Abstract Palynological and palynofacies analyses were carried out on some Cretaceous samples from the Qattara Rim-1X borehole, north Western Desert, Egypt. The recorded palynoflora enabled the recognition of two informal miospore biozones arranged from oldest to youngest as Elaterosporites klaszii-Afropollis jardinus Assemblage Zone (mid Albian) and Elaterocolpites castelainii– Afropollis kahramanensis Assemblage Zone (late Albian– mid Cenomanian). A poorly fossiliferous but however, datable interval (late Cenomanian–Turonian to ?Campanian– Maastrichtian) representing the uppermost part of the studied section was also recorded. The palynofacies and visual thermal maturation analyses indicate a mature terrestrially derived organic matter (kerogen III) dominates the sediments of the Kharita and Bahariya formations and thus these two formations comprise potential mature gas source rocks. The sediments of the Abu Roash Formation are mostly dominated by mature amorphous organic matter (kerogen II) and the formation is regarded as a potential mature oil source rock in the well. The palynomorphs and palynofacies analyses suggest deposition of the clastics of the Kharita and Bahariya formations (middle Albian and upper Albian–middle Cenomanian) in a marginal marine setting under dysoxic–anoxic conditions. By contrast, the mixed clasticcarbonate sediments of the Abu Roash Formation (upper Cenomanian–Turonian) and the carbonates of the Khoman Formation (?Campanian–Maastrichtian) were mainly deposited in an inner shallow marine setting under prevailing suboxic–anoxic conditions as a result of the late Cenomanian and the Campanian marine transgressions. This environmental change from marginal to open (inner shelf) basins reflects the vertical change in the type of the organic matter and its corresponding hydrocarbon-prone types. A regional warm and semi-arid climate but with a local humid condition developed near/at the site of the well is thought to have prevailed.

Abstract Palynological and palynofacies analyses were carried out on some Cretaceous samples from the Qattara Rim-1X borehole, north Western Desert, Egypt. The recorded palynoflora enabled the recognition of two informal miospore biozones arranged from oldest to youngest as Elaterosporites klaszii-Afropollis jardinus Assemblage Zone (mid Albian) and Elaterocolpites castelainii– Afropollis kahramanensis Assemblage Zone (late Albian– mid Cenomanian). A poorly fossiliferous but however, datable interval (late Cenomanian–Turonian to ?Campanian– Maastrichtian) representing the uppermost part of the studied section was also recorded. The palynofacies and visual thermal maturation analyses indicate a mature terrestrially derived organic matter (kerogen III) dominates the sediments of the Kharita and Bahariya formations and thus these two formations comprise potential mature gas source rocks. The sediments of the Abu Roash Formation are mostly dominated by mature amorphous organic matter (kerogen II) and the formation is regarded as a potential mature oil source rock in the well. The palynomorphs and palynofacies analyses suggest deposition of the clastics of the Kharita and Bahariya formations (middle Albian and upper Albian–middle Cenomanian) in a marginal marine setting under dysoxic–anoxic conditions. By contrast, the mixed clasticcarbonate sediments of the Abu Roash Formation (upper Cenomanian–Turonian) and the carbonates of the Khoman Formation (?Campanian–Maastrichtian) were mainly deposited in an inner shallow marine setting under prevailing suboxic–anoxic conditions as a result of the late Cenomanian and the Campanian marine transgressions. This environmental change from marginal to open (inner shelf) basins reflects the vertical change in the type of the organic matter and its corresponding hydrocarbon-prone types. A regional warm and semi-arid climate but with a local humid condition developed near/at the site of the well is thought to have prevailed.

Abstract The palynofloras of the basal part of the Quseir Formation in the Bulaq area, central Egypt, are overwhelmingly of terrestrial origin. They are dominated by angiosperms (mainly Foveotricolpites and Arecipites). Pteridophytic spores are abundant, amongest which the Deltoidospora/Cyathidites association and Gabonisporis vigourouxii are the most frequent. Aquatic plants (e.g. Ariadnaesporites spores) and freshwater algae (e.g. Ovoidites and Pediastrum) occur in appreciable amounts. The association is indicative of a fluvio-lacustrine environment characterized by widespread moist and aquatic habitats under a warm-humid (tropical) palaeoclimate. An angiosperm-based dating as Campanian (most probably Early Campanian) is suggested. Proteacidites sp. 3 Lawal and Moullade and Syncolporites schrankii Awad are the most significant angiosperms, which are not known to range before the Campanian in the ‘‘Senonian Palmae Province’’ areas. The Bulaq assemblages bear a close relationship with the Palmae palynofloras of North Africa, but differ significantly from those of West Africa.

