晚三叠世卡尼期碳酸盐生产危机在东特提斯地区的地质记录

欧洲学者基于阿尔卑斯地区上三叠统卡尼阶地质研究提出卡尼期碳酸盐生产危机(carbonate productivity crisis)或者卡尼期洪水事件(Carnian Pluvial Event)的概念,其主要表现为黑色页岩(或绿色页岩、放射虫硅质岩)覆盖于特提斯范围的碳酸盐岩之上,反映了早、晚卡尼期界面处一次明显的碳酸盐沉积中止事件,之上沉积有厚度逐步增加的硅质碎屑岩;这一地质现象在东特提斯地区(中国)卡尼阶中亦有显现,但远未引起重视。实际野外地质调查与前人文献显示,与古特提斯西部、喜马拉雅等地卡尼阶类似,在中国西南部古特提斯范围内的四川盆地西缘、黔中、滇西北、金沙江沿岸等地,卡尼期碳酸盐岩沉积多被一套灰黑色、深灰色页岩(或深色板岩)及之上的陆源碎屑岩覆盖,显示该时期碳酸盐生产的突然中止和生物礁的突然死亡。卡尼期特提斯范围的构造变动很可能对晚三叠世巨型季风气候造成巨大影响,古太平洋暖流向特提斯地区水汽输入增强,相对干旱的气候向相对潮湿的气候转换,大陆风化速率增加,陆源硅质碎屑输入增多,造成了这一显著的地质事件。     

晚三叠世卡尼期黑色页岩事件在龙门山地区的沉积学和古生物学响应

龙门山前缘地区卡尼阶-诺利阶马鞍塘组中部发育一套薄-中层状黑灰色、灰黑色、黑色（含介壳）钙质泥（页）岩,在该套岩石中瓣鳃类生物多见,原生二价金属硫化物（黄铁矿）发育,水平层理发育,显示着低能环境贫氧条件的典型特征。与马鞍塘组中部黑灰色、灰黑色钙质泥（页）岩相当层位的卡尼期晚期沉积,在松潘-甘孜地区、昌都地区、可可西里地区均可见到,多显示为黑色、灰黑色色调,岩性为泥（页）岩或粉砂质板岩、钙质板岩,反映了一次黑色页岩地质事件在中国西部古特提斯东部地区产生了大范围的影响。全球对比表明,该套深色泥（页）岩在西特提斯、印度喜玛拉雅等地均有分布,覆盖在卡尼期早期碳酸盐沉积之上。据此,作者认为晚三叠世卡尼期特提斯范围的黑色页岩事件,很有可能与卡尼期全球性的碳酸盐生产危机有关,马鞍塘组中部发育的深色泥（页）岩即是此次事件在扬子地台西缘的反映。根据对川西北地区绵竹汉旺、安县雎水、江油马鞍塘等剖面的实际考察与研究,认为代表缺氧事件沉积的马鞍塘组中部黑灰色泥（页）岩之下为卡尼阶灰岩段（即汉旺组中下部灰岩段,主要为鲕粒灰岩、海绵礁灰岩等）,之上为诺利阶灰色粉、细砂岩夹灰岩、泥岩段（相当于石元组）。黑灰色钙质泥（页）岩不仅是该组岩性变化的转折点,亦是古生物、古生态急剧变化的转折点。在马鞍塘组下部广泛可见的六射海绵、海百合、苔藓虫、珊瑚等海相化石在马鞍塘组中上部地层（上卡尼阶至诺利阶底部）中很少看到,仅见丰富的瓣鳃类、菊石、腕足类等有壳类动物化石。
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Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events (OAEs) recorded in the northern margin of Africa as possible oil and gas shale potential in Tunisia: An overview

Abstract

Significant attention has been given, during the last decade, to Palaeozoic unconventional oil and gas shale in northern Africa where the productive Palaeozoic basins are located. New tentative strategies shed light on Mesozoic unconventional plays represented by Cretaceous shale reservoirs. In most petroleum systems the proven Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events (OAEs), represented mainly by the Fahdene and Bahloul Formations, played the main role in hydrocarbon generation with good distribution. Their deposition was restricted to the early Aptian (Bedoulian), the early/late Albian, and the Cenomanian–Turonian transition. Additional black shales have been detailed for the first time in Tunisia which relate to the Valanginian Weissert and late Hauterivian Faraoni events. Biostratigraphic and complete geochemical reviews have been undertaken from published papers and unpublished internal reports to better assess these important source intervals. These black shale levels, pertaining to OAEs, were deposited in almost deep marine environments during short-lived periods of anoxia (ca. 2 Ma). In the course of this review, thickness, distribution, and maturity maps have been established for each level using well data from published sources.     

