An overview of the Late Cretaceous–Eocene positive inversions and Oligo-Miocene subsidence events in the foreland of the Tunisian Atlas: Structural style and implications for the tectonic agenda of the Maghrebian Atlas system

Khomsi, Sami; Jemia, M. Ghazi Ben; Lamotte, Dominique Frizon de; Maherssi, Chokri El; Echihi, Oussema; Mezni, Riadh

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2009.02.027

Cited by 95 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…By reference to the Ionian Basin, the Jeffara represents a very proximal margin. However, the two basins are separated by the so-called Pelagian Sea, which recorded a complex evolution including a huge Cenomanian to Paleocene extensional deformation along NW-SE faults (Jongsma et al, 1985;Khomsi et al, 2009), connected southeastward to the Cretaceous Sirt System ( Fig. 1).…”

Section: Integration In the Geodynamic Context Of The Mediterraneanmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Late Triassic–early Jurassic block tilting along E–W faults, in southern Tunisia: New interpretation of the Tebaga of Medenine

Raulin

Lamotte

Bouaziz

et al. 2011

Journal of African Earth Sciences

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Section: Integration In the Geodynamic Context Of The Mediterraneanmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2), as well as in the whole Atlas system of northern Africa (e.g. Frizon de Lamotte et al, 2000Bracène and Frizon de Lamotte, 2002;Khomsi et al, 2009), which is inherited from a rim basin bounding the margin of the Alpine Tethys (Fig. 11).…”

Section: Integration In the Geodynamic Context Of The Mediterraneanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Triassic–early Jurassic block tilting along E–W faults, in southern Tunisia: New interpretation of the Tebaga of Medenine

Raulin

Lamotte

Bouaziz

et al. 2011

Journal of African Earth Sciences

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“…Samples details are given in Table 1. The Flexure in the South Eastern frontal region of the Intermediate Atlas, and the onset of incipient extension in the Pantelleria-Linosa-Malta Rift System were the dominant factors controlling the Oligo-Miocene development of the study area Khomsi et al, 2009). The Atlas I contractional phase is also characterized by angular unconformities of middle Eocene age identified on the flanks of anticlines from 2D reflection seismic sections and sealed by a pre-Oligocene unconformity (Frizon de Lamotte, Michard, & Saddiqi, 2006;Khomsi et al, 2006).…”

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…The location of the cross-section of Figure 3 is shown as well as sample number (1 to 20). Formation thicknesses and stratigraphic sample locations are also given in Figure 4b ultimately caused reverse reactivation of the Zaghouan Fault in the study area (Burollet, 1967;Guiraud, 1998;Khomsi et al, 2009;Morgan et al, 1998). AT.I = Atlas I tectonic event, AT.II = Atlas II tectonic event.…”

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Bouaziz, Barrier, Soussi, Turki, & Zouari, 2002;Khomsi, Bedir, Soussi, Jemia, & Ismail-Lattrache, 2006;Khomsi et al, 2009;Morgan, Grocott, Richard, & Moody, 1998), the thermal evolution of the Pelagian Platform, currently located to the east of the Tunisian Atlas, and its tectonic relation to the Tunisian Furrow remains poorly understood. Bouaziz, Barrier, Soussi, Turki, & Zouari, 2002;Khomsi, Bedir, Soussi, Jemia, & Ismail-Lattrache, 2006;Khomsi et al, 2009;Morgan, Grocott, Richard, & Moody, 1998), the thermal evolution of the Pelagian Platform, currently located to the east of the Tunisian Atlas, and its tectonic relation to the Tunisian Furrow remains poorly understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Basin tectonic history and paleo‐physiography of the pelagian platform, northern Tunisia, using vitrinite reflectance data

