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

  • AGIC 2017
  • Published:
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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geo-Resources Laboratory, Water Research and Technologies Center Borj-Cedria, Soliman, Tunisia

    Chahreddine Naji, Zayneb Amri & Mohamed Gharbi

  2. Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, Bizerte, Tunisia

    Chahreddine Naji & Zayneb Amri

  3. Department of Geo-exploration Techniques, Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Amara Masrouhi

  4. CNRS, IRD, INRA, Coll France, CEREGE, Aix Marseille University, Aix-en-Provence, France

    Olivier Bellier

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  1. Chahreddine Naji
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  2. Amara Masrouhi
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  3. Zayneb Amri
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Correspondence to Chahreddine Naji.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Geology of North Africa and Mediterranean Regions

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Naji, C., Masrouhi, A., Amri, Z. et al. Cretaceous paleomargin tilted blocks geometry in northern Tunisia: stratigraphic consideration and fault kinematic analysis. Arab J Geosci 11, 583 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3930-7

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