Jalila Saadi¹, Faouzi Daha², Ehsen Zghal³, Chokri Jallouli⁴, Mongi Chikhaoui⁴

(1) INRST, Tunis, Tunisia
(2) Office National des Mines, Tunis, Tunisia
(3) Faculté des Sciences, Sfax
(4) Faculté des Sciences, Tunis

ABSTRACT: Paleogeography in the northern - central part of the tunisian Atlas, Aptian-Albian passage

In the northern - central part of the Tunisian Atlas, Aptian -Albian unconformity corresponds to tectono-eustatic phenomena surimposed to diapiric stage especially on El Kef - Kasserine area. Halocinetic phenomena are subsequent to differential loading of thick heterogeneous lower Cretaceous series and their progadation toward the NW. This stage has been stopped and drowned by deep-marine albian deposits. In Tajerouine area, we recognize slope albian calcareous turbidites showing a small extension. Triassic extraclasts in mass flow facies are eroded from salt tongues at the top Aptian times. The series is in synchrony with the beginning of late Cretaceous orogen causing a flexion of the south tethyan margin (Souquet et al., 1997) and an individualisation of two pelagic basins separated by uplift. The inner basin corresponds to "nappe's domain" where deposits are more carbonated than those of outer basin that are more argillaceous "Tunisian Trough". Gravimetric study lead to consider of El Kef Triassic body as a dissymmetric deep-rooted salt wall that has been thrusted to the SE during late Cretaceous tectonics.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90906©2001 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado