Zarzaitine Superieur Fm
Period:
Jurassic
Age Interval:
Aalenian – Tithonian.
Province:
Illizi Basin
Lithology and Thickness
The Zarzaitine Superieur Fm is characterized by alternation of coastal plain and deltaic sandstones and mudstones, with shallow-marine to lacustrine shales and dolomites associated with anhydrite layers (Klett, 2000; Benvegnù, 2020). [Schematic strat column by USGS-Klett (2000) suggests that continental marl is a more appropriate pattern “in general” than sandy claystone.]
Lithology Pattern:
Continental marl
Relationships and Distribution
Lower contact
It conformably overlies the Zarzaitine Moyen Fm.
Upper contact
It is conformably overlain by the Serie de Taouratine Fm.
Regional extent
Illize Basin of SE Algeria
GeoJSON
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Fossils
Age
Perhaps Aalenian-Tithonian, but age control is vague, especially Moyen to Superieur transition.
Age Span:
Beginning stage:
Aalenian
Fraction up in beginning stage:
0.00
Beginning date (Ma):
174.70
Ending stage:
Tithonian
Fraction up in the ending stage:
1.0
Ending date (Ma):
143.10
Depositional setting
Coastal-deltaic to shallow marine (Benvegnù, 2020).
Depositional pattern:
Additional Information
Compiler:
Enam O. Obiosio, Solomon Joshua Avong and Henry Nasir Suleiman (2024) - Stratigraphic Lexicon compiled from the following books:Benvegnù I. (2020): Thermal Evolution of Paleozoic and Triassic Reservoir Rocks in the Ghadames-Illizi Basin (Algeria). An unpublished MSc thesis at Universita’ degli Studi di Padova.
T.R. Klett (2000): Province, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya - The Tanezzuft-Oued Mya, Tanezzuft-Melrhir, and Tanezzuft-Ghadames. U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 2202-C.