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The Miocene formations in the northern edge of the Tizi Ouzou basin: paleoenvironments and biostratigraphic study of Late Burdigalian to Langhian marls in the Abizar crescent structure

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Abstract

This study examines the sedimentary cycles of the so-called “post-nappe” Miocene in the Tizi Ouzou basin. The objective is to highlight facies transitions that signify changes in depositional environment conditions, facilitating the reconstruction of paleoenvironmental evolution. Concurrently, the study aims to refine the age determination of the studied formations by relying on the content of planktonic foraminifera. Furthermore, determining the paleoenvironments during this specific period will provide a better understanding of the events characterizing this phase in the geological history of the Tizi Ouzou Basin. This contribution is crucial for a global understanding of, among other things, the offshore basin, which is the subject of numerous academic studies and petroleum exploration efforts. The post-nappe Miocene (post-thrust Miocene) of the Tizi Ouzou Basin is mainly characterized by two distinctive sedimentary cycles: a basal cycle, purely detrital, represented by a thick series of conglomerates and sandstones, underlies a transgressive marine cycle represented by marls and sandstone slabs. The latter begins with thin sequences of sandy marls and sandstone slabs, and then gradually evolves into very thick sequences of crumbly and indurated blue marl capped by sandstone slabs. These different facies are marked by various indicators of depositional environmental conditions, such as hydrodynamic features, climatic patterns, and burrow traces, which allow for a precise determination of the succession of paleoenvironments that gave rise to these deposits. The various burrow traces provide a strong indication of how organisms interact with changing paleoenvironmental conditions. Burrow traces are crucial in paleoecology as they provide information about the life habits of fossil organisms and are valuable for paleoenvironmental studies (Savrda CE., Palaios 10:565–577, 1995). They are studied and subdivided into ichnofacies reflecting the conditions of the organism’s living environment, in terms of hydrodynamics and distance from the coast. The vertical distribution of planktonic foraminiferal species allowed us to conduct a biostratigraphic study, providing precise ages of the formations. In addition, we deduced a pelagic index from the ratio of planktonic and benthic foraminifera. Indeed, the spatial distribution of benthic foraminifera is strongly influenced by bathymetric conditions, making them optimal indicators of paleoenvironments. Their frequency makes it possible to directly deduce the paleobathymetric conditions of depositional environments. To sum up, the transgressive cycle represented by marls in the Tizi Ouzou basin shows various lithofacies indicating changes in paleoenvironments. Ichnofacies provide more details on this change, while the pelagic index reflects paleobathymetry evolution. The age of the formations is determined through a biostratigraphic study.

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Notes

  1. AlKaPeCa (Alboran, Kabylia, Peloritans, and Calabria) (Bouillin, et al. 1986) is a micro-continent located 10 Ma ago within the Tethyan domain between the Iberian and European plates to the north and the African plate to the south.

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  1. Laboratory of Sedimentary Environment, Mineral and Hydric Resources of Algeria Eastern, Department of Geology, University of Echahid Cheikh Larbi Tebessi, Tébessa, Algeria

    Jugurta Abizar & Nabil Defaflia

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Mouloud Mammeri, Tizi Ouzou, Algeria

    Iddir Ahmed Zaid

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Abizar, J., Defaflia, N. & Ahmed Zaid, I. The Miocene formations in the northern edge of the Tizi Ouzou basin: paleoenvironments and biostratigraphic study of Late Burdigalian to Langhian marls in the Abizar crescent structure. Arab J Geosci 17, 83 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-024-11881-z

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