Meriem L. MOULANA, Aurélia HUBERT-FERRARI, Mostefa GUENDOUZ, Meriam EL OUAHABI, Abdelhak BOUTALEB & Frédéric BOULVAIN

Contribution to the sedimentology of the Messinian carbonates of the Chelif Basin (Boukadir, Algeria)

Attached document(s)

Annexes

• GB 24-1-2 Moulana et al. (8.8M)

Abstract

The Messinian (Upper Miocene) is characterized at the level of its marginal basins by the development of numerous carbonate platforms. This study concerns the Messinian platform of the Boukadir region in the south of the Chelif Basin in Algeria. It is composed of a lower prograding rimmed platform and an upper aggradational homoclinal ramp resting upon the Tortonian–Lower Messinian Blue Marl Formation, and its thickness reaches ~280 m in the Chelif Basin. The upper red-algae unit is uniform and subhorizontal with a minimum thickness of 90 m. Petrographic analysis of the upper ramp reveals three different microfacies, characterized by Lithothamnium, foraminifera, high porosity, and a microsparitic matrix. MF1 is a packstone, MF2 a packstone/bindstone deposited above the fair-weather wave base and MF3 is a wackestone to packstone deposited below this level. The upper unit is made up entirely of autochthonous biogenic elements without significant external fluvial contribution. It was formed in a shallow marine environment, with very high productivity and a significant export of the sediments produced. This aggradation was followed by a rapid exhumation (regression) transforming all the aragonite into calcite. The platforms correspond to the T2 complex reef formation (6.7–5.95 Ma) documented on the other Messinian carbonate platforms in the South of the Alboran Sea that formed just before the Messinian Salinity Crisis.

Table of content

1. Introduction

1The Messinian is known above all for the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), a key period in the evolution of the Mediterranean Sea where dramatic changes occurred between 5.94 and 5.33 million years ago. The MSC is characterized by the disconnection of the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean, which caused a large sea-level fall and a thick accumulation of evaporites within the basin center (Hsü et al., 1973; Ryan et al., 1973; CIESM, 2008; Mascle & Mascle, 2019). Whether the disconnection was continuous or discontinuous is still highly debated (Hsü et al., 1977; Rouchy & Saint-Martin, 1992; Clauzon et al., 1996; Krijgsman et al., 1999; Riding et al., 1999; Roveri et al., 2014). Because of the high popularity of the controversy, emphasis has partly shifted away from other specificities of the Messinian, the enhancement of biogenic productivity, in relation to the progressive closure of the Betic and Rifian gateways between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea (Krijgsman et al., 2018). Large diatomite-rich deposits (Pellegrino et al., 2018) and carbonate complexes (Esteban, 1979; Saint-Martin & Rouchy, 1990) were deposited before the MSC along the margins of the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, Terminal Carbonate Complexes (TCC) were also deposited synchronously with the precipitation of Primary Lower Gypsum (PLG) in peripheral basins/margins around the Mediterranean during MSC Stage 1 (5.94–5.6 Ma; Roveri et al., 2014). All these biogenic deposits are well recorded in the Neogene sediments within the marginal basins in SE Spain, NE Morocco, and NW Algeria (Roger et al., 2000; Cornée et al., 2004).

2In marginal basins, the Messinian biogenic deposits show strong variations depending on the local morphology of the subbasins, terrestrial sediment supply, upwelling, and other environmental factors like sea temperature and salinity. Their correlation in a given basin or across the Mediterranean Sea as well as their attribution to a given stage can be difficult. In addition, several types of Messinian carbonate platforms exist even if prograding–aggrading ramp platforms are particularly well developed (Montenat & Ott D’Estevou, 1994; Cornée et al., 1994). The first correlation of carbonate platforms across the Mediterranean has been proposed by Cornée et al. (2004). In the Chelif Basin in Algeria, the Messinian carbonate deposits are particularly large and well exposed (Perrodon, 1957) with a variable thickness from a few dozens of meters to about 130 meters (Saint-Martin & Rouchy, 1990). They have been well studied in the western part of the Chelif Basin near the city of Oran (Saint-Martin et al., 1983, 1992, 1995; Saint-Martin, 1996, 2008; Cornée et al, 1994; Babinot & Boukli-Hacene, 1998; Atif et al., 2008; Naimi et al., 2020).

3In the present study, we focus on the thickest Messinian carbonate deposits of the Chelif Basin. They crop out on its southern margin in the Boukadir region, south of the Chelif River in the piedmont of the Ouarsenis Mountain. Two main interpretations were proposed. Neurdin-Trescartes (1992, 1995) considered that the upper carbonate formation is synchronous with the Primary Lower Gypsum deposited in the basin during stage 1 of the MSC and is thus a terminal carbonate complex (TCC). This interpretation is different from other studies on the Messinian Carbonates in the Chelif Basin that considered that most carbonate platforms and reefs occurred in open normal marine conditions and are synchronous with diatomite rich deposits (i.e Tripoli Formation) and anterior to gypsiferous deposits of the MSC (e.g. Cornée et al., 2004; Arab et al., 2015). TCC of the MSC were still documented on the margin of the Chelif Basin, for example on top of the Murdjadjo Platform (Cornée et al., 2004), and in Djebel Diss (Mostaganem, NW Algeria; Belhadji et al., 2008). The TCC characteristics are different from previously deposited open marine carbonate platforms. The TCC were deposited in a confined restricted infralittoral high salinity environment characterized by the occurrence of stromatolites, oolitic deposits, and microbial limestones (Cornée et al, 2004; Saint-Martin, 2008)

4The aim of the study is to better characterize the carbonate deposits in the Boukadir area and to reconstitute their depositional environment using thin sections, field work, and satellite images. It would allow us (1) to compare it with other Messinian carbonates of the Chelif Basin, (2) to correlate this carbonate margin with other Messinian carbonate sections in the Mediterranean Basin, and (3) to re-valuate its age.

2. Geological Setting

5The Chelif Basin (56,000 km²) in northern Algeria is a gutter-shaped basin being elongated in an ENE-WSW direction. It extends over a length of 260 km and a width of 35 km between the Sebkha of Oran to the west and Chlef city to the east (Fig. 1). The basin is bounded to the south by the Tellian Mountains, which include, from west to east, the mountains of Tessala-Ouled Ali, Beni Chougrane, and Ouarsenis. The northern margin of the basin is delimited by the mounts of Djebel Murdjadjo, Arzew, and Djebel Diss. On the northeastern edge of the basin, the Dahra Massif presently forms a large anticlinal structure (Rouchy et al., 2007). The epi-metamorphic schists from the Massif of Doui limit the Chelif Basin to the east.

