Arab J Geosci

DOI 10.1007/s12517-014-1607-4

ORIGINAL PAPER

Palynostratigraphical zonation of Palaeozoic sediments

in southern Tunisia (the well HBR-1)
F. Kilani & W. Ghazzay-souli & S. Razgallah

Received: 14 March 2014 / Accepted: 1 September 2014

# Saudi Society for Geosciences 2014

Abstract Based on palynological index species and other In spite of the detailed investigations of several authors,
significant taxa, subsurface Paleozoic formation can be differ- Bonnefous (1963) carried out a stratigraphical study on the
entiated based on biostratigraphy. Five palynozones are rec- Gothlandian series crossed by some wells drilled in Southern
ognized. One biozone is present in the Sidi Toui Formation, Tunisia. Burollet and Manderscheid (1967) who worked on
and indicates a middle ± upper Cambrian age. Four biozones Tunisian geology established a guidebook to the geology and
are identified in the Ordovician, Silurian, and Permian. history of Tunisia. Grignani (1967) established a correlation in
Permian and Triassic sediments unconformably overlie a the Devonian and Silurian in some Tunisian wells using
subcrop of different Paleozoic units. Thus, a major unconfor- chitinozoa, while Beuf et al. (1971) and Jaeger et al. (1975)
mity has been identified in the south of Tunisia, which may be studied the Silurian of Tunisia and the relationship with
related to the Hercynian orogeny. Silurian of Northwestern Libya. Memmi et al. (1986)
established a stratigraphical Lexicon on Precambrian and
Keywords Paleozoic . Biozones . Palynoflores . Acritarch . Palaeozoic of Tunisia, whereas M’Rabet et al. (1997) studied
Chitinozoa . Tunisia the late Silurian Acacus formation in the well Oued Zar in
southern Tunisia. They conclude that the Acacus specially A
and B members are good reservoirs. Kilani et al. (1990) and
Kilani (2000) studied Palaeozoic and Triassic series in various
Introduction
well from Southern Tunisia using chitinozoa, acritarchs,
spore, and pollen. The stratigraphy of the region remained
The Early Palaeozoic is not exposed in Tunisia. The recent return
poorly known. As a consequence, it is difficult to understand
to Tunisian hydrocarbon exploration together with the recent
the relationship between the lithostratigraphic units and their
discoveries demonstrates a significant potential still exists. The
ages. It was difficult as well to establish a correlation espe-
main early Palaeozoic reservoirs and potential reservoirs known
cially as the Palaeozoic shows rapid facies and thickness
in Tunisia are Cambrian, Ordovician, and Late Silurian.
variations. Calcareous microfossils are absent in the study
area. Thus, it is necessary to study the Palaeozoic succession
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article using palynology in order to reach satisfactory stratigraphic
(doi:10.1007/s12517-014-1607-4) contains supplementary material,
which is available to authorized users.
subdivisions and define Palaeozoic zonations. In addition to
the extremely diverse spores and pollen, the Palaeozoic con-
F. Kilani
tains abundant acritarchs and chitinozoa.
Directrice Laboratoire Palynologie CRDP, ETAP, 4 Street des
entrepreneurs, Charguia II, 2035 Ariana, Tunisia
e-mail: kilani_fatma@yahoo.fr Geographical and geological setting of the area
W. Ghazzay-souli (*) : S. Razgallah
Geographical setting
UR13/ES26, Département de Géologie, Campus Universitaire El
Manar, Tunis 2092, Tunisia
e-mail: wissalghazzay@yahoo.fr The study area is located in Southern Tunisia. It extends from
S. Razgallah the chotts basin in the Northwest to the Jeffara basin in the
e-mail: sarazgallah@yahoo.fr east. It is limited on the north-western side by the chotts Jerid
 Arab J Geosci

