Eocene stratigraphy of the Wadi Al-Hitan World Heritage Site and adjacent areas (Fayum, Egypt)

A groundbreaking analysis of the Eocene stratigraphy at Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley), Egypt, reveals that previously proposed interpretations of restricted marine environments or whale calving grounds lack evidence. The study, conducted over a 300 sq. km area, identified four phases of coastal sand body progradation within the Birket Qarun Formation, separated by transgressive wedges, and discounted episodes of emersion. Key findings include the identification of the Dictyococcites erbae nannofossil acme, suggesting its start as a reliable marker for defining the base of the Priabonian stage. The research employed detailed sediment logging and biostratigraphic analysis to resolve complex facies relationships, providing new insights into the depositional history and paleoenvironmental conditions of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

King, C., Underwood, C., & Steurbaut, E. (2014). Eocene stratigraphy of the Wadi Al-Hitan World Heritage Site and adjacent areas (Fayum, Egypt). Stratigraphy, 11(3-4), 185–234. https://doi.org/10.29041/strat.11.3.01