Sequence Stratigraphy and Facies Development of the Miocene Syn-Rift Succession in Darag-Lagia Basins, Gulf of Suez, Egypt

By

Adel Fawzy Douban¹, Ahmed M. Abu Khadra², Mohamed Darwish Salem², Mounier Hosney El Azabi²

(1) Sipetrol International SA, Cairo Branch, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt (2) Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

 The sequence stratigraphic concepts and the relationship between depositional sequence and the global cyclic changes in sea level has been applied to establish a regional time stratigraphic units for the Miocene syn-rift succession in the northern Gulf of Suez, Egypt. The major tectonic elements along with the basin subsidence have been played a major role on the facies distribution of the Miocene syn-rift sediments in the Gulf of Suez.

The lower Miocene, Nukhul sequence was deposited during the TB 1.4 & 1.5 3rd order cycles (25.5-21 Ma.). The basal Rudeis sequence (lower Mheiherrat Member) was deposited during the TB 2.1 3rd order cycle (21-17.5 Ma.). The lower Rudeis sequence (upper Mheiherat & Hawara members) was deposited during the TB 2.2 3rd order cycle (17.5-16.5 Ma.). The upper Rudeis sequence (Asl & Mreir members) was deposited during the TB 2.3 3rd order cycle (16.5-15.5 Ma.). The boundary between the upper and lower Rudeis is placed near the base of Asl Member. This major sequence boundary is thought to have occurred as a result of a regional tectonic event, commonly referred to as the Mid-Rudeis event. Kareem sequence was deposited during the TB 2.4 3rd order cycle (15.5-13.8 Ma.). The top boundary is often defined by the presence of the Markha anhydrite that is closely associated in time with the Gulf wide hiatus at the beginning of the Kareem deposition. Belayim sequence was deposited during the TB 2.5 & 2.6 3rd order cycles (13.8-10.5 Ma.). South Gharib and Zeit sequences were deposited during the TB 3.1 & 3.2 3rd order cycles (10.5-6.3 Ma.), which is consequently matched with the significant fall in the eustatic sea level during the earliest Tortonian to Messanian stages.