Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

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Journal of African Earth Sciences

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Late Middle Eocene Dammam Formation paleofacies study, UAE-Oman

border: Bartonian age based on new occurrence of Nummulites hottingeri, a
new subgroup of N. partschi group
Safia Al Menoufy a, Mahmoud Abu Saima b, c, Osman Abdelghany b, c, *
a
Ain Shams University, Faculty of Education, Department of Biology and Geology, 11341, Cairo, Egypt
b
Ain Shams University, Faculty of Science, Department of Geology, 11566, Cairo, Egypt
c
United Arab Emirates University, College of Science, Department of Geology, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates

A R T I C L E I N F O A B S T R A C T

Keywords: The Middle Eocene Dammam Formation carbonates in the Saa area near the UAE-Oman border are divided into
Nummulites hottingeri subgroup two lithofacies: grainstones and wackestones/packstones. The grainstones contain a new occurrence of
N. partschi group N. hottingeri, a new subgroup of the N. partschi group along with Dictyoconides sp. benthic larger foraminifera,
Dammam formation
fragmented echinoids, algae, bryozoans, corals molluscs, bivalves and gastropods. The wackestones/packstones
Bartonian SBZ17
United Arab Emirates-Oman border
contain benthic foraminifera, miliolids, nummulites, ostracods, algae and many peloids. The ambient environ­
Paleofacies ment was intermediate depth marine. The grainstones were transported from shallow water areas into the deeper
water, as olistostromes. The Saa carbonates are SBZ17 (Bartonian) age, based on the presence of N. hottingeri. The
Saa section shares features of both the Priabonian calcarenites and Lutetian-Bartonian marly limestones of the
Dammam Formation at the well-studied Gebel Hafit section, 25 km to the west. The Saa section complements the
stratigraphic description of the Dammam Formation, representing a sequence that is poorly exposed at Gebel
Hafit.

1. Introduction folding and thrusting, particularly in the southeastern part of the

Arabian Peninsula, have raised some sections to surface levels,
The Middle-Upper Eocene sequences of the Arabian Peninsula and providing excellent exposures of this formation in domes and anticlines.
bordering areas record important Paleogene climatic and eustatic
events, which are associated with closure of the NeoTethys Ocean. The
1.1. Regional extent of the Dammam Formation
Middle-Late Eocene platform bordering the Arabian Shield to the north,
northeast and southeast was very broad (typically wider than 500 km)
The Dammam Formation was originally described in its type section
and was carbonate-dominated. Carbonate deposition occurred during
in the Dammam Dome in Saudi Arabia (Powers et al., 1966; Powers,
the post-Eocene Optimum cooling stage that was accompanied by a mild
1968) where it consists of buff to grey weathered medium-grained
drop in sea level during the Lutetian to Priabonian. Sedimentary facies
fossiliferous, Nummulites-rich limestone and dolomitic limestone inter­
and foraminiferal assemblages and associations on the platform were
bedded with yellow marl. The upper parts of the formation in the type
sensitive to changes in water depth, and preserve a range of environ­
section are terminated by an unconformity yielding a preserved thick­
ments from lagoonal, shoal and build-ups to open marine and shelf edge.
ness of about 32 m (Hamdan and Bahr, 1992).
On the platform, the Dammam Formation is the dominant Middle-
Other excellent exposures of the Dammam Formation have been
Upper Eocene rock unit, which extends in a broad arc from Jordan
studied in Oman and the UAE (Alsharhan and Nairn, 1995). In northern
and Syria to the north through Iraq and Kuwait in the northeast, and
Oman, there are Upper Eocene grey Nummulitic limestones and marls at
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Oman and Yemen in the southeast (Zie­
Gebels Qatar and Al Hama-Bin Khartum area (Noweir et al., 2006). More
gler, 2001, Fig. 1a). Most of the Dammam is presently covered by late
widespread exposures of Middle to Upper Eocene, mainly bioclastic
Paleogene and Neogene deposits and Quaternary sands, although Alpine
Nummulitic limestones of the Seeb Formation are found in the Dhofar

* Corresponding author. United Arab Emirates University, College of Science, Department of Geology, Al-Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates.
E-mail address: [email protected] (O. Abdelghany).