阿尔及利亚三叠盆地、韦德迈阿次盆地石油地质特征及油气勘探中应注意的问题

阿尔及利亚在区域上由两大单元组成,北部为撒哈拉阿特拉斯褶皱带,南部为撒哈拉地台。油气田主要分布在撒哈拉地台的三叠盆地和伊利兹盆地。在三叠盆地内已发现50多个油田和37个气田,石油地质储量达23×108t,天然气地质储量达4×1012m3。油气田中以超巨型的哈西迈萨乌德油田和哈西勒迈勒凝析气田最为著名。三叠盆地的烃源岩主要为下志留统Graptolitic组黑色页岩;韦德迈阿次盆地的烃源岩主要为志留系Fegaguria组深灰色—黑色富有机质泥岩。三叠盆地与韦德迈阿次盆地的储盖条件都比较优越,但油藏的埋深较大,且位于沙漠地区,在勘探上应注意“西气东油”的油气分布特征和坚持“立体勘探”的方法。     

Albian oceanic anoxic events in northern Tunisia: Biostratigraphic and geochemical insights

Albian pelagic successions of the Nebeur area in northwestern Tunisia consist of radiolarian-bearing and organic-rich black shale beds, which represent the lower part of the Fahdene Formation. The carbonate content of the organic-rich beds ranges between 40 and 48%. Total organic carbon (TOC) analyses via Rock Eval pyrolysis yielded values ranging between 0.7 and 2.8% and a mixed marine/terrestrial origin. T_max values vary between 424 and 450 °C, indicative of submature to mature organic matter. High resolution planktic foraminiferal and radiolarian biostratigraphy suggest that the black shales beds span the mid- to late Albian, confined to the middle part of the Ticinella primula zone, upper Biticinella breggiensis zone and lower appeninica + buxtorfi zone. Episodes of organic-rich deposition in the “Tunisian Trough” are interpreted as being the sedimentary record of the global oceanic anoxic events OAE1b, c, and d respectively. Age-diagnostic radiolarian assemblages recovered from late Albian organic-rich black shales lie within the UA13–UA14 boundary biochronozones. The abundance of radiolarian and calcispheres (i.e. pithonella) within the black shales suggests high productivity periods and eutrophic conditions probably triggered by upwelling currents.     

中国青藏高原特提斯的形成与演化

青藏高原的形成是特提斯演化的结果。本文根据区域大地构造演化和沉积学证据,将青藏高原特提斯在时间上划分为3个阶段,即早期、中期和晚期。早期从震旦纪开始至奥陶—志留纪结束,这个阶段的大洋我们称作"原特提斯"。中期从泥盆纪开始至石炭—二叠纪结束,通常称这个大洋为"古特提斯"。晚期从二叠纪末、三叠纪初开始一直延续到第三纪早期,这个阶段的大洋通常被称作"新特提斯"。在空间上,青藏高原特提斯可以划分为3个区域相,即北区、中区和南区。上述3个阶段完全可以与空间上的3个区域相对应,原特提斯主要发育于北区,大洋消亡后的遗迹残留在青藏高原第5缝合带中,即西昆仑—阿尔金—北祁连缝合带。古特提斯主要发育于中区,大洋消亡后的遗迹残留在青藏高原第3、4缝合带中,即金沙江缝合带和昆仑南缘缝合带。新特提斯主要发育于南区,大洋主洋盆消亡后的遗迹残留在青藏高原第1缝合带中,即雅鲁藏布江缝合带,它的弧后盆地消亡后的遗迹残留在第2缝合带中,即班公湖—怒江缝合带。     

