Benthic foraminifera and biostratigraphy of the Middle–Upper Eocene transition at Wadi Hitan area, Fayum, Egypt

This study describes benthic foraminifera from the Eocene Formations at Wadi Hitan in the Fayum area of Egypt: El Gharag Formation (Lutetian), Gehannam Formation (Lutetian–Base Bartonian), Birket Qarun Formation (Late Bartonian), and Qasr El-Sagha Formation (Priabonian) in stratigraphic order. The study revealed 43 species of benthic foraminifera that belong to 31 genera. The identified foraminifera were biostratigraphically and paleoenvironmentally evaluated. The present study shares the national interest in understanding the biostratigraphy of Wadi Hitan and benthic foraminiferal distribution was investigated in an attempt to recognize their systematic positions as well as their depth habitat. These results were used to trace any environmental change during the time of deposition of the Wadi Hitan succession. The benthic contents of the studied samples revealed that it is difficult to subdivide the succession into distinct associations or benthic zones. However, some criteria indicate slight fluctuation of the environment. These criteria are the estimated depth habitat and the glauconitization of some intervals especially in sections 329 and 240. © 2021, Saudi Society for Geosciences.