Cyclostratigraphy and eccentricity tunning of the middle Miocene succession, Gulf of Suez, Egypt: Astronomical age dating and undetected hiatus

The middle Miocene Kareem Formation is a major hydrocarbon reservoir in the Gulf of Suez rift basin. The middle Miocene Kareem Formation is a major hydrocarbon reservoir in the Gulf of Suez rift basin. The age of this formation has remained controversial due to the lack of clear marker species and the presence of barren intervals in evaporite seals or sand reservoirs. Furthermore, until now, the absolute age and duration of a well-known recognized hiatus (T40) in this formation has not been estimated. Here, we establish the precise age and extent of the Kareem Formation based on the integration of foraminifer and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, with the establishment of an astronomically tuned timescale (ATS) based on gamma-ray variations of two wells, Gs197-2 in the October Basin and J58-81 in the July Basin. These two wells represent the most complete cored sequence of the Middle Miocene Kareem Formation, recording six calcareous nannofossil, four planktonic, and one benthic foraminiferal biohorizons, that enable us to define the Langhian-Serravalian boundary. According to our new biostratigraphically-supported ATS, we estimate that the Kareem Formation spans from 13.25 to 15 Ma. The T40 hiatus is identified in both wells at the boundary between the Shagar and Rahmi Members, with an estimated duration of ca. 0.26 Myr and 0.18 Myr for Gs197-2 and J58-81, respectively. A pronounced obliquity imprint is recorded in the upper Langhian to Serravalian of Gs197-2 well, right above the T40 hiatus. •Astronomical tuning combined with Miocene calcareous nannofossils and plankton foraminiferal biozones.•The Kareem Formation spans 13.25 to 15.15 Ma in the Gulf of Suez, Egypt.•A major T40 hiatus is found within the Kareem Formation at the Langhian-Serravalian boundary.