Abstract. Diverse and well preserved palynofloras were recognized
in the Lower Cretaceous succession penetrated by well Siqeifa 1-
X in northern Egypt. Dinoflagellate cysts such as Subtilisphaera senegalensis
was regarded, with the spores Impardecispora apiverrucata and
Aequitriradites spinulosus, as important Berriasian to Barremian species.
Afropollis operculatus/zonatus pollen and spores such as Balmeisporites
holodictyus, Trilobosporites laevigatus and Duplexisporites generalis
are diagnostic of Aptian. The lowest occurrences of the pollen
Afropollis jardinus, the spore Crybelosporites pannuceus and elaterates
such as Elaterosporites klaszii, Elaterocolpites castelainii and Elateroplicites
africaensis characterize the Albian/lower Cenomanian interval.
The palynofloras enabled the recognition of five spore-pollen and four
dinoflagellate zones, which are correlated with regional records, mainly
from Egypt and Libya. The vertical distribution of terrestrial and marine
palynomorphs, along with palynodebris, reflects two regressive
marginal marine cycles during Berriasian-Barremian and Albian-lower
Cenomanian times whereas the Aptian witnessed a transgressive open
marine (inner shelf) environment. A warm humid palaeoclimate was
inferred during deposition of the investigated succession of the borehole,
in contrast to the known warm arid to semi-arid climate, suggested
for the Northern Gondwana Realm during Early Cretaceous
times. This is probably due to the palaeogeographic position of Egypt
during Early Cretaceous times or, to a local reason. Palynofloras from
Siqeifa 1-X borehole, with Afropollis pollen and elaterates, are of North
African aspect and share the broad characteristics of the ‘‘Albian-Cenomanian
Elaterates Province’’ of Herngreen et al. (1996). Abundance of
spores and araucariacean pollen are transitional features between those
in North Gondwana and Southern Laurasia but, unlikely, typical transitional
assemblages lack bisaccates conifers and have Gleicheniaceae
spores.