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Argilles de Tirechoumine Formation
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Argilles de Tirechoumine Fm base reconstruction

Argilles de Tirechoumine Fm

Period: 
Carboniferous

Age Interval: 
Visean


Province: 
Ahnet Basin, Mouydir Basin

Type Locality and Naming

SW Algeria. The type locality and type section for the Tirechoumine Fm is at Adrar Tirechchoumine (Wendt et al., 2008). (Argiles = claystone).

NOTE: In the Reggane Basin, this unit is separated into an Upper Tirechoumine Fm and a Lower Tirechoumine Fm by an intermediate Gres de Kreb ed Douro Fm.

Synonym: Tirechoumine Fm, (Argiles = claystone)

References: Wendt et al., 2008;


Lithology and Thickness

Thicknesses range from 40–120 m in the western (Reggane Basin) to 480 m in the eastern (Ahnet Basin, etc.). Intercalated, up to 10 m thick, levels of laminated, bioturbated sandstones with current ripples suggest minor sea-level oscillations. The monotonous sedimentation of shales is interrupted by several thin (0.1–0.2 m) intercalations of quartzose skeletal limestones (Wendt et al., 2008).


Lithology Pattern: 
Claystone


Relationships and Distribution

Lower contact

It conformably overlies the Iridets Fm in the Ahnet and Mouydir basins.

Upper contact

It is conformably overlain by the Gres de Garet Dehb Fm.

Regional extent

SW Algeria. 75,000 Km2


GeoJSON

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Fossils

Brachiopods, bryozoans, crinoids, ostracods, solitary rugose corals, foraminifers, rare orthoconic nautiloids, and ammonoids


Age 


Age Span: 

    Beginning stage: 
Visean

    Fraction up in beginning stage: 
0.0

    Beginning date (Ma): 
346.73

    Ending stage: 
Visean

    Fraction up in the ending stage: 
0.5

    Ending date (Ma):  
338.54

Depositional setting

Open marine


Depositional pattern:  


Additional Information


Compiler:  

Enam O. Obiosio, Solomon Joshua Avong and Henry Nasir Suleiman (2024) - Stratigraphic Lexicon compiled from the following books:

Wendt J., Kaufmann B., Belka Z., Korn D (2008): Carboniferous Stratigraphy and Depositional Environments in the Ahnet Mouydir Area (Algerian Sahara). In: Facies. DOI 10.1007/s10347-008-0176-y

Wendt J., Kaufmann B., Belka Z., Klug C. & Lubeseder S. (2006): Sedimentary evolution of a Palaeozoic basin and ridge system: the Middle and Upper Devonian of the Ahnet and Mouydir (Algerian Sahara). Geol. Mag. 143 (3) pp. 269–299. doi:10.1017/S0016756806001737

Derder M, E.M., Henry B., Amenna M., Bayou B., Djellit H., Guemache M. A., Hemmi A. (2009): New structural implications for the central Sahara (Algeria), from the revisited Upper Carboniferous “Hassi Bachir” Formation: Paleomagnetic constraints. Tectonophysics, 463: pp.69–76.

Perron P., Guiraud M., Vennin E., Moretti I., Portier E., L. Le Pourhiet, M. Konaté (2018): Influence of basement heterogeneity on the architecture of low subsidence rate Paleozoic intracratonic basins (Reggane, Ahnet, Mouydir and Illizi basins, Hoggar Massif). Solid Earth, 9: pp.1239-1275.