6The Chelif Basin is an intracontinental basin on top of the nappes affected by stacks that sustained different phases of deformation (Leprêtre et al., 2018). The basin is filled by more than 4 km of Miocene to Quaternary marine and continental sediments (Rouchy et al., 2007). The first infill was attributed to Miocene sediments of Aquitanian–Burdigalian age (Neurdin-Trescartes, 1992) and later re-evaluated to be Langhian–Serravalian by Belkebir et al. (2008). It displays a complete sedimentary record of the MSC at the Miocene–Pliocene transition (Anderson, 1936; Perrodon, 1957; Rouchy, 1982). It was a marginal basin of the Mediterranean Sea during that period.

Figure 1. The Chelif Basin through the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene (modified from Perrodon, 1957; Rouchy et al., 2007). Topography source: Jarvis et al. (2008).

7The Upper Miocene occupies most of the Chelif Basin. During the Tortonian and the lower Messinian, the sedimentation is characterized by the deposition of mostly blue marls that can reach a thickness of 500 m and that can locally be preceded by conglomerates (Anderson 1936; Perrodon, 1957; Rouchy, 1982; Moissette, 1988, 1993; Saint-Martin & Rouchy, 1990; Mansour et al., 1995; Neurdin-Trescartes, 1995). In the Blue Marl Formation, up to three levels of volcanic ash (cinerites) can be found and were dated between 8.6 and 9.4 Ma by ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, confirming their deposition during the Tortonian (Mansour et al., 2008).

8During the Messinian, the blue marls were overlain by the transgressive, up to 200 m thick series of diatomite-rich deposits called the Tripoli unit, and then by up to a 400 m thick gypsum-rich formation (Perrodon, 1957; Belkebir et al., 1996; Rouchy et al., 2007) (Fig. 1). Towards the proximal margins, the diatomite formation is partially covered and laterally passes to algae and/or coral limestones and locally to sandstones (Anderson, 1936; Perrodon, 1957; Rouchy, 1982; Moissette, 1988, 1993; Saint-Martin & Rouchy, 1990; Mansour et al., 1995). Above the Messinian series, Pliocene marls are gradually passing into marine sandstone sediments attesting for the large Zanclean transgression due to the full reconnection of the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean (Rouchy et al., 2007) (Fig. 1).

9In this study, we focus on the carbonate formation standing above the Tortonian to lower Messinian Blue Marl Formation in the Boukadir region, first mapped by Perrodon (1957) and, more specifically, on its uppermost carbonate unit. These Messinian Carbonates are located on the southeastern margin of the Chelif Basin but were never extensively studied before (Fig. 1). Along the Ouarsenis piedmont, the carbonate formation is outcropping over 85 km, from the city of Oued Fodda (east of Doui) to the east to the city of Oued Djidouia to the west. The formation is covered to the north, in the Chelif Basin by Pliocene marine to continental sediments and by the Quaternary alluvial sediments of the Chelif River.

10In our study area, the reference section of Neurdin-Trescartes (1992) (section A; Fig. 2) shows that the Upper Miocene Ouarsenis piedmont is composed of three different units (Fig. 3):

11- Tortonian-Messinian Blue Marls Formation (Unit 1)

12This formation corresponds to grey-bluish marls up to 500 m thick. A few tens of meters below the top, Neurdin-Trescartes (1992) found a cinerite level (C3) of 4 m thick dated from 11.87 ± 0.76 Ma (Belkebir et al., 2008). This level of cinerite shows an alternation of coarse volcanic ashes enriched in mica and fine, less micaceous cinerite associated with clay. The dip of this unit is about 5° to the north at the location of the log of Neurdin-Trescartes (1992) (section A; Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Geological map of the study area modified from Brives & Ferrand (1912). This region refers to the "Study area" reported in Fig.1. Samples analyzed in the present study are indicated in blue. Geological section A corresponds to one section of Neurdin-Trescartes (1992), other geological sections were investigated by the authors.

Figure 3. Geological cross sections investigated in the field (for the location of sections D, Q, P, H, see Fig. 2) and by Neurdin-Trescartes (1992) along Oued Rhiou (reference section A). In section P at 225 m, the bottom of the lower carbonate unit is composed of marly carbonates with few bioclastic layers. In sections D and Q, we also have a gradational transition at the bottom of the lower unit to the Blue Marls Formation.

13- Messinian bioclastic carbonate unit (Unit 2)

14It is ~70 m thick and is rich in fossils. From the bottom, there are:

• 6 m of bioclastic carbonates containing Ostrea, pectens, and burrows;

• 1 m of bioclastic carbonates with a few Lithothamnium;

• 3 m of bioclastic carbonates with an increasing amount of Lithothamnium;

• 2.6 m of crumbly bioclastic carbonates with a large number of Lithothamnium and at the layer bottom, a 0.50 m thick bed of algal oncoids;

• 1.30 m of light grey, finer-grained calcareous bioclastic carbonates with fewer Lithothamnium;

• 19 m of bioclastic carbonates rich in macrofauna (pectens, gastropods, sea urchin), with the occurrence of few pebbles; the layer top displays a thinner grain size with numerous burrows;

• 4 m of pink bioclastic carbonates with imprints of small bivalves and the presence of micas;

• 4 m of bioclastic carbonate beds containing serpulae;

• 6 m of bioclastic carbonates with pectens and serpulae;

• 8 m of crumbly marly bioclastic carbonate flags;

• 20 m of bioclastic carbonate slabs.

15At the level of section A along Oued Rhiou, Neurdin-Trescartes (1992) measured a dip of 35° to the north (Fig. 2).

16Neurdin-Trescartes (1992, 1995) called the above unit, the “El-Bordj” Formation and considered that it changed laterally along the Chelif margin in the Tripoli Formation characterized by diatomite deposits.

17- Lithothamnium carbonate unit (Unit 3)

18Unit 2 is covered by an upper carbonate unit, which comprises at least 80 m of Lithothamnium carbonates outcropping along the Ouarsenis piedmont. Unit 3 was called the “Oued Sig” Formation by Neurdin-Trescartes (1992, 1995), and shows a strong uniformity. This unit was deposited during a regression according to Neurdin-Trescartes (1979) and corresponds to the main part of the present work. At the level of section A, Neurdin-Trescartes (1992) documented a subhorizontal dip. Over the whole Ouarsenis Piedmont, we also measured systematically a subhorizontal dip. Neurdin-Trescartes (1992, 1995) considered that the “Oued Sig” Formation graded into gypsum-bearing sediments deposited during the MSC in the deeper part of the Chelif Basin. We would re-evaluate this hypothesis.