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2021.104317
Received 20 December 2020; Received in revised form 20 May 2021; Accepted 21 June 2021
Available online 30 June 2021
1464-343X/© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
S. Al Menoufy et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

Fig. 1. a. Paleofacies map of the Middle-Late Eocene Dammam Formation modified from Ziegler (2001). b.Study area: a. Annotated satellite image (modified from
Google Earth); Landsat image showing the location of the study area. 1c. Geologic map of Gebels: Hafit, Malaqet and Mundassah (modified after Ellison et al., 2006).

and Khud areas (Jones and Racey, 1994). In the UAE, the best and most 2. Location and setting of the study area
complete exposed sections of the Dammam Formation are located at
Gebel Hafit (near the eastern city of Al Ain), where a significantly The Gebel Saa study area lies near the UAE-Oman border area at
thicker succession (800 m) than the type section is exposed on the limbs 24◦ 10′ 22′′ N, 55◦ 50′ 35′′ E, 25 km east of Gebel Hafit and 1.0 km south of
of the Gebel Hafit Anticline. Other exposures in the UAE include Gebel Gebel Mundassa (Fig. 1b and c). The beds dip 35◦ SW at the crest of the
El-Faiyah (about 90 m thick section with unexposed top), and Gebel mountain, and strike WNW. The dips of beds gradually decline to near
Malaqet, east of Al-Ain (only 50 m-thick, with unexposed base), horizontal in the stratigraphically higher parts of the section on the SW
(Boukhary et al., 2002, 2005, 2005; Abdelghany, 2002). A small, pre­ flank of the mountain, indicating a syncline or monocline with very
viously undescribed section of the Dammam Formation is located near gentle plunge. The WNW trend is unusual for a fold in this area, although
the UAE-Oman border at Gebel Saa (70 m-thick) (Fig. 1b and c and 2). it follows the curvature of an arcuate thrust separating the Semail
This section represents the easternmost representative of the Dammam Ophiolite and underlying Cretaceous rock units in the east, from the
Formation in the UAE. Paleogene rock units west of the Northern Oman Mountains (Fig. 1b and
1c).
1.2. Aims of this study
3. Stratigraphy of the Saa section
This contribution presents details of the stratigraphy, paleontology
and facies of the Dammam Formation in the previously undescribed The stratigraphic section measured in the Gebel Saa area represents a
Gebel Saa section, east of Al Ain, and compares the characteristics to the uniformly WNW trending set of SSW dipping layers composed mainly of
well-studied Gebel Hafit Dammam sections (25 km to the west). The Saa calcarenite of the Middle Eocene Dammam Formation (Fig. 2).
fossil assemblage is used to provide a precise age for this section. The Comprised of 70 m of carbonate rocks (Figs. 2 and 3a), the lowest ex­
significance of the sequence for understanding the characteristics of the posures (above an unexposed base of the formation) consist of 32 m of
Dammam Formation is discussed. limestone and mudstone with coarse calcarenite interbeds (Samples
S1–S3) (Fig. 3c–e). The fossils include sparse bivalves, gastropod shells,
and large Nummulites sp. This is overlain by 3 m of bioturbated

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S. Al Menoufy et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

Fig. 1. (continued).

