140 A22 Late Proterozoic to Early Palaeozoic dia- mictites, tillites and associated glacigenic sediments in the Série Pourprée of western Hogar, Algeria R. CABY and J. FABRE Centre Géologique et Géophysique, Université des Sciences et Techniques du Languedoc, Place Eugéne Bataillon, 34960 Montpellier Cedex, France 1, Names ‘The tillites that are described are part of the ‘Serie Pourprée de l’Abnet’ (Rourcart & Monod, 1932; Follot, 1948; Lelubre, 1958; Caby & Moussu, 1967), molassic formation which unconformably rests upon deeply eroded ‘rystaline rocks belonging to the Pan-African fold belt of Western Hoggar, and which is preserved in residual basins and in a north-south trending graben. Fig 1. Schematic map of the Toureg shielé showing the tribution of upper to late Proterozoic cocks and the Pans ‘Afeican molasse. fesse west artican craton 2. Geographical distribution Tilltes and associated glacigenic sediments have been observed in many areas bordering the graben of Ouallen (Area), in Tahouhannet (Area II), In Semmen (Area IID), Bgatalis (Area TV) and Adafar (Area V) (see Figs. | and 2). [2] Malesie (sve pipe, nite) Late Paeaoic (mainly tosh (S39 pests peymacas ad olan Wotiteentotd pastes and gone poaid422. Late Proterozoic, Algeria 3-4, Structural framework and stratigraphic settiog Except for the basal “triad” sequence, the rock se- quences vary from area io area, with continental motassi Jacies being predominant, and this indicates a complex palacogeography and variable graben tectonics. Schematic logs (Fig. 3) summarise our knowledge of the stratigraphy of | the Série Pourprée, which reaches a thickness of 5000 m in Areal. A fracture cleavage is present in the more deformed zones (especially in Areas and III), while the beds are flat- lying in Areas I] and V, and clay minerals of these rocks are typically diagenetic (Clauer, 1976) 5. Lithostratigraphic description Several sequences through the diamictites of the Série Pourprée are described individually below, (A) The basal ‘triad’ sequence ‘This very peculiar sequence has been recognised in Areas I, If, II and IV. It rests upon erystalline rocks except north of Area III where it unconformably overlies an earlier clastic flysch unit, called the Lower Formation of In Semmen. This includes the lowermost record described as ‘Tillite P by Caby & Moussu (1967), which in fact most probably represents a duviatile conglomerate. In Areas I, IL and III the “triad” sequence is overlain by a composite unit (20-150m) including fine-grained, lazi- nated, green to khaki arkosic sandstones, white sandstones, siltstones and shales rich in diagenetic illite, khaki siltstones and micaceous limestones. The ‘triad’ sequence south of Areas IIT and IV consists of the following units from top to bottom. Fig.2. Simplified map of northwestern Hogear showing the location of graben and residual basins of the ‘Série pourpet to V refer tothe Areas mentioned in the text. 1 (3) 5-20m: This unit is exposed only in Area IL and. north of Area IIL. It is composed of white rhyolite acolian ashes or banded, cream to pink cherts with possible remnants of sponges. In Area Il, the deposits are typical rhyolitic ashes and ignimbrites (10m) that are derived from the InzZize caldera (Caby, 1967; Caby & Moussu, 1967), South of Area IY, rhyolitic flows also overlie limestones of Unit 2, South of Area I, glauconite has been ob- setved in white sandstones, which appear on top of this unit. A local tlloid with only quartzite peb- Dies, described as tillite IV by Caby & Moussu (1967), crops out east of Area IIL. The quartzite stones derive from @ quartzite unit that crops out immediately to the nertheast, (2) 550m: This unit is composed of fagey, violet, well-bedded limestoues, which are more or less dolomitic, grading upwards to a cream colour with purple clay bands. Bituminous, H,S-rich black limestone lenses also occur locally. Small columnar stromatolites and arborescent domes in which algal microstructures are well-preserved are also common in Areas I and III (Bertrand-Sarfati, 1968). When non-stromatolitic, the limestones aze always rich in detrital, angular sandy grains or gravels. When lying directly upon the basement, they are sometimes siliiied, mineralised in pri- ‘mary copper (Caby, 1971), or exhibit secondary breccia