et al. 2018

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Constraining the thermal, burial and uplift/exhumation history of sedimentary basins is crucial in the understanding of upper crustal strain evolution and also has implications for understanding the nature and timing of hydrocarbon maturation and migration. In this study, we use Vitrinite Reflectance (VR) data to elucidate the paleo-physiography and thermal history of an inverted basin in the foreland of the Atlasic orogeny in Northern Tunisia. In doing so, it is the primary aim of this study to demonstrate how VR techniques may be applied to unravel basin subsidence/uplift history of structural domains and provide valuable insights into the kinematic evolution of sedimentary basins. VR measurements of both the onshore Pelagian Platform and the Tunisian Furrow in Northern Tunisia are used to impose constraints on the deformation history of a long-lived structural feature in the studied region, namely the Zaghouan Fault. Previous work has shown that this fault was active as an extensional structure in Lower Jurassic to Aptian times, before subsequently being inverted during the Late Cretaceous Eocene Atlas I tectonic event and Upper Miocene Atlas II tectonic event. Quantifying and constraining this latter inversion stage, and shedding light on the roles of structural inheritance and the basin thermal history, are secondary aims of this study. The results of this study show that the Atlas II WNW-ESE compressive event deformed both the Pelagian Platform and the Tunisian Furrow during Tortonian-Messinian times. Maximum burial depth for the Pelagian Platform was reached during the Middle to Upper Miocene, i.e. prior to the Atlas II folding event. VR measurements indicate that the Cretaceous to Ypresian section of the Pelagian Platform was buried to a maximum burial depth of~3 km, using a geothermal gradient of 30°C/km. Cretaceous rock samples VR values show that the hanging wall of the Zaghouan Fault was buried to a maximum depth of <2 km. This suggests that a vertical km-scale throw along the Zaghouan Fault pre-dated the Atlas II shortening, and also proves that the fault controlled the subsidence of the Pelagian Platform during the Oligo-Miocene. Mean exhumation rates of the Pelagian Platform throughout the Messinian to Quaternary were in the order of 0.3 mm/year. However, when the additional effect of Tortonian-Messinian folding is accounted for, exhumation rates could have reached 0.6-0.7 mm/year.---

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Polyphased Inversions of an Intracontinental Rift: Case Study of the Marrakech High Atlas, Morocco

et al. 2018

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The High and Middle Atlas intraplate belts in Morocco correspond to Mesozoic rifted basins inverted during the Cenozoic during Africa/Eurasia convergence. The Marrakech High Atlas lies at a key location between Atlantic and Tethyan influences during the Mesozoic rifting phase but represents today high reliefs. Age and style of deformation and the mechanisms underlying the Cenozoic inversion are nevertheless still debated. To solve this issue, we produced new low‐temperature thermochronology data (fission track and [U‐Th]/He on apatite). Two cross sections were investigated in the western and eastern Marrakech High Atlas. Results of inverse modeling allow recognizing five cooling events attributed to erosion since Early Jurassic. Apart from a first erosional event from Middle/Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, four stages can be related to the convergence processes between Africa and Europe since the Late Cretaceous. Our data and thermal modeling results suggest that the inversion processes are guided at first order by the fault network inherited from the rifting episodes. The sedimentary cover and the Neogene lithospheric thinning produced a significant thermal weakening that facilitated the inversion of this ancient rift. Our data show that the Marrakech High Atlas has been behaving as a giant pop‐up since the beginning of Cenozoic inversion stages.

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An overview of the Late Cretaceous–Eocene positive inversions and Oligo-Miocene subsidence events in the foreland of the Tunisian Atlas: Structural style and implications for the tectonic agenda of the Maghrebian Atlas system

Cited by 95 publications

References 37 publications

Late Triassic–early Jurassic block tilting along E–W faults, in southern Tunisia: New interpretation of the Tebaga of Medenine

Late Triassic–early Jurassic block tilting along E–W faults, in southern Tunisia: New interpretation of the Tebaga of Medenine

Basin tectonic history and paleo‐physiography of the pelagian platform, northern Tunisia, using vitrinite reflectance data

Polyphased Inversions of an Intracontinental Rift: Case Study of the Marrakech High Atlas, Morocco

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