calcarenite with a concentration of small Nummulites, gastropod shells number of whorls per radius, and minimum and maximum values of test
and trace fossils (Sample S4) (Fig. 3c). Directly above is a 13 m-thick bed radii and heights. Thin section examination showed that limestones are
of partly covered thinly bedded and soft calcarenite (Sample S5) over­ the primary rock types, with minor dolomites. The late Middle Eocene
lain by 2 m of nodular, coarse-grained limestone characterized by Dammam Formation is dominated by Nummulitic grainstone facies and
pockets of Nummulites sp. and large gastropods (Sample S6), followed by a somewhat less common wackestone/packstone facies.
6 m of bioturbated, coarse-grained calcarenite. The section continues up The Nummulitic grainstone facies found in samples S1–S5 (Fig. 2)
sequence with 7 m of massive, nodular limestone with small Nummulites contains large Nummulites as framework fossils, Dictyoconides sp. benthic
sp., large gastropods and large-scale bioturbations (Samples S7–S8), larger foraminifera, and minor echinoid and coral fragments. The
which is succeeded by a 1 m-thick conglomeratic limestone and a 1 m- cemented areas are recrystallized and dolomitized. The fossils are
thick nodular limestone, with broken bivalve and gastropod shells and replaced by single crystal pseudomorphs. There are traces of lithoclastic
large burrows (Sample S9). The section is topped by 6 m of thinly particles and minor fossil bivalve fragments. The wide range of frame­
bedded calcarenite with black shell fragments (Sample S10) (Fig. 3b). work grainsizes resulted in low porosity.
A weakly nodular calcarenite contains fossils, including large fora­ The wackestone/packstone facies in samples S6–S8 includes
minifera, bivalves (Pecten sp.), gastropods and echinoids. At some ho­ wackestones containing small benthic foraminifera (miliolids, Peneroplis
rizons, these shells are smashed and embedded randomly in the sp.) and many peloids. There are some Nummulites sp. and common
sediment. There are large burrows with diameters up to 5 cm. The beds fragments of echinoids. The carbonate matrix has been recrystallized,
vary in thickness (thin to medium) without any evidence of cross although it is still very fine-grained. The packstones have a highly
bedding. Small Nummulites specimens are concentrated in pockets and diverse assemblage of mostly well-preserved fossils, including ostracods,
furrows. In the upper parts of the sequence, where there are somewhat echinoids, Nummulites sp., calcareous algae, and bivalves. There are also
thinner beds, black shell particles are abundant in the calcarenite. common peloids and traces of siliceous cement.
The Nummulitic grainstone facies in samples S9–S10, from near the
4. Depository top of the section, is richly fossiliferous, with miliolids and other smaller
benthic foraminifera, as well as some large Nummulites, calcareous
The materials used for this study are stored at Ain Shams University, algae, and fragments of echinoids, pelecypods, bryozoans and corals.
Faculty of Education, Biological and Geological Department, Cairo, Numerous intraclasts contain fossils, including gastropods and Num­
Egypt (collection of Safia Al Menoufy). mulites, in a muddy matrix.
This intercalation of the grainstones with wackestones and pack­
5. Microfacies analysis stones, and the sharp contacts between the beds, is probably an indi­
cation of quieter deeper water deposition (wackestones/packstones)
Thin sections for microfacies examination were prepared from ten periodically interrupted by the arrival of olistostromes of transported
representative samples of the measured stratigraphic section, and 40 shallow-water sediments (grainstones).
Nummulites tests were identifiable in the thin sections (see S1–S10 in
Fig. 2). The specimens were analyzed based upon diameter, thickness,

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S. Al Menoufy et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

Fig. 2. Stratigraphic section of the Dammam Formation, south of Gebel Mundassah, Saa area, UAE-Oman border area. Locations of the rock samples from which thin
sections were made are noted as S#.

