Thmed Al Qusur Member, Wadi Thamat Formation (Eocene of Libya)

Where: Libya (29.7° N, 17.7° E: paleocoordinates 25.6° N, 14.2° E)

• coordinate stated in text

• basin-level geographic resolution

When: Thmed Al Qusur Member (Wadi Thamat Formation), Priabonian (38.0 - 33.9 Ma)

• LITHOSTRATIGRAPHIC RELATIONSHIPS: From the Thmed Al Qusur Mbr of the Wadi Thamat Fm, which overlies the Al Gata (Lutetian) and is overlain by the Qararat Al Jifah Mbr of the Wadi Thamat Fm (Priabonian). AGE: Priabonian, on the basis of macrofossil biostratigraphy. THICKNESS: varies from 35-40 m across its range.

• member-level stratigraphic resolution

Environment/lithology: lagoonal or restricted shallow subtidal; lithified, brown, white, yellow, cherty/siliceous limestone

• ENVIRONMENT: Littoral zone, restricted circulation, lagoonal environment.
• GENERAL LITHOLOGY: White to cream-colored nonbedded massive chalk and chalky limestone, with unevenly distributed irregular flint and chert of brown color. LITHIFICATION: Lithified, not stated, but apparent from facies description.

Size classes: macrofossils, microfossils

Collection methods: surface (in situ),

• COLLECTORS: Not stated, possibly multiple collectors. REPOSITORY: Unknown.

Primary reference: M. F. Megerisi and V. D. Mamgain. 1980. The Upper Cretaceous-Tertiary Formations of northern Libya: a synthesis. Department of Geological Researches and Mining Bulletin 12:1-85 [A. Hendy/A. Hendy]more details

Purpose of describing collection: biostratigraphic analysis

PaleoDB collection 77236: authorized by Austin Hendy, entered by Austin Hendy on 06.01.2008

Creative Commons license: CC BY (attribution)

Taxonomic list

• COVERAGE: Limited, but including bivalvia, gastropoda, echinoids, algae, and foraminifera. NOMENCLATURE: Somewhat antiquated nomenclature, but identified to species and subgenus resolution.
Gastropoda
 Sorbeoconcha - Strombidae
"Rostellaria mokattamensis" = Tibia, ? Strombus sp.
"Rostellaria mokattamensis" = Tibia true conch
? Strombus sp. Linnaeus 1758 conch
 Sorbeoconcha - Cypraeidae
? Gisortia sp. Jousseaume 1884 cowry
Bivalvia
 Ostreida - Ostreidae
Ostrea sp. Linnaeus 1758 oyster
Echinoidea
 Cidaroida - Cidaridae
Cidaris sp. Leske 1778 pencil urchin