Aptian To Cenomanian Palynomorphs From The Qarun 2-1 Borehole, Western Desert, Egypt

Abstract

Rich distinctive, miospore assemblages are recovered from four sidewall core samples obtained from the Kharita Member of Burg El Arab Formation in the Qarun 2-1 borehole located in the eastern part of the North Western Desert of Egypt. Palynomorph assemblages with Reyrea polymorphus Herngreen, Elaterosporites klaszi (Jardine & Magloire) Jardine and Afropollis jardinus (Brenner) Doyle et ai, are typical members of the Mid-Cretaceous African - South American microfloral province ASA. This allows dating the deposits as? Aptian to early / middle Albian and middle / late Albian to early Cenomanian. On the whole the palynomorph / kerogen content suggests a non-marine environment of deposition. These sediments are too immature to have any potential source for hydrocarbons.