6. Systematic paleontology truncated margin; spire is irregular, and the marginal cord is thick and
irregular. Septal filaments are meandering in shape and few granules are
Family Nummulitidae De Blainville, 1827 found on the surface of the test in the juvenile and disappear in adult.
Genus Nummulites LAMARCK, 1801 Granules are dense and cover the entire surface. The diameter ranges
Group Nummulites partschi de la Harpe, 1880 from 9 to 33 mm, and thickness from 3.1 to 6.9 mm (Fig. 5). In equa­
Nummulites hottingeri Schaub (1981). torial section, steps of coiling are tight to lax. The base of the septa is
(Figs. 5.1–13; 6.1–10) straight and septa become inclined towards the periphery. The chambers
1981 Nummulites hottingeri Schaub, p. 112; Fig. 87; pl. 34: 25–42; pl. are isometric in form. The number of whorls in relation to the radius is
35: 1–5. 10 in a radius of 1.9–4.5 mm, 30 whorls in a radius of 9.4–13 mm, and 31
2013 Nummulites hottingeri Schaub, Boukhary et al., p.15, Plate 7, whorls in a radius of 16.6 mm. Pillars are thick in axial section.
Figs. 1-16 The megalospheric (A-form) test is much smaller and lenticular, with
Age: Bartonian, SBZ17. a thick and rounded margin. The test surface has sinuous septal fila­
Stratigraphic distribution: Nummulites hottingeri is recorded from the ments; the surface appears decorated and is recognized by the
Dammam Formation, sample no. 4, Bartonian. arrangement of the granulations on the spire. The diameter ranges from
Number of specimens examined: 15 3.4 to 7.7 mm, and thickness from 2.7 to 4 mm (Fig. 6). In the equatorial
Description: Test is flat in microspheric form, with thick center and section, the spire is thick; the arrangement of granules is typical of the

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S. Al Menoufy et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

Fig. 3. Photographs of the studied section: a overview; b close up view of the Nummulites hottingeri layer near the base of the measured stratigraphic section; c the
middle part of the measured stratigraphic section (fossiliferous calcarenite bed); d, e close-up view of limestones containing the described Nummulites hottin­
geri species.

Table 1
Correlation table of the Eocene stratigraphic units in the study area.
Hunting (1979) Cherif and El Deeb Hamdan and Bahr, Ellison et al. (2006) (BGS geological mapping for
AGE (1984); 1992; Ministry of Energy)
Cherif et al. (1992) Braga and Bahr
(2003)

Eocene Late Priabonain brown nummulitic Tle6 Senaiya Formation Mezyad Member Dammam Formation brown limestone (Dam bl)
limestone (Dam)
middle marl Tle5 upper mudstone (Dam um)
Middle Bartonian lower marl and Tle4 Ain Al Faydah limestone (Dam l)
Lutetian limestone Member mudstone and limestone
(Dam m+l)
Tle3 Hafit Formation Wadi Al Nahayan lower mudstone (Dam lm)
Member
Early Ypresian grey nodular limestone Tle2 Hili Member Rus Formation (Rus) thin bedded unit (Rus tb)
cream limestone Tle1 Wadi Tarabat white limestone (Rus wl)
Member

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S. Al Menoufy et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

Fig. 4. Morphometric data for Nummulites hottingeri (Schaub, 1981), sample 4, Dammam Formation: A test thickness plotted against test diameter; B test radius
plotted against number of whorls; C test radii (minimum and maximum); D height (minimum-maximum).

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S. Al Menoufy et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

Fig. 5. Nummulites hottingeri Schaub (1981), sample 4, Dammam Formation: 1–4 microspheric forms: 1–2 external view, 3 equatorial section, 4: axial section, 5–13
megalospheric forms: 5–10 external view, 11 equatorial section, 12,13: axial sections.