structures and contorted synsedimentary folds formed in @ glacial environment like those of the Taoudeni tillte (Biju-Duval & Gariel, 1969), with a spectacular network of fibrous calcite, and locally baryte, East of Area Il, they grade into a white carbonate diamictite with angulac blocks of granite and gnciss up to 1m, whici has been de- seribed as Tillite IIf by Caby & Mousse (1967). Basin-shaped down-folds of carbonate beds around blocks have been observed, and several layers of carbonates alternate with boulder beds, In the same area, elastic dykes of carbonate cut the granitic basoment. ‘This unit is strikingly similar to the carbonates overlying the diamictite level of the Taoudeni basin (Deynoux & Trompetie, this volume, A19). Ia ‘Area III contorted beds of limestone sometimes also appear within the tillitic horizons, in whic they are reworked as pebbles, (1) 5-25m: This unit, whieh is often badly exposed, is a soit, regular layer of diamictte deseribed as “Tillite IP by Caby & Moussu (1967). The matrix is made of an atkosic sandstone with more or less clay material. The unsorted clasts are mainly roun- dded, and frequently reach 0.50 in diameter, the larger ones being frequently concentrated at the extreme base. Sometimes the percentage of bould- cers decreases laterally and one bed grades into stratified, pink or green, pebbly arkosic sand- stones. A huge, very compact unstratified brec: ia, up to 500m thick, laterally replaces Unit 1Africa southeast of Area III (Fig, 2), The blocks up to 0,30 in size are angular, and are poorly cement- ed together by the litte arkosic matrix present. ‘They all derive from the Tassendjanet granites wnd gneisses, ‘The Adafar tilt, described by Fabre, Freulon & Moussu (1962), is also sometimes represented in the same horizon. This very spectacular tillite is beautifully exposed below the Tassli. IL consists, in 150m, of alternating lenses of unsorted pink arkosie sandstones with various amounts of stones, Towards the southeast, this tite was laterally re- worked to give conglomerates of the fuviatite type with smaller-sized pebbles, which are overlain by outliers of rhyo- litc ignimbrites erupted from the InZize caldera. In Ascas I, Hand I, the “triad” is overlain by a com- posite unit (20-150) including fine-grained, laminated ‘ereen to khaki arkosic sandstones, white sandstones, siltstones, and shales rich in diagenetic illite, Khaki siltstones ‘and micaceous limestones. Diffuse primary impregnations of ‘copper up to 2% have beca noted in the triad, when ex- tremely reduced in thickness (Caby, 1971, (B) The Tagengan't Formation Previously described as a lower unit (Caby & Moussu, 1967), this unit can now be regarded as the highly thickened, lateral equivalent of the basal “triad” sequence deposited in the subsiding proto-basin of Ouallen. It consists of a 1500m thick alternation of fine-grained or pebbly pink arkosic sand- stones, red shales with mud cracks, and numerous re- ‘current layers and Ienses of carbonates, strikingly similar to ‘those of Unit 2 (pebbly limestones, copper-bearing stromato- Fig. 3. Simpliied logs of the Série Pourprée and its equivals atthe odgo ofthe West African eraton. rb, ed beds; FAK. a2 litic limestones and cream-coloured dolomite on top). The green and khaki micaceous beds of the uppermost part are identical to those overlying the triad in the other areas. A typical section starts at the top with a 200m thick top ‘member of beds of limestone interbedded with red pelites, locally mixed with conglomerates. ‘An intermediate member, 200m thick, consists of red pelts similar to the Série Lie de Vin in Morocco. A lower member, 600m thick, is made up of fine-grained arkose in ‘beds 0.5-2m thick, regularly interbedded with red pelitic layers, sometimes with carbonates and conglomerate lenses (C) Fluvioglacial conglomerates and tilites of the Oual- len-In Semmen Group Many conglomerate lenses and horizons have been recorded in Areas I and III but most are poorly exposed. Pebbles are generally subrounded or well-rounded, generally 10-30cm in size, and the amount of arkosic green or purple matrix is highly variable. Some stones exhibit typical striations on flat new edges formed upon previously rounded boulders, and “fatiron’ shapes are frequent, (D) Varved claystones of Ouallen Poorly