and El Gharsa basins . The north-eastern limit is characterized & After centrifugation and separation, the distilled water
by a series of cuestas, which limit the Jeffara. On the south, the is added to wash the residue.
studied area is limited by Telemzane and Jeffara archs. & = HF 80 %: The residue is treated with concentrated
hydrofluoric acid for a period of 12 h. Hydrofluoric
The HBR-1 well is located at about 85 km southwest of acid removes the silicates.
Matmata and 55 km southeast of Kebili. It penetrated about
400 m of Cretaceous deposits, 800 m of Jurassic sediments, In order to concentrate the palynomorph assemblages,
400 m of Triassic, and 950 m of Palaeozoic strata. This well heavy liquid with a density of 2 is added to the residue.
reached a total depth of 3321 m. This operation leads to get rid of mineral debris and
concentrate the sporopollenin material.
The “liqueur de Thoulet” could be replaced by a
Regional
mixing bromoform-alcohol or zinc chloride. Then we
proceed to a filtration of the liquid: again, HF and
The Saharan platform consists of two distinct domains: one
centrifugation. This operation allows removing the
relatively stable on the south and cover the main part of the
siliceous debris: HCl and centrifugation, washing
area and one tectonically active represented by the chotts and
with distilled water and centrifugation, and washing
Jeffara basins in the north and northeast, respectively, where
with alcohol and centrifugation. The final residue is
the studied area is located. The Precambrian basement in the
preserved in alcohol.
south of Tunisia is overlain by thick Palaeozoic cover, which
has been uplifted in the northern part giving rise to Telemzane
Mounting slides: The residue is then mounted for study as
arch, Medenine, Sidi Toui, and El Uotia archs (Mejri et al.
a strew mixed with the residue on a glass cover slip. After
2006). In the studied area, the most important feature noticed
the Cellosize dried, it is stuck on glass microscope slides.
here is the presence of a hiatus. These variations in facies and
In this method, the microfossil is fixed and will be used
the missing section are due to tectonics.
later for any microscopic investigation. However, if we
need an immediate microscopic observation which per-
mits to have a free microfossil (not fixed), then the mount-
ing of the residue will be in a drop of glycerine between
Materials and methods the glass microscope slide and the glass cover slip which
borders are stuck using transparent nail varnish.
A facies vertical description has been done for the well HBR-1 The preparation is analyzed under microscope.
(Fig. 1). The sedimentary criteria leads to differentiate the The observation is realized using objectives 16 and
facies associations. The palynological study depends on the 25. Most of the photos have been taken under ob-
sample preparation. From 3141- to 3235-m interval of lower jective 50 or 100.
Ordovician age, 30 samples have been analyzed for this
palynological study. They correspond to cuttings, cores, and
sidewell samples. They are rich and contain diversified
palynoflora. The preparation in the laboratory consists of three
major phases: Lithology and palynostratigraphy of studied well

Mechanical treatment: all the samples (outcrop, cut- The subsurface Palaeozoic rocks of Tunisia have been
tings…) have to be cleaned and then crushed with mortar. studied mainly by the petroleum companies. In fact,
The quantity of the sample depends on its color (richness many Palaeozoic units are considered as good potential
in organic matter). It varies from 20 g for the shale to reservoirs. In order to develop a biostratigraphy to aid
300 g in the case of sandy deposits. exploration activities, we studied the HBR-1 well in
Chemical treatment: south Tunisia. The HBR-1 well is one of the more
complete sections where most of the zones have been
& Hydrochloric acid: HCl 40 %: The samples are treat- identified. In this study, we were interested primarily in
ed with HCl until the end of effervescence. In the case the Palaeozoic series and limited them to the interval
of dolomite, this treatment will be done under 2375–3320 m. Lithologies in this interval consist of
heating. The HCl treatment leads to remove the car- shale, sandstone, micaceous siltstone, and are represent-
bonate and to ovoid the formation of calcium fluoride ed by the Cambrian, the Early–Middle Ordovician, the
in the next stage of treatment; otherwise, the prepara- Silurian, and the Permian (Table 1). It is bounded at the
tion will be ruined. top by the Hercynian unconformity.
Arab J Geosci

Fig. 1 a Schematic map of North Africa, b a schematic map of southern Tunisia showing Ghadames Basin, and c simplified map of southern Tunisia and
location of petroleum wells (after Mejri et al. 2006)

The Cambrian is overlain by the El Gassi, El Atchane, and (b) 3286–3136 m: Ordovician (150 m)
Azel formations, dated from Tremadocian to Darriwilian. The
Silurian is represented by Fegaguira formation. The Permian Lithology: The Ordovician was subdivided into two
correspond to the Tebaga formation. lithological units:

