Evidence of halokinetic sequences in Albian deep carbonates around Triassic bodies in the ElKef-Tajerouine area, saliferous province of NW Tunisia

Abstract

Facies and morphostructural enable the recognition of salt-sediment interaction close to the Triassic evaporites of the NE-SW elongated structures of the Kef-Tajerouine area, NW Tunisia. Unconformity-bound growth strata associated with passively rising salt diapirs defined as halokinetic sequences have been recognized within the Debadib-Ben Gasser Triassic salt body (El Kef-Tajerouine area), at the Triassic contact at Guern Halfaya, at J. Slata, and the South of J. Harraba. Salt tectonics was active during the period spanning from the late Albian in the salt province of NW of Tunisia. Facies analyses of Albian sediments revealed that the diapirism appears mainly in the deep facies of the Fahdene Formation. The halokinetic Albian sequences are formed owing to the variations in sediment-accumulation rate versus diapir-rise rate and roof thickness. The halokinetic sequences above and beside the Triassic salt bodies suggest passive diapirism at this time interval. Composite halokinetic sequences bounding unconformities correlate to periods of slower deposition (transgressive system tract).