الفهرس 
Chapter 1 – IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The present work deals with the study of litho- and bio-stratigraphy of the Upper Paleocene–Lower Eocene successions at Kharga–Baris oases, Western Desert, Egypt. Two stratigraphical columnar sections were chosen, namely; Naqb Assiut, at Kharga Oasis, and Darb Gaga, at Baris Oasis.
Generally, The Paleocene–Eocene successions are widely distributed throughout the Western Desert of Egypt. They are represented by interbeds of siliciclastic facies (upper Dakhla, Tarawan, Esna, and Thebes formations), which changed laterally into predominant carbonate facies (Kurkur, Garra, and Dungul formations) southward.
The present study focuses on the Esna and the lower part of Thebes formations. The Esna Formation is subdivided into: El Hanadi, El Dababiya Quarry, El Mahmiya or Darb Gaga, and Abu Had members. During the field studies, it is noticed that, the siliciclastic facies of El Mahmiya Member in the north at Naqb Assiut section is changed laterally southward to carbonate facies at Darb Gaga section. Therefore, a new rock-unit of calcareous facies was observed and has been given the name of Darb Gaga Member, related to the name of the area, (Ezbit Darb Gaga).
The Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the P/E boundary was defined at the Dababiya village, about 35 Km south of Luxor, Egypt. This boundary is located generally at the base of the Dababiya Quarry Member, which consists of five distinctive beds (nos. 1-5) at the GSSP. On the other hand, at Naqb Assiut section, this boundary is only represented by the upper two beds (nos. 4 and 5), and at Darb Gaga section, the boundary is represented by the upper three beds (nos. 3-5) due to a hiatus which led to the missing of beds (nos. 1-3) and (nos. 1&2) at Naqb Assiut and Darb Gaga, respectively. This hiatus is marked by the occurrence of an irregular, bioturbated surface and pebbly phosphatic marl bed at Naqb Assiut, while at Darb Gaga is distinguished by a laminated phosphatic shale bed, rich with glauconitic sediments. The P/E boundary lies at the lowermost part of the Dababiya Quarry Member, which attains about 0.90 m and 3.75m thick. at Naqb Assiut and Darb Gaga sections, respectively.
The two beds of the DQM at Naqb Assiut section are:
-The lower bed: (90.20 cm thick): massive marl bed, phosphatic, pebbly with irregular and bioturbated surface at base.
-The upper bed: (0.70 cm. thick.): yellowish-white chalky limestone bed.
The three beds of Dqb at Darb Gaga section are:
-The lower bed: (1.05m. thick.): brown, laminated phosphatic shale with glauconitic sediments, fish debris and coprolites.
-The middle bed: (0.95 cm. thick.): calcareous shale.
-The upper bed: (1.75 m. thick.): massive calcarenitic marl.