(a) 3320–3286 m: Cambrian (34 m) – Unit 1 corresponds to the interval 3286–3209 m and
is represented by El Gassi (Sanrhar) Formation. It is
Lithology: the base of this interval is represented by mainly composed of fine glauconitic sandstone with
gray to brown siltstone with glauconite and mica. subordinate interbedded siltstone.
These deposits are surmounted by fine grained mod- – Unit 2 corresponds to the El Azel Formation (3209–
erately to well-sorted glauconitic sandstone. The top 3136 m) which unconformably overlies the El Gassi
of this interval is composed of interbedded glauco- Formation. It consists of interbedded fine grained
nitic shale and siltstone. quartzitic sandstone and siliceous siltstone
Palynological assemblage: the acritarchs: Palynological assemblage: The microflora is diverse
Cristallinium cambriense and Cymatiosphaera sp. and represented mainly by acritarchs.
were identified at 3286 m.
Age: In the HBR-1 well, C. cambriense characterizes 3286–3209 m: This interval is characterized by the
Middle–Late Cambrian. It is usually restricted to following species: Acanthodiacrodium anfractum,
Middle–Late Cambrian (Martin and Dean 1981; Acanthodiacrodium angustum, Acanthodiacrodium
Kirkman and Young 1981; Gueinn and Rasul complanatum, Acanthodiacrodium ignoratum,
1986). Although it has also been reported from the Acanthodiacrodium tumidum, Acanthodiacrodium
earliest Ordovician (Olaru 2008; Vergel et al. 2013). ubui, Cymatiogalea velifera, Cymatiogalea deunffii,
 Arab J Geosci

Table 1 Distribution chart of the well HBR-1

Cymatiogalea cristata, Eupoikulofusa squama, (c) 3136–2938 m: Silurian (198 m)

Goniosphaeridium gracilis, and Tectitheca sp. It is the principal shale episode of the Palaeozoic
The species A. complanatum, A. ignoratum, and series. It is well-known as the source rock for many of
G. gracilis characterize Tremadocian. This associa- the hydrocarbon reservoirs in Tunisia, Algeria, and in
tion was described in the Tremadocian of the Libya (Loydell and McIlroy 1999). It represents the
Western Desert (Gueinn and Rasul 1986), Morocco better-studied stage of the Palaeozoic. The contact with
(Elaoued Debbej 1988) and Libya (Deunff and the underlying Llanvirnian clastics is defined on logs by
Massa 1975; Massa 1988). a strong increase in the sonic velocity.
3209–3136 m: Upper in the section, a rich and diver-
sified microflora has been described represented by: Lithology: The lower part of the Silurian is repre-
Veryhachium horridum, Stelliferidium striatulum sented by black shale rich in organic matter, calcar-
(Plate I, Fig. S12), Acanthodiacrodium costatum, eous, and pyrite. Higher in the interval, deposits
Veryhachium trisulcum (Plate I, Fig. S10), correspond to sandy shale and sandstone alternance.
Orthosphaeridium ternatum, Veryhachium reductum, Gamma ray values are high at (3136–3052 m) and
Dactylofusa spinata, Veryhachium subglobosum decrease from 3052 to 3030 m while the velocity
(Plate I, Fig. S13), Veryhachium longispinosum, readings show variations. The upper part of this
Goniosphaeridium uncinatum, Frankea interval is represented by shale, siltstone, and sand-
sartbernadensis (Plate I, Fig. S4), Frankea stone. The shale is gray, indurated, and fossiliferous.
longiuscula (Plate I, Fig. S5), and Eupoikilofusa The sandstone is brownish fine-grained friable and
striata. In this interval, the Acritarchs well-sorted. The siltstone is pyritic.
F. sartbernadensis, V. subglobosum , and Palynological assemblage: The microflora is rich and
S. striatulum (Plate I, Fig. S12) lead to attribute it to diverse. It is represented by spores and acritarchs.
the Llanvirnian (Darriwillian) (Keegan et al. 1990). The most common identified species are
Arab J Geosci

