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Aptian-Albian Transition in Central Tunisia:

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Journal of Earth Science, Vol. 25, No. 5, p. 787–798, October 2014 ISSN 1674-487X
Printed in China
DOI:10.1007/s12583-014-0478-7

Aptian–Albian Transition in Central Tunisia:

Tectonosedimentary and Paleogeographic Records
Imen Marco1, Ferid Dhahri*1, 2, Taoufik Haji1, Noureddine Boukadi1
1. University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Tunis 2092, UR11ES15 Sedimentary Environments,
Petroleum systems and reservoirs characterization
2. University of Gafsa, Faculty of Sciences de Gafsa, Gafsa 2112, Tunis

ABSTRACT: The Aptian–Albian series are characterized, in Tunisia, by several variations in subsi-
dence rates and records discrete unconformity between Albian and Aptian in central and southern
Tunisia. In central Tunisia Upper Aptian regressions were sustained until the beginning of Albian
with a low sea level stand. In this paper, wells data gathered from central Tunisia exposes well ex-
pressed Aptian–Albian hiatus associated to several partial sedimentary gaps, erosion surface and un-
conformities and correlated with the “Aptian Crisis” highlighted at the Tethyan scale. This latter is
coeval with an extensional regime in concurrence with the African rifting responsible for halokinesis
movements and magmatism and leaded to the establishment of paleoreliefs as much as tilted blocks
and half grabens in central Tunisia. Deposition shows regional hiatus and lateral transition from plat-
form facies to south to, open marine facies to the north. The structural configuration of this domain
within normal faulting, horsts and grabens leaded to the establishment of several distinct basins with
different subsidence rates. Discordances occur specially around and upward uplifted blocks and
emerged land and are especially associated with Aptian reef, karsts and shallow marine facies. They
are unconformably overlaid by the transgressive open marine facies of Albian–Cenomanian series
acknowledged as source rock in Central Tunisia. In addition, the reefal Aptian facies is considered a
potential reservoir rocks in central Tunisia and it is frequently associated to mineralization and Hy-
drocarbure reservoirs.
KEY WORDS: central Tunisia, Aptian, Albian, Hiatus, well data.

0 INTRODUCTION In this paper we use data from petroleum wells of Central

The Tunisian Atlas corresponds during Cretaceous times
to a basin characterized by dominant N to NE-trending exten-
sional tectonics regime subsequent to the break-up of Gond-
wana and plates convergence. During the Aptian–Albian times
halokinesis movements and magmatism occurred in concur-
rence with the African rifting (Guiraud et al., 2005) and leaded
to the establishment of paleoreliefs as much as tilted blocks and
half grabens in central Tunisia (Gharbi et al., 2013; Jaillard et
al., 2013; Rigane et al., 2010; Zouari et al., 1999; Boukadi and
Bédir, 1996; Boukadi et al., 1992; Martinez et al., 1991; Bu-
rollet and Ellouz, 1986). The Aptian–Albian magmatic events
are attributed to Cretaceous mantle plume activity highlighted
also in the eastern Mediterranean (Segev et al., 2005), in Cen-
tral Africa (Guiraud et al., 1992; Maurin and Guiraud, 1990)
and correlated with these highlighted in the Tunisian eastern
margin (Laridhi-Ouazaa and Bédir, 2004).
*Corresponding author: feriddhahri@yahoo.fr
© China University of Geosciences and Springer-Verlag Berlin
Heidelberg 2014
Manuscript received September 21, 2013.
Manuscript accepted January 27, 2014.
Tunisian atlas, to illustrate the Aptian–Albian tectono-
sedimentary and paleogeographic records with emphasis to the
general evolution of the Atlassic chain of Tunisia. The study
area covers large part of central Tunisia and match with the
northern part of the central Atlassic domain (Fig. 1). The Zag-
houan thrust, the Mrhila-Cherichira fault and the N-S axis con-
stitutes three main paleogeographic faults that underlain this
area and was controlled the structure and the deposition distri-
bution since Mesozoic times. Despite the Triassic evaporates,
the earliest series are Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous in age.
Alongside the study area, outcropping series are from Jurassic
to recent (Fig. 1). Their outcrop is linked to the hanging walls
of paleogeographic faults of the Zaghouan thrust and the N-S
axis. The Triassic evaporites occur mainly along thinned and
weakened cover structures as much as Koudiat Halfa, Koudiat
Hamra, the N-S axis and Cherichira fault.
Along the central atlas of Tunisia, the Aptian–Albian period
shows remarkable tectono-sedimentary records and deserves de-
tailed investigations. This work based on lithostratigraphic corre-
lation of the Aptian–Albian series in central Tunisia attempt to
offer new precisions on the Aptian–Albian transition with empha-
sis of tectonic and paleogeographic controls.