N. partschi group, but with rather thick and low chambers. The chambers have truncated margins. The protoconch diameter of N. hottingeri
are rhomboidal and higher than long; septa are straight to slightly (0.33–0.95 mm) is smaller than that of N. gizehensis (0.49–1.0 mm,
curved. The number of whorls in relation to radius is 4 in a radius of (Table 2). Specimens of N. hottingeri also differ from N. gizehensis
1.0–1.1 mm and 6 whorls in a radius of 1.9–2.2 mm. Ontogeny grades specimens (Table 3, Fig. 6) in being granulated in both generations,
from tight to lax. Protoconch diameter ranges from 0.33 to 0.95 mm (see while only the A-form has a granulated surface in the N. gizehensis
Table 2). subgroup. The septa in specimens of the N. lyelli group are inclined at the
Remarks: Additional parameters for N. hottingeri are shown in Fig. 4, base and more inclined at the top, while N. hottingeri specimens are
and the differences between N. hottingeri and similar species are listed in similar to those of the N. gizehensis group in being erect at the base and
Table 2. The margin of N. hottingeri is truncated, as seen in axial section becoming inclined at the top. In N. hottingeri, the chambers are longer
and the spire grades from tight to lax, consistent with other members of than those in the N. gizehensis subgroup. Although the ontogeny of both
the N. partschi group. The test is lenticular: The septa are typically N. hottingeri and N. lyelli specimens are similar in progressing from tight
similar to those found in the N. partschi group and in the megalospheric to lax, phylogenetically the surface granulation in the N. hottingeri
forms of N. hottingeri, with spirally arranged granules in both genera­ subgroup is progressive while that in the A-form of N. lyelli subgroup is
tions (B- form, A-form), also typical of members of the N. partschi group. regressive.
Nummulites hottingeri is larger and more lenticular than previously
described members of the N. partschi group. 7. Discussion
Nummulites hottingeri differs from N. lyelli in having dense granules
on the spire in both generations. While granulation is rare in micro­ 7.1. Stratigraphy of the Dammam Formation at Gebel Hafit
spheric N. lyelli, it is scattered on the septal filaments in the young forms
and visible in the adult but not in N. lyelli. Nummulites hottingeri differs Previous studies of the Dammam Formation at Gebel Hafit (UAE)
from N. lyelli in septal course, although the ontogeny and phylogeny are (Table 1) and in the mountains immediately to its east (Oman) are
similar in both groups, being tight to lax. Septa are straight at the base to numerous (Anan et al., 1992; Hamdan and Bahr, 1992; Abdelghany,
slightly curved at the top in N. hottingeri and are arched at the base, 2002; Boukhary et al., 2002, 2003, 2005, Boukhary et al., 2013a). In the
becoming erect outwards in another species that occur in the same level Gebel Hafit area, the Dammam Formation unconformably overlies the
of SBZ 17. nodular limestones of the Lower Eocene Rus Formation.
Fossil specimens of Nummulites hottingeri differ from those of the N. The Middle Eocene rocks of the Dammam Formation have abundant
gizehensis subgroup in exhibiting tests that are thicker centrally and Nummulites sp. and Assilina sp. larger foraminifera, as well as echinoids

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S. Al Menoufy et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

The Upper Eocene Dammam Formation, on the western limb of

Gebel Hafit anticline includes thin cross-bedded calcarenites with a
persistent component of black shelly fragments of gastropods and
bivalves.

7.2. Correlation of the Gebel Saa section with the Dammam Formation at
Gebel Hafit

The measured Gebel Saa stratigraphic section represents mainly

calcarenites containing large foraminifera of distinctly late Middle
Eocene age. In the upper parts of the sequence, the calcarenite has
abundant black shell particles, similar to those found in the upper sec­
tions of the Middle Eocene and lower sections of the Upper Eocene at
Gebel Hafit. The Gebel Saa section calcarenites also lack evidence of
cross-bedding as do the upper Middle Eocene calcarenites at Gebel Hafit.
A further similarity between both sections is the intercalation of cal­
carenites with deeper water wackestones and packstones. The Gebel Saa
paleoenvironment therefore appears to have been deeper water than the
cross-bedded Upper Eocene Gebel Hafit calcarenites, but shallower
water than the Hafit Middle Eocene thick limestones, which grade at
their tops into mudstones and have a faunal diversity limited to mainly
foraminifera and echinoderms.