Neoveryhachium carminae, Veryhachium lairdi, Palynological assemblage: In the upper part of this
Onondagella deunffii (Plate I, Fig. S11), interval, the microflora is rich and diverse while it is
Ve r y h a c h i u m e u r o p a e u m , O n o n d a g e l l a rare and less significant in the rest of the series.
asymmetrica, Multiplicisphaeridium ramusculosum Between 2935 and 2375 m, we have identified
(Plate I, Fig. S7), Cymbosphaeridium pilar (Plate I, Coriasaccites sp., Striatopodocarpites sp., and
Fig. S2), Eupoikilofusa striatifera (Plate I., Fig. S8), Lueckisporites virkkiae.
Ammonidium palmitella, Ammonidium rigidum, Age: L. virkkiae indicates a Late Permian age in
Gorgonisphaeridium saharicum (Plate I, Fig. S3), HBR-1(see Balme 1970). The Late Permian rests
Veryhachium trispinosum, Veryhachium downiei directly on the Silurian. A major unconformity is
(Plate I, Fig. S9), and Diexallophasis denticulata present between the Late Permian and the Silurian.
(Plate I, Fig. S1). The Chitinozoa are represented Missing are Devonian, Carboniferous, and Early
by Ancyrochitina ancyrea, Ancyrochitina sp. (Plate Permian strata. This species has been encountered
I, Fig. S6), Ancyrochitina fragilis, and Desmochitina by Adloff et al. (1986) in Late Permian of Libya.
elegans. Among the spores, we have encountered Outa Mori et al. (2012) attributed this taxa in the
Archaeozonotriletes chulus (Plate I, Fig. S14), Asselian to Artinskian and Artinskian to
Ambitisporites avitus, and Retusotriletes sp. Wuchiapingian.
Age: This interval is characterized by the occurrence
of Onondagella sp. as well as G. saharicum and
N. carminae, C. pilar and D. denticulata. This asso-
ciation indicates a Silurian age (Wenlockian/ Palynozone
Ludlovian). It was identified by Jardine et al.
(1974) in the Ludlovian of Algeria and by Massa The microflora recorded during this study consists of marine
(1988) in the Late Silurian of Ghadames Basin. The acritarchs, chitinozoa, and terrestrially derived microspores.
acritarch C. pilar in this interval indicates a Late Five palynozones are defined on the basis of palynomorphs:
Silurian-Early Devonian age. This microflora was one occurs within the Cambrian, two within the Ordovician,
described by Cramer and Diez (1968) from of one within the Silurian, and one within the Permian. The ages
Ludlovian of Spain. A comparable association was assigned to these palynozones have been determined by com-
identified in the Ludlovian-Gedinnian of Algeria paring the microfloral associations with those know from
(Jardine et al. 1972, 1974). Gueinn and Rasul previously dated sequences in North Africa and other areas
(1986), in their study of Egyptian Western Desert of the world. The following comments give the characteristics
material, encountered a similar assemblage in the of the present-defined palynozones, their age, and a compar-
Late Silurian-Early Devonian. Vecoli and Le ison with other zones developed elsewhere. The palynozones
Herisse (2004) and Munnecke et al. (2012) identified will be discussed in the ascending stratigraphical order. The
C. pilar, Veryhachium sp., and Triangulina alargada biozones are defined as “total range” biozones of index spe-
and attributed this assemblage to late Ludlovian. cies or assemblages, or the partial range (interval biozone):
biozone between the occurrence of an index species and
(d) 2938–2375 m: Permian significant taxa of the succeeding zone. This kind of zonation
is used for the different groups: acritarchs, chitinozoa, spores,
Lithology: This unit, which is 563-m thick, is mainly and pollen. The different branches are defined on the basis of
dolomitic and can be subdivided into two subunits previously known species ranges. The present zonation is
based on lithology: defined on basis of previously established zones in North
2938–2726 m: The base of this interval consists of Africa and in other areas of the world. The zonations of
alternating sandstone, shale, and rare limestone Jardine et al. (1974), Gueinn and Rasul (1986), Keegan et al.
which becomes more abundant towards the upper (1990), Broutin et al. (1990), Rahmani (1990), Abdessalem
part of this subunit. The sandstone is white, fine- Rouighi (1996), and Vecoli (1996) are heavily relied upon for
grained, and more common in the lower part of this age control.
succession. The shale is green to red, soft, cracked,
pyritic, and slightly calcareous. The limestone which Cambrian
is beige and strongly indurated is present in the base
of the unit as rare intercalations. For the Cambrian acritarchs, evidence is only established in
2726–2375 m: This subunit is composed of calcare- Mediterranean terms; Potter (1974) suggested that the Middle
ous deposits, which are brownish, hard, and Cambrian palynological assemblages are characterized by the
fossiliferous. simple plate structured forms. The largest number of described
 Arab J Geosci