exposed varved clays the Tassli make up # ‘huge accumulation 150m thick west of Ouallen. The rocks are clays, green siltstones and mudstones with frequent, well- marked yarved bands on the millimetre to centimetre scale. Dropstones 1-Sem in size have been observed In one outerop the following sequence 100 ~200m thick was noted. @) Fine massive clay with rare pebbles of argillaceous volcanics; 7, hypovoleanic granites; T, Triad Sy, syenite; F, fossils. Tiites and glacigenic deposits are in black. that oemaon cones coninen GL, aco! acd eet ket PEELE sien Tabouhanet Aveo | aaaenh In Semmen s Cpe ee i Ww ‘cont. feel E | corti , | mm et —_ < dtm > molassic wgcaieen "Pate ross ‘ran ae) | (Fersigay" = 250 km > a | | ’ | | | 7 | | ae Poa we (Sate ‘aortas ER een |22. Late Proterozoic, Algeria sandstone, which are rounded or were broken just before deposition. @) Sandstones and clays in alternation, The sand- stones are coarse or fine, and poorly stratified The clays are well-bedded, and are interbedded With thin layers of sandstone, a few millimetres thick; contacts are sharp and irregular at the base with graded bedding evident. These are considered to be varvites (1) A sequence 10-20m thick of thin beds (a few to 20 centimetres) of sandstones and clays, with small conglomeratic lenses containing stones from the Série Pourprée and detrital potash feldspars, (E) Marine(?) and fuvioglacial tarbiditic conglomerates of the green fiysehoid formation of In Semmen Cotrelatable with (D} described above, this formation is composed of rhythmic, monotonous, green to Khaki siltstones and greywackes rich in fresh detrital biotite, with andesitic greywackes and breccias on top. Graded bedding and features typical of flysch have been observed. Lenses and layers of conglomerates appear abruptly in these beds, but disseminated pebbles are also present. No channels have ‘been observed in the excellent exposures, and such ‘conglomerates may be regarded as high-density turbidites possibly related to the fluvioglacial conglomerates described in Section €. (F) The upper tlle of Oualten with erratic blocks (> 500m) ‘This unit, possibly equivalont to that described in Section $ (E) appears on top of the succession of this highly subsiding graben. It consists of several layers and lenses with subrounded erratic blocks up to 2m? in alternation with green oF red pebbly arkosic sandstones of varied granulometry, with a local carbonate cement. Among the stones, the higher levels contain up to 90%, of typical fine-grained red rocks of the ‘Tagengsa’t Formation, which crops out 10-30km to the west. The erratic blocks, which appear in the whole unit, ace composed of granites and more frequently limestones of the basal ‘triad’ sequence. The matrix of the higher level observed in only one station, is composed of a litle red clay with disseminated sandy grains and angular gravels. 6. Boundary relations ‘The contacts between diamictites and the overlying rocks of the Série Pourprée, where observed, show conformable relations. However, the triad sequence lies tunconformably on crystalline rocks or on the flysch units (Fig. 3). In Adafur (Area V) no unconformity is visible in the iamictite sequence itself; it seems to rest unconformably on the basement. The beds are unconformably overlain by horizontal Ordovician sandstones. 7. Bedding and sedimentary structures, The basal ‘triad’ sequence Unit 3 diamietites in Area LIL are coreetatable with rhythmic siltstones and greywackes of the In Semmen green 43 flyschoid formation. Conglomerates within it are probably high-density turbidites. In the limestone member of Unit 2, which grades into the carbonate diamictites described as Tillte LIL (Caby & Moussu, 1967), dropstones occur. Unit | is replaced laterally southeast of Area III by unstratified breccia or by the thick Tagengan’t sandstones, shales and carbonates, ‘The Adatartilite of Area V (Fig. 2) contains beds of conglomerate, fine-grained sandstone and siltstone, some decimetres oF metres thick. No sharp boundaries hetween the beds exist, nor are the beds graded internally. The stones of the conglomerates are unsorted and the matrix is sandy or clayey. Striated stones, common at the base of the sequence, ddectease upwards and disappear completely in the middle of the sequence. These lower