Accepted Manuscript

Upper Albian to Lower Turonian deposits and associated breccias along the Dahar
cuestas (southeastern Tunisia): Origin and depositional environments

Krimi Mabrouk, Ouaja Mohamed, Zargouni Fouad

PII: S1464-343X(17)30322-9
DOI: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.08.005
Reference: AES 2987

To appear in: Journal of African Earth Sciences

Please cite this article as: Krimi Mabrouk, Ouaja Mohamed, Zargouni Fouad, Upper Albian to
Lower Turonian deposits and associated breccias along the Dahar cuestas (southeastern Tunisia)
Origin and depositional environments, Journal of African Earth Sciences (2017), doi: 10.1016/
j.jafrearsci.2017.08.005

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 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
1 Upper Albian to Lower Turonian deposits and associated breccias along the
2 Dahar cuestas (southeastern Tunisia): Origin and depositional
3 environments

4 Krimi Mabrouk1*, Ouaja Mohamed2, Zargouni Fouad1

5
1
6 UR11ES13, Géomatique, Géologie Structural et Appliquée, Faculté des sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis
7 El Manar, 2092, Tunis, Tunisie.

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8
2
9 Department of Earth Sciences,Faculté of Sciences of Gabes,University of Gabes, City of Riadh, Zirig, 6072
10 Gabes.
11

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12 Email: * mabrouk_krimi@yahoo.com, fouadzargouni@yahoo.fr, mohamedouaja@yahoo.fr.

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*
13 Corresponding author: E-mail address: mabrouk_krimi@yahoo.com, phone number:

14 0021626270085.

15 Abstract
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16 The carbonate Zebbag Formation of Upper Albian to Lower Turonian age which outcrops
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17 along the Dahar cuestas (south eastern Tunisia) includes several breccia intervals. The

stratigraphic hierarchy of these breccia levels led to achieving a detailed sequential analysis
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19 within a spectrum of depositional environments extending from subtidal to inner to middle

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20 ramp settings. Six major transgressive/regressive sequences make up the stacking of the
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21 elementary sequences beginning with transgressive and/or storm wave breccias capped by

22 desiccation and/or collapse breccias. The stratigraphic evolutionary history of the breccia
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23 facies are interpreted as the result of the interplay between eustatic and tectonic factors. This
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24 model is in accord with the tectonic activities common during Upper Albian-Lower Turonian

25 responsible for the sequences onlapping.

26 Keywords: Breccias, Stratigraphy sequence, Upper Albian-Lower Turonian, Dahar cuestas,

27 south eastern Tunisia.

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29 Introduction

30 The Upper Cretaceous deposits in southern Tunisia out crop along the Dahar cuestas

31 (Busson, 1967; Ben Youssef et al., 1985a-b; Bouaziz, 1995; Ouaja, 2003) which represent the

32 north eastern part of the Saharan Platform. The Dahar Plateau gently dipping (1-2°) west ward

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33 (Bouaziz et al., 1990; Bodin et al., 2010) is bordered to the north by the Chott depression, to

34 the east by the Jeffara Basin and to the west by the sand dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental

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35 (Great Eastern Sand Sea) (Fig. 1).

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36 Since the late 1980s, the Upper Cretaceous deposits in the Dahar Domain has been a

37 major topic of several works dedicated to the geological mapping of Southern Tunisia by the

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38 Tunisian National Office of Mines (Ben Youssef et al., 1985a-b; Ghanmi et al., 1993; Ben
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39 Ferjani et al., 1993; Zouari et al., 1996). The recent sedimentological and stratigraphic study

40 of the Upper Albian-Lower Turonian Zebbag Formation by Grosheny et al. (2013) and Khila
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41 et al. (2016) has documented several breccia intervals. The analysis and interpretation of the
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42 origin of the breccias consisted of studying the composition and structure of the breccias and
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43 determinating their depositional or post depositional origin (Richter and Füchtbauer, 1981;

44 Hogrel-made, 1988; Flügel et al., 2010; Quijada et al., 2014; Sue O’Connor, 2017;
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45 Shanmugam, 2017; Barnes, 2017). This paper focuses on the analysis of the brecciated levels

46 with emphasis on depositional environments.