19Along the mountain front, the carbonate platform is cut by the left-lateral Relizane (sinistral) strike-slip fault that strikes N70°E, a direction identical to the strike of the Chelif Basin. The fault runs over 150 km from the city of Chlef to the city of Relizane (Fig. 1) (Meghraoui et al., 1986). In the study area, the Boukadir thrust fault ends near the Relizane Fault. The thrust strikes N50°E and bounds the Boukadir anticlinal structure along which Pliocene sandstones and conglomerates crop out in the Chelif Basin (Fig. 2).

3. Materials & methods

20The geological setting of Boukadir region is still poorly known, and more precisely the mode of deposition of the carbonates at the front of the Ouarsenis piedmont. The results presented in this work are based on the analysis of nineteen samples located in Figure 2 (blue dots), the evaluation of the platform geometry based on Google Earth (GE) images, and limited field work. We also used two deep drill holes Kh5, Kh6 that reach the depths of 376 m and ≈1910 m respectively (BURGAP, 2004). Sample names and locations are displayed in the Appendix.

21We examined the lithology of the upper Lithothamnium carbonate unit in three quarries present along the Ouarsenis front. The unit is composed of homogeneous tuffaceous carbonates with no visible lithological change (color, grain size) (Fig. 4), and no change in macroscopic sedimentary features. All lithological sections investigated in the Lithothamnium unit at the front of the Ouarsenis Massif were similar and homogenous. We thus did not report any precise lithological column at the sampling locations.

Figure 4. The upper Lithothamnium carbonate unit characterized by lithological homogeneity. A. Lithothamnium unit 40 m thick in the Sidi Abed quarry (35°59’36.65”N / 1°00’11.34”E) in the western part of the study area. B. Subhorizontal bedding in the Lithothamnium unit, near Devil Hole near section H in Fig. 2.

22We investigated the homogeneity of the Lithothamnium unit using thin sections and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) / X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) analyses, first in section and second laterally along the piedmont. We sampled a reference section near the Taflout River, south of Boukadir city along the piedmont front (Fig. 2). The Taflout section is 80 m high and composed of eight samples with 10 m intervals (PVR00 at the top to PVR07 at the bottom). Petrographic analyses were done based on the samples and their thin sections. Facies nomenclature and description are based on Embry & Klovan (1971). Eleven other samples were taken along the piedmont from east to west also for petrographic analysis. Among them, four samples were taken just north of the Taflout section (ECH8) and come from the Boukadir tuff quarry (153, 154, and 156), located very close to the reference section (Fig. 2).

23Eleven selected thin sections were analyzed by cathodoluminescence microscopy (CITL MK5). Eight samples come from the 80 m high Taflout section (PVR00, PVR01, PVR02, PVR03, PVR04, PVR05, PVR06 and PVR07) and three samples from Boukadir tuff quarry (153, 154 and 156).

24Bulk mineralogical (XRD) analyses were performed on 17 samples (ECH1, ECH2, ECH3, ECH6, ECH7, ECH8, ECH9, 153, 154, 156, PVR00, PVR01, PVR02, PVR03, PVR04, PVR05, PVR06, and PVR07) according to the following experimental procedure. The bulk samples were dried at 40 °C for 48 hours, and then ground and sieved through a mesh of <250 μm size fraction (Moore & Reynolds, 1989). The mineralogical phases present in the powdered samples were identified by X-ray diffraction using a powder Brucker D8-Advance diffractometer, with Cu anticathode (University of Liège, Belgium). The angular range is between 2° and 60° 2Θ. The X-ray patterns were treated by the DIFFRAC plus EVA software. Mineral phases were determined semi-quantitatively (±5%).

25Chemical characterization of major and minor elements of three samples (153, 154, and PVR01) was carried out, using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (p-XRF). Our purpose was to have a more quantitative assessment of the terrigenous material (Si, Al) present in the upper Lithothamnium unit with respect to the biogenic (Ca) material. Based on XRD results, we selected one sample PVR01 that was containing the highest percentage of terrigenous material (quartz, K-feldspar, plagioclase) and two homogeneous samples having no terrigenous material. Thermo Fischer Nitron XL3t with a ‘GOLDD’ detector (Mineralogy Laboratory, University of Liège) was used. The p-XRF was placed against the sample and X-rays were generated when the nose cone was in direct contact with the surface. The X-ray spot size was 3 mm in diameter. The X-ray tube has an Ag anode of 50 kV and 200 µA. The lightest detectable element is Mg. The standardization mode selected is the Cu/Zn Mining. This analysis mode uses four separate filters (high and low filters) having different counting times with a total measurement time of 75 s per analysis. The software utilizes a Fundamental Parameters algorithm to determine the concentrations of each element. The spectra and concentration values obtained from the XLT3 were downloaded to a computer for analysis. Each sample was measured three times and the average values are given.

26An analysis of the architecture of the carbonate platform was carried out along the Ouarsenis foothills from east to west using (1) a digital terrain model with a resolution of 12.4 m, as well as (2) GE imagery that allows to track individual beds across the landscape. The Digital Elevation Model used was the ALOS PALSAR Digital Elevation Model (DEM). A total of four swath topographic profiles were first drawn on the ArcGIS 10.5.1 software, then the extraction of the altitude points was performed in the GNU Octave, version 4.4.1 software with a program for this purpose. Topographic swath profiles are constructed by projecting equally spaced topographic profiles within a strip or swath of 200 m (Baulig, 1926; Tricart & Cailleux, 1958; D’Agostino et al., 2001; Fielding et al., 1994). These profiles provide a general view of the topographic pattern of the carbonates deposits and have been widely used to characterize regional-scale morphology (D’Agostino et al., 2001; Riquelme et al., 2003; Grohmann, 2005; Molin et al., 2004, 2012; Scotti et al., 2014; Azañón et al., 2015). The GE imagery allows studying the architecture of the upper Lithothamnium unit and its relation with the lower bioclastic unit previously deposited.

4. Results

4.1. Petrographic analyses

27The petrographic analyses done on the thin sections along the piedmont (19 samples) (Fig. 5) reveal three different microfacies. The first microfacies, MF1, is the most frequent (samples PVR00, PVR01, PVR02, PVR04, PVR05, PVR06, 154, 156, ECH01, ECH03, ECH04, ECH05, and ECH7), it is a bioclastic packstone to wackestone with mainly microsparitic matrix, and micritic matrix in samples PVR00 and PVR06. It is characterized by syntaxial cement and drusic cement in sample 154. MF1 is poorly sorted, its grain size is ≥300 µm. It contains numerous broken fossils and some intact: echinoderms, foraminifera, bryozoans, gastropods, Lithothamnium, arthropods, brachiopods, scaphods, pelecypods, and pieces of phosphate (vertebrate), and also peloids, oncoliths, rhodoliths. The second microfacies MF2 (samples PVR03, 153, ECH06, and ECH08) is a bindstone to packstone to grainstone with microsparitic matrix and syntaxial cement and red algae pattern. MF2 is moderately sorted and its grain size is ≤300 µm. Its fossils assemblage includes Lithothamnium, oncoliths, pelecypods, echinoderms, foraminifera, and a coral debris. The last microfacies, MF3 (PVR07 and ECH02) is a bioclastic packstone to wackestone with fine-grained elements and a microsparitic matrix. It is well sorted, and it includes pelecypods, Lithothamnium, and foraminifera.

