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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1998; v. 132; p. 375-393;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.132.01.21
© 1998 Geological Society of London

Moesozoic Reservoirs and Fields

Basin evolution and deposition during the Early Paleogene in Tunisia

A. Zaïer1, A. Beji-Sassi1, S. Sassi1 & R. T. J. Moody2

1 Laboratoire des Ressources Minérales, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Université de Tunis II, 1060 Tunis, Tunisie
2 School of Geological Sciences, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 2EE, UK

The marine Paleocene and Ypresian deposits of Tunisia, within the El Haria Formation and the Metlaoui Group, have been intensively studied because of the commercial interest in phosphates and hydrocarbons. This paper presents the latest updates of isochron, lithofacies and palaeogeographical maps, and interprets the patterns identified in light of synsedimentary structure. This reveals a close association between structure, basin geometry and subsidence. Facies distribution during the Early Paleogene is thought to be structurally controlled along basement lineaments. These major fault systems were reactivated several times during the Mesozoic and Tertiary, with the last movements occurring as Neogene and post-Villafranchian events. The structural control of facies is most evident during the Ypresian, particularly along the ‘North-South Axis’ (Nosa) a sub-meridian orogenic segment of Central Tunisia. In this area the Ypresian deposits exhibit a preferred alignment with the Nosa exerting a notable influence on basin geometries and rates of local subsidence. In addition to two large islands indicated in the onshore area of Tunisia, a number of ‘bald’ highs are identified in the offshore, representing original submarine highs. The general pattern across Tunisia throughout the period is of a number of small tectonically controlled basins. The distribution of phosphorites, organic-rich shales and evaporites can be particularly linked to the development of restricted basins during the period.





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