南羌塘盆地构造演化及其油气形成与构造保存条件研究

羌塘盆地是我国陆域上面积最大的海相盆地,前人对该盆地构造演化过程及其油气远景存在截然不同的观点。以最近完成的1︰ 5万地质调查为基础,本文再次讨论了南羌塘盆地构造演化过程及其油气远景。羌塘盆地中央近东西向的羌中隆起山脉将羌塘盆地分为南、北两部分。最近的研究表明,在寒武-奥陶纪之交,南、北羌塘块体被古大洋分隔开。北羌塘盆地南缘形成的晚三叠-早侏罗世的那底岗日组火山岩,其上部为流纹岩,表明晚三叠世南羌塘块体北向俯冲于北羌塘块体之下,在南羌塘块体北部形成了富含有机质的前陆盆地。南羌塘盆地南缘发育一套代表成熟海盆的侏罗纪复理石建造,表明南羌塘南部地区在早侏罗世具有被动大陆边缘的特点,随着南部班公-怒江洋的扩张,在南、北羌塘块体内分别沉积了侏罗纪-早白垩世的浅海相地层,以富含有机质礁灰岩为特征。盆地内部孕育了巨厚的晚白垩-古新世陆源碎屑岩,不整合覆盖于早期海相沉积岩之上,表明在该时期南羌塘块体逐渐从被动大陆边缘海相盆地转变为陆相盆地。新生代时期,印度与亚洲大陆持续汇聚,南羌塘盆地南向逆冲于拉萨块体之上,盆地内发育了多条大型逆冲断裂带,再次将盆地内部的上三叠统、侏罗系、白垩系富含有机质的海相礁灰岩深埋,这有利于油气资源的生成与保存。横跨南羌塘盆地的构造剖面显示盆地内部主要大型逆冲断裂带之间,构造变形较弱,发育宽缓的向斜构造,向斜核部发育新生代陆相地层,推测该新生代陆相地层之下保存有深埋的富含有机质的海相地层,因此,南羌塘盆地逆冲断裂带下盘和宽缓向斜核部区域可能具有良好的油气资源前景。     

中国青藏高原特提斯的形成与演化

青藏高原的形成是特提斯演化的结果。本文根据区域大地构造演化和沉积学证据,将青藏高原特提斯在时间上划分为3个阶段,即早期、中期和晚期。早期从震旦纪开始至奥陶-志留纪结束,这个阶段的大洋我们称作“原特提斯”。中期从泥盆纪开始至石炭-二叠纪结束,通常称这个大洋为“古特提斯”。晚期从二叠纪末、三叠纪初开始一直延续到第三纪早期,这个阶段的大洋通常被称作“新特提斯”。在空间上,青藏高原特提斯可以划分为3个区域相,即北区、中区和南区。上述3个阶段完全可以与空间上的3个区域相对应,原特提斯主要发育于北区,大洋消亡后的遗迹残留在青藏高原第5缝合带中,即西昆仑-阿尔金-北祁连缝合带。古特提斯主要发育于中区,大洋消亡后的遗迹残留在青藏高原第3、4缝合带中,即金沙江缝合带和昆仑南缘缝合带。新特提斯主要发育于南区,大洋主洋盆消亡后的遗迹残留在青藏高原第1缝合带中,即雅鲁藏布江缝合带,它的弧后盆地消亡后的遗迹残留在第2缝合带中,即班公湖-怒江缝合带。     