Marco, I., Dhahri, F., Haji, T., et al., 2014. Aptian–Albian Transition in Central Tunisia: Tectonosedimentary and Paleogeographic
Records. Journal of Earth Science, 25(5): 787–798. doi:10.1007/s12583-014-0478-7
788
Figure 1. Location of the study area with wells and correlation lines on a simplified geologic map of North-Central Tunisia.
1 GEOLOGICAL SETTING
1.1 Paleogeography
In Central Tunisia a shallow marine environment zone
was established during the Lower Aptian (Ben Ferjani et al.,
1990). This zone acknowledged as the “Central Tunisian
Platform” extend to the south until the Gafsa Basin with a
broad shallowmarine area and it is characterized to the north
by an emerged land subsequent to the Aptian regression
called the Kairouan Island southern Kairouan (Marie et al.,
1982; Burollet, 1956). This area is acknowledged as a hemi-
pelagic transition zone between the shallow marine domain
and the Tunisian Trough northward (Fig. 2). During the Up-
per Aptian this area is characterized by shallow marine envi-
ronment and by the establishment of a carbonate platform
facies (Lehmann et al., 2009). An uppermost Aptian genera-
lized marine regression enlarges emerged area leading to
Aptian–Albian series thickness reduction in central and
southern Tunisia (Marie et al., 1982; Burollet et al., 1983).
Reefal limestones occur along subemerged uplifted basins
and karstification can take place in emerged carbonated sur-
faces. These conditions are favorable for formation of poten-
tial Aptian reservoirs rock in central Tunisia and for minera-
lization as much as the Pb-Zn deposits of Jebel Trozza which
was the basis for old mining operations.
Imen Marco, Ferid Dhahri, Taoufik Haji and Noureddine Boukadi
During the Albian–Cenomanian times, the North-Central
Tunisia constitutes an open marine environment dotted with
Triassic dome heights (Lehmann et al., 2009). An Upper Al-
bian transgression (Bismuth, 1973) leads to clay and carbonates
deposition which came to overlain the Aptian carbonated Serj
Formation. Some local anoxic basin are established and seems
to be favorable for source rock formation in correlation with
the Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event well known at Tethyan scale
and in central Tunisia (Lehmann et al., 2009; Heldt et al.,
2008).
1.2 Lithostratigraphy
The Aptian deposition in Central Tunisia is mainly cha-
racterized by carbonate and detritic facies (Figs. 2 and 3) which
evolves along paleohighs to reef carbonate facies of the Serj
Formation then to open marine facies to the north (claystones
and marlstones). This deposition is especially thick in north
Central Tunisia with a Lower Aptian hemipelagic facies sub-
sequent to the sea level rise and an Upper Aptian shallow ma-
rine environment characterized by carbonate platform facies
(Lehmann et al., 2009).
The Serj Formation deposited in widespread carbonate
platform at central Tunisia scale, outcrops in many localities. It
shows considerable variations in thickness to reach 450–600 m
Aptian–Albian Transition in Central Tunisia: Tectonosedimentary and Paleogeographic Records
Figure 2. Aptian lithofacies map of Tunisia with the loca-
tion of the study area (modified after Tlatli, 1980).
around subsident areas and became thin along the N-S axis
(W8 and W9) and missing around the Kairouan Island. It com-
prises three units: limestones (base unit), an alternation of marl
and limestones (middle unit) and limestones, dolomite and
some clay (top unit).
The Early Albian deposition took place in marine domain
to the north and in the Gafsa Basin but is absent along emerged
areas of Central Tunisia and Saharan platform. During the
Albian–Cenomanian times, sedimentation is diverse with three
partial equivalent formations reaching the lowermost Turonian
