Abstract
Aptian and Albian palynofloras were extracted from a Lower Cretaceous succession penetrated by the Kabrit-1 borehole, northern Gulf
of Suez. Representatives of Murospora and pollen such as Afropollis operculatus and A. zonatus are diagnostic of the Aptian palynoflora.
Afropollis jardinus, Crybelosporites pannuceus spores and elaterate pollens such as Elaterosporites klaszii and E. verrucatus date the
overlying succession as Albian and Upper Albian–lower Cenomanian? Reyrea polymorphus and Cicatricosisporites sinuosus co-occur
only in the Albian. The palynofloras are suggestive of shallow marine environment and warm humid palaeoclimate, as directly inferred
from the nature and composition of the palynomorph content, which is dominated by pteridophytic spores, along with marine dinoflagellates.
The occurrence of rich terrestrial influx of palynomorphs and palynodebris suggests proximity of the depositional sites to
source vegetation. The vertical distribution of terrestrial versus marine palynomorphs cannot reflect contemporaneous regressive/transgressive
cycles during deposition of the different rock units. The Kabrit-1 palynoflora share general features of the Northern Gondwana
province.