Microfacies and biozonation of a Carboniferous mixed ramp, Tindouf basin, Algeria

The marine Carboniferous succession of the Tindouf Basin is poorly known. T his preliminary note concentrates on the Tournaisian-Serpukhovian interval. It primarily deals with the sedimentation and the microfossils of the sout hern part of the basin. Moreover, sedimentological and micropaleontological data are also provided for the northern and central part. Sedimentological study enables recognition of 12 microfacies ranging from o pen marine below storm wave action to supratidal with continental influx. T he proposed model is that of a homoclinal ramp marl-sandstone-limestone int errupted by numerous tempestites. Sedimentary cycles in the Late Visean are particularly numerous. Calcareous algae are mostly Stacheiinae and benthic foraminifers, Archaedis cidae and Endothyridae. The prolific Late Visean assemblages become scarce in the Serpukhovian and peter out in the Bashkirian. This reflects the prog ression from a marine ramp to a paralic basin. We propose a regional biostr atigraphic scale based on the biozones of MAMET (1974) and of LYS (1986) wh ich are correlated with those of Conil in CONIL et al (1990).