age: the Zebbag Formation in the southern and South-Central
Tunisia with limestones, marls, dolomites and gypsum deposits,
and the Fahdene and Bahloul formations to the north with
marls and limestones deposits (Fig. 4).
The complete Albian series in Central Tunisia (Fahdene
Formation) is crossed by two wells northward Jebel Mrhila
(Fig. 1) and it accomplish 1 600 m thick and it is comprised of
alternating limestones and marls evolving to argillaceous facies
upward. This Formation was defined firstly in the Oued Bah-
loul anticline core by Burollet (1956) within an
Albian–Cenomanian age, then described by M’Rabet in 1981
789
within a 1 400 m thick Albian series in Koudiat el Baïda (Jebel
Mrhila), and revised later by Zghal (1994) who divided this
Formation into four units: 1) the Fahdene lower clays Lower
Albian in age, 2) the Allam limestones Middle Albian in age, 3)
the Fahdene middle clays Upper Albian in age and 4) the
Mouelha limestones and the lower part of the uppermost clays,
Upper Albian in age.
According to Zghal et al. (1997), the complete Albian se-
quence can be subdivided to five terms: 1) an alternations of
Lower Albian marls and argillaceous limestones at the base, 2)
Lower to Middle Albian carbonated sequence (marls then li-
mestones), 3) Middle Albian alternation of marls and sand-
stones, 4) alternation of marls (unit F0, Upper Albian), limes-
tones (unit F1, Upper Albian) and argillaceous limestones (unit
F2A, Uppermost Albian-Lowermost Vraconian), 5) the term 5,
Vraconian in age is comprised of a clayey sequence within a
bioclastic limestone layers at the base. The uppermost Ceno-
manian is mainly comprised of marly limestones (unit F2B).
1.3 Structural Background
The study area makes part of central Tunisia which is an
intensively fractured and folded Atlassic domain with
SE-vergent anticlines alternating with large synclinal basins
(Figs. 5 and 6). This domain is also characterized by some
NW-SE and E-W grabens corresponding to subsident zones
bordered by active ancient faults occurred since the Lower
Cretaceous. These grabens are probably structured since the
Aptian–Albian times and evolved during the Neogene and Qu-
aternary tectonic events.
The study area is particularly underlined by the
ENE-WSW Mrhila-Cherichira strike-slip fault system (Fig. 5)
comprised of a successions of E-W dextral strike slips relayed
by N60 restraining bends which contributes to the east-verging
thrusts and to the Triassic extrusion along the structures of
Chaambi, Koudiat Halfa, and Cherichira (Haji et al., 2013;
Boukadi, 1994). However this fault has significant impact on
the distribution of sedimentation and subsidence with some
progressive sedimentary gaps (Haji et al., 2013; Boukadi,
1994).
Foussana and Rohia-Sbiba grabens are two main NW-SE
oriented grabens clipped by the Mrhila-Cherichira fault where
the junction matches respectively with the Triassic evaporites
extrusion of Jebel Chaambi and Koudiat Halfa. The
Rohia-Sbiba graben end at the level of the Mrhila fault to the
south but the Foussana-Kasserine graben extend southern this
fault testifying the importance of the Kasserine regional fault
(Figs. 5 and 6).
1.4 Aptian–Albian Tectonics Overview
The Tethyan realm is characterized during Early Creta-
ceous by extensional tectonics related to the NW-SE Tethys
opening started since the Late Permian and leading to rifts,
horsts, grabens and tilted blocks (Dhahri and Boukadi, 2010;
Brunet and Cloetingh, 2003; Piqué et al., 1998; Soyer and Tri-
cart, 1987; Dercourt et al., 1986). Since the Aptian main tec-
tonic and eustatic events occurs in both Tethys margins. Olivet
et al. (1984) highlighted a southeastern drift of the Iberian
790 Imen Marco, Ferid Dhahri, Taoufik Haji and Noureddine Boukadi