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47 In this respect, we aim 1) to identify the stratigraphic position of the breccias, 2) to

48 interpret their depositional environments, 3) to discuss the relationships between breccia

49 facies and tectonic activity through a depositional model during the Upper Albian-Lower

50 Turonian times.

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53 1. Geological setting

54 The Dahar escarpment of southern Tunisia comprises a thick Mesozoic succession, which

55 extended from Matmata village to Tunisian-Libyan border (Fig. 1). The Upper Albian-Lower

56 Turonian deposits are represented by the Zebbag Formation comprised of three Members

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57 (Fig. 2) (Busson 1967; Ghanmi et al., 1993; Abdallah et al., 2000; Ouaja et al. 2004; Bodin et

58 al., 2010) which arefrom base to top:

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59 • Radhouan Member: This was first described by Ghanmi and Potfaj (1994), at the

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60 Jebel Foum Rhadhouan in Kebili area. It consists of hemimetric to metric

61 bioturbated and/or laminated dolomite horizons.

62 •
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Kerker Member: This was also named by Ghanmi and Potfaj (1994) which is
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63 exposed at Oued Kerker in the Kebili area and corresponds to a thick argillaceous

64 carbonate Unit with lenticular gypsum layers. A Late Cenomanian age has is
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65 attributed to this member based on the presence of the faunal associations including
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66 ammonites: Neolobitesaff. Fourtani, Nmedeninensis; bivalve and gastropods

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67 Nuculucfdestefani, Strombusincerlus (Zouari et al., 1996; Abdallah et al., 2000;

68 Razgallah et al., 1994).

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69 • Gattar Member: This member was introduced by Fournié (1978) for outcrops at

70 Jebel Ben Younes (Gafsa area) comprising a thick brown massive dolomite (20-50
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71 m) forming a regionally extensive geological unit in central to southern Tunisia.

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72 However, Bodin et al. (2010) subdivided the Zebbag Formation into four members, starting

73 with hydrodynamic breccias in channels with coarse clastic deposits named as Charenn

74 Member. This Charenn Member is overlain by the Radhouan and Kerker and Gattar

75 Members. The most recent study (Khila et al., 2016) on the Upper Albian to Lower Turonian

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76 resulted in the subdivision of the Zebbag Formation into five transgressive/regressive

77 sequences (Fig. 2) based on detailed sedimentological and stratigraphic analysis.

78 2. Methods

79 In order tostudy the stratigraphic setting of the breccia units and their sedimentological

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80 implication, a detailed stratigraphic field analysis combined with systematic sampling in four

81 sections was undertaken. The four sections (Dkhilet Toujan (TOJ), Ksar Aouled Mahdi

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82 (KOM), Guermessa (GUR) and Boulouha (BOL) were chosen because they show a large

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83 variety of breccia units (Table 1; Fig. 1). Figure 2 shows the lithostratigraphic column of the

84 Zebbag Formation in the Dahar Domains based on field work and litho-chronostratigraphic

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85 information collected from previous works (Ben Youssef et al., 1985a-b; Ghanmi et al., 1993;
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86 Grosheny et al., 2013 and Khila et al., 2016), as well as information on breccias from the

87 previous studies (Richter and Füchtbauer, 1981; Hogrel-made, 1988; Flügel et al., 2010;
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88 Quijada et al., 2014,, 2017; Shanmugam, 2017; Barnes, 2017). Table 2 summarizes the main
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89 breccia facies units and their stratigraphic position. The information is derived from facies
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90 analysis based using depositional feature and petrographic analyses. The breccias were

91 characterized using lithology, structure, texture and matrix analyses.

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92 3. Breccias stratigraphic hierarchy and paleo environment interpretation

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93 The detailed facies analyses of stratigraphic succession through the four field sections
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94 measured within the Upper Albian-Lower Turonian units along the Dahar escarpment of

95 Southern Tunisia (Fig. 3), allow us to identify five breccia facies units (hydrodynamic, storm

96 wave, seismic, gravity and chemical breccias). The stratigraphic positions of the breccias are

97 summarized in Table 2.

