A Sequence Stratigraphic Synthesis of the North African Mesozoic

Abstract

A synthesis of the sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the Mesozoic succession of North Africa is presented. Two chronostratigraphic correlation panels have been constructed at roughly right angles to each other across North Africa, in approximately E‐W and NNW‐SSE orientations. The panels illustrate the way in which sedimentology and hydrocarbon geology vary across the continent through time. The Mesozoic succession is divided into two sequences (NA 6, Early Triassic to Middle Cretaceous; and NA 7, Middle to Late Cretaceous), for both of which sequence boundaries, maximum flooding surfaces and component systems tracts are defined. The systems tracts are of tens of Ma duration and approximate to the second‐order cycles of previous publications. New palaeogeographic reconstructions for North Africa for the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous are illustrated, and a new sea level curve based on the panels and palaeogeographic reconstructions is compared to other published sea level curves.

Detrital mode, mineralogy and geochemistry of the Sidi Aïch Formation (Early Cretaceous) in central and southwestern Tunisia: Implications for provenance, tectonic setting and paleoenvironment

“…Barremian-Aptian deposits are widespread in outcrops and the subsurface throughout North Africa (Guiraud et al, 2005). Provenance studies have shown that the Barremian-Aptian sediments were derived from the southern parts of studied areas (e.g., M'rabet, 1987;Carr, 2003).…”

Seismic stratigraphy and deformational styles of the offshore Cyrenaica (Libya) and bordering Mediterranean Ridge

“…2008). A late Cretaceous regional high subsidence rate, possibly associated with the Sirte collapse (Rusk 2001; Carr 2003), is effectively recognized in the Atlas mountains (Zouaghi 2005) and in Libya's Kufrah, Murzuq, Ghadami and Tripolitania basins. Through Cenozoic times, the progressive shortening between the African continental margin (Cyrenaica) and the Hellenic arc (Kempler & Garfunkel 1994; Rosenbaum et al .…”

“…(1988); this technique recommends interpreting the depositional sequences on seismic sections by identifying discontinuities at the base of reflection terminations and (3) stratigraphy as derived from onshore observations and drilling (Duronio et al . 1991), and regional geological synthesis (Carr 2003; Bosworth et al . 2008).…”

“…An integrated approach, based on seismic stratigraphy analysis and previous geological synthesis (Duronio et al . 1991; Carr 2003; Bosworth et al . 2008), leads us to document three mega sequences within the Cyrenaica foreland depozone.…”

Prediction of diagenesis and reservoir quality using wireline logs: evidence from the Upper Triassic (Raethian) fluvial reservoir tags - Toual field, Gassi Touil Area, SE Algeria

“…The Mesozoic succession is divided into two sequences. The first began from Triassic to middle Cretaceous with continental to shallow marine deposition (which includes the studied reservoir), where the second extend to late Cretaceous with shallow marine carbonates [5]. The Cenozoic formations are represented by a variety of clastic sediments from various Mio-Pliocene depositional environments ( [2], [3]).…”