Upper Cretaceous sequence stratigraphy of the Galala Plateaux, western side of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt

•Eight ammonite, and nine planktonic foraminiferal zones are recorded.•Nine Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Maastrichtian) depositional sequences are recognized.•Some of the recorded sequence boundaries are not yet confirmed to eustatic sea-level changes.•Sequences are controlled by either eustatic processes and/or tectonic events.

Based on the study of lithology, biostratigraphy and analysis of facies, this study deduces the occurrence of nine third-order Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Maastrichtian) depositional sequences, which are bounded by eleven sequence boundaries of geographic extent in the Galala Plateaux, situated along the western side of the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Some of the recorded sequence boundaries (e.g., Cenomanian/Turonian, Turonian/Coniacian, intra Santonian, and Campanian/Maastrichtian sequence boundaries) are not yet confirmed to eustatic sea-level changes. Fourteen main mixed carbonate/siliciclastic facies associations were recognized on a lateral transition between inner to outer ramp settings, with apparent subsidence towards the south. The tectonic position of the Galala Plateaux played an important role in the profound complexity of facies changes and the configuration of depositional sequences representing variable time gaps.