Figure 5. Photomicrograph showing: A- fossils from sample 156 (MF1); B- debris of coral from sample ECH08 (MF2); C- fossils from sample ECH02 (MF3); D- cathodoluminescence microscopy showing a bryozoan with internal luminescent cement (MF3).

4.2. Cathodoluminescence and cement analysis

28The most common cement type is syntaxial overgrowth on echinoderm fragments. In cathodoluminescence, all types of cement of our samples are non-luminescent except the sample PVR07 (MF2) of the Taflout section taken at 106 m of altitude (Table 1). A bryozoan shows internal cementation in zoecia (carbonated wall of bryozoan), which starts with a dog-tooth non-luminescent cement, followed by a zoned luminescent overgrowth. The non-luminescence of the calcitic cement together with multiple zonations (Amieux, 1982) point towards a phreatic meteoric origin of the cement, although non-luminescence of calcitic cement can also be related to the relative abundance of Fe in the crystals (Hemming et al., 1989; Swart, 2015). The XRF results of the samples indicate that there is not enough Fe available to suppress the luminescence, indeed iron contents of up to 1% (FeO) are not sufficient to suppress luminescence (Frank et al., 1982; Hemming et al., 1989).

Table 1. Main characteristics of the three microfacies.

4.3. Chemical and mineralogical compositions

29Mineralogical analysis by XRD (Table 2) revealed that the samples are mostly composed of calcite (~94 to 100%) with some trace of quartz (~1%).

Table 2. Results of the mineralogical analysis of the 17 samples based on X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Samples	Quartz (%)	Calcite (%)	K-feldspar (%)	Plagioclase (%)
Ech 1	0.6	99.4	0.0	0.0
Ech 2	0.0	100.0	0.0	0.0
Ech 3	0.6	99.4	0.0	0.0
Ech 6	0.0	100.0	0.0	0.0
Ech 7	0.0	100.0	0.0	0.0
Ech 8	0.0	100.0	0.0	0.0
Ech 9	0.0	100.0	0.0	0.0
P 153	0.3	99.7	0.0	0.0
P 154	0.3	99.7	0.0	0.0
PV00	0.1	99.9	0.0	0.0
PV01	3.2	94.5	0.9	1.4
PV02	0.3	99.7	0.0	0.0
PV03	1.1	98.9	0.0	0.0
PV04	0.5	99.5	0.0	0.0
PV05	0.0	100.0	0.0	0.0
PV06	0.2	99.8	0.0	0.0
PV07	1.5	98.5	0.0	0.0
Average	0.5	99.4	0.1	0.1
Standard deviation	0.8	1.3	0.2	0.3

30Only the PVR01 sample of the Taflout section taken at 166 m of altitude (Appendix) reveals a slightly higher amount of terrigenous material with 94% of calcite, 3% of quartz, 1% of plagioclase, and 1% of K-feldspar.

31The XRF analyses of three samples (153, 154, and PVR01) indicate that the most abundant element is calcium with an average value of 96.04 ± 2.91%. We also note the presence of 2.75% of silica in the sample PVR01 (Table 3), which is in agreement with the mineralogical results.

Table 3. Results of XRF analysis of the selected samples. LOD: Limit of detection.

	153	154	PVR01	Average	Standard deviation
Ca (%)	95.45	99.20	93.48	96.04	2.91
Si (%)	1.63	0.52	2.75	1.63	1.12
P (%)	0.10	0.06	0.06	0.07	0.03
S (%)	0.04	0.05	0.30	0.13	0.15
V (%)	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.01	0.00
Fe (%)	0.23	0.13	0.42	0.26	0.15
Sr (%)	0.03	0.03	0.04	0.03	0.01
K (%)	0.09	<LOD	0.24	0.16	0.12
Mg (%)	2.05	<LOD	1.99	2.02	1.17
Al (%)	0.36	<LOD	0.71	0.54	0.36

4.4. Architecture of the carbonate units based on topography, remote sensing, and field data

32We combined a topographic analysis with section measurements, bedding traced on Google Earth imagery, and drilling data to unravel the first-order geometry of the two carbonate units.

33The upper carbonate unit dips toward the northeast with its lowest elevation at the contact with the alluvial sediment of the Chelif Basin around 79 m. At its highest elevation 5 to 6 km more to the south, it forms a scarp where the whole carbonate sequence resting upon the blue marl can be found. The top of the sequence at that location changes from 375 m in the east to 680 m in the west. The relief of the carbonate margin changes from 230 m in the east to 540 m in the west. The difference in relief along strike does not correspond to a variation in thickness of the carbonate formation (Fig. 3).

34To the west, the down-cutting of Oued Rhiou provides a 525 m high section and the clearest view of the lower unit overlain by the upper Lithothamium unit. Bedding traced on Google Earth images and section A logged by Neurdin-Trescartes (1992) unravel a platform architecture with 35^o beds of the lower complex at the level of the section A close to the reservoir waters and an unconformity with the 5^o beds of the upper unit (Fig. 6 B1, B2).

Figure 6. Google Earth image (GE) (3x vertical exaggeration) showing a disconformity between the upper subhorizontal unit and the lower unit (5° in A2 to 35° in A1) in front of Oued Taflout (A1 + A2), in front of Oued Touchait (A3), and in front of Oued Rhiou (B1 + B2). Green lines: beds of the upper unit drawn on Google Earth. Orange lines: beds of the lower unit drawn on Google Earth. Blue lines: river network.

