes for various sensing technologies. Porous structures with different shape and size can be obtained by modulating the anodization conditions such as current, time, voltage, purity of metal, doping element, type and concentration of the electrolyte, electrolyte temperature and the pre-treatment of the metal substrate. The fabrication procedure, characterization and applications of each anodic metal oxide are presented in this review.

This work depends on integrated high-resolution calcareous plankton nannofossil and foraminiferal biostratigraphic analyses for three Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene successions at Farafra-Abu Minqar area, Western Desert, Egypt. These sections are
distributed in a north-south geologic profile as follows: El Aqabat, North Gunna, and Abu Minqar. Lithostratigraphically, four formations are recorded in the study area, namely, Khoman (at base), Dakhla, Tarawan, and Esna (at top). In the north at El
Aqabat section, Khoman Formation (carbonate facies) is only represented which changes partially toward the south to Dakhla Formation (siliciclastic facies). In the extreme south at Abu Minqar section, it changes completely into siliciclastic facies of
Dakhla Formation. Biostratigraphically, seven calcareous nannofossil and eleven planktonic foraminiferal zones represent the Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene are identified. Based on the occurrence or missing of these zones accompanied with the field
criteria resulted in detecting four tectonic events. These tectonic events took place at the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg), the Danian/Selandian (D/S), the Selandian/Thanetian (S/T), and the Paleocene/Eocene (P/E) boundaries. These tectonic events are
related to the impact of the Syrian Arc System. Four sequence boundaries (SB1, SB2, SB3, and SB4) are defined in the Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene sequence in the Farafra-Abu Minqar area.

This work depends on integrated high-resolution calcareous plankton nannofossil and foraminiferal biostratigraphic analyses for three Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene successions at Farafra-Abu Minqar area, Western Desert, Egypt. These sections are
distributed in a north-south geologic profile as follows: El Aqabat, North Gunna, and Abu Minqar. Lithostratigraphically, four formations are recorded in the study area, namely, Khoman (at base), Dakhla, Tarawan, and Esna (at top). In the north at El
Aqabat section, Khoman Formation (carbonate facies) is only represented which changes partially toward the south to Dakhla Formation (siliciclastic facies). In the extreme south at Abu Minqar section, it changes completely into siliciclastic facies of
Dakhla Formation. Biostratigraphically, seven calcareous nannofossil and eleven planktonic foraminiferal zones represent the Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene are identified. Based on the occurrence or missing of these zones accompanied with the field
criteria resulted in detecting four tectonic events. These tectonic events took place at the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg), the Danian/Selandian (D/S), the Selandian/Thanetian (S/T), and the Paleocene/Eocene (P/E) boundaries. These tectonic events are
related to the impact of the Syrian Arc System. Four sequence boundaries (SB1, SB2, SB3, and SB4) are defined in the Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene sequence in the Farafra-Abu Minqar area.

This work depends on integrated high-resolution calcareous plankton nannofossil and foraminiferal biostratigraphic analyses for three Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene successions at Farafra-Abu Minqar area, Western Desert, Egypt. These sections are
distributed in a north-south geologic profile as follows: El Aqabat, North Gunna, and Abu Minqar. Lithostratigraphically, four formations are recorded in the study area, namely, Khoman (at base), Dakhla, Tarawan, and Esna (at top). In the north at El
Aqabat section, Khoman Formation (carbonate facies) is only represented which changes partially toward the south to Dakhla Formation (siliciclastic facies). In the extreme south at Abu Minqar section, it changes completely into siliciclastic facies of
Dakhla Formation. Biostratigraphically, seven calcareous nannofossil and eleven planktonic foraminiferal zones represent the Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene are identified. Based on the occurrence or missing of these zones accompanied with the field
criteria resulted in detecting four tectonic events. These tectonic events took place at the Cretaceous/Paleogene (K/Pg), the Danian/Selandian (D/S), the Selandian/Thanetian (S/T), and the Paleocene/Eocene (P/E) boundaries. These tectonic events are
related to the impact of the Syrian Arc System. Four sequence boundaries (SB1, SB2, SB3, and SB4) are defined in the Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene sequence in the Farafra-Abu Minqar area.