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99 3.1. Description

100 3.1.1. Hydrodynamic processes and storm wave breccias

101 These breccia facies have occur at the lower parts of the Radhouan Member and overly the

102 major Upper Albian unconformity. The transgressive and storm wave breccias form a

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103 decimetre thick unit (0.1 – 0.3 m) in several stratigraphic positions in the Upper Albian-

104 Lower Turonian deposits (Fig. 4c). Transgressive breccias are organized in thin continuous

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105 beds and overly the irregular surfaces, which characterize a transgressive interval. The storm

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106 wave breccias units have generally lenticular forms (Fig. 4b) and exhibit many hydrodynamic

107 structures (e.g. ripple marks, HCS…) (Fig. 4a). Transgressive and storm wave breccias are

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108 constituted by quartz grains, debris of fossils and laminated dolomite fragments within a clay
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109 sandstone matrix (Fig. 4d).
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110 3.1.2. Tectonic processes

111 The seismite breccias facies have been detected in the Radhouan Member associated with
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112 carbonate marl deposits (Richter and Füchtbauer, 1981; Flügel et al., 2010; Quijada et al.,
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113 2014, Shanmugam, 2017). It forms a continuous and irregular brecciated unit with a
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114 maximum thickness of 50 cm (Fig. 5b) of dolomitic units with different sizes held by calcite

115 cement (Fig. 5d). The brecciated elements are organized into folded forms suggesting the
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116 presence of several seismite structures (Shanmugam, 2017) (Fig. 5c) (e.g. boudins, convolute
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117 structure, ball and pillow structures).The lower and upper limits of the brecciated layer show a

118 gradual transition between a laminated dolomite and brecciated unit (Flügel et al., 2010;

119 Quijada et al., 2014).

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122 3.1.3. Gravity processes

123 The slump breccias were identified in the middle part of Kerker Member and are a result of

124 movements of unconsolidated sedimentary mass deposits in water due to steep slope failure

125 (Shanmugam, 2017). The slump movements are triggered by tectonic activities due to the

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126 presence of normal and opposite faults (Fig. 5a). In detail, the brecciated elements associated

127 with slumping are generally monogenic (consisting of rock debris currently under

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128 lithifications) showing a wide variety of sizes (heterometric). These angular elements are

129 interconnected by calcite cement.

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130 3.1.4. Chemical solution processes

131
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These breccia facies have been mapped at different stratigraphic positions in the Upper
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132 Albian-Lower Turonian deposits. The collapse breccias are generally associated with
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133 desolutions of evaporate and calcite minerals (Fig. 6c) during a long interval emersion (Flügel

134 et al., 2010; Quijada et al., 2014) however, desiccation breccias are associated with algal
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135 lamination in a supratidal environment (Fig. 6a) in a hot and arid climate with extended
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136 periods of emersion. Collapse breccias are constituted by dolomitic elements constituted of

137 heterometric angular blocks (Fig. 6b) interconnected by a silty clay matrix (Fig. 6d) however,
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138 desiccation breccias are composed by small thickness of algal lamination which are generally
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139 redistributed by erosion during the transgressive interval.

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140 3.2. Origin

141 The essential part of the interpretation of breccias is the compositional analysis of the

142 fragments and matrix to determinate their depositional or post depositional source (Richter

143 and Füchtbauer., 1981; Dozet., 1996). For this raison, it is essential to compare fragments and

144 matrix of the breccias with the associated unbrecciated deposits.

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145 The seismite and slumped breccias are interbedded with a carbonate layers. Their

146 brecciated fragments display very similar with the underlying unbrecciated carbonate (Sue

147 O’Connor., 2017; Shanmugam, 2017). Thin sections show two generation of calcite matrix

148 which linked the brecciated fragment, it seems to be the same kind as the bonding phase of

149 underlying carbonate (Fig. 5d). These characteristics suggest that these carbonate breccias are

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150 derived from carbonate layers during lithification by earthquake or slump movement process

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151 (Shanmugam, 2017).

152 The evidence of vanished evaporates in the brecciated layer suggests that carbonate

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153 breccias may be the result of evaporate-solution collapse breccias during a long emersion

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154 period (Flügel et al., 2010; Quijada et al., 2014). In this sense, the brecciated layer show some
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155 features typical of collapse breccias such as angular clasts and preservation of stratigraphic

156 order of former intra-evaporate beds (Eliassen and Talbot., 2005; Warren., 2006; Flügel et al.,
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157 2010). Likewise, brecciated elements and underlying carbonate layer show the presence of

158 many cavities explained by solution feature and precipitation of calcite process (Fig. 6c).
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159 However, the matrix that packed fragments is composed by a pseudosparitic calcite and silts
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160 with quartz inclusion (Fig. 6d). The contact of brecciated levels with underlying series is
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161 generally irregular (Quijada et al., 2014).