species and varieties of Cambrian acritarchs has been pub- the index acritarch C. cambriense associated with other
lished by East European authors: Naumova (1949, 1961), Cambrian species. These two zones correspond, respec-
Volkova (1968, 1990), and Jardine et al. (1974). Age dating tively, to the Middle and the Late Cambrian and correlate
of Cambrian formations has always been difficult in Algeria, with TC-1. In Iran, Mehrjerdi (2001) encountered this
Tunisia, and Libya owing to these formations being mostly species from the Middle Cambrian to Lower Ordovician.
unfossiliferous sandstones (Albani et al. 1991). For the Kui et al. (2013) recognized this species in the Middle to
Cambrian of Tunisia and because of the poor palynoflora, Late Cambrian of Southern China. In 2004, Vecoli and
only restricted assemblage of acritarchs were recorded, so Le Hérissé concluded that the Cambrien-Ordovicien
only one zone has been differentiated which is designated boundary was characterized by the first occurrence of
TC-1 (T = Tunisia, C = Cambrian, and TC = Cambrian of new species of Acanthocrodium, Cymatiogalea,
Tunisia) Sphaeridium, and Vulcanisphaera correspond to very
important chronostratigraphic markers of the early
Zone TC-1 Tremadocian in North Gondwana.

(a) Definition: According to Gueinn and Rasul (1986), this

zone corresponds to the interval from the highest occur- Ordovician
rence of the acritarchs Timofeevia phosphorita,
Timofeevia lancarae, and C. cambriense to the highest The Cambro-Ordovician boundary has been recognized
occurrence of Eliasum asturicum. Unfortunately, in worldwide by means of several diagnostic fossil groups: grap-
Tunisia material, palynomorphs are rare and we did not tolites in Europe, trilobites in North America, and conodonts
record this association, only C. cambriense was identi- in Asia and Australia (Vecoli 1996). In North Africa,
fied. Thus, the lower boundary between Early Cambrian Tremadocian acritarchs palynofloras have been described by
and Middle–Late Cambrian remains in doubt because of Deunff (1961, 1966), Combaz et al. (1967), Jardine et al.
the absence of index fossils but the boundary between (1974), Elaoued Debbej (1988), Vecoli (1999), and Vecoli
Middle–Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician is defined and Le Herisse (2004). In the present study, two palynozones
by the extinction of the acritarchs C. cambriense charac- designated as TO-2 and TO-3 are recognized within the
teristic of Cambrian and the first occurrence of Ordovician.
Ordovician species of acritarchs.
(b) Age: The acritarchs C. cambriense has been previously Zone TO-2: Tremadocian
recorded in the Cambrian of Mediterranean area (Turkey,
Algeria, Sardinia, and Libya), and also in Egypt, Iran, (a) Definition: The base of this zone is defined by the ex-
and Jordan. It has been identified in Western and tinction of C. cambriense and the appearance of
Northern continental Europe (Spain, France, and Ordovician species such as A. ignoratum and
Belgium). C. cambriense has been identified by Martin A. angustum. The upper boundary is defined highest
and Dean (1981) in Middle to Late Cambrian strata from occurrence of the acritarch A. ignoratum and the appear-
Random Island, Newfoundland, Canada. C. cambriense ance of F. sartbernadensis. Gueinn and Rasul (1986)
has been identified in the Middle to Late Cambrian defined a similar zone designated WD-3 as the interval
material from Libya (Albani et al. 1991). Leiming from the highest occurrence of A. ignoratum to the
(1986) recorded this species in the Tremadocian but highest interval of C. cambriense and Timofeevia
Vanguestaine and Van Looy (1983) proposed an older phosphoric, which is absent in our material. In Jordan,
age for the youngest occurrence and Hagenfeld (1989) Keegan et al. (1990) defined another zone designated JO
considered C. cambriense as a typical Cambrian species. 4 on the basis of an association Tremadocian of
The presence of this species indicates a Middle to Late acritarchs.
Cambrian age for the TC-1 zone. (b) Palynological assemblage: This microflora is richer and
(c) Discussion and comparison: In Egyptian material, more diverse compared to the assemblage from the zone
Gueinn and Rasul (1986) have defined a zone WD-2 below. The TO-2 is characterized by the index acritarch
where C. cambriense is associated with other Cambrian A. ignoratum and the following species: A. tumidum,
species not present in our material. They assigned a A. anfractum, A. ubui, and A. angustum. Associated with
Middle to Late Cambrian age to this biozone. Thus, these species E. squama, C. cristata, C. velifera, and
WD-2 correlates with the TC-1 biozone defined in G. gracilis were identified.
Tunisia. Albani et al. (1991) studied the Ghadames (c) Age: A. ignoratum has been recorded from the
Basin acritarchs (Western Libya, Southern Tunisia); they Tremadocian of Egypt (Gueinn and Rasul 1986) where
defined the zones GB1 and GB2 where they identified they considered it as an index for this age. All the species
Arab J Geosci