beds are considered to be of slacial origin and the upper beds of fuvioglacial origin Jn the Tassendjanet and Egatalis areas two lines of blocks, resting unconformably on the basement, are ‘considered to be palzeomoraines deposited by Alpine-type alaciers. The first measures Skm x 2km, the second, 2km x 0.5km. At the second locality the palacomoraine is preserved in a palaeovalley trending along a northeast~ southwest fault 8, Description of stones In the basal ‘triad’ sequence, the diamictite of Unit 3 ‘contains stones similar to Precambrian quartzites cropping ‘out to the northeast. Dropstones in the carbonate layers of Unit 2 are angular blocks of granite and gneiss up to 1m? in diameter. Unit 1 contains unsorted stones, mainly rounded and up to 0.5m in size, The blocks of the palacomoraines in the Tassendjanet and Egatalis areas are sorted and sometimes angular, and include marble and dolomite, and ‘enciss and rhyolite, respectively, all provided by the surrounding rocks. Blocks of many cubie metres are present. The stones of the Adafar glacigenic beds (Area V) fre rounded to angular, from 2 to 30cm in size, and show typical striations, fractures and pressure marks in the lower part of the sequences they are set in a rather sparse mattix ‘of arkosic sandstone or silt. The stones of the overlying, conglomeratic beds are identical but lack striations. These include quartz, jasper, siliceous rocks, microgranites, granites and angular pebbles of sedimentary rocks. ‘The luvioglacial Ouallen-In Semmen group of Arcas Tl and III (Fig. 2) contains subrounded or well-rounded pebbles 0.1-0.3m in diameter, set in an arkosic matrix. Some stones are strated, especially on new flat surfaces formed on previously rounded boulders, and flat-iron shapes In the varved claystones of Ouallen, small stones of green mudstone or sandy siltstone, sometimes broken before deposition, and fresh detrital feldspar occur. In the upper diamictite of Ouallen, 90% of the stones originate from the Tagengan’t Formation; these are red, fine-grained rocks which occur 10-30 km to the west. Erratic blocks of granite from the basement and limestones of the basal “triad” sequence also occurAfrica 10. Age Chronostrattgraphic age ‘The only available chronostratigraphic data on the Série Pourprée are based on algal microstructures in the ‘carbonates of the “triad” sequence. J. Bertrand-Sarfati (1968, ‘ext and Pl 1) published a description of them. Algal filaments shown in his Pl. I, Fig. are very similar to Epiphyton, Mictostromatolites and filaments (represented by his Figs.4 and 5) could very probably be Rivwlariaceae (Pri- ‘morivularia?) as described by Edhorn or Anderson (1977) These algae built stromatolites in the Lower Cambrian sys- tem of Newfoundland (Canada), These fossils therefore suggest a very late Proterozoie~early Palaeozoic age for these beds. Similar siromatolites in pink limestones also overlie the Fersigatillte described by Biju-Duval & Gariel (1969). Geochronometric dates The Série Pourprée unconformably overlies Pan- Aftican late orogenic granites dated at 560 10Ma (UPD and Rb/Sr) (Allegre & Caby, 1972) Ignimbrites and rhyolites of the InZize caldera have given an excellent date of 519+ 10Ma (RbySr isochron on whole rocks) on the other hand, Clauer (1976) has given an Rb(Sr date of 487 + 18 Ma on clay minerals from the green and red clays and mudstones overlying the “iiad! east of| Area 2, in which the nature of the clay minerals indicates a lack of subsequent metamorphism, and this age is inter- preted as that of early diagenesis by Clauer: ‘The similarity of facies between fossilferous middle Cambrian rocks of southeast Morooce and the green—khaki units described above has also been pointed out by Caby «1972. Correlation with other tlltes of northwest Africa ‘The “triad” sequence is strikingly similar in litho- logy to the triad sequence of the Taoudeni basin (Deynoux & Trompette, this volume, A19), especially to the eastern- ‘most outerops of the Fersiga arca described by Biju-Duval & Gariel (1969) and visited by one of us (R. Caby). Caby & “Moussu (1967) have already proposed such a correlation. If we accept the age of 595 + 43Ma obtained from green shales, overlying the Jbeliat tllite of the Taoudeni basin (Clauer, 1976) as the age of deposition of this