Figure 3. Synthetic stratigraphic sketch of the study area.

Aptian–Albian Transition in Central Tunisia: Tectonosedimentary and Paleogeographic Records 791

Figure 4. Albian–Cenomanian lithofacies map of Tunisia, eroded/emerged areas are ignored (modified after Gaaya and Ghe-
nima, 1998).

Peninsula during the Uppermost Aptian–Upper Albien. In the
northern Tethyan margin Graziano (2000) describe a
syn-sedimentary tensile tectonics, at the end of the Early
Aptian, that he link to the onset of the Austrian orogenic phase
on the distant Adria plate margin and responsible to the estab-
lishment of the central and eastern Alps.
In Tunisia, except scarce local compressional structures
highlighted in Central Tunisia (Bouaziz et al., 2002; Rabhi and
Ben Ayed, 1990), the Aptian–Albian tectonics is mainly exten-
sional and engenders an important hiatus (Rigane et al., 2010;
Bouaziz et al., 2002; Soyer and Tricart, 1987). Martinez et al.
(1991) point out an NE-SW extension of the Tunisian margin
during the Aptian resulting from the dextral slip of the
Gibraltar-Messine transform fault and engendering strike-slips
792
and normal faults respectively along NE-SW and NS accidents.
During the Aptian times Triassic salts started to grow up in
Tunisia (Snoke et al., 1988) and the most important halokine-
sisevent seems to be experienced during this period and played
an important role in the tectono-sedimentary evolution of Tuni-
sia (Boukadi et al., 1992). Horst and grabens created are dis-
turbed by Triassic ascension along extensional zones which
uplift some domes and tilted blocks. This configuration stimu-
lates differential subsidence until the Cenomanian times in
Central Tunisia (Soyer and Tricart, 1987).
2 WELL DATA ANALYSIS: STRATIGRAPHIC COR-
RELATIONS AND OBSERVATIONS
Fourteen petroleum exploration wells drilled in the study
area were studied (Fig. 1). Stratigraphic columns were analyzed
and compared to correlate and point out the evolution of the
Aptian-Albian series along the studied area based on three
correlation lines (Figs. 7, 8 and 9). We focused especially to the
Aptian-Albian transition; hence post-Cenomanian series are not
drawn in some stratigraphic columns.
Figure 7 illustrates the first correlation line drawn for the
eastern part of the study area. This correlation comprises four
Figure 5. Structural map of the study area.
Imen Marco, Ferid Dhahri, Taoufik Haji and Noureddine Boukadi
lithostratigraphic columns respectively of W2, W1, W4 and
W7 wells. W2 is drilled near the northeastern edge of the Rohia
graben, W1 and W4 are drilled in the northern block of the
Sbiba graben and the W7 is drilled southern the Mrhi-
la-Cherichira fault, westward the NS axis (Fig. 5).
These wells are going throw the most of the Cretaceous
series. They show considerable thick variations especially for
the Upper Cretaceous series as demonstrated by Haji et al.
(2013), Zouaghi et al. (2011) and Zghal et al. (1997). We note
the lack of the Uppermost Aptian and the Lowermost Albian
deposition (Fig. 7). The Serj Formation make about 622 m in
the Massanerh structure (W2), 433 m in the Oued Bahloul
(W1), 736 in Argoub el Gara (W4) and is totally missing in the
Zaouia and the NS axis area (Fig. 6, section I). These thickness
variations are also shown in the section I of Fig. 6 where the
paleogeographic faults of the N-S axis, Trozza, Bahloul and
Ballouta impacted highly the distribution of Cretaceous deposi-
tion.
The Fahdene Formation Albian–Cenomanian deposition
makes about 850 m in Massanerh structure, 416 m in the Oued
Bahloul and is totally missing in Argoub el Gara and the
Zaouia area. In Argoub el Gara the Turonian series overlays
Aptian–Albian Transition in Central Tunisia: Tectonosedimentary and Paleogeographic Records 793

Figure 6. Geological cross-sections along the study area (modified after Haji et al., 2013) showing the Aptian–Albian hiatus
and the thickness increase of the Aptian–Albian series to the north. Section I show that this hiatus is absent to the north of
Ballouta fault. This hiatus is no highlighted in the Kasserine graben because of the lack of data. 1. Triassic; 2. Jurassic; 3.
Valanginian–Barremian; 4. Aptian; 5. Albian–Cnomanian; 6. Turonain–Maastrichtian; 7. Neogne; 8. Quaternary;
9. Aptian–Albian Hiatus.