encountered in the TO-2 biozone are Tremadocian. Zone TO-3: LLianvirnian

Thus, they allow us to give an unequivocal Early
Ordovician (Tremadocian) age to this biozone. (a) Definition: This zone corresponds to the interval from the
(d) Discussion and comparison: Most of the TO-2 biozone extinction of the acritarchs: A ignoratum and
species have been encountered in many areas of North A. angustum to the extinction of the acritarchs: Frankea
Africa and other areas of the world. A. ignoratum sartbernardensis, F. longiuscula, V. subglobosum, and
characterizes the Tremadocian of the western Desert. S. striatulum.
The acritarchs A. tumidum was recorded by Deunff (b) Palynological assemblage: Together with the significant
(1961) and Combaz et al. (1967) in the Tremadocian of markers mentioned above, the TO-3 zone contains the
Sahara. E. squama has been recorded in the Tremadocian following acritarch species: Veryhachium horridium,
of Algerian Sahara (Deunff 1961; Combaz et al. 1967). V. reductum, V. trisulcum (Plate 1, Fig. S10),
Jardine et al. (1974) described A. angustum in the V. l o ng i s p i n o s u m, A. c os t a t u m , D . s p i n a t a ,
Tremadocian of Algerian Sahara. They encountered G. uncinatum, O. ternatum, and E. striata (Plate 1,
Saharadia, Vulcanisphaera, and Veryhachium in a rich Fig. S8).
assemblage with diverse Acanthodiacrodium and (c) Age: The association of acritarchs F. sartbernardensis,
Cymatiogalea spp. Owing to the richness of F. longiuscula, and S. striatulum characterizes the
palynomorphs, Jardine et al. (1974) subdivided the Llanvirnian of Jordan (Keegan et al. 1990). These spe-
Tremadocian into four biozones B0, B1, B2, and C1. cies have been recorded from the Llanvirnian of
The acritarch G. gracilis was recorded from the Morocco (Deunff 1977). A comparable association has
Tremadocian of Libya by Deunff and Massa (1975). been described by Gueinn and Rasul (1986) in the
Gueinn and Rasul (1986) defined the WD-3 biozone in Llanvirnian of Egypt. The assemblage encountered in
Egypt. They considered this zone as characterized by the the TO-3 zone suggests a Middle Ordovician
acme of Acanthodiacrodium sp. A., Stelliferidium spp., (Darriwilian) age.
and Cymatiogalea sp. The same phenomenon is noticed (d) Discussion and comparison: The species from the
in TO-2. Ordovician of Baltic (Eisenack 1962) are the acritarch
A. ubui has been identified in the early to late F. sartbernadensis associated with other species absent
Tremadocian of North Africa by Elaoued Debbej in Tunisian material.
(1988). A. angustum has been regarded as an un- If we compare our assemblage with association from
doubted Ordovician species appearing in the base of France, we notice that Rauscher and Doubinger (1968)
the Tremadocian (Volkova 1990). Vecoli (1996) re- and Rauscher (1973) recorded palynomorph assem-
corded C. cristata, C. velifera, A. angustum, and blages from the Ordovician, which contain
E. squama from the Tremadocian of Algerian F. sartbernardensis, V. lairdi, and V. trispinosum encoun-
Sahara. He defined the zones HM/B and HM/C, tered in Tunisia. The Middle Ordovician of Algerian
which contains a palynological association compara- Sahara has been studied by Jardine et al. (1974). They
ble palynofloras encountered in the TO-2 zone, where defined three zones within the Llanvirnian C2, D, and E.
diverse Acanthodiacrodium and Cymatiogalea spp. In Tunisia, only one zone TO-3 has been defined in the
are present. In Jordan, Keegan et al. (1990) defined Darriwilian and which might correspond to these zones.
the zone JO-4 for the Early Ordovician Deunff (1977) recorded a comparable assemblage con-
(Tremadocian). However, in the described assem- taining F. sartbernadensis and S. striatulum, which are
blage, Acanthodiacrodium appear to be absent but associated with other species absent in our material from
common in North African material. In 2001, the Llanvirnian of Zagora in Morocco. Gueinn and Rasul
Mehrjerdi defined the zone II for the Early (1986) recorded Ordovician species in Egyptian material
Tremadocian in Iran. Cocchio (1981, 1982) has con- comparable with Tunisian assemblage. These authors
sidered the first occurrence of Dactylofusa velifera, as have identified the acritarchs: F. sartbernadensis and
a good chronostratigraphic marker of Tremadoc ± S. striatulum in the Llanvirnian of Egypt, where they
Arenigian of France (Massif of Mouthoumet). The spe- defined the zone WD4, which corresponds to the interval
cies mentioned above confirms the age attributed to the from the highest occurrence of F. sartbernardensis,
TO-2 zone. So, in the absence of A. ignoratum, which is V. subglobosum, and S. striatulum, to the highest occur-
an index marker of the Tremadocian, it would be possi- rence of Acanthodiacrodium ignoratum and
ble to use the palynological association encountered here Acanthodiacrodium tremadocum. Early Palaeozoic
with this marker to date the Early Ordovician rocks. No Jordanian deposits studied palynologically by Keegan
taxa restricted to the Arenigian (Dapingian) have been et al. (1990). Yielded an assemblage comparable with
identified; this series seems to be absent. those from Tunisia containing: F. sartbernadensis,
 Arab J Geosci

