The early Danian event (Dan-C2) and the latest Danian event (LDE): a case study from Gebel Kilabiya, Egypt

Abstract

At the Gebel Kilabiya area, studies on foraminifera and isotopes were conducted during the Paleocene. The data revealed that the lowest part of the P2 Zone and the oldest peak, P1c, closely resemble the Dan-C2 event. Before Dan-C2, the diversity of the assemblages rapidly declined as the abundance of the agglutinant Spiroplectinella spectabilis, and calcareous benthic Bulimina spp., species commonly known as an opportunist, increased may be influenced by warmth and pH changes due to Deccan volcanism. The extinction of the planktic foraminifera genus Praemurica occurred shortly before the Latest Danian Event (LDE). Additionally, praemuricids were eventually supplanted by morozovellids in parallel. Warm morphogroups Praemurica, Morozovella, Igorina, and Acarinina are found in the low latitude group; they show a tendency towards warming in the late Paleocene (Zone P3a and P3b).