Paleogeographic regionalization of Triassic seas based on conodontophorids

Geographic differentiation of conodontophorids between northern and southern latitudes commenced in the Triassic since the early Induan. Cosmopolitan long-lived genera of predominantly smooth morphotypes without sculpturing were characteristic of high-latitude basins of the Panboreal Superrealm. Since the early Olenekian until the Carnian inclusive, this superrealm consisted of the Siberian Realm that extended over Northeast Asia and the Canada-Svalbard Realm that included the Svalbard Archipelago and northern regions of Canada. Throughout the Triassic period, conodontophorids characteristic of the Tethys-Panthalassa Superrealm spanning the Tethys and low-latitude zones of the Pacific were highly endemic, very diverse in taxonomic aspect, having well-developed sculpturing and tempos of morphological transformations. Distinctions between the Early-Middle Triassic conodontophorids from northern and southern zones were not as great as afterward, and their impoverished assemblages from southern Tethyan basins were close in some respects to the Boreal ones. Their habitat basins of that time can be grouped into the Mediterranean-Pacific and India-Pakistan realms. Hence, the extent of geographic differentiation of conodontophorids was not constant and gradually grew, as their taxonomic diversity was reducing in northern basins but relatively increasing in southern ones. The Panboreal e Tethys-Panthalassa superrealms of conodontophorids, which are most clearly recognizable, are close to first-rank paleobiochores (superrealms) established earlier for ammonoids and bivalve mollusks. Main factor that controlled geographic differentiation of Triassic conodontophorids was climatic zoning. Initially lower diversity of southern Tethyan assemblages points probably to relatively cooler water regime in the peri-Gondwanan part of the Tethys. The established patterns in geographic distribution of conodontophorids characterize most likely the real trend of their differentiation and evolution, i.e., the distribution area contraction prior to complete extinction at the end of the Triassic     

川西北地区上三叠统卡尼阶古喀斯特的发现及研究意义

在川西北地区绵竹汉旺、安县雎水剖面上三叠统卡尼阶海绵礁（丘）灰岩顶部发现古喀斯特;野外露头可见明显的花斑状构造以及蜂窝状溶孔,显微镜下可见泥晶化颗粒,喀斯特角砾以及喀斯特溶孔充填物,其中包括泥-亮晶方解石,生物碎屑以及陆源石英颗粒;根据露头岩性和显微薄片特征判断其属于早成岩期喀斯特;喀斯特成单层发育,之上覆盖化石丰富的黄色或黑色页岩,其中的菊石化石鉴定表明其为上卡尼阶底部沉积。该喀斯特是重要的等时界面,且可作为该地区上下卡尼阶的界线。喀斯特之上的岩性在汉旺和雎水有差异:在绵竹汉旺青岩沟剖面,喀斯特灰岩之上覆盖有黑色粉砂质页岩与生屑灰岩（如层状海绵灰岩、海百合灰岩）,在汉旺观音崖剖面,喀斯特面之上发育海绵丘灰岩及页岩,在安县雎水剖面,古喀斯特发育在滚落的海绵巨砾之上。综合研究表明,喀斯特的形成与早期龙门山的隆升以及卡尼期湿润气候事件在发生时间上非常相近,推测其成因与龙门山的隆升以及卡尼期湿润气候事件有关。     

Mega-monsoon variability during the late Triassic: Re-assessing the role of orbital forcing in the deposition of playa sediments in the Germanic Basin

The formation of the supercontinent Pangaea during the Permo–Triassic gave rise to an extreme monsoonal climate (often termed ‘mega-monsoon’) that has been documented by numerous palaeo-records. However, considerable debate exists about the role of orbital forcing in causing humid intervals in an otherwise arid climate. To shed new light on the forcing of monsoonal variability in subtropical Pangaea, this study focuses on sediment facies and colour variability of playa and alluvial fan deposits in an outcrop from the late Carnian (ca 225 Ma) in the southern Germanic Basin, south-western Germany. The sediments were deposited against a background of increasingly arid conditions following the humid Carnian Pluvial Event (ca 234 to 232 Ma). The ca 2·4 Myr long sedimentary succession studied shows a tripartite long-term evolution, starting with a distal mud-flat facies deposited under arid conditions. This phase was followed by a highly variable playa-lake environment that documents more humid conditions and finally a regression of the playa-lake due to a return of arid conditions. The red–green (a*) and lightness (L*) records show that this long-term variability was overprinted by alternating wet/dry cycles driven by orbital precession and ca 405 kyr eccentricity, without significant influence of obliquity. The absence of obliquity in this record indicates that high-latitude forcing played only a minor role in the southern Germanic Basin during the late Carnian. This is different from the subsequent Norian when high-latitude signals became more pronounced, potentially related to the northward drift of the Germanic Basin. The recurring pattern of pluvial events during the late Triassic demonstrates that orbital forcing, in particular eccentricity, stimulated the occurrence and intensity of wet phases. It also highlights the possibility that the Carnian Pluvial Event, although most likely triggered by enhanced volcanic activity, may also have been modified by an orbital stimulus.     