F. Longiuscula, S. striatulum. They used this assemblage C. pilar, V. trispinosum, V. europaeum, N. carminae,
as basis to define the JO3 zone dated Llanvirnian. In O. deunffii, and D. denticulata. All these palynomorphs
north Africa Vecoli and Le Herisse (2004) have summa- are present in Tunisia. They have been recorded in
rized the acritarch succession in northern Gondwana and Tripolitania as well by Al Ameri (1980) who determined
considered that F. sartbernadensis appeared in early the stratigraphic level of this acritarch assemblage as
Darriwilian. The genus Frankea, is considered a between palynozones B.T. and L.C., which are of
biostratigraphical and paleobiogeographical marker for Wenlockian and Lower Ludlovian age, respectively. A
the Middle Ordovician of Gondwanan and peri- palynological study of the Egyptian material (Gueinn
Gondwana. It has been encountered in the same interval and Rasul 1986) showed a similar association, which is
in other areas of the world (Servais and Maletz 1992; easy to compare with Tunisian material. On the basis of
Cooper et al. 1995; Servais and Fatka 1997; Vecoli 1999; this microflora assemblage, these authors defined the
Li et al. 2002; Rubinstein et al. 2011). zone WD5 in the Silurian and dated it Llandoverian-
In conclusion, the three species: F. sartbernardensis, Ludlovian. Massa (1988) recorded many palynomorphs
V. subglobosum, and S. striatulum, are the principal species from the Ghadames Basin in Libya. They are
reason to date this assemblage as Darriwilian. It was similar to the Tunisian microfloras among with
used in the Middle East as well as in North Africa. No acritarchs: C. pilar, M. ramusculosum, N. carminae,
characteristic markers of the Late Ordovician and Early and D. denticulata. The spores are represented by
Silurian were recorded. As a result, the Late Silurian A. avitus and A. chulus. The chitinozoa are A. fragilis
deposits are resting unconformably on Middle and A. ancyrea. Massa (1988) has identified this associ-
Ordovician sediments. ation in the Late Silurian (Ludlovian-Pridolian) of
Tripolitania. In Jordan, Keegan et al. (1990) recorded
N. carminae, O. deunffii, Ambitisporites sp.,
Silurian Archaeozonotriletes sp. from the Late Silurian
(Ludlovian), and defined there the zone JS-1.
Palynomorph assemblages are rich and diversified. They lead Besides the group of acritarchs represented by
us to define one zone restricted to the Silurian TS-4. N. carminae, which is considered as the main marker
of Late Silurian both in Middle East and North Africa
ZONE TS-4: Wenlockian-Ludlovian (De Inunciaga and Gutiérrez 2011), the palynomorphs
analysis of Cachipunco Formation at Argentina lead to
(a) Definition: According to Gueinn and Rasul (1986), this identify a diversified acritarchs assemblage represented
zone is characterized by the occurrence of the acritarchs by O. asymmetrica, M. ramusculosum, D. denticulata,
N. carminae, O. deunffii, and D. spinata. Veryhachium trisphaeridium, N. carminae, and A. avitus,
(b) Palynological assemblage: Diexallophasis denticulate among others. Wenlockian-Ludlovian age is inferred for
(Plate 1, Fig. S1), M. ramusculosum (Plate 1, Fig. S7), this association. Lopes et al. (2014) (from Southern
N. carminae, O. deunffii (Plate 1, Fig. S11), C. pilar, Portugal) has identified M. ramusculosum and
V. europaeum, V. downiei (Plate 1, Fig. S9), N. carminae. This acritarch assemblage indicates a
O. asymmetrica, D. elegans, A. fragilis which represent Ludlovian age; miospores present are Ambitisporites
the chitinozoan are associated with spores such as sp., A. avitus, and A. chulus, indicating a late
A. avitus and A. chulus (Plate 1, Fig. S14). Wenlockian to Pridolian age.
(c) Age: The acritarch N. carminae is an index marker of
Late Silurian (Ludlovian-Pridolian).
(d) Discussion and comparison: N. carminae characterizes The Permian
the Ludlovian of the Algerian Sahara (Jardine et al.
1974). They described a comparable assemblage in the Zone TP-5 (P: Permian)
Ludlovian of Algerian Sahara. They recorded the highest
occurrence of N. carminae in the Ludlovian (Zone G5). In this study, only the Late Permian has been encountered in
The presence of this species allows us to date the zone most wells studied. The Late Permian in southern Tunisia has
TS-4 Silurian (Ludlovian). Richardson and Ioannides been studied palynologically in the wells by Kilani et al.
(1973) have recorded most of the species encountered (1990). A diverse palynoflora has been identified.
in the zone TS-4 from the Tanezzuft and Acacus.
A comparable assemblage has been recorded by (a) Palynological assemblage: The Palynoflora is represent-
Erkmen and Bozdoan (1979) from Silurian age in the ed by spores and pollen dominated by bisaccate pollen.
south Anatolia. The important identified species are The encountered species are L. virkkiae, Lueckisporites
Arab J Geosci