35East of Oued Rhiou, at the level of the scarp, the beds of the lower carbonate unit are nearly flat and conformable with the upper unit (Fig. 6 A1, A2, A3). The remote sensing interpretation is confirmed by our field observation at the location of the Oulad Ahmed section (D) (36°02’05.56”N / 1°09’43.35"E; Fig. 2), located 12 km more to the NE. Section D is still located along the scarp and shows a conformable contact between the upper Lithothamnium carbonate unit and the bioclastic carbonate unit (Fig. 3, Fig.7-A). At that location, the lower unit is 35 m thick and has a low dip (5 to 10^o) (Fig. 7 A). It shows rapid changes in facies (grain size, bioclastic content, terrigenous fraction): the upper half is characterized by large bioturbations (burrows) and the occurrence of 20–30 cm thick coarser-grained bioclastic layers with numerous bivalves interpreted as tempestites (Fig. 7 C-D); the lower part shows the increasing occurrence of marls. The transition to the underlying Blue marl Formation is gradational. The upper Lithothamnium unit is conformable and composed of ~23 m thick massive carbonate beds. About 2 km more to WNW of Section D, another section called H (36°01.367’N / 1°09.096’E) (Fig. 6 A1, A3) can be drawn near the location of the Devil Hole, a 73 m deep karstic pit (Figs 2 and 3) (Birebent, 1947). Above the pit, the upper Lithothamnium unit is visible and 45 m thick. The 73 m deep pit is carved mostly into the lower bioclastic unit until 252 m a.s.l. and near its base, it has a low dip according to speleological observations (Birebent, 1947). The adjacent Oued Touchait river valley incising into the same unit reaches 195 m a.s.l., which implies that the lower unit is at least 120 m thick (Fig. 3). About 3.5 km more to the NE at the location of the 220 m deep downcutting of Oued Taflout, the lower and upper carbonate units are also visible on both sides of the river. The section Q (36°01.367’N / 1°09.096’E) (Fig. 6 A1) revealed that the upper unit is 35 m thick and the lower unit is 60 m thick (Fig. 3). Farther northeast, still along Oued Taflout, the lower unit has a 25° dip visible in the landscape (Fig.7 B) and on the GE view (Fig. 6 A1) and is unconformably overlain by the low dipping upper Lithothamnium unit. At the location of section P (36°01.812’N / 1°09.268’E) (Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 A1), the upper unit is 42 m thick and the lower one has an apparent 138 m thickness. On the other side of the river, near the village of Oulad Allal (36°01’58.73”N / 1°09’46.12”E), the lower unit is locally composed of bioclastic layers part with serpulas and numerous shells (Fig.7 D); and shows a gradational transition to the Blue Marls Formation. Along the Ouarsenis front and at the location of section B, the only visible unit is the 80 m thick subhorizontal upper Lithothamnium unit (Fig. 6 A1). In the Chelif Basin, at the location of the ~1000 m boreholes Kh5 (36°04’39.6509” N / 1°04’27.7095” E) and Kh6 (36°02’48.0890” N / 1°05’14.1997” E), situated less than 1 km north of the surface contact between the carbonates and the alluvium, the carbonate formation is found at depths of 126 m and 147 m respectively and extends until the depth of 376 m and 429 m, which implies respective cumulated thickness of 250 m and 282 m. There is no other information regarding the carbonate formations in the boreholes. They rest upon the Blue Marls Formation. Kh5 and Kh6 are separated by only 19 m. The differences in depth of the carbonates would be related to post-depositional offsets in relation to the Relizane Fault Zone situated at the location.

Figure 7. Structure and composition of the lower bioclastic unit. A. Horizontal bioclastic unit at the back of the platform (Section D; Figs 2, 3, and 6 A1). B. Unconformity between sub-horizontal Lithothamnium unit and the 25° dipping bioclastic unit in front of Oued Taflout (Fig. 6 A1). C & D. The bioclastic unit characterized by Serpula fossil in Oued Taflout, in the eastern part of the study area.

36The morphology and geometry of the upper unit can be further constrained. The topographic sections made perpendicular to the Ouarsenis piedmont show that the top of the Lithothamnium unit has a very low dip and is composed of two parts marked by a very slight 2–3° increase in a surface dip about 3 km north of the basin (Fig. 8). The morphology of the upper unit changes slightly along the strike. Surface dip in the west is higher than in the east, which can be correlated to the difference in relief. The transition zone, which marks the change in elevation and dip, is located at the location of Oued Touchait (Fig. 8).

37Using Google images, we could follow some upper beds nearly continuously from the back scarp of the carbonate formation in the south to the contact with the Quaternary alluvial sediments in the Chelif Basin to the north. We investigated the relationship between morphology and bedding. In the east, beds forming the southern part of the ramp are characterized by a very shallow dip (~2°) subparallel to the topography (Pr.01 in Fig. 8). Further north, beds have a similar dip but intersect the topography forming a staircase (Fig. 6 A1-A2). The ~4.5° dip of the carbonate relief is just steeper in the south (see swath topographic profile Pr.01 in Fig. 8). The transition zone marked by a small change in dip indicates the change between a retrograding–aggrading system to a purely aggradational system. Just west of Oued Touchait (Fig. 8), the relief increases slightly and the staircase architecture is visible along the whole length of the Lithothamnium carbonate unit. Further west where the relief is the highest, the topographic profile Pr.04 (Fig. 8) shows a slightly steeper average surface dip with again an increase from ~4.5° to ~7.5° for the northern part. The staircase morphology is pronounced for the first ~2.5 km of the complex starting at the contact with the Chelif alluvial deposits; at the southern end of the platform, several faults strongly affect the carbonate bedding but not the overall morphology which remains very planar (see the southern part of swath topographic profile Pr.04 in Fig. 8).

Figure 8. A. Topography of the study area and the location of the topographic sections along the piedmont. This region refers to the "Study area" in Fig. 1. B. Swath topographic profile PR.01 in the eastern part of the study area. C. Swath topographic profile PR.04 in the western part of the study area.

5. Interpretation and discussion

5.1. Petrographic analyses

38According to the petrographic analyses and the identification of the three carbonate microfacies, characterized mainly by red algae (Lithothamnium), foraminifera, few quartz grains in some samples, and high moldic porosity, a paleoenvironmental model is proposed.

39The microfacies MF1 and MF2 of this carbonate unit are typical of a carbonate ramp. MF1 is a bioclastic packstone to wackestone with microsparitic matrix and large fossils, and MF2 is a bindstone to packstone, rarely grainstone dominated by red algae. The carbonate facies and components of these two microfacies indicate a rather shallow high-energy environment above the fair-weather wave base and in an inner ramp setting (Laya & Tucker, 2012).

40MF3 is a bioclastic packstone to wackestone with tiny elements and a microsparitic matrix. The characteristics of this microfacies are related to a slightly deeper environment in the middle ramp, in the storm wave zone (Fig. 9).

41The depositional model in Figure 9 and the associated fauna are typical of open marine conditions and not of a restricted environment. The occurrence of normal marine conditions is also documented in other carbonate platforms of the Chelif Basin for the carbonate unit resting upon the lower prograding bioclastic unit (Cornée et al., 1996, 2002, 2004; Saint-Martin et al., 1992, 1995, 1997).