162 Transgressive and storm wave breccias are composed by heterogenic elements which
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163 include carbonate fragments derived from erosion of coestal and lamellibranches debris (Fig.
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164 4d) associated with grained quartz and sometime with a polygonal desiccation cracks.

165 Bonding phase is generally composed by silt sandstone with quartz grains (Flügel et al., 2010;

166 Quijada et al., 2014). The storm wave and transgressive levels are overlain the irregular surface

167 which is due to erosion.

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169 3.3. Paleo environment interpretation

170 3.3.1. Subtidal environment

171 Desiccation breccias are associated with stromatolitic and algal lamination dolomite. Collapse

172 breccias are related to interbedded gypsum and dolomitic layer. Desiccation process and

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173 gypsum solution indicate the chemical process (evaporation, precipitation) under a hot and

174 arid climate in supratidal environment. This character allows us to interpret the presence of

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175 collapse and desiccation breccias as a supratidal to Sebkha environment.

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176 3.3.2. Peritidal environment

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177 The transgressive and storm wave breccias show a various elements (Quartz grains, bioclastic
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178 fragments, stromatolitic dolomite fragment…). The wide variety of constitution element of

179 transgressive and storm wave breccias and the presence of ripple marks and HCS indicate the
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180 high hydrodynamic energy which affect the depositional environment. The irregular lower

181 limit of transgressive breccias level indicates a transgressive period in a peritidal environment.
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182 3.3.3. Inner to middle ramp

183 Seismite and slumped breccias affected sediment after deposition but before their
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184 consolidation. These breccias have affected greenish yellowish dolomite interbedded with
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185 argillaceous horizons. The carbonate nature of element and the micritic carbonate matrix and
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186 the presence of several fossils indicate inner to middle ramp environment deposition.

187 3.4. Sequence stratigraphy analysis

188 All breccias facies described in full measured cross-section along the Dahar escarpment allow

189 us to organize them in shallowing upward sequence. The most complete sequence begin by

190 transgressive and storm wave breccias and terminates by desiccation and collapse breccias

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191 (Fig. 7). This elementary sequence leads to subdivide the upper Albian-Lower Turonian

192 deposits into six transgressive-regressive sequences.

193 • The first sequence in the Radhwan Mb. is limited at its base by a major unconformity

194 characterized by incision of many valleys which marked the sequence boundary (SB).

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195 This surface is overlain by the transgressive breccias with quartz grain and carbonate

196 debris elements which showed the transgression interval. The maximum flooded

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197 surface is placed at the seismite breccias which overlays a fossiliferous limestone by

198 dolomite with algal lamination bed capped by desiccation breccias.

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199 • The second sequence in the Radhouan Mb. begins by an irregular transgressive bed

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200 which overlays the dolomite with algal lamination and desiccation breccias. At the top
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201 of Radhoun Mb. a seismic level, which overlays rudists dolomite bed, shows the

202 maximum flooded surface. This seismic level is overlain by a small thickness bed of
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203 stromatolitic dolomite which is marked by microbreccias. This characterizes the

204 beginning of a new sequence. The absence of desiccation breccias explained by

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205 erosion of regressive term of the sequence or by the no regression emergence.

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206 • The third sequence which corresponds to the lower part of Kerker Mb. begins by the
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207 irregular surface marked by transgression microbreccias overlain by bioturbated

208 limestone. The maximum flooded surface is placed at the small thickness seismic bed
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209 which overlays the fossiliferous limestone. The regression part of this sequence
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210 corresponds to the evaporitic level interbedded by dolomite which is affected by a

211 small thickness seismic level.

212 • The fourth sequence which corresponds to the middle part of Kerker Mb. begins with

213 an irregular surface marked with transgression microbreccias overlain by bioturbated

214 dolomite. The maximum flooded surface is placed at the dolomite marl interbedded

215 and largely slumped. The big slumped level is overlain by a collapse breccias bed.