unit, a contradiction appears ‘Three hypotheses can be argued. ) That the tllite is diachronous as proposed by Deynowx, Trompetie & Clauer (1978) and more than 50 Ma younger in the western Hoggar than 250m to the west in the Taoudeni basin however, such an important diachronism over such a short distance seems to us unlikely (ii) That these tlltes correspond to two different stages of @ major placial period as in the Dwyka tlaciation. The eastern ice masses, located in an ‘orogenic zone at a higher level would remain longer than on the Western platform, RDS dates are calealated with 4 = 7Rb= 1.42% 10° am? 14 (ii) That the isotopic dates do not reflect the time of deposition and that both units are synchronous, as demonstrated by the striking similarity of facies. of the ‘triad’ in both areas. Fluvioglacial deposits with a pink arkosic matri, particularly rich in limestone and dolomite stones up to 30cm in size, which were derived from the equivalents of the Alar Group deposited on the west African craton, also crop cout west of the Iforas massif in a north-south -trending graben along the Tilemsi valley in north Mali (the Nigritian Uilltes described by Karpoff, 1960), In this area, one of us (R.C.) believes that these beds are necessarily younger than the peralkaline ring complexes of the Kidal type and have been dated at $80Ma (Ducrot et al, 1979) but predate the emplacement of nepheline syenites and carbonates along the eryptic suture, Gravelle (1961) described residual basins of molassic eposits, also visited by the authors in Central Hoggar, in ‘which boulder beds and varvites of possible glacigenic origin Were observed. In another small basin (Abankor area), rounded blocks of non-local origin up to 0,$0m in size have been observed near the base of the suecession in an uunstratitied and unsorted pink arkosic matrix 12-13. Interpretation of origin and palacoenvironment, and interpretation of palzeoclimates The lower tilltes of the ‘triad’ sequence, with a common imbrication of regular basal tillite, mainly of the oulder-clay type, and limestones, suggested ephemeral uniform conditions ut a low level on an already peneplaned crosional surface of more than 20000 kan”. The association of glacigenic deposits and carbonate rocks, as discussed by Biju-Duval & Gariel (1969) and Deynoux & Trompette (1976), is in many respects comparable to that of the Taoudeni basin. Although exposure conditions do not permit us to distinguish striated pavements, we suggest that the continental ice-sheet, which was developed 250m to the west in the Taoudeni basin (Biju-Duval & Gariel, 1969; Deynoux & Trompette, 1976), must have temporarily spread out in western Hoggar before the initiation of horst~graben tectonics. We have stated that the other tilites, recorded higher in the molassic deposits, suggest mountain-type gla- ciers related to the main uplift of the Pan-Alrican belt. The 1500m thick varved claystones of Ouallen suggest the de- velopment of a quiet lake in this area, while the Muvioglacial conglomerates with turbidites and greywackes from north of Area TIT imply open sea to the north in middle Cambrian time. We know this is the case in the Ougarta and Anti- Atlas regions. 16, References Alltgre, C.J, & Caby, R. 1972. Chronologie absolue du Précambrien de TAbaggar occidental. C.- Acad Sei, Paris, D, 275, 2095-8 Bectrand-Sarfai, J. 1968, Découverte de micro-organismes| ans la Sire pourprbe. Bull. Soe. gol. Fr. 10, 569-76 * Biju-Duval, B. & Gariol,O. 1969. Nouvelles observations sur les phinoménes glacaies “eocambriens” de la bord nord ‘de a synéclse de Taoudeni enre Je Hank et le TanearauttA22. Late Proterozoic, Algeria us Sahara occidental, Palaeogeoe. Palacocim, Palaeoscal 6, 283-35. Boureart, J. & Monod, Th. 1932. L'Adrar Abnet, con- tributions & Tétude physique d'un district Saharien. Ren Geogr, phys. Geol. dyn. V, 107-48 and 223-82; V, 245-96 Caby, R. 1967. Existence du Cambrien& faiés continental (Série pourprée” “Nigriven") et importance du voleanisme et du magmatisme de eet Age ay Sabara centeal (AlgSric). Cx ead. Se. Paris, D, 264, 1386-9, ‘Gaby, R. 1971. Niveauxet immpréunations cuprifres du Pré- ‘cambrien supésicur et de la Serie Pourprée au Tanezroult ‘ovientl (Sahara alsin). Publ. Ser. gol. 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