unconformably the Serj Formation. Comparing to the domain
situated to the south of the Mrhila-Cherichira fault, the Massa-
nerh, Oued Bahloul and Argoub el Gara area seem to be subsi-
dent during the Aptian with marls dominated deposition. These
conditions persist during the Albian times for the Massanerh
and Oued Bahloul and not for the Argoub el Gara area. This
can be explaining by the fact that this later is located in the
uplifted side of a tilted block made by the normal slip of faults
during the Upper Cretaceous.
The missed stratigraphic units are possibly eroded subse-
quently to the combination of two factors: 1) an Aptian tectonic
controversial event (Bouaziz et al., 2002; Graziano, 2000; Mar-
tinez et al., 1991; Rabhi and Ben Ayed, 1990; Snoke et al.,
1988; Soyer and Tricart, 1987) engendering an important hiatus
and 2) an uppermost Aptian regression responsible ofemersion
an erosion of considerable area especially in the Central Tuni-
sian Platform.
Figure 8 illustrates the second correlation line which is
mainly oriented NS. It comprises five wells, respectively from
south to north, W14, W13, W12, W11 and W5. The first three
wells are drilled northern the Mrhila-Cherichira fault and the
others are southward (Fig. 5).
Unluckily the Serj Formation is not fine correlated be-
cause the final depth of at least three wells doesn’t across over-
all this formation. This correlation line shows the lack of the
Upper Aptian and the Lower–Middle Albian series. The Albian
deposition ranges from 300 to 500 m thick and shows a pro-
gression from shallow marine platform facies to the south, to
an open marine facies to the north (Fig. 8) with rich coquina
level especially around Tamesmida structure (W12 and W11
wells). The Fahdene Formation overlay unconformably the Serj
Formation and outcrops in Khechem el Kelb (W13) and Assilet
(W5) areas (Fig. 5) where it is partially eroded and respectively
about 731 and 625 m thick (Fig. 8). But it is remarkably thick
when it doesn’t outcrops preserving its total deposition around
Khechem el Kelb (W14) and Tamesmida (W12 and W11) areas
exceeding 1 000 m thick. In fact, Tamesmida area, located
northward the Mrhila-Cherichira fault, constitutes an Albian-
Cenomanian subsiding basin subsequently to the normal slip of
the northern block of this main paleogeographic fault (Haji et
al., 2013) (Fig. 5). And Khechem el Kelb constitutes an
NE-SW anticline with a southeastern subsiding flank affected
by NE-SW normal fault system (Zouaghi et al., 2011).
Figure 9 illustrates the third correlation line which is
mainly oriented NE-SW. It comprises seven wells, respectively
from southwest to northeast, W12, W11, W10, W6, W3, W2
794
and W1 (Fig. 5). Except W10 which is drilled close to the
Mrhila fault, the other wells are drilled northern the Mrhi-
la-Cherichira fault.
The thicker Aptian series seems to be deposited around
Tamesmida and Massannerh areas where the Serj Formation
exceeds 574 m thick. In these localities, the Lower Aptian de-
position is mainly marls and clays dominated. Middle and Up-
per Aptian deposition is for the most wells from carbonates
platform facies (limestones and dolomites). The Fahdene For-
mation overlays unconformably the Aptian deposition and
shows, from southwest to northeast, significant thick variations
(Figs. 6 and 9). Two subsiding basins separated by relative
uplifted block can be defined respectively in Tamesmida- Der-
neya (W12-W11) area to the southwest and in Ksar Tli-
li-Massanerh (W3-W2) to the northeast. This structuring is due
to the normal slip of the NW-SE oriented fault. In fact, the
subsidence of Tamesmida-Derneya block is due to both normal
slips of NW-SE faults and Mrhila-Cherichira one’s, this why it
Figure 7. NW-SE lithostratigraphic correlation around Hajeb Layoun area (line 1, see location in Fig. 1).
Imen Marco, Ferid Dhahri, Taoufik Haji and Noureddine Boukadi
seems to be the most subsiding area.
4 DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
Compare to the Serj Formation defined in Jebel Serj (Tlat-
li, 1980; Burollet, 1956), the Aptian series crossed by the stu-
died wells records some comments on lithology and thickness.
In fact, to the north, the Aptian deposition seems to be domi-
nated by claystones and marlstones testifying open marine
facies and fluctuate progressively to the south, to carbonate and
detritic facies of shallow marine platform. This progressive
facies variation is notable around the Mrhila-Cherichira fault
which can underline the transition zone between the open ma-
rine environment to the north and the platform domain to the
south.
The Aptian series are characterized, in Tunisia, by several
variations in subsidence rates and records discrete unconformi-
ty between Albian and Aptian in central and southern Tunisia
(Ouahchi et al., 1998; Zghal et al., 1997; Ben Ferjani et al.,
 Aptian–Albian Transition in Central Tunisia: Tectonosedimentary and Paleogeographic Records
795

