A Stratigraphic Lacuna Around the Ypresian / Lutetian Boundary (Early-Middle Eocene) in Arabia and Other Localities in the Tethys

Abstract: The changes in the paleontology, stratigraphy and sedimentary facies around Ypresian/Lutetian boundary (YLB) or Early/Middle Eocene boundary (EMEB) have been documented in many sections in Arabia and some other localities in the Tethys (including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, India, Egypt, Libya, Spain and France) which provides a good database for biostratigraphic subdivisions, that are marked by a stratigraphic lacuna in these areas. The event that produced this lacuna is believed to be primarily tectonic, which coincides tentatively with the pronounced eustatic lowering of the sea-level just before the close of Ypresian, which may place in apparent juxtaposition.

Key words: Lacuna, Ypresian, Lutetian, Eocene, Arabia, Tethys.