Albian oceanic anoxic events in northern Tunisia: Biostratigraphic and geochemical insights

Albian pelagic successions of the Nebeur area in northwestern Tunisia consist of radiolarian-bearing and organic-rich black shale beds, which represent the lower part of the Fahdene Formation. The carbonate content of the organic-rich beds ranges between 40 and 48%. Total organic carbon (TOC) analyses via Rock Eval pyrolysis yielded values ranging between 0.7 and 2.8% and a mixed marine/terrestrial origin. T_max values vary between 424 and 450 °C, indicative of submature to mature organic matter. High resolution planktic foraminiferal and radiolarian biostratigraphy suggest that the black shales beds span the mid- to late Albian, confined to the middle part of the Ticinella primula zone, upper Biticinella breggiensis zone and lower appeninica + buxtorfi zone. Episodes of organic-rich deposition in the “Tunisian Trough” are interpreted as being the sedimentary record of the global oceanic anoxic events OAE1b, c, and d respectively. Age-diagnostic radiolarian assemblages recovered from late Albian organic-rich black shales lie within the UA13–UA14 boundary biochronozones. The abundance of radiolarian and calcispheres (i.e. pithonella) within the black shales suggests high productivity periods and eutrophic conditions probably triggered by upwelling currents.     

The Cretaceous sedimentary history of the Pindos Basin (Greece)

The Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Pindos Zone in western Greece document the evolution of a Tethyan deep-water basin. New sedimentological and micropalaeontological studies reveal a complex basin history. Siliceous sediments with abundant radiolaria and organic-rich facies prevailed up to the early Late Cretaceous. Within the sediment-starved pre-Middle Cenomanian, marked black shale levels appear that are probably linked to oceanic anoxic events. At the change from the late Early to the early Middle Cenomanian, the sedimentary regime altered abruptly. The early Late Cretaceous is characterized by major calcareous redepositional events (orbitoline horizons) and often associated siliciclastic turbidite deposition (submarine-fan environments). In the late Late Cretaceous, carbonate supply increased rapidly, resulting in the evolution of a carbonate slope and basin-plain setting. Pelagic and allodapic limestones recorded basinwide blooms in planktonic foraminifera (elevata event) and a polyphase redepositional history that is interpreted to reflect the sensitivity of the basin to the tectonic evolution of Apulia.     

晚三叠世中卡尼期极端气候事件:研究进展及存在问题

作为三叠纪最显著的气候变化事件,全球性的卡尼期气候事件以幕次降雨量增多为特征,在西北特提斯洋地区表现较为明显,主要反映了从碳酸盐岩到黑色页岩的岩性变化,近年来这一地质事件在美国、中国、日本等地的卡尼阶地层中也有识别.其成因一直是学者研究的重点,有人认为是板块构造运动促使大气或大洋循环发生了变化,或是超级大陆聚合碰撞而触发大火成岩省喷发致使全球气候发生了紊乱,也有人认为是地球系统综合因素相互作用的结果.联系到中国西南部地区卡尼阶现状,认为超级季风、构造运动和卡尼期气候变化的关系值得深入研究,此外卡尼期气候事件过程中碳酸盐补偿深度上升问题、卡尼期黑色页岩事件反映的大洋生产力以及多幕卡尼期气候事件反映的气候波动事件等科学问题也是今后的研究中值得重视的.     

川西北地区晚三叠世卡尼期洪水事件沉积的碳、氧同位素记录*

川西北地区绵竹和安县等地发育的下卡尼阶岩性以灰色鲕粒灰岩、海绵礁丘粘结及障积成因的凝块石灰岩为主,上卡尼阶岩性突变为灰黑色页岩、粉砂岩,这与西特提斯地区卡尼阶在岩性和颜色上有很大的相似性。本次研究用激光微区碳、氧同位素测试方法分析了川西北地区卡尼阶中有孔虫、双壳类及腕足类化石壳体和植物叶片化石的碳、氧同位素,结果显示上卡尼阶化石中氧同位素值较下卡尼阶略有变小,上卡尼阶泥质粉砂岩中化石的碳同位素较下卡尼阶灰岩明显变小,可能反映了淡水输入的影响。结合研究区卡尼阶的沉积学特征,笔者认为川西北地区同样受到卡尼期洪水事件的强烈影响,潮湿气候条件下的淡水输入是造成川西北地区海绵礁（丘）大量周期性死亡及最后消失的影响因素之一。     