Figure 9. Depositional environment model of the terminal carbonate deposits outcropping in the Boukadir region based on the results of the petrographic analyses.

5.2. Cathodoluminescence and cement analysis

42In our samples, any aragonite present would have been transformed into calcite. The absence of aragonite component can be related to falling sea level that subaerially exposed the upper part of the platform.

43Concerning the origin of the cements, which are largely non-luminescent, it is well known that the Fe/Mn ratio controls the maximum intensity of luminescence (Frank et al., 1982). Mn²⁺ causes an orange-yellow luminescence of calcite (Meyers, 1978), while Fe²⁺ tends to inhibit this luminescence (Frank et al., 1982; Grover & Read, 1983). The non-luminescence suggests widespread cementation in an oxidizing meteoric environment after a marine regression. The only example of cement zonation in the zoecia of a bryozoan may be due to a weak supply of meteoric water (the latter circulate slowly) and the onset of a very local reducing environment (Boulvain, 2001).

44The platform was exposed to oxidizing meteoric water shortly after its deposition. Indeed, aerial exposure must have taken place during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). The MSC was associated with a large base-level drop in the whole Mediterranean area (Hsü et al., 1973; Ryan et al., 1973; CIESM, 2008; Mascle & Mascle, 2019), and there was a disconnection of the Chelif marginal Basin with the main Mediterranean Basin (Saint-Martin & Rouchy, 1990; Rouchy & Saint-Martin, 1992; Clauzon et al., 1996; Franseen et al., 1996; Krijgsman et al., 1999; Cornée et al., 2004). In the Chelif Basin, during the MSC, up to 400 m of gypsum-rich deposits (Rouchy et al., 2003) were deposited in front of the studied Ouarsenis carbonate platform (Fig. 1). The gypsum resulted from a primary crystallization and was deposited in a hypersaline shallow environment (Arab et al., 2015); at that time, the carbonate platform would have been subject to subaerial exposition.

5.3. Mineralogy and XRF analyses

45The mineralogical composition of the samples collected on the field indicates ~94 to 100% of calcite and just a few traces of quartz (~1%). It is confirmed by chemical analysis. The analyses indicate a very weak detrital flux during the development of the upper carbonate platform in the foothills of the Ouarsenis Massif. This purely carbonated ramp consisted only of biogenic autochthonous inputs.

46This result is consistent with the paleogeography of the platform. The study area is located on the edge of the Ouarsenis Massif, a low emerged area at that time (Fig. 1). The carbonate formation rests entirely upon the Blue Marls Formation. The latter formation is present to the north in the Chelif Basin as indicated in Kh6 borehole (Fig. 2) and in the publication of Arab et al. (2015) based on drilling and geophysical data. It also outcrops to the south in the Ouarsenis Massif (Fig. 2). The platform near Boukadir does not seem to be anchored on a substratum high, which is probably why there was very low terrigenous input. The paleogeographic reconstruction based on Neurdin-Trescartes (1995) in Figure 10 provides a broader context. At the end of the Messinian, the uplift first occurred to the north, close to the present sea shore at the location of the Dahra Massif (Rouchy et al., 2007). The Eastern Chelif Basin during the Pliocene was still a synclinorium limited to the south by the Boukadir Messinian carbonate platform and the Relizane Fault. More than 750 m of Pliocene marls were deposited in this synclinorium (Fig. 1) that was uplifted and folded (Arab et al., 2015) in a later phase. This paleogeography leads to only distant terrigenous contributions. Quartz input may be linked to two different processes. First, Neurdin-Trescartes (1995) suggested the occurrence of "longshore" currents with an E–W direction, parallel to the coast, linked to the existence of high tides and the presence of swells arriving obliquely on the shore, mixing distant material (Neurdin-Trescartes, 1995). The paleogeographic map in Figure 10 indicates that distal input could be linked to the Medea Deltaic complex (Neurdin-Trescartes, 1995). Second, these quartz grains could also be due to an aeolian input. Some SEM analyses would be necessary to decipher their origin.

Figure 10. Paleogeographic map based on a previously published map of Neurdin-Trescartes (1992, 1995), Mansour et al. (1995), and Vinn et al. (2020).

5.4. Geometry analyses

47Our analysis allows distinguishing a lower carbonate platform and an upper carbonate ramp with different geometry. Carbonate-platform stratal geometries are the result of multiple interacting controls (Kenter, 1990; Adams et al., 2002), including sediment transport, sediment production, differential subsidence, and relative sea-level oscillations balance (Williams et al., 2011). The carbonate platform of the northern piedmont of Ouarsenis in the south of the Boukadir region, as well as the variations of slopes, show that the geometry of this platform is conditioned by several factors as studied in detail by Kenter (1990) and Adams et al. (2002). Given the limited field observations and sampling, we can only make a first order interpretation. In addition, the geometry of the lower platform is less constrained than the upper one and the lack of petrographic data prevents the assessment of its depositional environment.

48The lower unit has a platform geometry characterized by a short steep front with 35 to 25^o dipping beds forming clinoforms as evidenced along the two largest river valleys, Oued Rhiou and Oued Taflout. The clinoforms are clearest at Oued Rhiou location (Fig. 6 A1, A2), and the carbonate unit at that location is bioclastic (section A, log of Neurdin- Trescartes, 1992). The back of the platform (section D, Fig. 3) is characterized by a low dip with a downward gradational transition to the Blue Marls Formation (Fig. 7 A), and an upward gradational transition to facies with grain size suggesting a shallow and active depositional environment (Fig. 7 A-C). We interpret this architecture as a prograding rimmed platform (Pomar et al., 1996; Adams & Schlager, 2000; Eberli et al., 2004; Playton et al., 2010; Gao & Fan, 2015) (Fig. 6 A1).

49The upper unit has a different geometry characterized by a continuous low bedding angle over the 6 km outcropping at the surface and the nearly homogeneous carbonate deposition of over a thickness of least 80 m (Fig. 6 A1, section B). The bedding angle is subhorizontal (<5^o) and the dip of the platform changes near the Boukadir Thrust (Fig. 8), which is interpreted to be due to later tectonic deformation. Factors controlling the slope geometry are the volume of sediment and platform height (Schlager, 1981), the erosion–deposition balance (Schlager & Camber, 1986), and the grain size (Kirkby, 1987). The morphology suggests a nearly homoclinal ramp geometry (Ahr, 1973; Read, 1985; Burchette & Wright, 1992). The facies and dip uniformity, and the large thickness of the upper carbonate unit suggest that it is an aggradation ramp with a production keeping up with a base level rise (Read, 1985). Strata are more aggradational at the back of the platform than at the front; the small change in dip downward marked a more pronounced retrogradational pattern, near the base of the upper carbonate unit (Fig. 8).