7.3. Significance of the Gebel Saa section

Gebel Saa section is the easternmost exposure of the Dammam For­

mation in the UAE. The Saa section represents a late Middle Eocene
interval of the Dammam which is poorly exposed at Gebel Hafit, the
main alternative Dammam type section in the UAE. It indicates that
medium depth waters in the Middle Eocene extended at least to the
present day western margin of the Northern Oman Mountains. The
occurrence of Nummulites hottingeri species and Dictyoconides sp. con­
firms a Bartonian age for the Saa strata, and is therefore assigned to the
Fig. 6. Nummulites hottingeri Schaub (1981), sample 4, Dammam Formation: Shallow Benthonic Foraminiferal Zone SBZ17.
1–3 microspheric forms: 1–3 equatorial sections, 4–10 megalospheric forms:
4–5 external view,
8. Conclusions
6–7 equatorial sections, 8–10 axial sections.

The Paleogene limestones of the Gebel Saa study area, east of Al Ain
and mollusks. The Middle Eocene Dammam is 600 m thick, and is city, near the UAE-Oman border, represent an eastern extension of the
characterized by thick-bedded fine-grained grey limestones, with indi­ better-known Dammam Formation at Gebel Hafit, south of Al-Ain. The
vidual limestones passing gradationally upwards into marls. The main carbonates of the Middle Eocene Dammam Formation at Saa, consist of
lithofacies are wackestones and packstones. The larger foraminifera dominant grainstone calcarenites and subordinate wackestones/pack­
form highly concentrated banks particularly at the base of some lime­ stones facies sediments. The calcarenites are partly dolomitized, contain
stone units. Higher sections of the Middle Eocene occupy an area lithic rudstone intervals at their base, and have large Nummulites and
straddling the Hafit Anticline axial plane. The outcrops are typically coralline fragments. The larger foraminifera, N. hottingeri was recov­
poorly exposed, but consist of thin-bedded calcarenite (grainstone ered from the lower parts of the Saa section. The calcarenites occupy the
facies) with thin marl interbeds and common presence of Assilina sp. first 45 m of the Saa section and are sharply overlain by 20 m of peloid-

Table 2
Measurements of Nummulites hottingeri from the original description compared with Boukhary et al. (2013a) and this study.
Characters Nummulites hottingeri after Schaub (1981) Nummulites hottingeri after Boukhary et al. (2013a) Nummulites hottingeri
Subgroup partschi present study

B-form
Diameter 17–28 mm 22–28 mm 9–32.9 mm
Thickness 3.5–6 mm 4.5–6.5 mm 1.3–6.9 mm
Steps of coiling tight to lax tight to lax tight to lax
Whorls vs radius 23 whorls in 11.8 mm, 27 whorls in 13.2 mm, 28 whorls 23 whorls in 10.2 mm, 25 whorls in 11.1 mm, 27 whorls 23 whorls in 10.9 mm, 44 whorls in
in 13 mm in 12.5 mm 16.6 mm
A-form
Diameter 3.5–4 mm 3.0–4.6 mm 3.4–8.7 mm
Thickness 1.5–2 mm 1.6–2.2 mm 2.7–4 mm
Granulation Granulation arranged on the surface Granulation arranged on the surface Granulation arranged on the surface
Test form Lenticular Lenticular Lenticular
Whorls vs radius 3 whorls in1.8 mm, 3 whorls in 1.8 mm, 4 whorls in 1–1.1 mm
4 whorls in 2.2 mm 4 whorls in 1.0 mm.
Size of 0.6–1.0 mm 0.69–1.0 mm 0.33–0.95 mm
protoconch

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S. Al Menoufy et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

Table 3
Comparison of characteristics of Nummulites partschi group: N. partschi, N. gizehensis and N. lyelli subgroups (modified after Boukhary and Kamal, 2003 and Boukhary
et al. (2013a,b)).
N. partschi group
Characters
N. partschi subgroup, Northern N. gizehensis subgroup, N. lyelli subgroup, N. hottingeri Granulated subgroup
Tethys Southern Tethys Southern Tethys (new) Southern Tethys

