Lower Miocene foraminifera from some exposures in the Cairo-Suez district, Eastern Desert, Egypt

The carbonate/siliciclastic Miocene rocks in the Cairo-Suez district indicate that lithostratigraphical correlation is very difficult. These beds comprise a complex alternation of autochthonous and detrital sediments. The Lower Miocene age (zone N5 to zone N7) of this succession has been determined by the planktonic foraminifera. In addition, there are benthic assemblages and the larger foraminifera also contributed, to a great extent, to the correlation of the measured sections. Thirty-four of the smallest foraminiferal species, among the 59 recognised, were selected for taxonomic treatment.