THE EVOLUTION OF LANPING RIFT BASIN FROM LADINIAN IN MIDDLE TRIASSIC EPOCH TO EARLY JURASSIC EPOCH

THE EVOLUTION OF LANPING RIFT BASIN FROM LADINIAN IN MIDDLE TRIASSIC EPOCH TO EARLY JURASSIC EPOCH     

First microbialites associated to organic-rich facies of the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (Northern Tunisia,Cenomanian–Turonian transition)

From northern Tunisia, small-scale well-preserved microbialites, contemporaneous to the global oceanic anoxic event 2 (OAE 2) are first reported on the southern Tethyan Margin. These microbialites are encased within the pelagic organic-rich black shales of the Bahloul Formation (Cenomanian–Turonian transition). Biostratigraphic, petrographic, and geochemical investigations carried out to constrain their biogenicity and genesis character led to consider them as thrombolites and stromatolites occurring in lenticular bioherms/biostromes and columnar bodies co-relatable to the global ‘filament event’ of the authors, close to the base of the Watinoceras ammonite zone. Abundant clotted micrite, cyanobacterial filaments, and algal tissues point to the key process of microbial carbonate precipitation and to a major role played by microbes in the stabilisation and subsequent lithification, which in turn favoured the preservation of the original structure of the microbialites. These microbially induced carbonate formations are considered as favoured by chemosynthetic fauna of bivalve molluscs and lithistid sponges which were able to host symbiotic microbial communities. The latter contributed to the precipitation of authigenic calcite and non-carbonate minerals (e.g. pyrite) fuelled by microbial activity under sulphate-reducing conditions. The carbonate body onset is considered to be initiated by seafloor instability due to syndepositional fault acting that induced the appraisal of uplifted tilted blocks within oxygenated waters but near the anoxic water masses. Generated depressions allowed the development of chemosynthetic-based communities. Deep faults related to Triassic salt domes acted as conducts for hydrocarbon and salt brine expulsion to the seafloor and the microbialite growth was enhanced by an abrupt uprising sea level under warmer conditions.     

Late Permian–early Middle Triassic back-arc basin development in West Qinling,China

The Late Permian–early Middle Triassic strata of the northern West Qinling area, northeastern Tibetan Plateau, are composed of sediment gravity flow deposits. Detailed sedimentary facies analysis indicates these strata were deposited in three successive deep-marine environments. The Late Permian–early Early Triassic strata of the Maomaolong Formation and the lowest part of the Longwuhe Formation define a NW–SE trending proximal slope environment. Facies of the Early Triassic strata composing the middle and upper Longwuhe Formation are consistent with deposition in a base-of-slope apron environment, whereas facies of the Middle Triassic Anisian age Gulangdi Formation are more closely associated with a base-of-slope fan depositional environment. The lithofacies and the spatial–temporal changes in paleocurrent data from these strata suggest the opening of a continental margin back-arc basin system during Late Permian to early Middle Triassic time in the northern West Qinling. U–Pb zircon ages for geochemically varied igneous rocks with diabasic through granitic compositions intruded into these deep-marine strata range from 250 to 234 Ma. These observations are consistent with extensional back-arc basin development and rifting between the Permian–Triassic Eastern Kunlun arc and North China block during the continent–continent collision and underthrusting of the South China block northward beneath the Qinling terrane of the North China block. Deep-marine sedimentation ended in the northern West Qinling by the Middle Triassic Ladinian age, but started in the southern West Qinling and Songpan-Ganzi to the south. We attribute these observations to southward directed rollback of Paleo-Tethys oceanic lithosphere, continued attenuation of the West Qinling on the upper plate, local post-rift isostatic compensation in the northern West Qinling area, and continued opening of a back-arc basin in the southern West Qinling and Songpan-Ganzi. Rollback and back-arc basin development during Late Permian to early Middle Triassic time in the West Qinling area explains: the truncated map pattern of the Eastern Kunlun arc, the age difference of deep-marine sediment gravity flow deposits between the Late Permian–early Middle Triassic northern West Qinling and the late Middle Triassic–Late Triassic southern West Qinling and Songpan-Ganzi, and the discontinuous trace of ophiolitic rocks associated with the Anyemaqen-Kunlun suture.     