Forms of the Discoid form or lenticular flattened Lenticular flattened, margins parallel Discoid thick in center, rounded margin Lenticular, thick in center,
test truncated margin
Septal Flexous septal filament in Complicated meandering septal filament in the microspheric form, whereas radial or Flexous septal filament to
filaments microspheric form, whereas radial to sinuous in megalospheric A- form in the N. gizehensis and wrinkled in the N. lyelli meandrine in microspheric form,
sinous in megalospheric A-form subgroup whereas radial in megalospheric A-
form
Granulation Dense on the spire around the Scattered allover septal filaments in the Granulation rare in microspheric form but Dense in both generation on the
periphery, on the center and microspheric form and spread out on scattered on the septal filaments on the spire in the center in juveniles but
between the septal filaments and the surface. On the septal filaments in young forms but in adult granulation is disappear on the young and
granules are spirally arranged megalospheric A- form visible or not granules are spirally arranged in
megalospheric A-form
Steps of Tight to lax or lax to tight lax to tight and its ancestor more laxer Tight to lax or lax to tight Tight to lax or lax to tight
coiling in the first whorls
Chambers Isometric or longer than high Isometric form Isometric in early whorls whereas higher Rhomboidal and higher than long
than long in the last whorls
Septa Arched at the base- becoming Arched at the base becoming Septa straight at the base of the
sinuous in the middle and more septum to slightly curved at the top
arched at the top
Erect at the base
inclined outwards

and inclined in the most part of the

septum

Examples Nummulites praelorioli Nummulites praegizehensis Nummulites praelyelli Nummulites hottingeri

Nummulites lorioli Nummulites gizehensis Nummulites lyelli

Fig. 7. Stratigraphic zonation of Ypresian-Bartonian modified from Schaub (1981).

rich wackestone/packstone, poor in fossils, but containing fragmental reported in the UAE. We infer that Nummulites hottingeri belongs to the
echinoids and small benthonic forams. The highest exposed part of the Nummulites partschi group (s.l.) and consider it a new subgroup, based
Saa section consists of 15 m of richly fossiliferous coralgal Nummulitic on the dense granulation of both generations, protoconch diameter, and
calcarenite. The original depositional environment of the Saa section the nature of septa. The identified N. hottingeri specimens indicate
was moderately deep marine water. The Saa section can be correlated Bartonian age and are assigned to the SBZ17 (Serra-Kiel et al., 1998,
with parts of the Dammam section at Gebel Hafit farther to the west, Fig. 7).
though the equivalent sections at Hafit are rather poorly exposed. Fea­
tures in common between Saa and Hafit are the presence of character­ Declaration of competing interest
istic black shell fragments of gastropods. In addition, the two sections
share intercalations of grainstones and wackestone/packstone intervals. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial
At Saa these intercalations are thought to represent in situ muddy interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence
limestone deposition interrupted by influx of coarser grained bioclastic the work reported in this manuscript.
limestone materials. The recovery of Nummulites hottingeri Schaub
(1981) at Gebel Saa is significant in that it is the first time it is has been

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S. Al Menoufy et al. Journal of African Earth Sciences 183 (2021) 104317

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Ain, United Arab Emirates and Arabian Peninsula. Bollettino della Societa
Paleontologica Italiana 42, 241–265.
The authors would like to acknowledge the critical reviews by Prof. Cherif, O.H., El-Deeb, W.M.Z., 1984. The Middle Eocene-Oligocene of the northern Hafit
Mohamed Boukhary and Dr. Abdel-Rahman Fowler. The penetrating area, south of Al Ain city (United Arab Emirates). Geol. Mediterr. 11 (2), 207–217.
critical comments by Prof. Pamela Hallock Muller (University of South Cherif, O.H., Al-Rifaiy, I.A., El-Deeb, W.Z.M., 1992. “Post-Nappes” early Tertiary
foraminiferal paleoecology of the northern Hafit area. south of Al-Ain City (United
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