ABSTRACT--Land-derived pollen and spores and marine dinoflagellate cysts were extracted from the Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments of the West Tiba-1 borehole, northern Western Desert, Egypt. On the basis of the recovered palynomorphs, of known stratigraphical significance, the following stages were assessed: Bathonian-Oxfordian (Middle-Late Jurassic) and Hauterivian, Aptian-Early Albian, Late Albian-Early Cenomanian, Early Cenomanian and Late Cenomanian (Early- Middle Cretaceous). No palynomorphs diagnostic for the Berriasian, Valanginian and Barremian stages (Early Cretaceous) were depicted. Based on the nature and composition of the identified palynomorph content, five informal palynomorph assemblage zones were recognised. These are: the Gonyaulacystajurassica-Korystocysta kettonensis Assemblage Zone (PI, Bathonian-Oxfordian'), Ephedripites-Aequitriradites verrucosus Assemblage Zone (PII, Hauterivian), Afropollis jardinus- Duplexisporites generalis-Tricolpites Assemblage Zone (PIll, Aptian-Early Albian), Nyssapollenites- Elaterosporites Assemblage Zone (PLY, Late Albian-Early Cenomanian) and Assemblage Zone PV (Early-Late Cenomanian). The latter zone was differentiated into two subzones, namely the Classopollis brasiliensis-Elaterosporites klaszii Assemblage Subzone (PVa, Early Cenomanian) and Afropollis kahramanensis-Triporates Assemblage Subzone (PVb, Late Cenomanian). The time stratigraphy of the studied interval was revised. The occurrences and types of the dinoflagellate cysts, extracted from the studied succession, reflect a general shallow (shelf) marine pal~eoenvironment.

Resumen La palinoflora de las formaciones Rudeis y Kareem del Terciario medio descritas en el sondeo GS-78-1 complementa los resultados previos basados en el estudio de las asociaciones de dinoflagelados previamente publicados en el 2002 por El Beialy y Ali. Numerosos taxones polínicos han sido registrados de la palinoflora regional, lo que ha permitido realizar una reconstrucción completa de la vegetación, clima y ambiente que caracterizó al Mioceno. Por comparación con representantes actuales, las palinofloras de

Abstract. Diverse and well preserved palynofloras were recognized in the Lower Cretaceous succession penetrated by well Siqeifa 1- X in northern Egypt. Dinoflagellate cysts such as Subtilisphaera senegalensis was regarded, with the spores Impardecispora apiverrucata and Aequitriradites spinulosus, as important Berriasian to Barremian species. Afropollis operculatus/zonatus pollen and spores such as Balmeisporites holodictyus, Trilobosporites laevigatus and Duplexisporites generalis are diagnostic of Aptian. The lowest occurrences of the pollen Afropollis jardinus, the spore Crybelosporites pannuceus and elaterates such as Elaterosporites klaszii, Elaterocolpites castelainii and Elateroplicites africaensis characterize the Albian/lower Cenomanian interval. The palynofloras enabled the recognition of five spore-pollen and four dinoflagellate zones, which are correlated with regional records, mainly from Egypt and Libya. The vertical distribution of terrestrial and marine palynomorphs, along with palynodebris, reflects two regressive marginal marine cycles during Berriasian-Barremian and Albian-lower Cenomanian times whereas the Aptian witnessed a transgressive open marine (inner shelf) environment. A warm humid palaeoclimate was inferred during deposition of the investigated succession of the borehole, in contrast to the known warm arid to semi-arid climate, suggested for the Northern Gondwana Realm during Early Cretaceous times. This is probably due to the palaeogeographic position of Egypt during Early Cretaceous times or, to a local reason. Palynofloras from Siqeifa 1-X borehole, with Afropollis pollen and elaterates, are of North African aspect and share the broad characteristics of the ‘‘Albian-Cenomanian Elaterates Province’’ of Herngreen et al. (1996). Abundance of spores and araucariacean pollen are transitional features between those in North Gondwana and Southern Laurasia but, unlikely, typical transitional assemblages lack bisaccates conifers and have Gleicheniaceae spores.

Abstract. Diverse and well preserved palynofloras were recognized in the Lower Cretaceous succession penetrated by well Siqeifa 1- X in northern Egypt. Dinoflagellate cysts such as Subtilisphaera senegalensis was regarded, with the spores Impardecispora apiverrucata and Aequitriradites spinulosus, as important Berriasian to Barremian species. Afropollis operculatus/zonatus pollen and spores such as Balmeisporites holodictyus, Trilobosporites laevigatus and Duplexisporites generalis are diagnostic of Aptian. The lowest occurrences of the pollen Afropollis jardinus, the spore Crybelosporites pannuceus and elaterates such as Elaterosporites klaszii, Elaterocolpites castelainii and Elateroplicites africaensis characterize the Albian/lower Cenomanian interval. The palynofloras enabled the recognition of five spore-pollen and four dinoflagellate zones, which are correlated with regional records, mainly from Egypt and Libya. The vertical distribution of terrestrial and marine palynomorphs, along with palynodebris, reflects two regressive marginal marine cycles during Berriasian-Barremian and Albian-lower Cenomanian times whereas the Aptian witnessed a transgressive open marine (inner shelf) environment. A warm humid palaeoclimate was inferred during deposition of the investigated succession of the borehole, in contrast to the known warm arid to semi-arid climate, suggested for the Northern Gondwana Realm during Early Cretaceous times. This is probably due to the palaeogeographic position of Egypt during Early Cretaceous times or, to a local reason. Palynofloras from Siqeifa 1-X borehole, with Afropollis pollen and elaterates, are of North African aspect and share the broad characteristics of the ‘‘Albian-Cenomanian Elaterates Province’’ of Herngreen et al. (1996). Abundance of spores and araucariacean pollen are transitional features between those in North Gondwana and Southern Laurasia but, unlikely, typical transitional assemblages lack bisaccates conifers and have Gleicheniaceae spores.