Reviewing on the sedimentological and vertebrate paleontological aspects of the Upper Cretaceous exposures in Kharga Oasis, Egypt.

Abstract

The Late Cretaceous in Egypt attracts great attention from paleontologists since its end coincides with the mass extinction of several vertebrate groups from which reptiles such as dinosaurs and non-avian dinosaurs and plesiosaurs. The Cretaceous sequences of the Southwestern Desert of Egypt contain assemblages of terrestrial and marine fossils. The Qauseir Formation composed mainly of variegated shale of Campanian age. This formation is exposed at the Darb El Arbien located between Kharga and Beris and to the south of Beris. These strata contain many fragments of Sauropods dinosaurs, crocodyliforms and turtles. The Campanian succession of Kharga Oasis is witnessed the main transgression of the Tethyan sea to the Western Desert of Egypt. This study focusses on reviewing the Late Cretaceous deposits of Kharga Oasis along the extension of Darb El Arbien, containing the highly diversity and abundance of terrestrial vertebrate fossils and petrified wood.