Well-preserved terrestrial palynoflora assemblages, dominated by pteridophyte spores
(e.g., Deltoidospora, Triplanosporites, and Dictyophyllidites), with angiosperms and
elaterate-bearing taxa, were recorded from the Kharita Formation, northern Egypt. Biostratigraphically,
the angiosperm pollen Afropollis jardinus is the most significant
element, along with elaterates including Elaterosporites klaszii and Elaterocolpites
castelainii, in dating the Kharita Formation and confirming its previous (dinoflagellate)
Albian dating. We applied current and previous documented redox states in the borehole and discovered
evidence of missing of angiosperms and elaterates from some stratigraphic levels.
At stratigraphic horizons where opaque phytoclasts are extraordinarily abundant, oxidation
is highly expected and, consequently, some palynomorphs of the original palynological assemblages
may have been oxidized. At other horizons with mild oxidation, some palynomorphs
cannot be preserved due to environmental restrictions. Therefore, under these circumstances,
if these marker taxa are missing, age assessments can be unreliable.
Therefore, care must be taken in order to determine reliable palynostratigraphy. An oxic to
dysoxic-suboxic marginal marine environment was inferred, with a few examples of periodic
distal settings at the basal and top parts of the Kharita Formation. The Kharita palynofloras,
as part of the palynofloristic Albian-Cenomanian African-South American (ASA)
province, reflect the influence of the break-up of the continents of Africa and South America.
They reflect the resultant global palaeoclimate change near the equator, which brought
humid conditions to Egypt during Albian times.