50Homoclinal ramp geometry also suggests that the amount of sediment exported downslope is similar to the carbonate production rate. Williams et al. (2011) stressed that the rates of autochthonous production are a critical factor in maintaining a ramp profile. The large thickness of the carbonate ramp still suggests large productivity. The absence of gradient in productivity along the platform is in agreement with the fact that the ramp is formed only by red algae (Lithothamnium), which are poorly sensitive to changes in water depth along the ramp compared to green algae (Lüning, 1990; Lee, 1999). The difference in architecture between the lower platform and the upper homoclinal ramp suggests a strong environmental change. One key factor may be the increase in downslope transport between the two carbonate units. One hypothesis is stronger westward longshore currents (Neurdin-Trescartes, 1995) due to the water body constriction induced by the progradation in the Chelif Basin (Fig. 10). The occurrence of these paleocurrents is confirmed by magnetic indicators in the Messinian Formation more to the SE along the same piedmont (Derder et al., 2011).

51Finally, given the comparable thickness of the carbonates and the similar depositional environment of the upper carbonate unit along the piedmont (Fig. 4 A and B) evidenced by the thin sections, the platform was deformed after its deposition. The deformation (uplift and tilt) of the platform would be related to the Relizane Fault running along the piedmont. Although this fault was mostly considered to be a left-lateral strike-slip fault by Meghraoui et al. (1986), Soumaya et al. (2018) inferred a significant reverse component and interpreted it as a typical conjugate fracture in a wide E-W crustal-scale Riedel shear fracture system. The increase in tilt and elevation of the platform to the west occurs near the termination of Boukadir Thrust close to the Relizane Fault (Fig. 2), which suggests a causal relation. We therefore believe that the present geometry of the ramp is partly related to uplift and tilt that change along the Relizane Fault. In addition, the depths of the Carbonates (Lithothamnium Limestone) at the location of Kh5 and Kh6 (Fig. 2) imply a significant vertical offset. The transpressive motion accommodated by the Relizane Fault is expected as it is part of the fault system that accommodates the oblique active convergence between Eurasia and Africa over at least the last 2.5 Ma (Meghraoui et al., 1996). Before, during the Tortonian to Messinian periods, the Chelif Basin had undergone a different transtensive deformation phase that resulted in the creation of this “post-thrust” basin (Perrodon, 1957; Meghraoui, 1982; Thomas, 1985; Meghraoui et al., 1986; Domzig et al. 2006; Derder et al., 2011; Bachouche & Boutaleb, 2013; Arab et al., 2015). Significant subsidence during the Messinian at the front of the Ouarsenis relief was indeed necessary to create the accommodation space for the deposition of the Blue Marls Formation and the two carbonate units.

6. Correlation of carbonate platforms from the Alboran Sea region

52The Boukadir platform in the Chelif Basin is similar to other Messinian platforms in the same basin, i.e. the Traras margin reef, Sebaa Chioukh Hills (Saint-Martin, 1996), Murdjadjo (Saint-Martin, 2008), Tessala Beni Chougrane (Naimi et al., 2020), and Douar Naïmia (northwestern Algeria, Dahra Mounts) (Vinn et al., 2020). All platforms in the Chelif Basin developed on the edge of the Alboran Sea and have a large extension. They are aggrading platforms characterized by a rather flat relief. They contain small amounts of detrital sediments (Cornée et al., 2004). They were all deposited above a thick layer of Tortonian–Messinian Blue Marls (Bessedik et al., 2002), considered to be a Transgressive System Tract (TST). Above, the lower bioclastic carbonate unit is overlain by prograding coral reefs with porites and Halimeda (green algae) carbonates (Saint-Martin et al., 1992; Cornée et al., 2004; Saint-Martin, 2008; Naimi et al., 2020). This succession ends with the deposit of gradational sediments constituting the “Terminal Carbonate Complex” defined by Esteban (1979) composed of coral constructions, white micritic limestones, oolite limestones, stromatolites, and sometimes gypsum lenses (Saint-Martin, 2008).

53The Boukadir carbonate formation, that we studied, still presents some differences: (1) the absence of coral reef and Halimeda limestone and of the TCC, (2) the prevalence of red-algal carbonates over a large thickness. The absence of Halimeda in the Boukadir area can be linked to two factors. First, it can indicate a lesser salinity than in the western part of the Chelif Basin and in other regions. Indeed, Halimeda deposits in Messinian carbonate platforms in Italy, Crete, and Spain are interpreted to support a high rate of salinity, which varies between 48 and 58‰ (Brachert et al., 2007; Bourillot et al., 2009). Second, Halimeda is the most abundant component in the reef-slope facies (Mankiewicz, 1988; Martin et al., 1989; Reolid et al., 2014), but this environment is not visible in the investigated area.

54The Boukadir platform is more than 165 m thick at section H where the two carbonate units have similar low dips and has an apparent thickness of up to 280 m (Kh6, Fig. 2) in the Chelif Basin. It is one of the thickest carbonate platforms around the Mediterranean Basin. It indicates steady-state subsidence, much larger than in other parts of the Chelif Basin and in the surrounding Mediterranean area. Part of the subsidence would be related to the transtensional deformation of Tortonian and Messinian periods that created the necessary accommodation space (Perrodon, 1957; Meghraoui, 1982; Thomas, 1985; Meghraoui et al., 1986; Arab et al., 2015). Another part of the subsidence may be related to the progressive compaction of the blue marls under the weight of the carbonate platform. This post-depositional process is related to the highly compactable nature of the blue marls (Wanless, 1979), and resulted from the progressive increase in the burial load due to the aggradation of the platform (Flügel, 2004). In front of the Boukadir area, the thickness of the buried blue marls reaches more than 1000 m (Arab et al., 2015), and at the back of the platforms, more than 500 m (Neurdin-Trescartes, 1992).

55The similarity in the development of carbonate platforms in the Alboran Sea allowed Cornée et al. (2004) to correlate the different existing sedimentary logs and sections. We set the Boukadir platform in that context, focusing on the Southern Alboran Sea (Algeria, Morocco) (Fig. 11).

Figure 11. Proposed correlation between the South Alboran Sea Messinian carbonate platforms and the Boukadir platform; modified from Cornée et al., (2004). Mellila-Nador ages from Roger et al. (2000) and Cornée et al. (2002).