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216 • The fifth sequence which corresponds to the upper part of Kerker Mb. begins by

217 erosive surface marked by transgression breccias. This surface has been overlain by

218 the most transgressive marine deposits. This sequence is topped by desiccation

219 breccias under the Gattar Mb. The absence of seismic or slumped breccias can be

220 explained by the absence of tectonic activity.

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221 • The sixth sequence which corresponds to the all Gattar Mb. begins by the irregular

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222 surface at the base of the Gattar Mb. and topped by algal lamination dolomite with

223 nodular chert and desiccation breccias. The middle part of Gattar Mb has been

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224 affected by slump movements which correspond to the maximum flooded surface.

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225 4. Discussion
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226 4.1. Tectonic Control
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227 The upper Albian lower Turonian characterized a transition tectonic period by the change

228 from north word to north east wards movement of the North Africa (Guiraud and Maurin
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229 1992; Bouaziz 1995; Bodin et al., 2010). This change is marked in the Dahar escarpment by
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230 the major Albian unconformity expressed by the overlay of Permian Tebaga high by upper

231 Albian Radhawan Mb. This unconformity shows an inversion of subsidence area with the
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232 subsidence of the Permian Tebaga High and the uplift of the Tataouine basin (Bouaziz et al
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233 1989; Ben Ayed 1993; Zouari 1995; Bodin et al., 2010) and the installation of the Upper
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234 Cretaceous Toul el Hira High with the N-S orientation.

235 The tectonic activity during upper Albian lower Turonian generate the reactivation of E-W

236 and N-S fault (Bouaziz 1995; Ben Ayed 1993) which affected the instability depositional

237 environment expressed by seismic and slumped breccias. The fault reactivation has been also

238 reinforced and/or triggered the regression interval.

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239 4.2. Elementary sequence and depositional model

240 The sequence stratigraphy analysis through the breccias facies association allows subdividing

241 the Upper Albian-Lower Turonian deposits into six transgressive – regressive sequences. The

242 most complete sequence begins by storm wave and transgressive breccias which generally

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243 overlays irregular surface and topped by desiccation and/or collapse breccias. The maximum

244 flooded surface is generally related to slump and/or seismite levels (Fig. 7). The Upper Albian

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245 Lower Turonian sedimentation was controlled both by eustasy (Sea level fluctuations) and

246 tectonic activity. In fact, the architecture of the elementary breccias sequence is organized by

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247 transgression interval followed by the reactivation of fault which triggered the regression

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248 interval (which can be probably a forced regression). Fig. 8 pictures the model of depositional
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249 environment which shows the different evolutionary stage of breccias facies.

250 4.2. Correlation and lateral evolution

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251 The Upper Albian to Lower Turonian deposits in the Dahar domain is characterized by a
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252 facies deposits extending from subtidal environment to middle ramp organized in a
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253 shallowing upward elementary sequences. These sequences are related to the reactivation of

254 the sedimentary floor accidents showing the abundance of tectonic and gravity breccias.
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255 The correlation of cross-sections along the Dahar escarpment shows a thickness reduction of
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256 Upper Albian Lower Turonian deposits from north toward south.
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257 In the northern part of studied area (Toujan and Ksarould Mehdi section), the cross-sections

258 are much more complete with six sequences but they thin southward and levelling in “onlap”

259 of S1, S2 and S3 mainly on the Boulouha section where S4 (upper part of Kerker Mb)

260 overlays the Aptian Douiret clays Fm (Fig. 9).

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261 The S6 which corresponds to the Gattar Mb. shows the same thickness along the Dahar

262 escarpment and the little thickness variation can be interpreted as erosion process.

263 4.3. Comparison with previous studies

264 Previous sedimentological and stratigraphic studies of the Upper Albian Lower Turonian

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265 deposits of the Dahar escarpment (Ben Youssef et al., 1985a-b; Ghanmi et al., 1993; Zouari et

266 al., 1996) have led to subdivide the Zebbag Formation into three members (Rahdouan, Kerker

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267 and Gattar), however Khila et al (2016) subdivide them through detailed sequential analysis

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268 into five sequences which may be the most complete study of Upper Albian Lower Turonian

269 facies deposits.