Figure 8. N-S lithostratigraphic correlation western Kasserine area (line 2, see location in Fig. 1).
 796

Figure 9. NE-SW lithostratigraphic correlation in central Tunisia (line 3, see location in Fig. 1).
Imen Marco, Ferid Dhahri, Taoufik Haji and Noureddine Boukadi
Aptian–Albian Transition in Central Tunisia: Tectonosedimentary and Paleogeographic Records
1990). The Upper Aptian regressions were sustained until the
beginning of Albian with a low sea level stand. In Central Tu-
nisia discordances occurs specially around and upward uplifted
blocks and emerged land subsequent to the uppermost Aptian
marine regression (Marie et al., 1982). Along these areas, reef
and dolomitic Aptian facies are overlaid by the
Albian–Cenomanian open marine facies with rich organic mat-
ter rocks. Subsequently Aptian rocks are usually associated to
mineralization and Hydrocarbure reservoirs as much as the
three producing oil fields of Douleb, Semmama and Tamesmi-
da in Central Tunisia. In addition, the Aptian series overlay in
several places the breccias cap rock of the some diapirs in
North-Central Tunisia (Snoke et al., 1988).
In the studied area, the Albian deposition is not complete
as documented in northern Tunisia. This deposition which is
mainly clayey northward and carbonated southward makes part
of the Fahdene Formation and overlay unconformably the
Aptian deposition by Lower to Upper Albian deposition (Figs.
7, 8 and 9).
The Aptian–Albian transition is underlined by an evident
hiatus starting from Middle to Upper Aptian and reaching the
Upper Albian. This hiatus seems to be regional and it is subse-
quent to the total absence of the Lower and Middle Albian
series in the platform domain of the Central Tunisia. This event
is documented by major emersion surface in outcropping series
and so highlighted in petroleum exploration wells. It can be
related to both Aptian tectonic activity known at Tunisian
(Bouaziz et al., 2002; El Euchi et al., 2002; Boukadi et al.,
1992; Rabhi and Ben Ayed, 1990; Snoke et al., 1988; Soyer
and Tricart, 1987) and Tethyan scale (Graziano, 2000) and
eustatic events (Burollet et al., 1983). At the study area scale,
the Aptian–Albian hiatus is more significant in W14 and W13
(Middle Aptian–Upper Albian) due to their location in a plat-
form domain southward the Mrhila-Cherichira fault (Fig. 5).
Northern this fault (W12, W11 and W5 wells) the Aptian–
Albian hiatus still evident but less spread.
Concerning the structural configuration, the study area is
affected by the Mrhila-Cherichira fault which occur normal slip
during the Upper Cretaceous leading the subsidence of its
northern block (Haji et al., 2013). This zone is also affected by
NW-SE normal faults which makes a succession of NW-SE
oriented grabens, horsts and tilted blocks especially northern
the Mrhila-Cherichira fault (Zouaghi et al., 2011; Zghal et al.,
1997). This configuration allows differential deposition with
local subsiding depocenters (e.g., Massanerh and Oued Bahloul
area) and relative uplifted blocks (Argoub el Gara area). Finally,
it seems that the Aptian–Albian deposition in Central Tunisia is
underlined by a regional hiatus and mostly controlled in thick-
ness and facies by structural configuration, halokinesis and
large variations in subsidence. It shows a lateral transition,
from platform facies to south to, open marine facies to the
north. The basin deepening northward is controlled by the
normal slip of the paleogeographic fault of Mrhila-Cherchira
and lead to the deposition of Fahdene source rock facies.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank the anonymous reviewers and the Editorial
Committee of Journal of Earth Science for their constructive
797
criticisms and useful comments.
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