singhii, Taeniasporites novimundi, Klausipollenites – The Ordovician is represented by the Tremadocian and
saubergeri, Sulcatisporites ovatus, and the acritarch Darriwilian: The Tremadocian (3286–3209 m) is charac-
Veryhachium valensi. terized by a rich and diverse palynomorph association.
(b) Microfauna: The microfauna is represented by the fol- The Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician) is composed of silty
lowing species: Pseudoschwagerina, Rugofusulina, deposits and diversified flora. The Llandeilian and the
Quasifusulina, and Globivalvulina. Late Ordovician (Caradocian-Ashgillian = Katian to
(c) Age: The palynological association: Klausipollenites Hirnancian) seem to be absent. No characteristic zonal
schaubergeri, L. virkkiae together with Jugasporites fossils for these stages were identified. As a result, the
and Limitisporites absent in our material, constitute a possibility of an unconformity occurring between the
typical group of the Late Permian in Northern Europe Ordovician and the Silurian cannot be ruled out. No taxa
and in some areas of the Gondwana (Jardine et al. indicative of Arenigian are recorded, so the unconformity
1974). The genus L. virkkiae has been mentioned in between the Tremadocian and Llanvirnian=Darriwilian
Texas and Oklahoma in the “Flowerpot Formation” at is possible.
the base of Late Permian (Broutin et al. 1990). – In this well, the Devonian, Carboniferous, and the Early
L. virkkiae is an index marker of the Late Permian to Middle Permian appear to be absent. No palynomorphs
(Balme 1970). The present assemblage indicates a indicative of these ages were identified in this well. As a
Late Permian age. This species has been described result, a stratigraphic unconformity is interpreted between
by Visscher and Brugman (1988) in the Late Permian the Devonian and the Triassic. This unconformity may be
of Libya. associated with the Hercynian orogenic movements.
(d) Discussion and comparison
Most of the present species have been encountered in Acknowledgments We are grateful to Abidi Riadh (University of
many areas of North Africa and other areas of the world. Manar, Tunisia) and to Djebbi Bouthaina (PA Resources Tunisia) for
L. virkkiae and L. singhii characterizes the Permian of kindly and expertly correcting our English text.
North Africa. Outa Mori et al. (2012) subdivided the
Pennsylvanian±Permian of the «Paraná Basin, Brazil»
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