The Cenomanian–Turonian boundary on the Saharan Platform (Tunisia and Algeria)

Several transects made of correlated stratigraphic sections and well logs have been constructed spanning southern Tunisia and the Algerian Sahara (Tinrhert) for comparison with earlier results obtained in the Saharan Atlas. The study is based on facies analysis, sedimentology, biostratigraphy focused on ammonites and foraminifers) as well as whole rock geochemistry (δ¹³C). These suggest that the entire northern Sahara Platform underwent marine flooding that commenced just prior to the onset of the global positive δ¹³C shift documented for the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary. This flooding occurred in two phases. The first phase is expressed by the deposition of deeper-water, light-coloured bioturbated mudstones overlying the shallow-water deposits comprising the local Cenomanian successions. But in some places in the Central Sahara (Hassi Messaoud area, Tihemboka Arch) as well as in the Saharan Atlas, shallow-water carbonates kept up locally with the relative sea-level rise to build up isolated carbonate platforms. The topographic lows or saddles between these areas could have been formed through differential accumulation rates. During the second phase, flooding resumed and black shales were deposited over the mudstones in the saddles. The occurrence of black shales in these saddles is limited to the northern edge of the platform (Saharan Atlas of Algeria, Gafsa Trough in southern Tunisia). On the platform, this phase is represented by the same kind of mudstones deposited during the first phase of the flooding (southern Tunisia), or by ammonite-rich chalks in the intra-cratonic basin of the Tinrhert (southern Algeria). Black-shale deposition ceased in the early Turonian. Based on the δ¹³C curve, the latest Cenomanian flooding of the Sahara Platform is roughly coeval with that documented for the US Western Interior.During the first phase of the transgression, that is before the occurrence of the large Whiteinella of the W. archeocretacea Zone in the black shale unit, planktic foraminifers are dominated by small globulose forms of the Hedbergella delrioensis type, associated with Heterohelicidae. Keeled forms (rotaliporids, dicarinellids) are scarce and always very small when present. Perhaps these dwarfed forms were adapted to the restricted environments of the extensive intracratonic seaways crossing the Saharan Platform to the Benoué Trough in Nigeria.     

Cretaceous paleomargin tilted blocks geometry in northern Tunisia: stratigraphic consideration and fault kinematic analysis

New stratigraphic data, lithostratigraphic correlations, and fault kinematic analysis are used to discuss the basin geometry and sedimentation patterns of the northeastern Tunisia during Cretaceous times. Significant facies and thickness variations are deduced along the northeastern Atlas of Tunisia. The NW-SE 80-km-long regional correlation suggests a high sedimentation rate associated with irregular sea floor. The fault kinematic analysis highlights N-S to NE-SW tectonic extension during Early Cretaceous. During Aptian–Albian times, an extensional regime is recognized with NE-SW tectonic extension. The Cenomanian–Turonian fault populations highlight a WNW-ESE to NW-SE extension, and Campanian–Maastrichtian faults illustrate an NW-SE extension. The normal faulting is associated to repetitive local depocenters with a high rate of sedimentation as well as abundant syntectonic conglomeratic horizons, slump folds, and halokinetic structures. The sequence correlation shows repetitive local depocenters characterizing the basin during Early Cretaceous times. All the above arguments are in favor of basin configuration with tilted blocks geometry. This geometry is shaped by major synsedimentary intra-basin listric normal faults, themselves related to the extensional setting of the southern Tethyan paleomargin, which persisted into the Campanian–Maastrichtian times. The results support a predominant relationship between tilted blocks geometry and sedimentation rather than E-W “Tunisian trough” as it was previously accepted.