270
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This study presents some difference compared with Khila et al (2016) study. the S2 sequence
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271 of Khila et al (2016) study which extends from the upper part of Radhouan Mb. to the
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272 evaporate level of Kerker Mb. have been subdivided into two sequences (S2,S3) with the

273 absent of the regressive term of S2 which explained by erosion or no deposition (Fig. 9).
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274 The second difference is related to the sequence boundary of S4 placed at the slumped level in
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275 the upper part of S3 in Khila study and placed at the dissolution breccias level in our work
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276 and we consider that the slumped level is related to regressive term of S4 (Fig. 9). The

277 correlation of cross-sections shows the same interpretation.

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278 Conclusions
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279 The detailed analysis of the Upper Albian-Lower Turonian deposits in the Dahar escarpment

280 of southern Tunisia shows the presence of several types of breccias (seismite breccias, slump

281 breccias, desiccation and collapse breccias, storm wave and transgressive breccias). We have

282 organized these breccias into six sequences which begin with a transgressive or/and storm

283 wave breccia unit and topped by desiccation and/or collapse breccias. These breccias are

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284 related to the reactivation of EW and NS faults during the transitional tectonic period which

285 changed from north word to north east wards movement of the North Africa (Guiraud and

286 Maurin 1992; Ghanmi et al., 1993; Ben Ferjani et al., 1993; Zouari et al., 1996).

287 The architecture of the breccia sequences is mainly related to the reactivation of fault which

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288 affects depositional environment. We have interpreted the influence of tectonic activity in a

289 model which shows the different evolutionary stage of depositional environment.

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290 Acknowledgements

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291 The research was supported by Tunisian ministry of higher education and Tunis El Manar

292 University. Authors are grateful to the editor and the anonymous reviewers for their helpful

293
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comments that have contributed to the improvement of the manuscript quality.
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344 • Fournnié, D., 1978. Nomenclature lithostratigraphique des séries du Crétacé supérieur au
345 Tertiaire en Tunisie. Bull CentresRechExplorProd Elf-Aquitaine 2:97–148

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346 • Ghanmi, M.,Potfaj, M., Ben youssef, M., andZargouni, F., 1993.Notice explicative de la carte
347 géologique d’OgletMertebaà l’échelle de 1/100000. Institut National de Recherche Scientifique de

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348 Tunisie et ServiceGéologique Nationale de l’Office Nationale de Mines, Tunisie, 32p.
349 • Ghanmi, M., Potfaj, M., 1994. Notice explicative de la carte géologique de Kébili à l’échelle

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350 de 1/100000. Office national des Mines
351 • Grosheny, D., Ferry, S.,Jati, M., Ouaja, M., Bensalah, M., Atrops, F., Chikhi-Aouimeur, F.,
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354 • Guiraud, R., Maurin, J.-C., 1992. Early Cretaceous rifts of Western and Central Africa: an
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357 jurassico-crétacé de la zone de Tardet (Pyrénées-Atlantiques): Relation avec la dynamique de la zone

358 Nord-Pyrénienne(Tome I). Thèse,Université de Pau et des Pays de l’ Adour, Pau,268p.
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359 • Khila, A.,Ouaja, M.,Mzoughi, M.,Zargouni, F., 2016. Sedimentology and sequence
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360 stratigraphy of Zebbag formation (Upper Albian-Lower Turonian) from Saharan platform
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374 • Richter, D.K.,Füchtbauer, H., 1981.Merkmale und Genese von Breccien und
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383 • Zouari, H., 1995. Evolution géodynamique de l’Atlas centro-méridional de la Tunisie:
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387 Echelle: 1/100 000.

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388 Figures caption
389
390 Figure 1: Location of The study area in southern Tunisia. 1: Upper Albian; 2: Cenomanian-
391 Turonian; 3: Coniacian-Santonian; 4: Campanian-Maastrichtian. Cross section: TJO; Toujan
392 section; KOM; KsarAouledMahdie section; GUR; Geurmessa section; BOL; Boulouha
393 section.

394 Figure 2: Detailed stratigraphic log of the Zebbag Formation showing the stratigraphic

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395 sequence evolution and stratigraphic position of breccias.

396 Figure 3: Panoramic view of Gurmessa section showing the different Member of Zebbag

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397 Formation.

