Beda Formation

Beda Fm

Period:

Paleogene

Age Interval:

Paleocene (upper Danian or lower Selandian)

Province:
Sirte Basin

Type Locality and Naming

Synonym:

References: Abugares, 2007

Lithology and Thickness

The Beda Fm consists mainly of various interbedded limestone lithofacies with subordinate dolomite and calcareous shale in the southwestern Sirt Basin. In the northwestern part of the basin, the formation becomes more shaly (Abugares, 2007). The Schematic stratigraphic column of Ahlbrant (2001) indicates an upper Radia Shale Member and a lower Thalith Member of limestone pattern.

Lithology Pattern:

Dolomitic limestone

Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

It conformably overlies the Satal Fm.

Upper contact

It is conformably overlain by the Dahra Fm.

Regional extent

GeoJSON

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Fossils

Coral-algal, bryozoan, foraminifera

Age

Schematic stratigraphic column of Ahlbrant (2001) places as either upper Danian (used here for graphic purposes) or lower Selandian.

Age Span:

Beginning stage:

Danian

Fraction up in beginning stage:

0.5

Beginning date (Ma):

63.85

Ending stage:

Danian

Fraction up in the ending stage:

1.0

Ending date (Ma):

61.66

Depositional setting

This formation was deposited in a shallow-marine environment (Abugares, 2007).

Depositional pattern:

Additional Information

Compiler:

T. S. Ahlbrandt (2001): The Sirte Basin Province of Libya—Sirte-Zelten Total Petroleum System, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2202–F

R.C. Selley (1997): The Sirte Basin of Libya. In: African Basins. Sedimentary Basins of the World, 3, edited by R.C. Selley (Series Editor: K.J. Hsu), Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, pp. 27-37.

Abugares, Miloud M. (2007): Deposition, Diagenesis, and Reservoir Development of the Cretaceous Lidam Formation, SE Sirt Basin, Libya. Durham e-Theses. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/2599/

Elkanouni, I. E. D. (2014). Sedimentology, Sequence stratigraphy and Spatial-temporal Patterns of the late Paleocene Succession, western Sirt Basin, Libya, Durham e Theses. http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/10538/