56Cornée et al. (2004) proposed the following depositional history during the Messinian. The first deposits are systematically retrograding characterized by blue marls with a variable thickness. They are part of the Transgressive System Tract, T1, of the first cycle of the Messinian (Fig. 11). The retrograding T1 unit is generally capped by a prograding carbonate unit (T2) (Cornée et al., 1996, 2002). T1 and T2 are separated by a marine planation (erosion) surface A formed around 6.7 Ma ago (Cornée et al., 2004). T2 are generally bioclastic units with red algae and bivalves dominated by corals deposited in an open marine environment (Cornée et al., 2004). These units change into marls and diatomites basinward. T2 can be composed of different subunits, but the lower one is generally prograding and bioclastic. In northeast Morocco, in the Kebdana and Tessala-Beni Chougrane sites, T2 carbonate units revealed a general shallowing upward trend, which may reflect progradation (Cornée et al., 2004). The top of the prograding reef complex T2 is a marine planation surface B that has been systematically identified in the southern Alboran Sea. It corresponds to the beginning of the MSC at 5.95 Ma and indicates a limited sea-level drop according to Cornée et al. (2004). Above B, the transgressive marine shallow-water carbonate T3, known as the “Terminal Carbonate Complex” (TCC) deposits was deposited (Fig. 11). The platform geometry and its faunal content attest to a restricted very shallow water environment (Cornée et al., 2004).

57In Boukadir, the lower carbonate bioclastic unit corresponds to the basal subunit of T2. It is composed of bioclastic clinoforms to the north and of nearly flat calcareous marls to the south at its base. These bioclastic carbonates were deposited in a very shallow environment with tempestite layers at their top. At this study location, surface A is not easily identifiable, because we have a gradational contact with the Blue Marls Formation (unit T1 in Fig. 11).

58Regarding the upper Boukadir homoclinal ramp, the contact is not marked by a radical change in the depositional environment associated with a sea-level drop (Riding et al. 1999) nor the deposition of evaporites (Rouchy & Saint-Martin, 1992; Rouchy et al., 2001). The thick upper Lithothamnium aggrading unit is characterized by the deposition of red algal carbonates with microsparitic matrix and a faunal content typical of an open marine environment. We therefore infer that it still corresponds to unit T2. After, our analyses suggest a rapid falling sea level that subaerially exposed the platform and trigger the transformation of all aragonite in calcite. This sea-level drop corresponds to the MSC.

7. Conclusion

59The carbonate units that form the northern piedmont of Ouarsenis range of the Boukadir region on the southern edge of the eastern Chelif Basin represent one of the thickest Messinian carbonate platforms in the whole Mediterranean realm. Two units are present: a lower bioclastic one and an upper Lithothamnium one. Petrographic analysis of the upper unit reveals three different microfacies, characterized by Lithothamniums, foraminifera, high porosity, and a microsparitic matrix. Our study demonstrated that the Lithothamnium carbonate platform of Boukadir (Chelif Basin) developed in a high-energy environment, above the fair-weather wave base, in a shallow marine environment (inner ramp setting). Its productivity was very high, the mineralogical composition indicates a purely carbonated platform, that formed of autochthonous biogenic inputs (~94 to 100% of calcite), with very little allochthonous fluvial input.

60The geometry of the two carbonate units is different. The lower unit forms a prograding rimmed platform with 35^o clinoforms. Locally, it gradually evolves to the upper Lithothamnium unit that is an homoclinal ramp with a low angle and very small change in dip downwards over 6 km. To maintain a nearly homoclinal geometry despite the high autochthonous productivity of carbonate, the export and erosion rate must be similar to the production rate. The strong export is potentially related to long-shore currents already documented by Neurdin-Trescartes (1995) and Derder et al. (2011) that would have intensified with the narrowing of the eastern Chelif Basin induced by the progradation of the lower carbonate platform. Finally, the facies and dip uniformity, and the large thickness of the upper Lithothamnium unit indicate an aggradation ramp with a production keeping up with a relative sea-level (RSL) rise (Read, 1985). A large component of the RSL is due to the subsidence of the underlying blue marls and to the transtensional deformation characterizing the Tortonian and Messinian periods (Arab et al., 2015). This large aggradation was followed by a rapid exhumation (regression) attested by the absence of aragonite.

61The history of the platform is coherent with the others Messinian platforms of the Southern Alboran Sea, but it does not represent a complete sequence. In the classification of Cornée et al. (2004), the Boukadir platform is the T2 unit deposited between 6.7 and 5.95 Ma before the MSC. The top of the platform, which is the present-day front of the Ouarsenis Massif, marks the first sharp sea-level drop that occurred at the MSC.

8. Acknowledgments

62The authors would like to thank Pr Guettouche Med Said, director of the Geomorphology and Geohazards (G&G) laboratory, FSTGAT – USTHB for his help, the people of the research and development CRD of Boumerdes of Algiers for their contribution to the development of thin sections.

63We would also like to thank the people who contributed to the field campaigns, in particular, Mr. Abdeldjalil Goumrassa, Mr. Sofiane Meddane, as well as the colleagues who helped with the interpretation of thin sections: Ms Samira Mendir, Ms Sarah Robinet, and M. Imen Arfaoui, and Ms Jemaa Amakrane for her contribution to the identification of fossils. An anonymous reviewer and Dr Xavier Devleeschouwer are thanked for their very constructive reviews of the manuscript.

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169Manuscript received 06.03.2020, accepted in revised form 26.05.2021, available online 30.08.2021.

170Appendix. Samples location with the identification number, the geographic coordinates and the altitude in meter.

Samples	Geographic coordinates		Elevation (m)
	Longitude	Latitude
ECH01	0°58'12.02"E	35°58'46.82"N	134
ECH02	0°57'18.88"E	35°58'29.75"N	90
ECH03	0°56'40.36"E	35°57'56.52"N	85
ECH04	0°56'34.48"E	35°58'02.35"N	90
ECH05	0°56'45.19"E	35°57'55.55"N	78
ECH06	0°56'17.91"E	35°58'06.97"N	70
ECH07	1°10'40.34"E	36°04'21.93"N	132
ECH08	1°08'58.00"E	36°02'49.06"N	150
153	1°08'24.38"E	36°03'15.26"N	142
154	1°08'33.25"E	36°03'17.18"N	140
156	1°08'35.05"E	36°03'13.71"N	145
PVR00	1°08'39.01"E	36°03'06.76"N	161
PVR01	1°08'38.87"E	36°03'04.79"N	166
PVR02	1°08'41.03"E	36°03'05.18"N	158
PVR03	1°08'42.54"E	36°03'05.72"N	148
PVR04	1°08'43.68"E	36°03'06.04"N	138
PVR05	1°08'44.77"E	36°03'06.48"N	128
PVR06	1°08'45.67"E	36°03'07.24"N	118
PVR07	1°08'47.53"E	36°03'08.36"N	108

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