398 Figure 4:Photographs showing storm wave and transgressivebreccias (a), a typical storm

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399 wave sequence with breccia at base (b), breccias elements with fossils debris (c), transgressive
400 micro-breccias at the top of Radhouan Mb. in KsarAouled Mahdi area (d), thin section with
401 cross polarized ligh of storm wave breccias showing the presence of bioclast debris (B;

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402 bioclast C; micrite matrix).
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403 Figure 5:Photographs showing slump and seismite breccias, (a) slump structure affected the
404 Kerker Mb. in DkheletToujan area, (b), seismite affected Radhouan Mb. in Guermessa area,
405 (c), convoluted lamination interpreted as a seismite feature, (d), thin sections cross polarized
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406 light of seismite showing two types of micrite-matrix (C1; calcite coming from dissolution of
407 carbonate affected by seismic shocks, C2; calcite coming from unconsolidated sediment).
408
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409 Figure 6:Photographs showing slump and seismite breccias, (a), desiccation breccias affected
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410 Radhouan Mb. in Guermessa area, (b), collapsebrecciasaffected Kerker Mb. in the Guermessa
411 area, (c), geode rimmed by calcite crystals, (d), thin section of the matrix of a dissolution
412 breccia (cross polarized light) showing matrix of quartz and calcite (C; calcite matrix Q;
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413 quartz matrix).

414 Figure 7: Most complete elementary sequence showing the presence of transgressive and/or
C

415 storm wave breccias at the base of sequence and desiccation and/or collapse breccias at their
416 top, the maximum flooded surface refer to slump breccias. 1: bioclastic limestone, 2: storm
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417 wave breccias, 3: slump breccias, 4: seismite breccias, 5: desiccation breccias.

418 Figure 8: Interpretation of evolutionary stage of elementary sequence succession based on

419 tectonic activity interval. A: transgressive interval expressed by transgressive and storm wave
420 breccias. B: Fault activity and inception of creation of slope due to fault movement. C:
421 regressive interval expressed by the uplift of the studied area and development of collapse and
422 desiccation breccias.

423 Figure 9: Lateral and vertical evolution of Upper Albian-Lower Turonian sequences and their
424 “onlapping” against the Touil el Hira High.

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425 Table caption
426
427 Table 1:GPS coordinates of the filed cross-sections.
428
429 Table 2: Description of breccias facies and their stratigraphic postion.

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1 Table 1: GPS coordinates of the filed cross-sections.

Filed cross-sections Coordinate maps Geological maps

X Y (1/100 000)
Dkhilet Toujan (TOJ) 33273703 10083457 Matmata (91)
Ksar Aouled Mahdi (KOM) 33065637 10095932 Ghomrassen (99)
Guermessa (GUR) 32590445 10150379 Douiret (107)
Boulouha (BOL) 32524385 10184616 Douiret (107)
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1 Table 2: Description of breccias facies and their stratigraphic postion.

Breccias facies Description Stratigraphic position

Storm wave breccias
Small thickness lenticular At the base and at the top of
level, hydrodynamic Radhouan Mb.
structures constitute by
quartz grains and debris of
fossils, clay sandstone
matrix.

Transgressive breccias
Small thickness levels,
irregular surface, constitute
by quartz grain and
laminated dolomite
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Radhouan and Kerker Mb.
At the base of Gattar Mb.

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fragments, clay sandstone
matrix.
Seismite breccias Small thickness level, Radhouan Mb.

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irregular contact with Lower part of Kerker Mb.
underlying and overlying
levels, seismite features,

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calcite matrix.
Slumped breccias 2m to 5m thick levels, Middle part of Kerker and
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irregular contact with Gattar Mb.
underlying and overlying
levels, monogenic and
heterometric elements,
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normal and opposite faults,

calcite matrix.
Collapse breccias 1m to 3m thick level, Middle part of Kerker Mb.
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generally associated with

solution of evaporate
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minerals, monogenic
elements, silt clay matrix.
Desiccation breccias Very small thickness level Radhouan Mb.
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(0.5 to 2 cm), monogenic Lower part of Kerker Mb.

elements, calcite matrix. At the top of Gattar Mb.

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Highlights

• The breccias levels are identified in Upper Albian-Lower Turonian deposits and are

interpreted in terms of paleoenvironment settings.

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• Their origins allow us subdividing of the Upper Albian-Lower Turonian deposits into

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six transgressive-regressive sequences.

• The tectonic activity and eustasy which affected the Upper Albian-Lower Turonian

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deposits are taken into account the evolutionary model reconstruction.

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